Helicon Ape is a piece of software developed by Helicon Tech to bring Apache functionality to IIS web servers. It executes as an ASP.NET module for IIS 7 (and higher versions), integrating the functionalities of over 35 Apache modules. This integration allows for the use of Apache configurations on IIS while maintaining the syntax intact, thereby extending the standard capabilities of IIS.[1]

Helicon Ape
Developer(s)Helicon Tech
Stable release
3.0.0.56 / 22 November 2010
Operating systemMicrosoft Windows
TypeWeb server
LicenseProprietary
Websitehttp://www.helicontech.com/ape/

Aside from the introduction of Apache modules, Helicon Ape provides proprietary modules for server-side debugging and profiling (mod_developer), SEO optimization (mod_linkfreeze), and hotlinking protection (mod_hotlink).[2]

Helicon Ape has a graphical user interface for easy configuration (directive auto-completion and spell-check features are supported) and browsing and includes a regular expressions tester and a password generation utility.[3]

Modules edit

Here is the list of modules currently supported in Helicon Ape:

  • mod_asis - sends files that contain their own HTTP headers.
  • mod_auth_basic - enables HTTP Basic Authentication functionality.
  • mod_auth_digest - enables MD5 Digest Authentication functionality.
  • mod_authn_anon - configures anonymous users access to authenticated areas.
  • mod_authn_dbd - provides authentication based on user look-up in SQL database.
  • mod_authn_default - rejects whatever credentials if no authentication is set.
  • mod_authn_file - provides authentication based on user look-up in plain text password file.
  • mod_authz_default - rejects any authorization request if no authentication is configured.
  • mod_authz_groupfile - allows or denies access to particular areas of the site depending on user group membership.
  • mod_authz_host - allows access control to particular parts of web server based on hostname, IP address or other characteristics of the client request.
  • mod_authz_user - allows or denies access to portions of the web site for authenticated users.
  • mod_cache - allows caching local or proxied content.
  • mod_core - provides the use of Helicon Ape core features.
  • mod_dbd - allows managing of SQL database connections.
  • mod_deflate - enables server output compression.
  • mod_developer - brings extensive requests debugging functionality.
  • mod_disk_cache - allows the use of disk-based storage engine for mod_cache.
  • mod_env - grants control over the environment provided to CGI scripts and SSI pages.
  • mod_evasive - protects your site(s) from HTTP DoS/DDoS attacks and brute force attacks.
  • mod_expires - sets Expires HTTP header and max-age directive of Cache-Control HTTP header in server responses in relation to either the time the source file was last modified, or to the time of the client access.
  • mod_filter - allows the use of context-sensitive content filters.
  • mod_gzip - offers HTTP responses compression.
  • mod_headers - modifies HTTP request and response headers.
  • mod_hotlink - protects the content from hotlinking.
  • mod_linkfreeze - changes links on pages to SEO-friendly format.
  • mod_log_config - enables custom logging.
  • mod_logio - logs input and output number of bytes received/sent per request.
  • mod_mem_cache - allows the use memory-based storage engine for mod_cache.
  • mod_mime - associates requested filename's extensions with the file's behavior (handlers and filters) and content (mime-type, language, character set and encoding).
  • mod_proxy - grants forward and reverse proxy functionality.
  • mod_replace - allows editing of HTML body, HTTP request and response headers.
  • mod_rewrite - rewrites requested URLs on the fly based on regular-expressions-based rules and various conditions.
  • mod_setenvif - sets environment variables depending on whether different parts of the request match specified regular expressions.
  • mod_so - emulates loading modules functions.
  • mod_speling - corrects misspelled URLs by performing case-insensitive checks and allowing one misspelling.
  • mod_usertrack - tracks and logs user activity on the site using cookies.[4]

Compatibility edit

Helicon Ape was designed specifically to benefit from all advantages of IIS 7 architecture, so 100% operability is ensured only on IIS 7 and higher (Windows Vista, Windows Server 2008, Windows 7, and Windows Server 2008 R2).[5] On IIS6 (Windows Server 2003), Helicon Ape offers slightly limited functionality (see compatibility chart).[6]

License edit

There are three license types available for Helicon Ape:

  • Free - for up to 3 sites; costs nothing.
  • Per-site - for one extra site; costs $25.
  • Server - for unlimited number of sites; costs $95; includes 45-day Trial period.[7]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ Bill Staples, "IIS", November 3, 2008
  2. ^ Barb Mosher, "CMS Wire", November 6, 2009
  3. ^ "Host Fantastic", December 21, 2009[permanent dead link]
  4. ^ "Peter Schmidt, "IIS Digest", November 10, 2008". Archived from the original on May 10, 2010. Retrieved March 29, 2010.
  5. ^ "James Long, "Hello All", November 5, 2009". Archived from the original on January 25, 2010. Retrieved March 26, 2010.
  6. ^ "Helicon Ape Compatibility Chart", Helicon Tech, 2009
  7. ^ "Helicon Ape pricing details", Helicon Tech, 2009

External links edit