In this article, you will learn how to deploy a web application using web servers and application servers. You will also learn about the differences and similarities between these two types of servers, and how they work together to deliver dynamic web content.
What is a Web Server?
A web server is a software program that delivers static web content, such as HTML pages, files, images, and videos, to clients over the internet. A web server responds to requests from web browsers using the hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP), which is the standard protocol for communication between web clients and servers.
A web server can also support plug-ins for scripting languages, such as PHP, Perl, or Python, that enable the web server to generate dynamic content based on server-side logic. For example, a web server can use PHP to connect to a database and display data on a web page.
Some of the most popular web servers are Apache, Nginx, and Microsoft IIS. These web servers are free and open source, and they offer various features and capabilities, such as reverse proxy, load balancing, caching, and security.
What is an Application Server?
An application server is a software program that enables interaction between clients and server-side application code, such as Java servlets or Enterprise JavaBeans (EJB). An application server provides the business logic and functionality of a web application, such as transaction processing, authentication, authorization, and data access.
An application server typically can deliver web content too, but its primary job is to execute application code and generate dynamic content based on the client's input or request. An application server can use various communication protocols to interact with clients, such as HTTP, SOAP, or RMI.
An application server can also provide services that improve the performance and reliability of web applications, such as clustering, redundancy, load balancing, and caching. An application server can also integrate with other systems and technologies, such as databases, messaging systems, or web services.
Some of the most popular application servers are Tomcat, Glassfish, and WebLogic. These application servers are based on Java EE standards and support Java servlets and EJBs. They also offer various features and capabilities, such as security, administration, monitoring, and deployment.
How to Deploy a Web Application Using Web Servers and Application Servers
To deploy a web application using web servers and application servers, you need to follow these steps:
1. Develop your web application using your preferred programming language and framework. For example, you can use Java EE to create a web application that consists of servlets and EJBs.
2. Package your web application into a deployable unit that contains all the necessary files and resources. For example, you can use Maven or Gradle to create a WAR file or an EAR file for your Java EE web application.
3. Install and configure your web server and your application server on your target environment. For example, you can install Apache on one server and Tomcat on another server in your network.
4. Deploy your web application to your application server using its deployment tools or methods. For example, you can use Tomcat Manager or Ant to deploy your WAR file or EAR file to Tomcat.
5. Configure your web server to forward requests for dynamic content to your application server using its proxy or integration modules. For example, you can use mod_proxy or mod_jk to connect Apache with Tomcat.
6. Test your web application by accessing it from your web browser using its URL. For example, you can use http://example.com/myapp to access your web application hosted by Apache and Tomcat.
In this article, you learned how to deploy a web application using web servers and application servers. You also learned about the differences and similarities between these two types of servers, and how they work together to deliver dynamic web content.
Web servers and application servers are both essential components of modern web applications. By understanding their roles and functions, you can choose the best combination of servers for your web application's needs and requirements.
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