18.2. QGIS as OGC Data Server

QGIS Server is an open source WMS 1.3, WFS 1.0.0, WFS 1.1.0 and WCS 1.1.1 implementation that, in addition, implements advanced cartographic features for thematic mapping. QGIS Server is a FastCGI/CGI (Common Gateway Interface) application written in C++ that works together with a web server (e.g., Apache, Nginx). It has Python plugin support allowing for fast and efficient development and deployment of new features.

QGIS Server uses QGIS as back end for the GIS logic and for map rendering. Furthermore, the Qt library is used for graphics and for platform-independent C++ programming. In contrast to other WMS software, the QGIS Server uses cartographic rules as a configuration language, both for the server configuration and for the user-defined cartographic rules.

As QGIS desktop and QGIS Server use the same visualization libraries, the maps that are published on the web look the same as in desktop GIS.

In the following sections, we will provide a sample configuration to set up a QGIS Server on Linux (Debian, Ubuntu and derivatives) and on Windows. For more information about server plugin development, please read QGIS Server and Python.

• 18.2.1. Getting Started
  • 18.2.1.1. Installation on Debian-based systems
  • 18.2.1.2. Installation on Windows
  • 18.2.1.3. Serve a project
  • 18.2.1.4. Configure your project
• 18.2.2. Services
  • 18.2.2.1. Web Map Service (WMS)
  • 18.2.2.2. Web Feature Service (WFS)
  • 18.2.2.3. Web Map Tile Service (WMTS)
  • 18.2.2.4. WFS3 (OGC API Features)
  • 18.2.2.5. Extra parameters supported by all request types
  • 18.2.2.6. REDLINING
  • 18.2.2.7. External WMS layers
• 18.2.3. Plugins
  • 18.2.3.1. Installation
  • 18.2.3.2. HTTP Server configuration
  • 18.2.3.3. How to use a plugin
• 18.2.4. Advanced configuration
  • 18.2.4.1. Logging
  • 18.2.4.2. Environment variables
  • 18.2.4.3. Settings summary
  • 18.2.4.4. Short name for layers, groups and project
  • 18.2.4.5. Connection to service file
  • 18.2.4.6. Add fonts to your linux server
• 18.2.5. Containerized deployment
  • 18.2.5.1. Simple docker images
  • 18.2.5.2. Docker stacks
  • 18.2.5.3. Cloud deployment