RH320 Apache and Secure Web Server Administration

Overview:

For Linux - and/or UNIX - systems administrators who want to configure and maintain a secure Apache Web Server.

Description:

Goal:
A web server administrator who can configure and maintain an Apache web server running under Red Hat Linux, incorporating CGI handlers, SSL security, dynamic content, and customization via modules.

Audience:
Linux or UNIX system administrators who desire to obtain intensive hands-on training on configuration and management of an Apache Web Server.

Prerequisites:
Certain prerequisite skills are required to enter the Red Hat Apache and Secure Web Server Administration course:
RH253 Red Hat Linux Network Services and Security, or RH300 RHCE Rapid Track Course, or equivalent experience with UNIX or Linux
Creating web pages using HTML
Some experience with Perl or Python or shell scripting/programming is recommended but not required. 

What you will learn:
Introduction and Basic Apache Configuration:
httpd overview: client/server topology, transactional overview
History of web servers: NCSA, Apache evolution, The Apache Organization
Apache today: usage, extensibility, process model, Red Hat's Apache packages
Basic configuration: configuration files and options, basic daemon control 

Apache Virtual Hosts:
Understanding Virtual hosts: IP-based, name-based
Configuration directives and syntax checking
Using Apache to serve virtually hosted web servers
Web server log files: formats, configuration, use and analysis
Server MIME types 

CGI and Server Side Includes:
Understanding CGI: Definition, mechanics, limitations, common CGI languages
Basic CGI requirements
Useful CGI tasks: form processing, database manipulation, custom-built tasks
SSI: similarities to CGI, .shtml implementation, Xbithack directive, examples
CGI security: proper programming; suEXEC: file placement issues, configuration 

Database backends:
Available Databases
Postgres: installation, administration, creating and loading a table; pgaccess
Query and insert with SQL
Implementations of query and insert in CGI
Perl CGI.pm; DBD/DBI.pm 

Apache customization through modules:
Concepts
mod_perl
mod_php
mod_status
mod_usertrack
mod_rewrite
other modules 

Security and authentication:
Basic access control by host/domain/network
Apache security strategies
Implementing Web-based password authentication
Authentication scenarios 

Advanced Security with SSL:
Basic Cryptography and SSL concepts
SSL Certificates
Obtaining a website certificate
Implementing SSL with Apache