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Apache HTTP Server Version 2.0
Apache Module mod_isapi
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Summary
This module implements the Internet Server extension API. It allows Internet Server extensions (e.g. ISAPI .dll modules) to be served by Apache for Windows, subject to the noted restrictions.
ISAPI extension modules (.dll files) are written by third parties. The Apache Group does not author these modules, so we provide no support for them. Please contact the ISAPI's author directly if you are experiencing problems running their ISAPI extention. Please do not post such problems to Apache's lists or bug reporting pages.
Directives
Usage
In the server configuration file, use
the AddHandler directive to
associate ISAPI files with the isapi-isa handler, and map
it to the with their file extensions. To enable any .dll file to be
processed as an ISAPI extention, edit the httpd.conf file and add the
following line:
AddHandler isapi-isa .dll
There is no capability within the Apache server to leave a requested module loaded. However, you may preload and keep a specific module loaded by using the following syntax in your httpd.conf:
ISAPICacheFile c:/WebWork/Scripts/ISAPI/mytest.dll
Whether or not you have preloaded an ISAPI extension, all
ISAPI extensions are governed by the same permissions and
restrictions as CGI scripts. That is, Options
ExecCGI must be set for the directory that contains the
ISAPI .dll file.
Review the Additional Notes and the Programmer's Journal for additional details and clarification of the specific ISAPI support offered by mod_isapi.
Additional Notes
Apache's ISAPI implementation conforms to all of the ISAPI
2.0 specification, except for some "Microsoft-specific"
extensions dealing with asynchronous I/O. Apache's I/O model
does not allow asynchronous reading and writing in a manner
that the ISAPI could access. If an ISA tries to access
unsupported features, including async I/O, a message is placed
in the error log to help with debugging. Since these messages
can become a flood, the directive ISAPILogNotSupported
Off exists to quiet this noise.
Some servers, like Microsoft IIS, load the ISAPI extension into the server and keep it loaded until memory usage is too high, or unless configuration options are specified. Apache currently loads and unloads the ISAPI extension each time it is requested, unless the ISAPICacheFile directive is specified. This is inefficient, but Apache's memory model makes this the most effective method. Many ISAPI modules are subtly incompatible with the Apache server, and unloading these modules helps to ensure the stability of the server.
Also, remember that while Apache supports ISAPI Extensions, it does not support ISAPI Filters. Support for filters may be added at a later date, but no support is planned at this time.
Programmer's Journal
If you are programming Apache 2.0 mod_isapi
modules, you must limit your calls to ServerSupportFunction to the
following directives:
- HSE_REQ_SEND_URL_REDIRECT_RESP
- Redirect the user to another location.
This must be a fully qualified URL (e.g. http://server/location). - HSE_REQ_SEND_URL
- Redirect the user to another location.
This cannot be a fully qualified URL, you are not allowed to pass the protocol or a server name (e.g. simply /location).
This redirection is handled by the server, not the browser.
Warning: in their recent documentation, Microsoft appears to have abandoned the distinction between the two HSE_REQ_SEND_URL functions. Apache continues to treat them as two distinct functions with different requirements and behaviors. - HSE_REQ_SEND_RESPONSE_HEADER
- Apache accepts a response body following the header if it follows the blank line (two consecutive newlines) in the headers string argument. This body cannot contain NULLs, since the headers argument is NULL terminated.
- HSE_REQ_DONE_WITH_SESSION
- Apache considers this a no-op, since the session will be finished when the ISAPI returns from processing.
- HSE_REQ_MAP_URL_TO_PATH
- Apache will translate a virtual name to a physical name.
- HSE_APPEND_LOG_PARAMETER
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This logged message may be captured in any of the following
logs:
- in the \"%{isapi-parameter}n\" component in a CustomLog directive
- in the %q log component with the ISAPIAppendLogToQuery On directive
- in the error log with the ISAPIAppendLogToErrors On directive
- HSE_REQ_IS_KEEP_CONN
- Will return the negotiated Keep-Alive status.
- HSE_REQ_SEND_RESPONSE_HEADER_EX
- Will behave as documented, although the fKeepConn flag is ignored.
- HSE_REQ_IS_CONNECTED
- Will report false if the request has been aborted.
Apache returns FALSE to any unsupported call to ServerSupportFunction, and sets the GetLastError value to ERROR_INVALID_PARAMETER.
ReadClient retrieves the request body exceeding the initial buffer (defined by ISAPIReadAheadBuffer). Based on the ISAPIReadAheadBuffer setting (number of bytes to buffer prior to calling the ISAPI handler) shorter requests are sent complete to the extension when it is invoked. If the request is longer, the ISAPI extension must use ReadClient to retrieve the remaining request body.
WriteClient is supported, but only with the HSE_IO_SYNC flag or no option flag (value of 0). Any other WriteClient request will be rejected with a return value of FALSE, and a GetLastError value of ERROR_INVALID_PARAMETER.
GetServerVariable is supported, although extended server variables do not exist (as defined by other servers.) All the usual Apache CGI environment variables are available from GetServerVariable, as well as the ALL_HTTP and ALL_RAW values.
Apache 2.0 mod_isapi supports additional
features introduced in later versions of the ISAPI specification,
as well as limited emulation of async I/O and the TransmitFile
semantics. Apache also supports preloading ISAPI .dlls for
performance, neither of which were not available under Apache 1.3
mod_isapi.
ISAPIAppendLogToErrors Directive
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Record HSE_APPEND_LOG_PARAMETER requests from ISAPI extensions to the server error log.
ISAPIAppendLogToQuery Directive
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Record HSE_APPEND_LOG_PARAMETER requests from ISAPI extensions to the query field (appended to the CustomLog %q component).
ISAPIFileChache Directive
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Specifies a space-separated list of file names to be loaded when the Apache server is launched, and remain loaded until the server is shut down. This directive may be repeated for every ISAPI .dll file desired. The full path name of each file should be specified.
ISAPILogNotSupported Directive
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Logs all requests for unsupported features from ISAPI extensions in the server error log. While this should be turned off once all desired ISAPI modules are functioning, it defaults to on to help administrators track down problems.
ISAPIReadAheadBuffer Directive
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Defines the maximum size of the Read Ahead Buffer sent to ISAPI extensions when they are initially invoked. All remaining data must be retrieved using the ReadClient callback; some ISAPI extensions may not support the ReadClient function. Refer questions to the ISAPI extension's author.
