Red Hat Linux powers countless websites, but how do popular web technologies work on it—conceptually and on the server? Here’s a concise step-by-step guide.

1. The Conceptual Flow

Web technologies (e.g., Apache, Nginx, Node.js) serve websites by handling HTTP requests. A client (browser) sends a request to a Red Hat Linux server, which processes it via:

  • Web Server: Listens for requests (ports 80/443).
  • Application Logic: Executes code (e.g., PHP, Python).
  • Data Storage: Fetches data (e.g., MySQL, PostgreSQL). The server then sends the response (HTML, JSON) back to the client.

2. On the Server: Key Technologies

Here’s how popular tools operate on Red Hat Linux:

  • Apache HTTP Server:
    • Role: Serves static/dynamic content.
    • Setup: Install via sudo dnf install httpd, configure in /etc/httpd/.
    • Official Source: apache.org
  • Nginx:
    • Role: Lightweight, high-performance web server/reverse proxy.
    • Setup: Install with sudo dnf install nginx, tweak /etc/nginx/.
    • Official Source: nginx.org
  • Node.js:
    • Role: Runs JavaScript server-side for dynamic apps.
    • Setup: Install via sudo dnf module install nodejs, deploy apps in /var/www/.
    • Official Source: nodejs.org
  • PHP:
    • Role: Processes dynamic content (e.g., WordPress).
    • Setup: Install with sudo dnf install php, integrate with Apache/Nginx.
    • Official Source: php.net

3. Why Red Hat Linux?

Red Hat’s stability, security (SELinux), and dnf package manager make it ideal for hosting. It supports containerization (Podman) for scalable deployments.

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