Web Server Software 

In order to responds to the requests from users for HTML web pages, all ecommerce websites need a web server software. 

Along with selection web server, you will have to select an operating system for your website’s computers. Apache is leading web server software which work with Unix and Linux operating systems. 

Unix is the original programming language of the Internet and Web, and Linux is a derived of Unix designed for the personal computer. 
Worldwide community of internet innovators have developed Apache. Apache is an open source software and it also comes preinstalled on many of IBM web servers.

There are number of utility software programs are developed for Apache which can provide all the features needed for an e-commerce website. Knowledge on Unix or Linus is required for using Apache.

Internet Information Services(IIS) by Microsoft is also majorly used web server software. IIS is based on Windows OS and is compatible with a wide choice of Microsoft utility and support programs. 

There also have number of smaller providers or open source web server software available. The web pages user see will look the same irrespective of the development environment. 

Microsoft suite of development tools have number of advantages as they are powerful, integrated and easy to use. The Unix OS, on contrary is more reliable and stable, and there is community which build and tests Unix-based web server software. 

Below are some basic functionalities provided by all web servers :

HTTP request processing 

• Receive and respond to client requests for web pages 

Security Service/Transport Layer Security 

• Verify username and password, process public/private key information and certificate needed for credit card transaction processing 

File Transfer Protocol 

• Allows transfer of larger file from one server to another.

Search Engine 

• Keyword search capability, site content indexing 

Data Capture 

• Log file of all website visits, duration, time of visit and referral source 

E-mail 

• Ability to send, receive and store e-mail messages 

Site management tools 

• Calculate and display website statistics like number of unique visitors, source of request and web page request

Site Management Tools 

In case you want your site to be keep working, and also want to know how well it is working, then you need a site management tools. 

It helps to verify that the links on the web pages are still valid and also helps in identifying files on the website which are not linked with any web page. It also helps to report the errors and problems that user may face while using it. 

Customers don’t like websites on which they face error like “Page not found”. Dead links are the links to URLs which have either been deleted or moved, such links can cause error message for users who are trying to access that link. 

On regular basis if all the links are checked then that will help in preventing frustration and irritation in user, who might opt to take their business to some other properly functioning website. 
Site management tools also helps in understanding behavior of customers on your e-commerce site. 

You can buy site management tools like Web trends, in order to efficiently monitor marketing effectiveness campaign and customer purchases, also keep record of page visit and hit count data.  

Application Servers 

Particular business features needed in websites are provided by web application server. The basic objective of application server is to segregate business applications from front end content on web pages and back-end information regarding connecting database. 

Application servers are a type of middleware software which acts as a medium connecting customers to traditional corporate system as well as all features required to operate e-commerce. 

In the early years, various software companies have build separate program for every function, but by the passing time, these programs are getting replaced by integrated software tools which merges all required features for an e-commerce website into a single development environment. 

There are number of application servers available, few of which are as follows: 

a. Proxy server 

Monitors and handles access to main web server, also implements firewall protection

b. Mail Server 

Manages emails 

c. Catalog Display 

Provides product price and description database

d. Transaction Processing 

Takes order and processes payments

e. List Server 

Creates and provide mailing list, also handles email marketing campaigns 

f. Chat Server 

Creating environment for sending online text in real-time and audio communication with customers 

g. Audio/Video Server 

Stores and supply streaming media content

h. Database Server 

Stores product, product price and customer information 

i. Ad Serverz 

Manages web-enabled database of advertising banners which allows personalized display and modification of ads depending on behaviour of customer. 

j. B2B Server 

For commercial transactions providing buying, selling and linking marketplaces. 

k. Auction Server 

For regulating online auctions providing transaction environment. 

There are various software vendors available which provides application server software. Many of such features are available free of cost for Linux and Unix environment. Majority of businesses opts to use merchant server software an integrated software tool.