Integration with Apache

The Hyperwave extension is best used when PHP is compiled as an Apache module. In such a case the underlying Hyperwave server can be hidden from users almost completely if Apache uses its rewriting engine. The following instructions will explain this.

Since PHP with Hyperwave support built into Apache is intended to replace the native Hyperwave solution based on Wavemaster, we will assume that the Apache server will only serve as a Hyperwave web interface for these examples. This is not necessary but it simplifies the configuration. The concept is quite simple. First of all you need a PHP script which evaluates the $_ENV['PATH_INFO'] variable and treats its value as the name of a Hyperwave object. Let's call this script 'Hyperwave'. The URL http://your.hostname/Hyperwave/name_of_object would than return the Hyperwave object with the name 'name_of_object'. Depending on the type of the object the script has to react accordingly. If it is a collection, it will probably return a list of children. If it is a document it will return the mime type and the content. A slight improvement can be achieved if the Apache rewriting engine is used. From the users point of view it would be more straight forward if the URL http://your.hostname/name_of_object would return the object. The rewriting rule is quite easy:

RewriteRule ^/(.*) /usr/local/apache/htdocs/HyperWave/$1 [L]

RewriteRule ^/hw/(.*) /usr/local/apache/htdocs/hw/$1 [L]

RewriteEngine on

• to return the object itself
• to allow searching
• to identify yourself
• to set your profile
• one for each additional function like to show the object attributes, to show information about users, to show the status of the server, etc.

As an alternative to the Rewrite Engine, you can also consider using the Apache ErrorDocument directive, but be aware, that ErrorDocument redirected pages cannot receive POST data.