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Jorey Bump
list at joreybump.com
Mon Nov 7 17:54:45 EST 2005
Anthony L. wrote: > Hi Jorey, thanks for the reply. Since I am doing this project on my own > with no support, I must go with a web host. I am hoping to find one > that supports Apache 2, Python 2.3, and mod_python 3. I expect to get a > dedicated server, and I'm learning about UML (User Mode Linux) hosting > options. My own shared host (like most) still uses Apache 1.3 with no > upgrade plans. Why wouldn't you be happy with a pre- configured > mod_python setup? I compiled and installed mod_python myself, and the > only configuring I did was in setting up the module directive and > Publisher handler in httpd.conf. Is there more I can (and should) do? I don't think there is any kind of standardized mod_python configuration that has turned out to be one-size-fits-all. I rely on tweaking httpd.conf a lot (and restarting apache), which is not an option in most shared hosting environments. Running your own server (real or virtual) is a different case entirely. You control what's installed, so what your provider supports is irrelevant. > I just read > that hosts/admins do not like persistent long-running processes. I > assume this has to do with server load and stability and not security? All admins expect apache to be a long running process. And, again, if you have a dedicated server, you're the admin, so you can do what you want. But you should be aware that mod_python doesn't necessarily create a single persistent interpreter that's shared by all applications. There may be a few interpreters running at a time, with their own set of cached modules, and they will die and be replaced after a while (I use the apache prefork MPM, where this is the norm, I'm not sure how much things change under a threaded MPM, which also has issues). > I have quickly found myself to be very productive with Python, more so > than with any other language I've ever used. I would say that it's > right for me. I know it will do what I need it to do. So my only real > concerns now are its acceptability in a hosted environment. Had I my > own server, I'd happily use it. Thanks again. If you are comfortable administering your own server, look for a colo or virtual server account. Then you can do whatever you want. I doubt if you'll have any luck in a shared hosting environment, although there are some that give each user their own instance of apache and proxy it behind a main apache web server. No matter what you do, it's well worth digging an old machine out of the trash and installing Linux on it as a learning platform for both administration and development. A modest machine will easily support apache and mod_python.
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