mod_isapi
ISAPI Extensions within Apache for Windows
Base
mod_isapi.c
isapi_module
Win32 only

This module implements the Internet Server extension API. It allows Internet Server extensions (e.g. ISAPI .dll modules) to be served by Apache for Windows, subject to the noted restrictions.

ISAPI extension modules (.dll files) are written by third parties. The Apache Group does not author these modules, so we provide no support for them. Please contact the ISAPI's author directly if you are experiencing problems running their ISAPI extension. Please do not post such problems to Apache's lists or bug reporting pages.

# Usage

In the server configuration file, use the AddHandler directive to associate ISAPI files with the `isapi-handler` handler, and map it to them with their file extensions. To enable any .dll file to be processed as an ISAPI extension, edit the httpd.conf file and add the following line:

AddHandler isapi-handler .dll

In older versions of the Apache server, `isapi-isa` was the proper handler name, rather than `isapi-handler`. For compatibility, configurations may continue using `isapi-isa` through all versions of Apache prior to 2.3.0.

There is no capability within the Apache server to leave a requested module loaded. However, you may preload and keep a specific module loaded by using the following syntax in your httpd.conf:

ISAPICacheFile c:/WebWork/Scripts/ISAPI/mytest.dll

Whether or not you have preloaded an ISAPI extension, all ISAPI extensions are governed by the same permissions and restrictions as CGI scripts. That is, Options `ExecCGI` must be set for the directory that contains the ISAPI .dll file.

Review the Additional Notes and the Programmer's Journal for additional details and clarification of the specific ISAPI support offered by mod_isapi.

# Additional Notes

Apache's ISAPI implementation conforms to all of the ISAPI 2.0 specification, except for some "Microsoft-specific" extensions dealing with asynchronous I/O. Apache's I/O model does not allow asynchronous reading and writing in a manner that the ISAPI could access. If an ISA tries to access unsupported features, including async I/O, a message is placed in the error log to help with debugging. Since these messages can become a flood, the directive `ISAPILogNotSupported Off` exists to quiet this noise.

Some servers, like Microsoft IIS, load the ISAPI extension into the server and keep it loaded until memory usage is too high, or unless configuration options are specified. Apache currently loads and unloads the ISAPI extension each time it is requested, unless the ISAPICacheFile directive is specified. This is inefficient, but Apache's memory model makes this the most effective method. Many ISAPI modules are subtly incompatible with the Apache server, and unloading these modules helps to ensure the stability of the server.

Also, remember that while Apache supports ISAPI Extensions, it does not support ISAPI Filters. Support for filters may be added at a later date, but no support is planned at this time.

# Programmer's Journal

If you are programming Apache 2.0 mod_isapi modules, you must limit your calls to `ServerSupportFunction` to the following directives:

`HSE_REQ_SEND_URL_REDIRECT_RESP`
  Redirect the user to another location.
  This must be a fully qualified URL (e.g. `http://server/location`).
`HSE_REQ_SEND_URL`
  Redirect the user to another location.
  This cannot be a fully qualified URL, you are not allowed to pass the protocol or a server name (e.g. simply `/location`).
  This redirection is handled by the server, not the browser.

  ## Warning

  In their recent documentation, Microsoft appears to have abandoned the distinction between the two `HSE_REQ_SEND_URL` functions. Apache continues to treat them as two distinct functions with different requirements and behaviors.

`HSE_REQ_SEND_RESPONSE_HEADER`
  Apache accepts a response body following the header if it follows the blank line (two consecutive newlines) in the headers string argument. This body cannot contain NULLs, since the headers argument is NULL terminated.
`HSE_REQ_DONE_WITH_SESSION`
  Apache considers this a no-op, since the session will be finished when the ISAPI returns from processing.
`HSE_REQ_MAP_URL_TO_PATH`
  Apache will translate a virtual name to a physical name.
`HSE_APPEND_LOG_PARAMETER`
  This logged message may be captured in any of the following logs:

  - in the `\"%{isapi-parameter}n\"` component in a CustomLog directive
  - in the `%q` log component with the ISAPIAppendLogToQuery `On` directive
  - in the error log with the ISAPIAppendLogToErrors `On` directive

  The first option, the `%{isapi-parameter}n` component, is always available and preferred.

`HSE_REQ_IS_KEEP_CONN`
  Will return the negotiated Keep-Alive status.
`HSE_REQ_SEND_RESPONSE_HEADER_EX`
  Will behave as documented, although the `fKeepConn` flag is ignored.
`HSE_REQ_IS_CONNECTED`
  Will report false if the request has been aborted.

Apache returns `FALSE` to any unsupported call to `ServerSupportFunction`, and sets the `GetLastError` value to `ERROR_INVALID_PARAMETER`.

`ReadClient` retrieves the request body exceeding the initial buffer (defined by ISAPIReadAheadBuffer). Based on the ISAPIReadAheadBuffer setting (number of bytes to buffer prior to calling the ISAPI handler) shorter requests are sent complete to the extension when it is invoked. If the request is longer, the ISAPI extension must use `ReadClient` to retrieve the remaining request body.

`WriteClient` is supported, but only with the `HSE_IO_SYNC` flag or no option flag (value of `0`). Any other `WriteClient` request will be rejected with a return value of `FALSE`, and a `GetLastError` value of `ERROR_INVALID_PARAMETER`.

`GetServerVariable` is supported, although extended server variables do not exist (as defined by other servers.) All the usual Apache CGI environment variables are available from `GetServerVariable`, as well as the `ALL_HTTP` and `ALL_RAW` values.

Apache 2.0 mod_isapi supports additional features introduced in later versions of the ISAPI specification, as well as limited emulation of async I/O and the `TransmitFile` semantics. Apache also supports preloading ISAPI .dlls for performance, neither of which were not available under Apache 1.3 `mod_isapi`.

ISAPICacheFile
ISAPI .dll files to be loaded at startup
ISAPICacheFile file-path [file-path] ...
server config
virtual host

Specifies a space-separated list of file names to be loaded when the Apache server is launched, and remain loaded until the server is shut down. This directive may be repeated for every ISAPI .dll file desired. The full path name of each file should be specified. If the path name is not absolute, it will be treated relative to ServerRoot.

ISAPIReadAheadBuffer
Size of the Read Ahead Buffer sent to ISAPI extensions
ISAPIReadAheadBuffer size
ISAPIReadAheadBuffer 49152
server config
virtual host
directory
.htaccess
FileInfo

Defines the maximum size of the Read Ahead Buffer sent to ISAPI extensions when they are initially invoked. All remaining data must be retrieved using the `ReadClient` callback; some ISAPI extensions may not support the `ReadClient` function. Refer questions to the ISAPI extension's author.

ISAPILogNotSupported
Log unsupported feature requests from ISAPI extensions
ISAPILogNotSupported on|off
ISAPILogNotSupported off
server config
virtual host
directory
.htaccess
FileInfo

Logs all requests for unsupported features from ISAPI extensions in the server error log. This may help administrators to track down problems. Once set to on and all desired ISAPI modules are functioning, it should be set back to off.

ISAPIAppendLogToErrors
Record `HSE_APPEND_LOG_PARAMETER` requests from ISAPI extensions to the error log
ISAPIAppendLogToErrors on|off
ISAPIAppendLogToErrors off
server config
virtual host
directory
.htaccess
FileInfo

Record `HSE_APPEND_LOG_PARAMETER` requests from ISAPI extensions to the server error log.

ISAPIAppendLogToQuery
Record `HSE_APPEND_LOG_PARAMETER` requests from ISAPI extensions to the query field
ISAPIAppendLogToQuery on|off
ISAPIAppendLogToQuery on
server config
virtual host
directory
.htaccess
FileInfo

Record `HSE_APPEND_LOG_PARAMETER` requests from ISAPI extensions to the query field (appended to the CustomLog `%q` component).

ISAPIFakeAsync
Fake asynchronous support for ISAPI callbacks
ISAPIFakeAsync on|off
ISAPIFakeAsync off
server config
virtual host
directory
.htaccess
FileInfo

While set to on, asynchronous support for ISAPI callbacks is simulated.