virtual server

World-Wide Web A configuration of a World-Wide Web

server that appears to clients as an independent server

but which is actually running on a computer that is shared by

any number of other virtual servers. Each virtual server can

be configured as an independent web site, with its own

hostname, content, and security settings.

DNS maps the hostnames of all virtual servers on one

physical server to its IP address. The web server software

then uses the "Host" header in the HTTP request to determine

which virtual server the request was for, and then processes

the request using that virtual server's configuration.

Virtual servers allow Internet Service Providers to share

one computer between multiple web sites while allowing the

owner of each web site to use and administer the server as

though they had complete control.

(2003-06-23)