Will Netscape lose the Web server war?

Netscape is currently waging war in the Web server market. Web servers are a cornerstone technology for ecommerce - the buzzword that's on everyone's lips. Netscape's mission is to be the vendor of choice. But Microsoft, as ever, is snapping at its heels.

A recent Dataquest survey revealed that Netscape commands around 50 per cent of the market. It may look healthy now, but Microsoft has a trump card: its ecommerce server platform, Internet Information Server (IIS), will be bundled with Windows NT. So it doesn't look like Netscape's honeymoon period is going to last.

IIS takes a clear second place in Dataquest's study. Some way behind that is Apache, followed by hundreds of other offerings from smaller companies struggling to make a showing now that the big software players have invaded the field.

Only a year ago, Apache was the Web server of choice. It's freely available over the Internet and has been tweaked by developers to produce tailored versions for specific applications. Its flexibility makes it a highly efficient option.

Most companies were using Apache as an experimental technology to further their equally experimental ecommerce strategies. Now, everything has stepped up a gear. Many users are now selecting commercial products.

Unsurprisingly, Netscape says its product is more reliable than Microsoft's. Duscan Rnic, product marketing manager, said: "It's natural to go for a free or NT-based product at the beginning - but users will start hitting security and scalability problems. So in the end they won't opt for Microsoft's IIS or Apache."

Rnic admits the fact that IIS will come with NT is a potential problem for Netscape. But he's not too worried: "Corporations won't be rolling out NT 5 until 2001. That gives Netscape plenty of time to continue its domination of the installed base of Web servers."

However, Microsoft's IIS spokesman questioned the accuracy of Dataquest's research: "I'm confused because it contradicts every other survey I've seen. I would acknowledge that Apache is the market leader with IIS behind. But to say Netscape is leading seems crazy."

Another thing going against Netscape is a decision made by IBM in June to start bundling Apache with its ecommerce offerings. Previously, it had favoured Netscape's server. Analysts say it's a significant blow for the company: just when it thought it only had Microsoft to contend with, Apache gets back into the race.

The main long-term challenger, however, is still Microsoft. NT is coming and corporations will be installing it. IIS will be the cheapest option. If Microsoft can counter the alleged scalability and security failings - as it did with NT - then Netscape has no chance.