A web server is a system that is configured to answer HTTP requests. To convert a generic Linux system into a web hosting platform, you need to install a daemon that listens for connections on TCP port 80, accepts requests for documents, and transmits them to the requesting user. Full process from the instance a user requests a web page to the content of the requested page rendering in the user's web browser window. When you type a web address into your browser:
- The browser goes to the DNS server, and finds the real address of the server that the website lives on.
- The browser sends an HTTP request message to the server, asking it to send a copy of the website to the client. This message, and all other data sent between the client and the server, is sent across your internet connection using TCP/IP.
- If the server approves the client's request, the server sends the client a "200 OK" message, which means "Of course you can look at that website! Here it is", and then starts sending the website's files to the browser as a series of small chunks called data packets.
- The browser assembles the small chunks into a complete web page and displays it to you.
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