Conclusions

        These tests show that HANDS DOWN Lighttpd is more efficent and faster than Apache at serving static content.  If you extrapolate the CPU data out (given enough bandwidth), Apache will use 100% CPU at about 5,000 req/second (not too bad).  But Lighttpd will use 100% CPU to server around 18,000 req/second!!!  WOW!!!  (These are simple math problems, and do not account for things like memory bandwidth or other walls).  Not to mention that Lighttpd serves the content faster. 

         Stay tuned!  I am in the process of benchmarking Apache/Mod_PHP vs. Lighttpd/FastCGI!  Keep an eye out for this and more (including Joomla Benchmarks).