Web Server

Apache HTTP Server Releases

Q: Is Apache HTTP Server still relevant?

Yes, but its role has shifted. Apache still serves roughly 30% of websites globally (Netcraft, 2025), second to Nginx. It dominates shared hosting due to .htaccess support, powers most cPanel/Plesk installations, and remains the default on many Linux distros. For new projects, Nginx or Caddy are usually preferred for reverse proxy/static serving, but Apache excels when you need .htaccess, mod_rewrite, or per-directory config delegation.

Q: What is the difference between Apache MPMs?

Apache has three Multi-Processing Modules: prefork (one process per connection, required for mod_php), worker (threads + processes, better concurrency), and event (like worker but handles keep-alive connections asynchronously). Event is recommended for most modern deployments. Prefork is only needed if you run mod_php directly (most PHP setups now use PHP-FPM instead).

Q: Does Apache support HTTP/2?

Yes, via mod_http2 since Apache 2.4.17 (2015). HTTP/2 works with the event and worker MPMs. It does NOT work with prefork MPM due to architectural limitations. If you need HTTP/2 with Apache, switch to event MPM and use PHP-FPM instead of mod_php.

Q: What happened to Apache 2.2?

Apache 2.2 reached end of life in July 2018. It no longer receives any security patches. If you are still running 2.2, upgrade to 2.4 immediately. The migration requires config changes: 2.4 uses a different authorization model (Require directives instead of Order/Allow/Deny) and some modules were renamed or reorganized.

Q: How does Apache compare to Nginx for performance?

Nginx is faster for static content and reverse proxying at high concurrency due to its event-driven architecture. Apache with event MPM closes much of the gap but still uses more memory per connection. Apache wins on flexibility (mod_rewrite, .htaccess, per-directory config). Many production stacks run Nginx as a reverse proxy in front of Apache, getting the best of both.

Q: Is .htaccess a security risk?

Not inherently, but it has trade-offs. .htaccess files are checked on every request in every directory in the path, which adds latency. They can also be exploited if directory listings expose them or if AllowOverride is too permissive. In production, putting all config in httpd.conf and disabling .htaccess (AllowOverride None) is faster and more secure. .htaccess is mostly useful on shared hosting where you cannot edit the main config.

Track Apache HTTP Server (httpd) releases and version lifecycle. MPM comparison, mod_http2 timeline, security patch cadence, and production configuration guidance.

Official Site Documentation

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Total Versions

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Latest

Version Timeline

All tracked releases with lifecycle status and EOL dates.

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Lifecycle Timeline

Visual overview of active support and maintenance windows.

2.2

2.4.33

2.4.46

2.4.54

2.4.58

2.4.62

2.4.63+

2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029

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Upgrade Paths

Migration guidance between major versions — breaking changes, effort estimates, and tips.

2.2 2.4 High Difficulty

Est. 2-8 hours depending on config complexity

Breaking Changes

Authorization model completely changed (Order/Allow/Deny → Require)
Module loading directives changed (LoadModule paths)
mod_access_compat provides backward compat but is deprecated
.htaccess directives may need rewriting
Some module names changed (mod_authz_default removed)
NameVirtualHost directive no longer needed
SSLv3 disabled by default

Migration Notes

The 2.2 to 2.4 migration is the biggest Apache upgrade most teams face. The authorization model change affects every config that uses access control. Use mod_access_compat as a temporary bridge, but plan to rewrite directives to the Require syntax. Apache provides a detailed upgrading guide at httpd.apache.org/docs/2.4/upgrading.html.

2.4.x (older) 2.4.x (latest) Low Difficulty

Est. < 30 minutes

Breaking Changes

TLS default changes (stricter cipher suites)
mod_http2 behavior improvements
Security fixes that may change default behavior
New directives available but not required

Migration Notes

Patch-level upgrades within 2.4 are almost always safe. Update the package, run apachectl configtest, restart. The Apache project is extremely conservative about backward compatibility within a minor branch. Always read the CHANGES file for security notes.

Version Risk Assessment

Evaluate risk factors before choosing a version for production.

Version	EOL Risk	CVE Risk	Ecosystem	Cloud Support	Overall	Recommended Action
Apache HTTP Server 2.2 and older	Critical	Critical	Dead	None	Critical	EOL since 2018 — many unpatched CVEs
Apache HTTP Server 2.4.0-2.4.53	High	High	Unsupported	Varies	High	Known CVEs — update to latest 2.4.x
Apache HTTP Server 2.4.54-2.4.57	Medium	Medium	Outdated	Full	Medium	Missing security fixes — update soon
Apache HTTP Server 2.4.58-2.4.61	Low	Low	Supported	Full	Low	Recent — update to latest patch when convenient
Apache HTTP Server 2.4.62+	None	Low	Active	Full	Low	Current — recommended

Apache 2.4 is the only supported branch. 2.2 has been EOL since 2018. Within 2.4, only the latest patch level receives fixes. Risk assessed March 2026.

Apache HTTP Server Feature Evolution

Side-by-side feature differences across major versions.

Feature	2.2	2.4.33	2.4.46	2.4.58	2.4.62+
HTTP/2 support	No	mod_http2	Stable	Stable	Stable
Event MPM	Experimental	Stable	Stable	Stable	Stable
TLS 1.3	No	OpenSSL dep	Stable	Stable	Stable
OCSP stapling	No	Stable	Stable	Stable	Stable
Require-based auth	No	Default	Default	Default	Default
mod_md (ACME/LE)	No	Experimental	Stable	Enhanced	Enhanced
Proxy WebSocket	No	Stable	Stable	Stable	Enhanced
Per-module logging	No	Stable	Stable	Stable	Stable
Graceful restart	Basic	Improved	Improved	Enhanced	Enhanced
Default cipher security	Weak	Moderate	Strong	Strong	Modern

Embed Badges

Add live Apache HTTP Server status badges to your README, docs, or dashboard.

Health Status

Overall support health

![Apache HTTP Server Health Status](https://img.releaserun.com/badge/health/apache-http-server.svg)

EOL Countdown

Next end-of-life date

![Apache HTTP Server EOL Countdown](https://img.releaserun.com/badge/eol/apache-http-server.svg)

Latest Version

Current stable release

![Apache HTTP Server Latest Version](https://img.releaserun.com/badge/v/apache-http-server.svg)

CVE Status

Known vulnerabilities

![Apache HTTP Server CVE Status](https://img.releaserun.com/badge/cve/apache-http-server.svg)

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Apache HTTP Server releases and lifecycle.

Is Apache HTTP Server still relevant?

Yes, but its role has shifted. Apache still serves roughly 30% of websites globally (Netcraft, 2025), second to Nginx. It dominates shared hosting due to .htaccess support, powers most cPanel/Plesk installations, and remains the default on many Linux distros. For new projects, Nginx or Caddy are usually preferred for reverse proxy/static serving, but Apache excels when you need .htaccess, mod_rewrite, or per-directory config delegation.

What is the difference between Apache MPMs?

Apache has three Multi-Processing Modules: prefork (one process per connection, required for mod_php), worker (threads + processes, better concurrency), and event (like worker but handles keep-alive connections asynchronously). Event is recommended for most modern deployments. Prefork is only needed if you run mod_php directly (most PHP setups now use PHP-FPM instead).

Does Apache support HTTP/2?

Yes, via mod_http2 since Apache 2.4.17 (2015). HTTP/2 works with the event and worker MPMs. It does NOT work with prefork MPM due to architectural limitations. If you need HTTP/2 with Apache, switch to event MPM and use PHP-FPM instead of mod_php.

What happened to Apache 2.2?

Apache 2.2 reached end of life in July 2018. It no longer receives any security patches. If you are still running 2.2, upgrade to 2.4 immediately. The migration requires config changes: 2.4 uses a different authorization model (Require directives instead of Order/Allow/Deny) and some modules were renamed or reorganized.

How does Apache compare to Nginx for performance?

Nginx is faster for static content and reverse proxying at high concurrency due to its event-driven architecture. Apache with event MPM closes much of the gap but still uses more memory per connection. Apache wins on flexibility (mod_rewrite, .htaccess, per-directory config). Many production stacks run Nginx as a reverse proxy in front of Apache, getting the best of both.

Is .htaccess a security risk?

Not inherently, but it has trade-offs. .htaccess files are checked on every request in every directory in the path, which adds latency. They can also be exploited if directory listings expose them or if AllowOverride is too permissive. In production, putting all config in httpd.conf and disabling .htaccess (AllowOverride None) is faster and more secure. .htaccess is mostly useful on shared hosting where you cannot edit the main config.

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