Apache HTTP Server - which one?

Greetings,

Possible clue: OK, so I am going to build a website using WordPress (which I have not yet downloaded) and I noticed that my hosting service uses Linux and also uses Apache for something...(yes, I'm a noob to this)...

Meanwhile, I found (here I think) very high recommendations for Personal Software Inspector (PSI) and have installed and run it.

PSI tells me that "This program was detected as Insecure, it is strongly recommended that you apply the latest security patch from the vendor of the program." and "The version detected of Apache 2.2.x was 2.2.9 while the latest version including one or more security fixes is 2.2.17."

So, I click the Install Solution link and am taken to an apache.org page and see SEVERAL links for 2.2.17...here they are:

• Unix Source: httpd-2.2.17.tar.gz [PGP] [MD5] [SHA1]
• Unix Source: httpd-2.2.17.tar.bz2 [PGP] [MD5] [SHA1]
• Win32 Source: httpd-2.2.17-win32-src.zip [PGP] [MD5] [SHA1]
• Win32 Binary without crypto (no mod_ssl) (MSI Installer): httpd-2.2.17-win32-x86-no_ssl.msi [PGP] [MD5] [SHA1]
• Win32 Binary including OpenSSL 0.9.8o (MSI Installer): httpd-2.2.17-win32-x86-openssl-0.9.8o.msi [PGP] [MD5] [SHA1]
• Other files

So, please, here are my questions.

1) Why do I have and need Apache?

2) Which link is the proper one for me?

I am running Win7 x64.

TIA

drcarl

PS! Exact same scenario and questions for PSI telling me PHP needs to be updated...I suppose the answer is right here, but it's greek to me...from the update site:


Which version do I choose?
If you are using PHP with Apache 1 or Apache2 from apache.org you need to use the VC6 versions of PHP

If you are using PHP with IIS you should use the VC9 versions of PHP

VC6 Versions are compiled with the legacy Visual Studio 6 compiler

VC9 Versions are compiled with the Visual Studio 2008 compiler and have improvements in performance and stability. The VC9 versions require you to have the Microsoft 2008 C++ Runtime (x86) or the Microsoft 2008 C++ Runtime (x64) installed

Do NOT use VC9 version with apache.org binaries

VC9 versions of Apache can be fetched at Apache Lounge. We use their binaries to build the Apache SAPIs.

Also

Questions:

3) Am I using PHP with Apache 1 or 2, or IIS (what is IIS?)

4) Am I looking for VC9 Non Thread Safe or Thread Safe?

I hope someone can understand my questions, even if I ahve not asked them correctly.

TIA again

drcarl

 

You dont need to run any of the above on your computer, unless your actually hosting your website on your machine. More likely your paying a webhost a monthly fee to host your wordpress account. IIS is in a nutshell the microsoft version of Apache. If you install all this on your home computer, chances are your isp is blocking port 80 traffic to your home, unless your paying for a business account. You really are better off with a professional hosting service that will manage/mitigate your server setup and security risks. Good Luck!

 

Thanx Colmanguy! What you said totally fits. I am not the host/server; I pay for that.

 

That being the case, you dont need to have Apache or any of the above locally installed.

 

Thanks again Colemanguy - that's what I thought! I wonder why I even have it...

 

Could one of the admins combine this thread with these other two. They are all from the same person on the same topic.

http://forums.majorgeeks.com/showthread.php?t=235439

http://forums.majorgeeks.com/showthread.php?t=235438

 

OK, I am back to my original question.

I have learned that I likely have Apache onboard so the my Adobe Creative Suite can preview my site building without having to go online.

Personal Software Inspector reports that my version is insecure. Apache reports giant improvements have been made with the current version.

I want the current version, but do not know which one to select.

I am running Win7 x64.

Again, here are my choices:

Unix Source: httpd-2.2.17.tar.gz [PGP] [MD5] [SHA1]
Unix Source: httpd-2.2.17.tar.bz2 [PGP] [MD5] [SHA1]
Win32 Source: httpd-2.2.17-win32-src.zip [PGP] [MD5] [SHA1]
Win32 Binary without crypto (no mod_ssl) (MSI Installer): httpd-2.2.17-win32-x86-no_ssl.msi [PGP] [MD5] [SHA1]
Win32 Binary including OpenSSL 0.9.8o (MSI Installer): httpd-2.2.17-win32-x86-openssl-0.9.8o.msi [PGP] [MD5] [SHA1]
Other files

I suspect, but do not know for sure, that I do not want a Unix version and do want a Win32, yet am still left with choices: Source? Binary? Without crypto? Including open SSL?

Then there are MORE choices (as you can see) on each line...

Please, can someone help me?

TIA

drcarl

PS - I will also be seeking the answer to the PHP question exactly as stated in the original post. Thanx

 

PS - the hosting service I subscribe to is using Linux, in case that is relevant.

 

IF it is part of adobe and you update it with the external version, you can break functionality in adobe. I would let it be, as your router/modem/isp won't let anyone browse to your home ip on port 80 in a large amount of cases, just due to the fact they dont want home users running servers on personal accounts.

 

but but but...waaaaah

Personal Software Inspector reports that my version is insecure. Apache reports giant improvements have been made with the current version.

 

Did you try to update via Adobe?

Also is there a way to disable Personal Software Inspector

 

Adobe: "all programs are up-to-date."

PSI: Of course there is probably a way to have it ignore Apache and PHP. I could even uninstall the program, but that won't do much toward keeping me up to date...

Thanks for your thoughts