Apache Virtual Host

Virtual Hosting is the process of maintaining more than one server on the same computer or IP address. It is particularly being done by groups and organizations who want to have their own domain but prefers to share a common web server.

Virtual hosting is categorized into two methods, Name-based virtual hosting and IP-based virtual hosting.

Name-based virtual hosting is a method that employs different host names but utilizes a common IP address. For instance, when a user types in the site that he or she wants to visit, the browser identifies and subsequently populates the complete URL that the user wants.

This is made possible by a server that determines which web site and which page the user prefers to go to, as dictated by the header that he or she specifies.

IP-based hosting on the other hand, is a type of virtual hosting that uses different IP addresses. It works through a systematic configuration of several physical networks or usage of virtual interfaces being supported by today's modern operating systems.

Apache Server is one of the pioneer web servers that developed the dream of a great Information Superhighway. It started supporting IP-based virtual hosting, and then eventually come up with name-based virtual hosting methods. Today, it continues to provide solutions for better and more efficient site hosting. Apache continues to discover new techniques to improve the World Wide Web.