windows desktop server???

[coolv1994]

i have a desktop with windows xp and im wondering if there is some way i could make it into a server like the ones here at x10

[longley]

Yes you could, just download apache, It might be a little more confusing than you think. Port forwarding etc....I had done what you wanted to do before i switched to x10hosting...It is to much work, because your server will go down..

[Smith6612]

I've run a home server before and still run one for a few of my friends for free (no one else will get hosting from me). Apache will be a bit difficult to set up, especially if you need PHP and MySQL support, etc with it as well. There are other free web servers such as NetworkActiv Web Server 3.5 (pretty easy to use). Apache is better to use as it's more flexable, but it can get a bit unstable sometimes. NetworkActiv is good for starters, as it'll give you the ability to install PHP and MySQL within a few click after you download the software. There is a free, easy to use package called XAMMP, which will install software such as Apache, MySQL, PHP, etc for you and configure it for you to use. I don't recommend using it as a pernament solution, as it's meant more for developing, but it's good for a start.

Now, on the topic of getting your site to work for other people, you need to know if your ISP blocks incoming port 80 (found a lot on residential plans. Business plans often times have this unblocked, especially if you have a static or non-changing IP address). You also need to know what ports you need to forward if you are behind a NAT/modem (which you will need to do, DON'T USE DMZ!!!). You also need to know how big your site might get, and determine how much upload you have by running a speed test at http://www.speakeasy.net/speedtest or http://www.speedtest.net . I do have a bandwidth range chart that I created for a tutorial site if you do want to see what I recommend running a site off of if you want me to post it.

By the way, if your port 80 is blocked, you can run a web server off of a different port, but people will have a harder time remembering it, and you may be violating your ISP's TOS if you use the server too much. To find out if you have port 80 incoming open, set up a web server, forward the required ports inside of your router/modem, start up the web server, and then go to www.canyouseeme.org to have it test the incoming connection.

[Derek]

You have to convert your home computer into Linux to run cPanel. Also you must have a really good internet connection to run a good website server.

[coolv1994]

i have roadrunner and it works good and i know what ports to forward but how do i get lunix?

[Smith6612]

It's as easy as downloading. There are a few Linux distros like Ubuntu, Fedora, and RedHat that you can download ISOs and make a CD of and install it. You can try Ubuntu first, but there are better distros out there, but I find Ubuntu easier to set up, as it kind of does the work for you. If you have an extra computer laying around over there that isn't used and has nothing really important on there, I'd just say wipe it clean and install the Linux distro on it, then get the server set up. If you don't have a CD/DVD burner (depends on what kind of drive you have and what the distro requires), you can many times order free CDs/DVDs of the distro, though downloading, if the servers aren't too slow or if your ISP isn't too conjested, is the quickest way to get Linux.

Also, the Rochester Institute of Technology has some good Linux distro ISOs for download. You can find it at http://mirrors.rit.edu. I use this host for downloading some of my Linux distros as I'm pretty close to Rochester, NY and normally get fast speeds off of there (if there wasn't a new distro being released :D). Otherwise, if you want to download a distro, just visit their main website and download it.

By the way, if you just have the Roadrunner default package, not sure if this is the same everywhere, but you may just be running 4Mbps/380kbps. I'll post my upload required chart later on tonight. But otherwise, so I can tell you how good your site can run, visit one of the speed test sites I asked you to possibly visit and run the test.

Also, one thing I forgot to mention is that you'll need a Dynamic DNS service since I assume that your IP changes every now and again.

[tonecas]

Hei men see my apache server! Click bellow =)

[jsobeck]

Adding to Derek's post: Don't plan on having cPanel - to own it is about $1200. If you want to use Linux and run more of a "real" server, i would recommend a control panel called VHCS (free).

The simplest solution with Windows XP (and I did this for awhile) would be to insert your Windows disc, install additional software, and install the Windows web server (can't remember exactly what it's called). From there, you can download and install MySQL, PHP, etc, and have a fully functional server right in your home without changing an operating system.

[Smith6612]

A windows server is also very useful if you're going to be designing a website in other languages away from PHP, such as ASP.NET, or C#.

[Derek]

You could run a windows 2003 server running plesk..