Best way to run a web server from home?

[ibex333]

I have an old computer, and I want to use it to run a web server that will accomplish two things:

1)Host my personal website from home without any hosting services
2)Share files for myself, friends and family.

Whats the best and EASIEST way to do it? Windows Server? Apache? Linux Server?

I really don't give a damn about the monetary cost, because if it's windows server I will install a trial. This is NOT a permanent thing. I am doing this to PRACTICE. To understand how these things work. If I have to, I will uninstall everything after 180 days and start from scratch.

But the question is, should I bother with Microsoft software? Am I better off with Linux?

Also I cannot understand how Apache works. Is it not a separate server OS like Windows Server or Linux Server? Can it be installed on a client OS? But if it can be, then whats the point in full featured server OSes? Why cant ALL people just install Apache on their clients and be done with it? Why does anyone bother with a Windows server then?


Just curious... What about those crazy entrepreneurs like the guy who created PlentyOfFish? What sort of server did he use to host his website? I read an article about him and it said he started from absolutely nothing. He didn't even have a "real" server in the beginning. He used a basic PC until he had the money to "upgrade" and expand.

 

[Chiefcrowe]

I believe a windows server is easier to set up out of the box in some cases, and it will also allow many more concurrent connections than a standard computer. That is my understanding anyway...

You should try linux if you don't want to buy windows server, but I bet that windows is probably easier to get going if you're not too familiar with these things.

 

[Leros]

I'd get Ubuntu 12.04 server and install Apache. There are tons of tutorials that are pretty easy to follow.

That'll give you a fairly standard setup that you could run on a cheap $5/month VPS if you wanted a real server. And it scales to large websites with multiple servers and stuff. And its free!

 

[BrightCandle]

Most of the web runs on Linux these days so that is about the best place to start. Ubuntu server with Nginx is a nice combination, Apache is also good as well just a bit more complex to configure.

 

[QuietDad]

If your "just playing" or learning, Windows XP Pro, Windows 7 and 8 already come with IIS which just needs to be installed from Control Panel, Add program, Windows features.

 

[Iron Woode]

I have done this many times.

Is this for Lan use or internet use?

For simplicity, I would use Win XP Pro and Apache. There is plenty of documentation on setting up Apache on Windows. Just make sure to forward the port you need to your web server box.

Also I cannot understand how Apache works. Is it not a separate server OS like Windows Server or Linux Server? Can it be installed on a client OS? But if it can be, then whats the point in full featured server OSes? Why cant ALL people just install Apache on their clients and be done with it? Why does anyone bother with a Windows server then?

Apache is an application not an operating system. A Server OS does more than serve up webpages. Most companies don't bother with windows servers. Most use some form of linux or unix.

My first web server was an old P166 running Redhat Linux 5.2 and apache. It took me a while to set it up but it worked pretty good. My last one was running an Abit VP6 setup with dual 1ghz Pentium 3s and 1 gig of ram. That worked great and was probably overkill for a simple web server running Win XP Pro.

EDIT: I forgot something. To access your webpage you will need to use either it's LAN IP address or your modem's IP address (for internet use). If you want you can sign up with a free dynamic DNS service so you can have a host name for your IP address.

 

[ultimatebob]

You can install the Windows version of Apache on practically any Windows operating system and practice with that. If you like it, you can then decide if you want to build a dedicated server running Apache and Linux.

Apache is also free so you don't have to bother with the hassle of free trials. Just download and install the file below, fire up the Apache service, go to http://localhost, and read the tutorials.

http://apache.claz.org/httpd/binaries/win32/httpd-2.2.25-win32-x86-openssl-0.9.8y.msi

 

[AFurryReptile]

Don't forget that to host a website, you'll generally want to have a static IP address.

Or, you'll have to utilize something like DynDNS to keep your IP updated on the internet.

 

[dolphinlee]

I think Windows Server is better.

 

[Cerb]

I have an old computer, and I want to use it to run a web server that will accomplish two things:

1)Host my personal website from home without any hosting services
2)Share files for myself, friends and family.

Whats the best and EASIEST way to do it? Windows Server? Apache? Linux Server?

Home? You're getting ahead of yourself. First, you need an ISP plan that allows it. Some ISPs will let you just pay more, while others may actually require some proof that you are a legit business. Some ISPs block outbound web traffic, too, much like SMTP not going through their servers. If you don't, don't say you weren't warned if you get cut off for running a web server, or just find that you can't access it from outside your ISP's local network.

Windows works. Linux works. For high traffic, Apache for Windows kinda sucks, because it requires too much tweaking (no 64-bit version, and no multiprocessing, last I tried it). But, with it, you can make a WAMP or similar stack, on Windows, that acts like a Linux one, including being able to swap a web app between OSes no sweat.

Oh, and Windows client versions have low concurrent connection limits, so high traffic will be a self-correcting problem, if you go that route.

Also I cannot understand how Apache works.

It's a program. It runs. It registers itself with the OS to look for traffic coming in on some ports. So, when something comes in on 80, FI, the OS says, "hey, Apache, here's a packet for you," and it checks it out.

Can it be installed on a client OS? But if it can be, then whats the point in full featured server OSes?

In MS-land, licensing $$$ (MS' real money-making comes from servers, Office, etc., not client OSes). In Linux/BSD-land, baked in features and configuration. If you install Ubuntu Server, FI, you're getting a different default install of the OS than an Ubuntu desktop distro. Even Windows Server versions, though, come lacking desktop software by default, and generally have poor usability due to default security settings (but, you want that out of the box for server, since some of them are going to be internet-facing).

Why cant ALL people just install Apache on their clients and be done with it? Why does anyone bother with a Windows server then?

Other software, like SQL Server, and the .NET framework. Microsoft sells a software ecosystem, not merely a server. Visual Studio, Sharepoint, SQL Server, Exchange, and more, don't exist as purely modular items in a vacuum. Businesses buy into Microsoft software, because it allows them to more easily put things together to do what they want to do, than does any *n*x. The DoD being an exception...they're just drunk on the MS and Oracle Kool-aid, IMO.