Request Rewriting Introduction

The request rewriting functionality can be used to change a requested URL into any other URL by running a script of rewrite commands to pre-process every request. This powerful functionality enables you to modify the URL and HTTP headers of a request in any way you want. The modified request is passed on to be processed in the usual way, returning the response page to the user.

This powerful functionality can be used in many different ways. It is typically used to:

  • Prevent “broken links” when a URL on your web site becomes obsolete.

    You may restructure a web site, moving commonly accessed files that users may have bookmarked. The rewrite scripts can change requests for the files from their old locations into requests for the files from their new locations.

  • Store cookie information in URLs.

    Cookies are useful for tracking a user’s visits to a web site, but are easily
    disabled by users, making them ineffective. The request rewriting functionality
    can be used to effectively hide cookie-style information in URLs,
    enabling you to track users even if they have disabled cookies.

  • Hide the implementation details of your web site.

    Some parts of your web site may only be available via lengthy or complicated
    URLs. The rewrite functionality can enable users to access these
    parts of your web site using much simpler URLs.

  • Convert from an existing Apache web server that uses mod_rewrite.

    If you have an Apache web server that uses mod_rewrite scripts, you
    can convert these to run on Zeus Web Server.

Advantages

  • High performance, low overhead.
  • Simple to write
  • Portable across many server platforms

Disadvantages

  • Uses proprietary Zeus Rewrite scripting language
  • Not compatible with Apache's mod_rewrite language
  • Difficult to debug
Content Manager [Administrator] 16 December 2005  Permalink  
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