[Info-vax] Apache Plugins for OpenVMS?

[Neil Rieck]

On Saturday, March 14, 2015 at 2:05:25 PM UTC-4, dodecah... at gmail.com wrote:
> On Sunday, March 1, 2015 at 12:48:47 AM UTC+11, Neil Rieck wrote:
> > The OpenVMS authentication module in Apache (MOD_AUTH_OPENVMS) is getting a little long in the tooth so I have been contemplating writing my own which would perform a lookup on an indexed RMS file. Many of the examples you see online ( https://modules.apache.org/ ) require source files from:
> > 
> > 1) a UNIX distribution of httpd-2.0.63 (easy to find)
> > 2) an installed version of APR (apache portable runtime) which I am assuming I would first build under GNV
> >  
> > Has anyone (other than Compaq + HP) ever attempted this on OpenVMS? I welcome comments from anyone including Compaq + HP.
> >  
> > Neil Rieck
> > Kitchener / Waterloo / Cambridge,
> > Ontario, Canada.
> > http://www3.sympatico.ca/n.rieck/
> 
> 
> If you don't have to have Apache, you could look at the excellent web server called WASD
> 
> It is OpenVMS cluster aware and has a wealth of stuff built specifically for OpenVMS including authentication using OpenVMS authentication techniques
> 
> It runs on all 3 generations of architecture
> 
> http://wasd.vsm.com.au/
> 
> It is vigorously updated and maintained. Often issues raised are replied to by the producer within mins to hours!
> 
> It is looked after by a Mark Daniel, who works for the ADF (Australian defense force) as WASD was developed there, so this guy is somewhat security bent on maintaining a tight ship, so to speak
> 
> Mark also produces some other goodies, such as 'dclinabox' which allows you to use a web browser as a VT terminal and 'soymail', which is a web browser interface to VMS mail. He's also written websocket interfacing into WASD as well
> 
> All in all I think it's a much better webserver than Apache, although it's not 'Apache' so some will frown upon it
> 
> Just be warned however, the documentation is extensive! (not that this is a bad thing)

I just checked your site for the first time. Like most things from Australia, it appears to be a professional offering -AND- it appears very fast. I didn't see gSOAP in your docs but noticed it when browsing the directory tree. We are currently using a professionally written gSOAP offering from Brett Cameron (he's from New Zealand; there must be something in the water down-under) so that would have been a show stopper for us. 
 
Everyone reading this already knows that CSWS is based upon Apache httpd-2.0.63 which is getting long-in-the-tooth -AND- 2.0 is no longer supported by Apache. I have no idea if HP or VSI intends to do a new port based upon the latest offering which is 2.4 but an HP-supported web server is the only thing keeping us on OpenVMS (only developers and sys-admins use telnet these days).
 
That said, I'm going to download a copy of WASD tomorrow then install it on one of the junk Alpha's in the back room. I think a good case could be made for moving to WASD if CSWS stays stuck back in time.
 
Neil Rieck 
Kitchener / Waterloo / Cambridge, 
Ontario, Canada. 
http://www3.sympatico.ca/n.rieck/