In this issue

The second beta of Apache 1.3 is now available. This is called verson 1.3b3 (there was no 1.3b1), and is currently available in source code form for compilation on Unix and Windows 95/NT. A pre-compiled version for Windows 95 and NT is expected very soon.

Apache Site: www.apache.org
Release: 1.2.4 (Released 22^nd August 1997) (local download sites)
Beta: 1.3b3 (Released 20^th November 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. A new beta, 1.3b3, is now expected in the next few days. This will contain many bug fixes, some portablitity fixes, and support compilation on OS/2.

Bugs in 1.3b3

These bugs have been reported in 1.3b3 and are either not fixed, or have not been reproduced by the Apache developers.

• Timeouts do not work when Apache is run unde inetd or with the -X flag. This will be fixed in the next release.
• The error message "(0)Unknown error: mmap_handler: mmap failed" in the error log is a mistake and should be ignored.
• Errors from "pthreads" may be reported incorrectly (only used on Solaris)

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

• Shutting down the Apache service on NT would take a long time and eventually fail.

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.

Apple's new high-end OS, Rhapsody, can now run Apache. This new OS is still under development, but one of the available tools is Apache. It is marked as unsupported by Apple, and the changes necessary to make it work have not been made available for inclusion in the normal Apache distribution. This may happen in the future.

In the meantime, the Rhapsody port is available from Apple's unsupported tools area by FTP.

A major article in Salon Magazine talks about free software, and Apache in particular. Apache's Free Software Warriors looks at the culture behind the development of free software. It compares Apache's license to the GNU GPL license (which places more restrictions on the use of code in commercial products). Linus Torvalds, co-ordinator of Linux, comments "Apache is 'good enough' for just about everybody, and usually it's simply the best when it comes to flexibility, availability and price".

MacWeek reports that Apache is available for Rhapsody: Apache moves to Rhapsody

This is the final chance to enter the Apache Commerce Survey, to help us find out how Apache is being used in business and commerce. 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. The survey is at http://www.soma-esurvey.com/.