Secure Mini-Apache for Embedded Linux

An anonymous reader writes "Embedded webserver specialist Mbedthis Software has released AppWeb, a new "mini-Apache" for embedded Linux focusing on high security and designed for 'embedding in applications and devices.' AppWeb can be configured with a memory footprint of only 110K, and targets web services, offline applications, and embedded device management, according to Mbedthis."

Comments

Here's an example

[AtariAmarok]

Click here to see an example of mini-Apache.

Re:Here's an example

[cant_get_a_good_nick]

Funny joke, but I thought in the movie he was an eastern tribe? The kid tried to give him a teepee (plains indian, probably more sioux than apache) but then was told to give him tools to make an eastern style longhouse. Iroquois?

Yes, anyone who argues abnout your joke is a pedantic geek, thank you. =)

While cool, this isn't Apache

[mhesseltine]

From the article,

"AppWeb deploys an Apache-style configuration schema"

along with

"Existing enterprise HTTP servers are poorly suited for embedding, while current embedded web servers have made compromises on security and functionality to meet memory footprint requirements," according to Mbedthis.

So, while it's cool, it's not a port of Apache to an embeded environment.

I'm going to look into this...

[shaitand]

It sounds like it isn't missing any of the basic features your average webserver needs.

And if that is the case why on earth wouldn't you be using for your typical small deployments whether embedded or not?

ACME Labs Software

[gaj]

If you need a really small httpd, you might want to consider one of the options from ACME Labs Software. I've used mini_httpd and found it to work quite well. It can be compiled with SSL support, if you need that. Disk image is about 42k dynamicly linked, so if FLASH space is important, you might consider it. Its RSS is more like about 670k as configured on my system, but IIRC, that's with SSL support.

If you need to get really small, and don't need much by way of features, micro_httpd, but that's probably overkill (underkill?)

Re:ACME Labs Software

[Anonymous Coward]

micro_httpd runs from inetd so you need to factor that into your memory footprint if your selecting a server for the embeded market. Also IIRC the ACME license is ... odd ...

As far as GPL'd servers go there is cherokee (threaded), Thy (forking) and many others. Use google you freaks.

Re:ACME Labs Software

[gaj]

Yeah, quite odd.

Or not. It's basically a modified BSD license.

/** mini_httpd - small HTTP server
**
** Copyright (C) 1999,2000 by Jef Poskanzer <xxx@xxx.xxx>.
** All rights reserved.
**
** Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without
** modification, are permitted provided that the following conditions
** are met:
** 1. Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright
** notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer.
** 2. Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above copyright
** notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer in the
** documentation and/or other materials provided with the distribution.
**
** <disclamer snipped because of lame-ass Lameness filter.>
*/

How exactly is that "odd"? Because it's not GPL?

OTOH, your point about micro_httpd running from inetd is a good point.

A smaller alternative

[Anonymous Coward]

Also check out this server, seems to be smaller and more targeted towards embedded systems.

you think thats small? ...

[nonane]

Check out boa:

Boa currently seems to be the favorite web server in the embedded crowd, and embedded Linux, despite all the marketing hype, really is a big deal. Supposedly, an older version of Boa, v0.92q, runs in 32K address space on m68k, like used in uCLinux