simpler soap/rpc with an apache module   (link)

http://www.perl.com/pub/a/2004/11/18/mod_perlservice.html
Mod_perlservice is a cool, new way to do remoting -- sharing data between server and client processes -- with Perl and Apache. Let's start by breaking that crazy name apart: mod + perl + service.

Mod means that it's a module for the popular and ubiquitous Apache HTTP Server. Perl represents the popular and ubiquitous programming language. Service is the unique part. It's the new ingredient that unifies Apache, Perl, and XML into an easy-to-use web services system.