How To - Wanna set up web server

[smokey]

I want to set up a web server so i can host my own pics, vids and software etc

PC Spec:

AMD 64bit FX55 CPU
2gb 400MHZ DDR RAM (2 x 1gb sticks)
680gb of Harddrive space (2 x 300gb & 1 x 80gb Maxtor 7200 SATA drives)
3mb Broadband

What else do i need in way of software etc and does anyone have or know of any good guides on the net??

Cheers

[telford_mike]

It's dead easy to set up the software mate, but that's not the real problem. You need a static IP address so that people can navigate to your server using a URL. Most ISPs won't give these out, so you're stuck with using a commercial provider.

[Allan]

well if you need a provider, thats what i do :P

so if anyone needs colocation come have a word, else talk to summy as he does webhosting if you just want space

[smokey]

Well i have a Link Sys router and can convert it from DHCP to Static Ip, will that over come my problem?

Am with NTL broadband.

I have about 400gb of software, movies, games, music that i wanna host so i can access them anywhere from any PC

[telford_mike]

It won't help unfortunately mate - DHCP and static only apply to the configuration that your router makes available to your client PCs in your house / office.

Believe me, it's really hard to set up a web site on a machine at home - you're really better off buying a service.

[smokey]

cheers for that Mike, however im not one to be beat lol

I have just signed up with www.no-ip.com, dynamic DNS :wink: They check my IP as often as i set it, which is currently every 30mins, its not too bad as i only really turn my pc off 1 or 2 nights a week, am going water cooled in a cpl of weeks, so will be on 24/7 and in the bedroom hooked upto the plasma screen....will be great for watching the porn with the mrs :D

host name is smokey182.bounceme.net

[Allan]

smokey no ip will work fine, for a webserver the software you will need is apache

www.apache.org

are loads of other webservers around but apache is good and best of all its free :)

basilcy set up your no ip on the machine you wish to host files on.
once thats done set your router to port forward the port you will be using for apache.

then setup apache on the machine.

then from the outside world if you go to http://youriphere <--- insert the no-ip mask you have setup

and you should be able to see the fold which apache is hosting :)

bung all your files in there and you have a web server

[smokey]

Cheers Alan, just what i wanted mate.
I have gone IIS6, as Apache2 is relatively new and have found a few sites the recommend IIS6

I am willing to listen if you know otherwise thou.

Smokey

[Allan]

doesnt really matter what you use, its personal pref really

just make sure you forward the port you set it up on else it will only work for machine on your network :)

basicly the router will just act as a gate way and pass information, but if you dont set up the forwarding, your server machine will never get the info

[smokey]

Well the routers not currently hooked upto the network yet, we have currently only got 1 pc on the net as my old man is borrowing the other comp for a bit.

So i dont need to port forward do i?

[Allan]

well if its the only machine then just make sure its not firewalled off :)

i am assuming that the machine is plugged stright into the modem and you dont have anything else in between ???

then it will be fine

[smokey]

yeah you are right, its pluged directly into the modem.

I will put the router inline tomorrow, but this will do for now.

[y0z2a]

i would seriously think about doing it on a cheapo machine with no access to other parts of your network smokey.

you find these kind of things are targets, and they are hard to secure.

/y0z

[Purple]

Recommend you run the webserver application under VMware on your PC.

VMware application emulates a complete virtual PC within your physical PC. So, when your webserver under VMware gets messed up by net gremlins, you simply trash the VMware files and restore previously backed-up VMware copy.

Advantages are minimal webserver downtime and no impact on your actual PC activities. Your PC performance & RAMs should be no problem with VMware.

[y0z2a]

^^^

not heard of this, but does sound like a very very good idea.

/y0z

[J o n]

Smokey, NTL IP may as well be static, mine only changes when i release the IP to the network and reboot...

thing is are you sure 3mb BB is going to be enough for a web server, as you only have 300kb uploads which means 35-40k per second... which is poor... think about 5+ people downloading and it will be dreadful... if it's just for you have you thought about using Windows VNC viewer or PC Anywhere? (VNC is free and ace... although not that secure...) TBH remote control software may be the best bet...

also, like Yoz says it's best doing it with a shitty PC with decent space as it uses minimal processor power and memory... the spec you listed is FAR too good to waste on a web server imo