Need Web Server

[Cuc Tu]

I need an easy to use (FTP file drop) and free web server - I mean a web host.

Just for temporary use during delelopment - the server must be public facing so the utilities can levearge 3rd party services.

Any suggestions?

[Paul Komski]

Google would be my starting point (http://www.google.ie/#hl=en&biw=1176&bih=578&q=free+ftp+web+hosting&aq=f&aqi=g-e1g-s1g2&aql=&oq=&fp=aec78e2d7af14ed2) because not all hosts suit everyone.

I have had no problems with Netfirms (http://www.netfirms.com/web-hosting/) over many years and they used to provide a freebie (but you had to display their banner ad on all pages) but this is no longer an option. However their plus plan is I believe worth the money when you consider their support and the range of options open to you.

I am sure others will have other suggestions.

[Cuc Tu]

I started with google, tried freewebs and found too many limitations (single file load). Others provided similar limitation, but I do not actually need service, server-side features, etc. as it's just for temporary deployment for testing.

Actually, running my own home server would be fine, except I'd need to figure out how to remotely deploy the package.

[Paul Komski]

http://lifehacker.com/124212/geek-to-live--how-to-set-up-a-personal-home-web-server

[Cuc Tu]

Thanks, Paul. I'm going to try with the webserver puppy - still an apache server.

[Paul Komski]

The Puppy Apache server is really a great and simple way to set things up and have a functional web server at home but you are still going to need to sort out how those on the web will access it. DynDns is a good reference point but things differ depending on the sort of ISP that one is connecting via.

I, for exampple, have WiFi broadband from a local company and they were very helpful in giving me a fixed IP address and not minding me creating http and ftp access.

[Cuc Tu]

Thanks, Paul. You make it sound easy.

I was looking for an updated puppy server, but it looks like the author has taken down the site

http://browserpuppy.com/server.html

I think it is now http://www.browserlinux.com/

but no more server version

[Paul Komski]

Seems to have disappeared alright.

Ubuntu Server Edition (http://www.ubuntu.com/server/get-ubuntu/download) (User Guide for 10.10 (https://help.ubuntu.com/10.10/serverguide/C/index.html)) will do much more than you actually want but you should get options about which components you want included during the install. I haven't used it since 8.04 LTS but I expect it is still command prompt driven unless you feel you must install a desktop with:

sudo apt-get install ubuntu-desktop

[Sylvander]

How about Hiawatha? (http://puppylinux.org/wikka/Hiawatha)
Puppy Linux PHP web-serving with Mysql (http://www.weberp.org/PuppyLinux)
http://www.logicworks.co.nz/puppy/LHMP-7.3-5.1.47-5.3.3.pet

[Paul Komski]

I had forgotten about the opening comment in this thread, viz:-
I need an easy to use (FTP file drop)

In my experience FTP was always one of the trickier servers to set up on any system (particularly if you are going to want to grant access to multiple different users) but I did find Ubuntu Server's FTP (https://help.ubuntu.com/10.10/serverguide/C/ftp-server.html) installation the most straightforward. If you want or need secure (SFTP) using SSH (https://help.ubuntu.com/6.06/ubuntu/serverguide/C/openssh-server.html) then there will be another layer of complexity.

I am sure that all such things can also be accomplished with Puppy distros but I suspect there will be a big learning curve.

[Cuc Tu]

Thanks Guys,

Sylvander, the weberp site you linked discusses webserver puppy by puppumartin - I can't believe such a thing died. I'd like to see an out-of-box solutuion such as it was. Good I still have the ISO, but the original thread dies with mention of issues - maybe serious or not? I liked it because all one had to do was boot, dump files, and open port 80 to your server.

The other approach with confuguring a base linux system (puppyor otherwise) is much more complicated, and I'm not really a heavy linux user to start with. These developments for me are relatively few and far between, and I have to learn everything all over again.

I had webserver puppy running for a couple days and got one thing I needed done. I'll be working with my company web group for a more robust solution, if they manage to accomodate me, it will be better...

Thanks

[Paul Komski]

In the context of testing one's own server (raised in a PM) it may be of value to others to know that one cannot effectively test one's own server (that is to say to test its internet connectivity) from behind the same router - even if a dynamic DNS domain is used - since the router "knows" that it doesn't need to go any further than itself to do the name resolution.

The starting-off point is to know one's public IP address (http://whatismyipaddress.com/) or to get a fixed Public IP address from one's ISP. I had to do the latter because my ISP uses WiFi broadband so I have no control over any port-forwarding by the relevant router's own Public IP address. I can see this could also be an issue for other service modes (telephony or cable or satellite) used by ISPs.

If one then wants to test the HTTP, FTP or whatever other server is running behind one's router and from the same building that hosts the internet connection used by the router/server there are a number of options open to one.


Ask a buddy to do the testing.
Detach from the LAN and use a dial-up modem (telephone or mobile).
Use the remote desktop of a distant PC to which you have been given control.


P.S.
I personally would only ever use a gunk PC to do any testing since it is just so easy to leave security holes, whether using IIS or Apache or whatever and would never consider hosting from home on a serious or long-term basis. Hosting packages are free or very inexpensive and can also give one all sorts of eMail options. Any good firm is also on all but 24/7 (by hosting from multiple servers) and should also look after things like backup and security and provide all sorts of ready-made database based activities such as bulletin-boards, blogs and shopping carts.

[Sylvander]

1. "webserver puppy by puppumartin - I can't believe such a thing died"
I think this [ISO to make a bootable CD] TrackManiaServer was built using Webserverpuppy as a starting point. (http://tmsiab.tmu-xrated.de/index.php?id=16)

Here's the home page that gave the link to the page above. (http://tmsiab.tmu-xrated.de/)

Here's the ISO file. (http://tmsiab.tmu-xrated.de/downloads/dl.php?scl_jumpto=1)
OH NO! IT DOESN'T WORK!
Sorry about that, perhaps the info will be informative.

"TmSiaB II (v2.0.3) - Is a complete Linuxdistribution (approx. 140 MiB including all Servertools and a Webserver - Burn the ISO to CD, boot your PC with this CD, have fun ). TmSiaB II has been downloaded over 1500 times so far.

Third release (TmSiaB II) has been received versionnumer 2 and was released after a gap year (2009) and has integrated the new "N.I.P" . Version v2.0.3 has the ability to create a Dedicated Server for every Trackmaniagame including "Forever" and the best available servertools ( now based on Puppy-Linux, approx 140 MiB small)."

Here's the original thread at the Puppy forum that started me on this track. (http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?t=46120)

Hope I haven't misunderstood what this thing is or does.
Is it a general webserver, or dedicated to serving only the needs of the Trackmania game I wonder.
If the latter, might you be able to alter it to suit your needs?
All rather beyond me, but I'll include it just in case!

How hard would it be to remove the games and use it as a multisession DVD-based server? (http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?p=347038#347038)

[Sylvander]

If you only want to use Puppy Linux for browsing the web...
You may be interested in this "BrowserLinux built upon Puppy. (http://www.browserlinux.com/)

I got to the above from this thread:
Browserlinux 77 Mb puplet with Firefox 3.5.7 (http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?t=44110)

I notice that puppymartin's latest is MijnPup (http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?t=60718), which has been built upon 5.2, and with [B]Hiawatha removed.
[Hence it's included in Lupu-520, I checked]

Perhaps you should send a PM to puppymartin asking him about his webserverpuppy.

[Cuc Tu]

Getting off track, but yes...now I've seen Puppy Studio *|* so I might not need even try Wine now...and I'm tempted to burn MacPuppy for a coworker who likes his Mac.

[Paul Komski]

Just to return to Windows for a moment but I thought I would just add that it is now extremely easy to set up the latest version of WAMP (http://sourceforge.net/projects/wampserver/). Just download and install. Then click the System Tray icon and choose to Go Online.

FTP is easily served by FileZilla (http://filezilla-project.org/) or even by IIS in Windows (http://www.home-network-help.com/free-ftp-server.html).

The biggest problem with IIS and any FTP Server is that passwords are not encrypted during a session and are thus easily sniffed. The alternative is to setup an SSH server (OpenSSH as setupssh381-20040709.zip (http://sourceforge.net/projects/sshwindows/files/OpenSSH%20for%20Windows%20-%20Release/3.8p1-1%2020040709%20Build/)) and then access the PC with a client tunneled using Putty (http://www.putty.org/) or by something like WinSCP (http://winscp.net/eng/index.php).

OpenSSH can be a bit problematic to get functional. There is a good guide at http://www.dslreports.com/faq/11534 but it has one error that is critical to correct to get it to work. After installation one must go to the command prompt \Program Files\OpenSSH\bin> and setup the group and user password files. The line
mkpasswd -l >> ..\etc\passwd
should actually read
mkpasswd -l -u UserName >> ..\etc\passwd
where l is a lowercase L and UserName is the actual name of a Windows User.

A Puppy live CD of course has the advantage of not allowing a hacker in directly to one's main system on the CD but any sniffing of insecure passwords would still be an issue if the underlying files served were of a sensitive nature. I'm sure I have a couple of the WebServer CDs somewhere if you want me to make and then upload an ISO somewhere.

[etiergjt]

godaddy has a free hosting with domain before
but now they just have a single page
000webhost is free

[Cuc Tu]

Thanks, that one looks good...