The most common web server used today is still Apache, so whilst we wait for Lighttpd world domination, the migration from this server warrants its own chapter. As this is a book on Lighttpd and not on Apache, this chapter assumes some knowledge of the Apache configuration. If anything is unclear, the Apache documentation at http://apache.org/docs/ will hopefully help.
Now starting from a working Apache installation, what can Lighttpd offer us?
Improved performance for most cases (as in more hits per second)
Reduced CPU time and memory usage
Improved security (refer to Chapter 8 to maximize your return on investment)
Of course, the move to Lighttpd is not a small one, especially if our Apache configuration makes use of its many features. Systems tied into Apache as a module may make the move hard or even impossible without porting the module to a Lighttpd module or moving the functionality into CGI programs, if possible.
We can ease the pain by moving in small...