What is a Web Server in Linux?

Understanding the web server and how it works is essential. A web server in Linux is software that displays web content, such as web pages, images, and videos, to the clients, usually browsers, across the internet or a private network. Web servers on Linux systems are one of the primary tools for running websites and web applications.

The web server, in turn, monitors incoming requests by various clients over HTTP or HTTPS, processes them, and finally serves the respective resources. 

Most Popular Web Server in Linux

Here’s a list of some of the most common web servers currently running on Linux: 

1. Apache HTTP Server

Apache HTTP Server is one of the most widely-used open-source web servers, flexible, secure, and used in various segments of technology.

2. Nginx

Nginx is another high-performance, lightweight web server in Linux, commonly used as a reverse proxy or load balancer for seamless and better efficiency in handling concurrent connections.

3. LiteSpeed

The LiteSpeed web server in Linux proves to be a high-speed, scalable web server that is highly oriented to performance and security.

4. Caddy

Another popular web server in Linux is Caddy. It’s a new, user-friendly web server that automatically manages SSL certificates.

Core Features of the Web Servers in Linux

1. HTTP/HTTPS protocols: These basic protocols are used to offer content over the internet using the features of the web servers.
2. Virtual hosting: With the best web servers in Linux, one can host more than one domain on a single server.
3. Security: Using SSL/TSL, web servers provide encryption for secure data transfer.
4. Configuration Files: Linux-web servers are highly configurable via text files. This can be done through httpd.conf with Apache or through nginx.conf with Nginx.  
5. Modules/Extensions: Using web servers, users get a mechanism by which the capability of a server to serve different kinds of dynamic content increases. Many software applications use PHP or Python for the same reason.

Advantages of Running a Web Server in Linux

– Lightweight stability

Linux is renowned for its stability and uptime; therefore, it’s a great platform for running web servers.

– Performance

Linux Web servers, especially Nginx and LiteSpeed, have good performance handling high traffic.

– Security

Linux has robust security; hence, in combination with its web server hardening techniques, it well ensures the security of the hosting site.

– Open source

Most of the Linux web servers, especially Apache and Nginx, are open-source, which means no licensing fee is required, as well as an excellent option to get advanced support from the community.

– Fine-tuning configurations

Running web servers in Linux allows more setting options. This means users are allowed to optimize the resources for best performance and scalability.

Practical Uses of Linux Web Servers

1. Web hosting features

With Linux web servers, you can host and serve static or dynamic web pages to your visitors.

2. Running web applications

Web servers in Linux help you power applications with server-side processing needs. For example, you can run an eCommerce site with all the eCommerce apps required. 

3. Deploying APIs

Web servers act as the structural framework for APIs, used by various software or mobile applications.

Setting Up a Web Server on Linux

Follow the below steps to install web servers in Linux.

1. Installing the Web Server: 

– Install the Web Server: Apache

To install Apache on Ubuntu or Debian, use the command: 

sudo apt install apache2 

To install the Apache on CentOS/Red Hat, use the command: 

sudo yum install httpd

– Install the Web Server: Nginx

To install the Nginx on Ubuntu or Debian, use the command: 

sudo apt install nginx 

To install the Nginx on CentOS/Red Hat, use the command: 

sudo yum install nginx

2. Start and Enable the Service:

Start the web server on Ubuntu/Debian using sudo systemctl start apache2, or you can start the web server on CentOS/Red Hat using sudo systemctl start nginx, respectively.

To enable it to start on boot, use sudo systemctl enable apache2 or sudo systemctl enable nginx.

3. Configure the Web Server:

Change configuration files, usually residing at /etc/apache2/ for Apache or at /etc/nginx/ for Nginx.

Configure virtual hosts to host several websites from a single server.

4. Deploy Your Website:

Copy your web files to /var/www/html/ on Apache or /usr/share/nginx/html/ on Nginx.

Servers can be restarted for changes to take effect:Use sudo systemctl restart apache2 or sudo systemctl restart nginx for Ubuntu/Debian or CentOS/Red Hat, respectively.