Server

[Diz]

I have an older pc I am not using and would like to use it as server to host web sites. What do I need to set up a server to do that? What are the requirements and does it cost alot to do it?

[sea69]

server for www. or your own local network ??

------------------
sea1_69@hotmail.com

[Diz]

For www or network, whatever it will be most useful for.

[Diz]

Need help with question I posted....

[sea69]

Setting Up Your Own Server

Note: Establishing a Web presence on your premises is never recommended unless you have enough technical expertise to build your own network and install and maintain your own Internet services.

If you understand the intricacies involved in setting up your own server then firstly, you will need to obtain a high-speed connection, because you will not be able to use a cable connection. By calling your local telephone company or a national bandwidth provider, you will be able to order a local loop connection to a high-speed T1 or T3 line. Usually, access to such lines is only available in major metropolitan areas throughout North America and Europe and can cost at least $2,000 US per month in some areas.

Once you order the line, it will be installed on premises and you will require a "router" to direct traffic to the Internet. A router is a very expensive and sophisticated piece of equipment that allows your in-house computers to communicate with the Internet at large. This piece of equipment usually costs in the range of $500 to $2,000 US.

You can cut this cost in half if you set up a Linux-based server as your router. All you need for a Linux-based router is a $1,000 PC clone and two network cards. You also need the technical expertise to load up and set up the server so that it is safe and secure. If your Linux-based router sustains a denial of service attack, then your whole network could be paralyzed. For this reason, most experienced network engineers select reliable router hardware manufactured by Cisco Systems or Nortel Networks instead.

The router must then be connected to another piece of equipment referred to as a "hub." The hub allows you to plug a numerous number of computers into your industrial-strength Internet connection. You will need at least two PCs connected to the hub to provide a reliable Web presence.

One computer will be used to provide domain name services (DNS). A DNS server allows you to establish, manage and resolve your domain names on site. A DNS server is rather cheap to set up since open source DNS software is included in most Linux distributions. And because a DNS server does not demand a lot of computer power if you are only running under 100 domains, you can install it on an old x86-class computer, thereby reducing your costs.

The second computer that will be required will be the Web server itself. The Web server will be heart of your Internet operations. It will continuously run software that physically distributes your content quickly and efficiently to your customers. For this reason, the bulk of your investment must be on this computer. In order to beef up your site's performance, you will need to lease or purchase the fastest computer you can afford. The minimum specifications will be at least 256 megabytes of RAM and 4.3 gigabytes of storage space. The more RAM and storage space your server has, the better its performance. This will set you back at least $1,000.

But inevitably, you will need to spend more money in order to back up your site, because your computer will require a tape backup. You will also want to consider an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) or in extreme circumstances a gas generator to ensure that your site does not go down if there is a power outage at your premises.

Then you will have to determine which operating system to load. This choice will depend on your technical know-how.

The most accomplished administrators may wish to load a flavor of the UNIX operating system onto their computer. This will allow them to take advantage of the GNU licenses that explicitly permits them to use popular server software packages such as the Apache Web server free of charge. The trade off is that UNIX-based systems are extremely difficult to install and implement. They are living remnants of the first mainframe-based systems and are still as complex. You will need to know how to customize and compile C based programs, multiple shell environments and edit script-based applications, mostly without the aid of a GUI-based environment.

The other operating system choice is Windows 2000 or NT. This OS is selected by administrators who wish to run Windows specific database applications such as Allaire ColdFusion or MS-SQL. Windows requires a huge amount of system resources, so your computer will need to be loaded with a lot of memory.

Setting up a Windows-based server is always more expensive because of the cost of the software and user licenses. A maximized Windows server (including hardware and software) will cost at least $15,000. A maximized UNIX server will cost at least $8,000. And after all these expenditures, you must now consider how you will integrate an expensive e-commerce solution into your network, which will set you back anywhere from $2,500 to $7,500.

For these reasons, we suggest that outsource your hosting requirements. Doing so will reduce your costs, add network enhancements such as load balance and redundant connectivity and allow you to place unilateral focus on your business.

http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/eek.gif "Doh"... you asked........ http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif

------------------
sea1_69@hotmail.com

homepage (http://www.seanweb1.homestead.com/3.html)

[This message has been edited by sea69 (edited 05-02-2001).]

[AwARe]

Hello Diz,

I would imagine that sea69's post is fairly accurate although I didnt read all of it.........

However:
If all your want to do is play around and make a web site for fun, or for your friends to access etc etc.
It can be done fairly easily with very little if any expense.

What you need:
Minimum I would recommend a pentium pro 250 with at least 64mb of ram,
but you can actually get away with something along the lines of a P1 166 mmx with 32mb ram for the server (Keep in mind this is not going to be comparable to a web site such as Yahoo! if ya get what Im saying)

You're going to need a netwerk setup, you can get a netwerk kit pretty cheap at your local store. about 50$ US but if ya have the cash get the $100 setup

You're going to need at least a cable internet connection
DSL is probably better for that, and well we wont mention the T1 etc that sea spoke of heh (He is correct if you're serious about making a professional web site, or at least it appeared to be from the parts I read)

Youre going to need some type of software to make the web pages (Frontpage posibly)
Youre going to need an http server (you can find the "personal web server" on the windows cd)

You can get a free, although not especially professional, name for your site here, http://www.dhs.org - there you could set yourself up with something like http://Diz.dhs.org

So heres what ya do once you figure out if you have, or can get all that stuff.....

Set up a netwerk at your location using your server for your primary internet connection
Set up your computer(s) for personal use as clients to that server
Install the "personal web server" on your server
Upload the web pages you make "with Frontpage or whichever program" to the root of that server across your netwerk............boom you got a cheap and pathetic web site heh http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif

Hope that helped some http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/wink.gif

Good Luck!

[AwARe]

Sorry I forgot one thing....

You "may" also need some software for internet sharing, so the computers on your netwerk can access the internet across the netwerk depending on what OS's you choose etc etc etc......

[sea69]

well, if you want to do cheap

how about FREE ??

http://www.homestead.com

before you want to add to or comment on anything I post PLEASE at least have the courtesy to read it all.

I wouldn't have commented on this at all, however two (2) times you mentioned that.. my post may be correct but you haven't read it all...........

you got the wrong one here to be pickin' @.. trust me.

------------------
sea1_69@hotmail.com

homepage (http://www.seanweb1.homestead.com/3.html)


[This message has been edited by sea69 (edited 05-10-2001).]

[AwARe]

sea69... eh?

I wasnt pickin as you put it

In fact I was pointing out that I hadn't read your post thouroughly, so as to make sure you knew that http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif , and also Diz knew it while reading what I had to say.

But I did read "most of it" and the reason I posted what I did, was simply to offer maybe a "less professional and cheaper way" in case all Diz wanted to do was play around etc etc etc, which it seemed to me thats all he wanted to do......

quoted from my previous post
"I would imagine that sea69's post is fairly accurate although I didnt read all of it.........
However:
If all your want to do is play around and make a web site for fun"

Basically the quote from above is trying to relay that sea69 seems to have his act together in this area but if all ya wanna do is play heres how....

er this was not at all directed toward you http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif

I think you got the wrong idea ..............

In fact I was quite impressed with what I read of your post http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif
So where did you copy/paste that from j\k

You see this is how it all got started before
and Im not going there again lmao

All I was doing was trying to add another perspective
And I was trying to make a concious effort "NOT" to take away from what "You" posted

You see "I" dont have to be 100% right, but it seems anytime I suggest that anyone else "May Not Be" 100% right, or they think thats what Im doing, I get jumped and Im not playing that game any more

Its getting quite boring and unpleasant

Hopefully this clears up any misunderstandings or misconceptions you had about my post...................

[AwARe]

And that link to homestead is nice but it doesnt have anything to do with what he asked, as he seems to have a computer he wants to set up and take a shot at setting up a server.............posibly he just wants to see if he can.........which again is "Why I Posted What I Did" and not to pick on "you" heh

From Diz' original post
"I have an "OLDER PC" I am not using and """would like to use it as server to host web sites""""". ----What do I need to set up a server to do that?------"

Now stop picking fights!
Im Not!

[sea69]

lol... well the way I was looking at it.. I basically covered everything there was to cover on how it is done correctly.(that I could think of)
This doesn't make me right or wrong.. or even to close any other comments that ANYone cares to make to try to help someone...

at the time, I didn't think of the homestead angle, but it too is as solid as any FREE thing can be.

I'm just about NEVER 100% correct on anything... perhaps you have gotten off to a bad start.. again we welcome you here... just like everyone else, I am aware that many times the printed word is somehow interpreted in a wrong way.. and often is cold, as written words have no accentuation like the spoken ones do.

so if I was 'jumping the gun'- so to speak..

I can, have, and no doubt will be corrected many times.. no worries.

http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/wink.gif

ps: have you noticed the EDIT button??

it's much easier than posting again and again.. and you have an HOUR to do so (unless someone else posts first}

------------------
sea1_69@hotmail.com

homepage (http://www.seanweb1.homestead.com/3.html)

[AwARe]

yes i noticed the edit button haha but i tried it once and it didnt work so i never bothered again.............

also as to your comment about the written word being cold.........well yes ..."IT IS VERY COLD"..................this is why I add allot of.....................hahahaha """"""" etc etc etc............ in an attempt to get more feeling into what I write, so its better understood, but I guess it doesnt work lmao

well good! glad we cleared this up heh