how to build a web server

[jefa]

hello, looking for tips on how to build a web server and have a few questions for you all

I have 3 hardware configurations in mind so this info would help:

1. What's the deal with Gigabit Lan? Is this a must for a web server?

2. What are the benefits of RAID? Can I use a single hard drive for the server? How would I back it up?

3. This might be an odd question, but one of my configurations is SFF so could I use a laptop hd or should I just use 3.5" hds?

4. How important is the CPU speed? RAM?

5. What OS would you use? CentOS? Other?

6. What type of network would I need to attach the server to? Would a business internet connection be ok? Do ISPs allow this?

thanks all

 

[Aluvus]

Originally posted by: jefa
1. What's the deal with Gigabit Lan? Is this a must for a web server?

If your connection to the Internet can push more than 100 MB/s, then gigabit ethernet makes sense. If you are transfering a lot of files within your own local network, gigabit ethernet makes sense. Otherwise there's no real point.

2. What are the benefits of RAID? Can I use a single hard drive for the server? How would I back it up?

RAID can provide a performance boost and/or a bit of fault-tolerance. If you are serving flat HTML files, hard drive performance is unlikely to be a huge issue (unless you are serving a lot of files).

If you have a single drive you can back up over the network, to an external drive, or to external media like DVD. Just like any other system.

3. This might be an odd question, but one of my configurations is SFF so could I use a laptop hd or should I just use 3.5" hds?

2.5" drives will generally be slower and cost more. I don't know how well they hold up over time compared to 3.5" drives. But certainly it exists as an option.

4. How important is the CPU speed? RAM?

Depends on what you're serving. Low-traffic, flat HTML, not too important. If you have a lot of traffic or a SQL back-end, more important.

5. What OS would you use? CentOS? Other?

Depends on what you are comfortable with. CentOS is popular enough for web servers, if that works for you.

6. What type of network would I need to attach the server to? Would a business internet connection be ok? Do ISPs allow this?

Depends on traffic. Home ISPs generally frown on it, business ISPs usually don't mind at all. If your ISP gives you a static IP address, it will make your life easier.


Given what shared web hosting costs, you should really look into it. Much fewer headaches. Unless of course you have a real need to make 300 GB worth of files available (or other unusual needs), in which case running your own web server becomes a viable option.