[mapserver-users] map server a tile server

[Stephen Woodbridge]

On 7/26/2011 4:15 PM, jk wrote:
> Hi,
>
> I'm not very clear about the concept of map server v.s. tile server. Can a
> map server be used as a mip server? Is that a normal way of doing tile
> server.
>
> Here is what I have,
>
> I have a collection of NATIF files that I need to serve them in a map client
> (in OpenLayers, via WMS), sevring these cadrg files as base map. In other
> words, these CADRG files together is  the base map. Clients will zoom, in
> and out, pam, and so on.
>
> How do I make a base map? Use Map Server? Use gdaltinex commnad? shpe file?
> And, I need it to serve with WMS commands
>
> Anyone please help with your idea.

Here is one basic scenario. part of your confusion might be because tile 
means different thing s in different contexts.

1. use gdaltindex to create a tileindex that can be used by mapserver. 
The tile index basically lets mapserver deal with your collection of 
files a a single virtual layer.

2. create a mapfile to display your base layer using the tileindex and 
make the mapfile support WMS requests.

* at this point you should be able to setup OpenLayers as a WMS layer 
can display your base layer. This might be enough for you, but is 
rendering the base layer is too slow, then you can look at ways to 
optimize the performance and/or you can setup a tile cache server that 
uses the mapserver WMS to seed the tilecache as needed. This requires a 
lot more disk space, but once the tiles are in the cache they serve and 
load very fast like google.

3. look at mod_geocache if you want to setup a tilecache. All you would 
need to do on Linux is download the source, compile it, install it in 
apache2 and edit the config file and it has a demo mode if you add it to 
the config

http://yourhost/geocache/demo

and it will generate a simple OpenLayers app the displays your tile from 
the cache as a baselayer.

-Steve W