Having access to the source code in Apache provides the ultimate in customization. More common is the ability to create custom error messages and default Web page headers and footers, something Enterprise, ICSS, and Web Commander could do. The More Things Change . . . The dynamic nature of Web content means Web servers need a fair amount of hands-on attention. Thanks to Web browsers, you don't always have to be in front of your server to administer it.
Most products offer remote administration via a Web browser, though with varying implementations.
O'Reilly's WebSite supports remote administration only through the installation of a customized version of the Web server on another machine. IIS provides both a Windows utility and a browser-based administrator. As Web servers become more common, Web site management tools must become more intuitive. Site management tools are sophisticated enough to check and repair links and provide graphical maps of Web sites. Some vendors, such as Microsoft and Netscape, bundle their own tools, while others, such as Luckman, add popular third-party tools.