In this issue

Apache Site: www.apache.org
Release: 1.2.4 (Released 22^nd August 1997) (local download sites)
Beta: 1.3b2 (Released 16^th October 1997) (local download sites)

Apache 1.3 is now in beta test. The most recent release is 1.3b2 (there was no 1.3b1). This is available in source form for both Unix and Windows 95/NT. It was hoped to get a binary release for Windows, but this is likely to be available for the next beta because of a number of important bugs found and fixed in 1.3b2.

A new beta, 1.3b3, is now expected sometime in the not-too-distant future. This will contain many bug fixes, some portablitity fixes, and support compilation on OS/2. It will also attempt to fix the problem seen on Windows where only 16kB of a file is sent, which some users have reported. The Windows version will also perfrom better error checks while sending data.

These bugs have been found and fixed in 1.3b3.

Because of the major differences between Windows and Unix, these are separated into bugs which affect Windows systems only, and other bugs (which may affect Windows as well). Unix users can ignore the bugs listed in the Windows section.

Windows-specific Bugs

• Long URLs may cause Apache to crash.

Other Bugs

• Year 2100 bug in the mod_usertrack log file
• Does not compile on OS/2. The OS/2 support in the code has now been updated.
• Configure does not work on MachTen.
• Solaris 2.6 can get stuck, accepting requests but not serving them. This is because it uses pthread "mutexes" instead of a lock file, but there was a case that could cause a child to die while it owned the mutex. This is fixed by blocking signals and freeing the mutex when necessary.

Patches for bugs in Apache 1.2.4 may be made available in the apply to 1.2.4 directory on the Apache site. Some new features and other unofficial patches are available in the 1.2 patches directory. For details of all previously reported bugs, see the Apache bug database and known bugs pages. Also many common configuration questions are answered in the Apache FAQ.

Development has slowed down over the last couple of weeks to prepare for the release of Apache 1.3. Now that the first beta is out, Apache is in a "feature freeze" where no new features will be added. The only changes from now on will be bug-fixes.

The command httpd -c gives the version number of Apache. In a future beta this may be extended to also give the compilation date and time. A new option, -V, may also be added to give more complete compilation information.

A new document has been added to the Apache site about tuning HP-UX. Performance tuning hints for other operating systems are also available.

The latest Netcraft Server Survey shows Apache servers run on at least 44.74% of the world's Internet sites. The changes in share are very small this month, with Apache up 0.88, Microsoft up 0.36 and Netscape down 0.19. Since people have the Apache source, they can change the indentification string used by the survey to something other than "Apache". If all servers which have different names but are known to be based on Apache are included, Apache now has 49.97% of the sites surveyed.

The mailing list for people interested in using Java servlets with Apache has moved. Details are available from the Java/Apache homepage at http://java.apache.org.

The Apache Commerce Survey is still running to find out how Apache is being used in business and commerce. Please take a few moments to fill out the survey. There are only 11 questions, and the information should give us a much better idea of how Apache is being used.

This survey is being run jointly by Apache Week and SOMA MarketNet, a market research organisation focused on information technology. Anyone taking part in the survey can get the full results from SOMA, and Apache Week will summarise the results once they have been tabulated.

Please enter the survey at http://www.soma-esurvey.com/.