Oracle (Apache) HTTP Server FAQ
$Date: 19-Jan-2003 $
$Revision: 1.02 $
$Author: Frank Naudé $
Topics
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What is the Oracle HTTP Server and how does it work?
The Oracle HTTP
server is a simple Web HTTPD server (Web listener). It is based on the Apache
Web Server provided by the Apache Group (www.apache.org). Both the Oracle
Database Server (8.1.7 and above) and Oracle 9iAS (Oracle Internet Application
Server) ships with the Oracle HTTP Server.
The following virtual servers are predefined when one install the Oracle HTTP
Server:
- HTTP Server Home Page
http://machine-name:7777/
(Apache
documentation, mod_plsql, mod_ose, mod_JServ, JSP, etc.)
- Oracle Enterprise Manager (OEM)
Web_stage
http://machine-name:3339/
(Oracle Enterprise Manager Console
and applications)
Please note that these ports might be different on your system. Check the
httpd.conf file to obtain the correct port numbers.
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How does one start and stop the Oracle HTTP Server?
Look at this
example: On Unix:
cd $ORACLE_HOME/Apache/Apache/bin/
./apachectl start # or... httpdsctl start
# or... httpdsctl startssl
On Windows NT/2000
Start the Apache service
NOTE: It is better to use the apachectl command than the
httpdsctl command as apachectl also sets a number of required
environment variables.
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How does one publish static HTML pages on the Oracle HTTP
Server?
One can use the Oracle HTTP Server to publish standard HTML
pages. Start by defining a alias (virtual directory on web) to point to the
physical directory containing the HTML pages you need to publish.
- cd $ORACLE_HOME/Apache/Apache/conf
- Edit httpd.conf and add the following lines:
Alias /mydocs/ "/my/directory/name/"
<Directory "/my/directory/name">
Allow from all
</Directory>
- Restart the Oracle HTTP Server
- Open your Web browser and navigate to
http://my.host.name:7777/mydocs/index.html
Notes: More options can be added to the "httpd.conf" file as per the Apache
Server Documentation.
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How does one execute standard CGI-BIN programs from the Oracle HTTP
Server?
One can execute any program that conforms to the CGI (Common
Gateway Interface) standard from the Oracle HTTP Server. Such a program can be
written in Perl, TCL, C++, COBOL or any other programming language.
Add the following line into your httpd.conf file and restart the server:
ScriptAlias /cgi-bin/ "/usr/local/apache/cgi-bin/"
Note the slash (/) at the end of the path.
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How does one password protect certain directories?
Add the following
directives to the <Directory ...> entry (see example above) in your
httpd.conf file and restart the Apache server. You can also add these directives
to the $ORACLE_HOME/Apache/modplsql/cfg/plsql.conf file to protect ALL database
access: AuthName "Web User Authentication"
AuthType Basic
AuthUserFile /path/to/your/password/file
Require valid-user
Use the htpasswd utility to create the password file. Look at this
example: htpassswd -c /path/to/your/password/file username1 # Create initial passowrd file
htpassswd /path/to/your/password/file username2 # Add second user to the passowrd file
Note that you can add more users without having to restart the Apache
server. Some handy Perl CGI-BIN scripts are available to handle user
registration from a web page.
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How does one configure the Oracle HTTP Server?
The Oracle HTTP
Server is configured by editing the httpd.conf file in your
$ORACLE_HOME/Apache/Apache/conf directory by hand. Oracle does not provide any
GUI utilities to edit this file. Consult the standard Apache documentation before
making any changes to this file. See gui.apache.org if you need some GUI management
utilities to do the job.
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Can one start the Apache listener on port 80?
Ports below 1024 (on
Unix and Linux systems) are "privileged" ports; only accounts with superuser
permissions (like root) can start programs that uses them. If you need to run
the Apache Server on the default port (port 80), contact your system
administrator to start and stop the server for you.
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How does Oracle extend the Apache Web Server?
The Apache Web server
can be extended by writing modules or Apache mods. Oracle provides mods for the
following:
- Oracle PL/SQL ToolKit (mod_plsql) - Execute PL/SQL on DB and return HTML
to browsers. See the MOD_PLSQL
FAQ for details.
- Oracle Servlet Engine (mode_ose) - Call Servlets stored in an Oracle DB
- Etc.
Some of the standard Apache mods that can be used:
- mod_auth - Basic Web authentication
- mod_perl - Run perl scripts faster using the Apache in-process Perl
interpreter
- mod_ssl - Secure Socket Layer (SSL)
- mod_cgi - Run scripts and programs via the Common Gateway Interface
- Etc.
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Where can one get more info about the Oracle HTTP Server?
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