Existing users, 
 Abyss Web Server - 2.6Enables you to host your Web sites on your computer. |
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Feedback Summary:
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| Overall Rating: | Not rated (0.0) | Features: | Not rated (0.0) | Support: | Not rated (0.0) |
| Ease of Use: | Not rated (0.0) | Quality / Stability: | Not rated (0.0) | Price: | Not rated (0.0) |
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Featured Reviews
It.Works.Every.Time. 
- Version: 2.4, 1/11/2007 08:11PM PST
(2 of 2 users found this comment useful)
RestonMacGuy
I wanted to set up a web server for my internal network. I use a perl-based web calendaring system that I wanted my mixed-platform environment to use. I also wanted to be able to punch a hole in my firewall to allow me access to my calendar when I was traveling.
Apple's Apache implementation is just a bit too daunting for me. Along comes Abyss and, presto! Now I have my system!
I've never had a problem with it. I've moved it from one Mac to another (10.4 to 10.3), I've upgraded it twice. I run it on startup, and it operates in the background as it should. I've never had a problem with it. The documentation is straightforward, as is the configuration.
This is one of the best *free* pieces of software I've ever used!
Apple's Apache implementation is just a bit too daunting for me. Along comes Abyss and, presto! Now I have my system!
I've never had a problem with it. I've moved it from one Mac to another (10.4 to 10.3), I've upgraded it twice. I run it on startup, and it operates in the background as it should. I've never had a problem with it. The documentation is straightforward, as is the configuration.
This is one of the best *free* pieces of software I've ever used!
Been using Abyss for years now in a commercial web hosting environment with PHP, the database Panorama, MySQL, WordPress, Perl, and Python and it has been PERFECTLY stable. Things that take Apache down are barely a blip for Abyss.
We have moved all of our servers from Apache to Abyss. Apache is like Windoze - popular, but hard to figure out why as it is so bloated and awkward.
Abyss beats Apache in:
Speed
Simplicity (in a different universe)
Ease of configuration
Login and consistency of interface and configuring
Speed of setup - Just set up a new multiple site server in less than one hour
Tolerance of errors in configuration
User choice and migration - can put it on any volume and quickly migrate it to another server - just drag and drop one folder and the entire server is moved
Stability
Support - Very quick and generally accurate answers from a single source - they can deal with complex issues!!!!
Cost - Yes, Apache is supposedly free and Abyss costs a little for the Pro version, but if you measure cost of the time involved with each product, you will save LOTS of time and money with Abyss.
Abyss is not perfect, but the company Aprelium listens to users and continues to improve the product. There a just a few features that are missing. And, while their documentation covers just about everything and is VERY accessible, it definitely could use some help as it makes far too many assumptions about the user's knowledge. It needs better BASIC explanations as it sometimes states the obvious while missing the not obvious aspects of a feature and the reason for the feature.
The tech support for Abyss is great!! With the very reasonably priced Pro version, you get priority support. They actually read your questions and give reasonable and quick answers even for complex issues.
After wasting years of my life with open source products such as Apache where you search in forum after forum for months only to get numerous stupid and wrong answers especially when dealing with utterly absurd mod_rewrite and, after dealing with the big companies such as Adobe, Epson, Apple, Micro$oft, Comcast, etc where the techs often times know little and deny obvious bugs, dealing with Aprelium is a breath of fresh air.
I now recommend dealing mostly with small companies that make great products such as ProVue (makes the great database Panorama), HindSight (photo business software), Aprelium, etc. You often get MUCH better products, better support, and surprisingly longer life products. ProVue made the second piece of software for the Mac and it is still around.
Buy small and buy quality as it will save time and money (even over the "free" products). As an added bonus you can often get features added to the products based on your own suggestions!