httpd in OpenBSD 5.6

[jorisvh]

Prior to OpenBSD 5.6's release I read that apache2 would be replaced by nginx as the httpd(8) web server.

In the 5.5 to 5.6 upgrade guide I read:

OpenBSD's version of nginx will be removed from base in favor of an internally developed httpd server in 5.7. nginx will be available as a package for those with applications dependent upon it.

But the 5.6 httpd/httpd.conf manpage doesn't show any reference to nginx?
It even features:

AUTHORS
The httpd(8) program was written by Reyk Floeter <reyk@openbsd.org>.

So is the current httpd just wrapping around nginx?

[jggimi]

Hello, and welcome!

This might help.

1. A fork of Apache v1.3 became built-in to OpenBSD before release 2.6, in 1999. It's binary executable file was stored in /usr/sbin/httpd.
2. During development of OpenBSD 5.1, in 2011, the Project added /usr/sbin/nginx to the OS.
3. The Apache v1.3 fork (/usr/sbin/httpd) was removed for 5.6.
4. The nginx webserver is still in the base OS for 5.6. It will be removed for 5.7 (and has already been removed in -current).
5. The relayd(8)-based httpd (also executable file /usr/sbin/httpd) will be available at 5.7 (and is already available in -current).

The modified Apache v1.3, Apache 2, and nginx are all available in the ports/packages system, but will not in the base for 5.7 (or -current, now).

[jorisvh]

Thanks.

But what is /usr/sbin/httpd in the base system of 5.6 -release?

[J65nko]

As I did not get a chance to install 5.6 yet, I don';t know, but you could always check the httpd man page to find out.

[jorisvh]

Originally Posted by J65nko

As I did not get a chance to install 5.6 yet, I don';t know, but you could always check the httpd man page to find out.

$ man httpd | tail -8
HISTORY
     The httpd program first appeared in OpenBSD 5.6.  httpd is based on
     relayd(8).

AUTHORS
     The httpd program was written by Reyk Floeter <reyk@openbsd.org>.

OpenBSD 5.6                     August 7, 2014                     OpenBSD 5.6

Looking at the -stable manpage in 5.6 I think this is the internally developed httpd. I'm new to OpenBSD but this is sending me mixed signals.
Why swap apache with their own webserver but add nginx for six months? Is httpd not considered production ready?

[jggimi]

I need to correct my statement. Looking through CVS logs again, it appears that the new httpd server was included at 5.6.

The nginx webserver was not added for 6 months, it has been in the base for three years -- since 5.1. It will be removed for 5.7. It's still there, in 5.6, as /usr/sbin/nginx. Its name has never changed.

[gpatrick]

Is the relayd-based httpd going to support virtual hosts, SNI, and reverse proxy configuration?

OpenSMTPD replaced Sendmail in the base even though it isn't ready to do so. Filters have been talked about for nearly two years and as of yet don't exist. Address rewrite doesn't exist either, and both of these are commonly used features in an MTA.

Unless a replacement is going to be able to have complete functionality, it shouldn't replace something that already works like Sendmail.

[jggimi]

The Project has decided to only have a simple webserver in their base OS. If it doesn't have the bells and whistles you need, then install the third party webserver of your choice.

I'm a -current user and I'm using www/nginx from ports. I'd been running nginx(8) from base, and as it's no longer in the base I installed the package. No change to /etc/nginx/nginx.conf was needed, on any of my platforms.

At some point in the future I'll test httpd(8) and either transition my web servers to it, or not, depending on the outcome of testing. I haven't had either the time or the interest to examine it.

I switched from Sendmail to smtpd(8) relatively early, because I didn't need the features you require. If I needed them, I'd still be using Sendmail or some other MTA.

[Oko]

Originally Posted by jorisvh

Prior to OpenBSD 5.6's release I read that apache2 would be replaced by nginx as the httpd(8) web server.

This is where I stop reading your post Apache 2 has never been the part of OpenBSD base due to licensing issues. Nginx has been the part of the base for a while. However it is already removed from 5.6 current in favor of new native web server which was surgically created out of realyd.