Server Experimental

[Joker Boy]

I am interested in being able to host websites like x10 does. I'm not going into the bussiness or anything, just experimenting with it, seeing as summer break has just started and I have nothing to do and crave knowledge of hardware (yes, it's true I've mastered software :P)

Any help would be appreciated! Thanks!!

Ps. I am running Vista Home Premium Edition (I think)

Once more, thank you all!!!

[Brandon]

This might be against your ISP's TOS, please consult that before starting anything.

[Joker Boy]

explain?

k I'll call right now

[dest581]

He meant that if you wanted to have websites accessible from the web running on your computer, it might break the Terms of Service you agreed to with your Internet Service Provider. Many ISPs don't allow it for any home (non-business) plans.

What exactly do you want to do?
a) Run a testing website that only you can see, for practicing with scripting languages
b) Running a website accessible from the internet
c) Running multiple websites (run by multiple people) accessible from the internet
d) Other :P

[bigguy]

You could get reseller hosting and try that out.

[jsobeck]

I've found most ISP's (such as mine, Roadrunner) don't care if you are doing some very light usage - testing and stuff. What I would do (and this is what I've done) is find some old computer - 500MHz and 256 RAM will do more than enough for this - and stick Linux on it, I personally recommend Debian or Fedora Core.

However, because you called your ISP, they may have "flagged" your account, so start small, perhaps just on a home network (and that may be all you need). If you want any more help, feel free to email/PM me.

[Micro]

If you want to quickly start, download WAMP or LAMP (http://www.wampserver.com/en/ or http://www.lampware.org/) and they will install and configure php / apache (webserver) and MySQL for you.

[Cubeform]

I always like XAMPP (http://www.apachefriends.org/en/xampp.html). I've got it running on my test machine right now.

[Joker Boy]

He meant that if you wanted to have websites accessible from the web running on your computer, it might break the Terms of Service you agreed to with your Internet Service Provider. Many ISPs don't allow it for any home (non-business) plans.

What exactly do you want to do?
a) Run a testing website that only you can see, for practicing with scripting languages
b) Running a website accessible from the internet
c) Running multiple websites (run by multiple people) accessible from the internet
d) Other :P

B with some modifications

Thanks for all the help. I have fedora core running as a VM and it's my favorite Linux program. I have an old machine I may use. As far as my ISP goes, they said that as long as I wasn't using it for business purposes there would be no fee.

EDIT: I got WAMP5 and all the services are up and running, but how do I actually get the site on the web? And as for a domain name...?

[Joker Boy]

What folder will be accessible on the web? the www folder doesn't come up when you enter my IP address...