Sun WebServer

Sun WebServer is a highly reliable, secure, standards-based web server for accessing, managing, and distributing information over the Internet, extranets, or intranets. Features in this release of Sun WebServer include:

• Support for Java Servlet Development Kit 2.0. Using servlets rather than CGI scripts provides the cross-platform advantages of Java on the server side while improving processing speed. JSDK 2.0 adds session support to its previous feature set.

• Enhanced dynamic content performance. This enhancement to the CGI interfaces allows content developers to use the Solaris doors interface to speed up interprocess communications.

• Support for HTTP/1.1. Sun WebServer supports the latest version of the hypertext transfer protocol, including named virtual hosts and content negotiation.

• Enhanced scalability. Multiple instances of the server process can run on a single machine and can be managed through the same administration graphical user interface. The number of available virtual hosts is thus raised geometrically.

• Secure HTTP communications. Sun WebServer includes secure-socket layer (SSL) functionality and support for Verisign certificates for safe, encrypted communications.

• Microsoft FrontPage support. Sun WebServer supports popular FrontPage extensions in the areas of authoring, administration, and dynamic content.

Sun WebServer is a two-tier application. It is manageable through the Sun Internet Administrator and is configured to share administrator data with it. See Chapter 7, Integrating Existing Service Applications for details on this configuration and "Two-Tier Service Architecture" for more information on the two-tier architecture.

Sun WebServer can also be administered via its command-line functions.

Network Cache Accelerator

NCA is a  kernel-loadable module that enhances HTTP performance for static content. It is supported on Solaris 7 and must be configured with a web server such as Sun WebServer 2.1.

The Network Cache and Accelerator, NCA, increases web server performance by maintaining an in-kernel cache of web pages accessed during HTTP requests. NCA provides full HTTP 1.1 support in the kernel by either handling the request or passing it to the web server for processing.