Overview of Server-Side Programs

Java servlets and CGI programs have different strengths and uses. The following list illustrates the differences between these server-side programs:

• Java servlets are written in Java, which is a full-featured programming language for creating network applications.

• Common Gateway Interface(CGI) programs can be written in C, Perl, or other programming languages. All CGI programs have a standard way of passing information between clients and servers.

Types of Server-Side Applications That Run on the Server

The Sun Java System Web Server can run the following types of server-side applications to dynamically generate content:

• Java servlets

• CGI programs

The Sun Java System Web Server can also run programs that extend or modify the behavior of the server itself. These programs, known as plug-ins, are written using the Netscape Server Application Programming Interface (NSAPI). For information about writing and installing plug-in programs, see the Sun Java System Web Server 6.1 SP9 NSAPI Programmer’s Guide.

How Server-Side Applications Are Installed on the Server

Each type of program is installed onto the server differently. The following list summarizes the procedures:

• For Java servlets, you can create and deploy web applications. For more information, see What the Server Needs to Run Servlets.

• For CGI programs, you can configure your server to recognize all files with certain filename extensions, or all files in specified directories as CGI programs, or both. For more information, see Installing CGI Programs, Installing Windows CGI Programs, and Installing Shell CGI Programs for Windows.

These installation procedures are described in the following sections.