Covalent updates Apache Web server

Covalent Technologies has released a version of its Web server based on Apache 2.0, even though the official keepers of Apache claim Version 2.0 is still in beta testing.

Covalent's Enterprise Ready Server product is based on the code for the next version of Apache, an open source Web server, with proprietary features for easier management and credit card processing.

The new version of Enterprise Ready Server also includes management features that let a Web page administrator configure and update a large number of identical Web pages at once. While a release date for Apache has not yet been set, it will feature faster performance and improved Windows compatibility.

The software is developed by Apache.org, a group of open source programmers, many of whom are employees at Covalent. Apache 2.0 was supposed to have debuted a year ago, but only entered the beta stage in April 2001.

Apache competes with Microsoft's Internet Information Server, and Sun's iPlanet Web server.