This chapter describes the Oracle HTTP Server, highlighting the differences between the Oracle distribution and the open source Apache product on which it is based. It also explains how to start, stop, and restart the server.
Topics discussed are:
Documentation from the Apache Software Foundation is referenced when applicable.
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Note: Readers using this guide in PDF or hard copy formats will be unable to access third-party documentation, which Oracle provides in HTML format only. To access the third-party documentation referenced in this guide, use the HTML version of this guide and click the hyperlinks. |
Oracle HTTP Server is the Web server component of Oracle Database. Based on the Apache infrastructure, Oracle HTTP Server is a robust, reliable Web server, preconfigured to do the following:
Provide Dynamic Monitoring Service (DMS) metrics that give runtime performance statistics for Oracle HTTP Server processes.
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See Also: Oracle Application Server 10g Performance Guide |
Provide a request ID, which enhances request tracking through various components by attaching a request ID to each request. This provides more detailed information, allowing you to see how much time a particular request spends in any component or layer.
Enable securing of transactions with Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) technology.
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See Also:
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Execute Perl scripts in the same process as the Oracle HTTP Server, or as CGI script.
Access database stored procedures with a PL/SQL engine.
Enable scripting of HTML pages with PL/SQL code.
Oracle HTTP Server consists of several components that run within the same process. These components provide the extensive list of features that Oracle HTTP Server offers when handling client requests. Major components are:
HTTP Listener: Oracle HTTP Server is based on an Apache HTTP listener to serve client requests. An HTTP server listener handles incoming requests and routes them to the appropriate processing utility.
Modules (mods): Modules both implement and extend the basic functionality of Oracle HTTP Server. Many of the standard Apache modules are included with Oracle HTTP Server. Oracle also includes several internal modules that are specific to Oracle Application Server components.
Perl Interpreter: A persistent Perl runtime environment embedded in Oracle HTTP Server through mod_perl.
Table 1-1 identifies the modules shipped with Oracle HTTP Server. Modules extend the basic functionality of the Web server, and support integration between Oracle HTTP Server and other Oracle Database components. Note that the list differs from the Apache open source distribution (given the inclusion of Oracle modules).
Table 1-1 Oracle HTTP Server Modules
| Module | Note | Module | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| mod_access | mod_log_agent | Deprecated | |
| mod_actions | mod_log_config | ||
| mod_alias | mod_log_referer | Deprecated | |
| mod_asis | mod_mime | ||
| mod_auth | mod_mime_magic | ||
| mod_auth_anon | mod_mmap_static | ||
| mod_auth_dbm | mod_negotiation | ||
| mod_autoindex | mod_onsint | Oracle module | |
| mod_cern_meta | mod_ossl | Oracle module | |
| mod_certheaders | Oracle module | mod_perl | |
| mod_cgi | mod_php | ||
| mod_define | UNIX systems only | mod_plsql | Oracle module |
| mod_digest | mod_proxy | ||
| mod_dir | mod_rewrite | ||
| mod_dms | Oracle module | mod_security | |
| mod_env | mod_setenvif | ||
| mod_example | mod_speling | ||
| mod_expires | mod_status | ||
| mod_fastcgi | mod_unique_id | ||
| mod_headers | mod_userdir | ||
| mod_imap | mod_usertrack | ||
| mod_include | mod_vhost_alias | ||
| mod_info | mod_wchandshake | Oracle module |
Oracle provides technical support for the following Oracle HTTP Server features and conditions:
Modules included in the Oracle distribution. Modules from any other source, including the Apache Software Foundation, are not supported by Oracle.
Problems that can be reproduced within an Apache configuration consisting only of supported Oracle Apache modules.
Use of the included Perl interpreter within the supported Apache configuration.
You can manage Oracle HTTP Server using opmnctl. It is the command-line utility for Oracle Process Manager and Notification Server (OPMN) for process management. It is located in the following directories:
UNIX:
ORACLE_HOME/opmn/bin
Windows:
ORACLE_HOME\opmn\bin
For more information about opmnctl, see the Oracle Process Manager and Notification Server Administrator's Guide
Oracle HTTP Server is managed by Oracle Process Manager and Notification Server (OPMN). You must always use OPMN to start, stop and restart Oracle HTTP Server. Otherwise, the configuration management infrastructure cannot detect or communicate with the Oracle HTTP Server processes, and problems may occur.
To determine the state of Oracle HTTP Server, use the following command:
opmnctl status
The processes are listed with their current state (Up, Down, and so on.)
To start Oracle HTTP Server, use the startproc command:
UNIX: ORACLE_HOME/opmn/bin> opmnctl [verbose] startproc ias-component=HTTP_Server
Windows: ORACLE_HOME\opmn\bin> opmnctl [verbose] startproc ias-component=HTTP_Server
To stop Oracle HTTP Server, use the stopproc command:
UNIX: ORACLE_HOME/opmn/bin> opmnctl [verbose] stopproc ias-component=HTTP_Server
Windows: ORACLE_HOME\opmn\bin> opmnctl [verbose] stopproc ias-component=HTTP_Server
Restarting Oracle HTTP Server performs a graceful restart, which is invisible to clients. In a graceful restart, on UNIX, a USR1 signal is sent. When the process receives this signal, it tells the children to exit after processing the current request. (Children that are not servicing requests exit immediately.)
The parent re-reads the configuration files and re-opens the log files, replacing the children with new children in accordance with the settings it finds when re-reading the configuration files. It always observes the process creation settings (MaxClients, MaxSpareServers, MinSpareServers) specified, and takes the current server load into account.
To restart Oracle HTTP Server, use the restartproc command:
UNIX: ORACLE_HOME/opmn/bin> opmnctl [verbose] restartproc ias-component=HTTP_Server
Windows: ORACLE_HOME\opmn\bin> opmnctl [verbose] restartproc ias-component=HTTP_Server