Nginx vs. Apache in AWS

Even with one process/worker, so without any parallelism, nginx is faster than apache most of the time. If you want to make a meaningful comparison you should set the workers to the number of CPUs the OS sees (hyperthreaded or not).

Re: Nginx vs. Apache in AWS

#6

Post by ck2 » Tue, Feb 26, 2013, 5:57 PM UTC

If you are going to test Apache at least use 2.4 in MPM-event mode so you are testing apples to apples.

Using Apache 2.2 in worker mode is like comparing 8 year old tech to modern code.

hint: Apache is still about 15-20% slower than nginx even in it's fastest mpm-event mode, but it has many more years of features and modules available - it all depends what your needs are - single site services vs multi-site webhosting

You can always do the best of both worlds by proxying apache with nginx if you need both. Takes one evening to figure out.

Re: Nginx vs. Apache in AWS

#7

Post by nthitz » Tue, Feb 26, 2013, 5:57 PM UTC

Good research and writeup.. But 3D bargraphs... Come on!

Re: Nginx vs. Apache in AWS

#8

Post by niggler » Tue, Feb 26, 2013, 6:00 PM UTC

manoleet wrote: post #3

Lighttpd is missing... but good benchmark anyway.

Given the usage numbers (looking at netcraft) the two most popular engines were compared. Its a fair comparison, especially when you note that IIS doesnt run in linux. Lighttpd isn't even big enough to warrant a mention

http://news.netcraft.com/archives/2013/02/01/february-2013-w...

Re: Nginx vs. Apache in AWS

#9

Post by arooaroo » Tue, Feb 26, 2013, 6:01 PM UTC

I'm sure there's a good reason why Apache 2.4 wasn't in the comparison but the author failed to mention it. Apache 2.2.23 may be a recent release but it's a security update of an old but stable branch. Apache 2.4 branch is a year old and a significant update including performance improvements to complete with the likes of nginx.

I would still expect nginx to "win" but seems a fairer comparison somehow.

Re: Nginx vs. Apache in AWS

#10

Post by niggler » Tue, Feb 26, 2013, 6:02 PM UTC

ck2 wrote: post #6

If you are going to test Apache at least use 2.4 in MPM-event mode so you are testing apples to apples. Using Apache 2.2 in worker mode is like comparing 8 year old tech to modern code. hint: Apache is still about 15-20% slower than nginx even in it's fastest mpm-event mode, but it has many more years of features and modules available - it all depends what your needs are - single site services vs multi-site webhostin…

It's fair insofar as Debian still ships with 2.2 (2.4 in experimental)