If you plan to build your own Web server, you must select the operating system and Web server software to use. Web servers can operate on a variety of operating systems -- the most popular being Windows NT and UNIX. When setting up your Web server, be sure to select the operating system that you are most comfortable with. Whichever operating system you choose, you will have a variety of packaged Web server suites to choose from. Both Netscape and Microsoft offer complete Web server suites for supporting applications and data on the Internet.
The three most popular Web servers include:
| Web Server Software
| Operating System
|
| O'Reilly's Web site
| Windows 95/98
|
| Internet Information Server
| Windows NT
|
| Apache
| UNIX, Windows NT, OS/2
|
Once you install the Web server software on the machine you intend to use as a Web server, then you must configure the Web server for your particular deployment method. Instructions for configuring the Web server are provided throughout this book in the appropriate deployment sections.