Abyss Web Server X1 2.4

'Abyss Web Server X1' is a free HTTP server for non-commercial use only.

It is a small server, but it has support for many features, such as CGI/FastCGI ISAPI extensions, SSI, custom MIME types, IP address control, aliases, URL rewriting, anti-leeching protection, indexing files, etc. When using the CGI/FastCGI extensions of this server you can use interpreters, which allow you to use scripting languages such as PHP, Ruby, Python, Perl, etc.

The configuration of this Web server is a little bit different from Apache, for example. The server has a Web UI console that can be used to modify its behavior.

The default listening port of this console is 9999. The console allows you to modify the server's settings only for your localhost address or the private LAN IP addresses. If you want to modify the server's settings from a host that is not on the 'allowed' list, then you need to add that IP address to the 'allowed' filter. The console can also deny connections from certain IP addresses. You can modify the default listening port and your access credentials. Your access credentials are created the first time you run the server console.

The 'Server Configuration' area has settings such as Parameters, MIME types, Global Bandwidth Limits, and Anti-Hacking Protection. These settings allow you to fine-tune the Abyss Web Server's settings.

Since X1 is freeware, you can't add multiple virtual hosts. If you click the 'Add' button, from the 'Hosts' section, the console prompts you that unlimited hosts are available only for the X2 (Professional) edition. Clicking the 'Configure' button enables you to modify the host's settings. This area allows you to modify the behavior of many features. It grants you access to sections like general, index files, directory listing, bandwidth limits, aliases, statistics, users and groups, SSI parameters, scripting parameters, custom error pages, access control, IP address control, logging, URL rewriting, and anti-leeching.

These settings from the host configuration area create a highly flexible Web server. It also allows you to install CGI/FastCGI extensions. The producer gives you instructions about the installation of these extensions. It even provides you a configured build of PHP 5 for Mac OS X that is available here.

Pluses: it gives you useful settings in combination with a Web UI console administration. It's extendable and it has great documentation. If that's not enough, you can read the producer's online documentation. It also allows you to start the server manually or at startup.

Drawbacks / flaws: you can't hide the server's terminal window.

In conclusion: it is a strong HTTP server that has all kinds of useful features. I think that the missing features, which are available only for the professional version, are not required for a home user, because this application has so much else to offer.

version reviewed: 2.4