My own home pc server

Scalar · 01-29-2006, 12:05 PM

I have searched a lot but seems to be failure yet.I want to change my home pc to web server for my websites.Is it bad idea?
Where can i get helpful guide to build my own server?
Thank You.

Ferre · 01-29-2006, 12:16 PM

Maybe here? http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q...=Google+Search

noob_0001 · 01-29-2006, 01:11 PM

try this: http://www.google.com/linux?hl=en&lr...me&btnG=Search

Radnor · 01-29-2006, 01:36 PM

Knoppix or kanotix, etc.

Knoppix has included with it apache, PHP, and mysql.

The good side.... Hey, you get your own server.
Software is FREE!!!

Now the bad.... You'll have to put it (the server) in the DMZ (open to hacking????)
You'll have to MAINTAIN EVERYTHING!
Your connectivity, do you have a STATIC IP? I think you need one for the name servers to resolve the addy of the site.
You'll have to config all email for the accts.

I have one setup LOCALLY (this box here). But it is for testing ONLY.

joecoolfreak · 01-29-2006, 03:59 PM

Here are a few issues that you might want to consider when doing this. First and most importantly, you need to realize that using your own home server as a webserver means that in order for people to use your website (or view it even), your computer must be online, working, and attatched to the internet at all times. If you run any form of business from this sight, I would highly recommend you not do this as keeping a server up and running is a huge task just by itself, not to mention all of the possible things you can't control: power outages, isp issues. Bandwidth is another huge concern. If you are using a cable modem or dsl or other mainstream broadband internet service provider, you probably do not have the bandwidth to maintain and handle a decent sized website. If your website has a lot of scripts or otherwise processor intensive items, you might not have a powerful enough computer to handle it. What I am really saying, and I say it with the best of intentions, is that if you had to ask the question in the first place, this is probably not a good idea for you to try. Hope this helps and please feel free to ask any other questions you have. =-)

**T0d** · 01-30-2006, 05:57 PM

Don't do it.

You need redundant power. Batteries and a genny.
You need multi-homed backbones.
You need a faster connection than you can get 'at home'.
Do you know EVERYTHING about the software you plan to run, and how to configure everything? Probably not.

Sure you can do it for a couple sites for fun but as soon as your livelyhood relys on the websites it's not worth the risk and headache that goes along with running servrs localy. I mean you can get good p4 servers for under $175 a month.

I suggest. www.servermatrix.com or www.theplanet.com or www.ev1.com for your server needs.

Michael Allison · 01-31-2006, 02:22 PM

Also, your ISP probably won't like it.

**T0d** · 01-31-2006, 07:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Michael Allison

Also, your ISP probably won't like it.

Yeah that too, and probably against their TOS unless you pay $$ (which would probably be half or 3/4 price of a server in a real DC).

Pulse · 02-02-2006, 06:34 AM

I know of a few companies that run their websites of DSL lines ... I used to work for one of them

But I feel always better to get a box in a datacentre

WhiteOvalStickers · 02-02-2006, 11:19 AM

I don't have a lot of knowledge on this so I cannot say if these are good or bad. However here is some info from LifeHacker. (I have never seen this site before. I like it. It seems to serve the "middle geek" population quite well. Did I just coin a phrase?)
How to set up a personal home web server
http://www.lifehacker.com/software/f...ver-124212.php
How to assign a domain name to your home web server
http://www.lifehacker.com/software/w...ver-124804.php

Michael Allison · 02-02-2006, 02:44 PM

Why would anybody want to save $9.95/mo that bad?

**T0d** · 02-02-2006, 03:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Michael Allison

Why would anybody want to save $9.95/mo that bad?

If the site(s) hosted are any good you would probably loose more than double that with the downtime, and other issues with a home server.
Home server = bad idea for production sites.

GeorgeB · 02-28-2006, 01:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Michael Allison

Why would anybody want to save $9.95/mo that bad?

For the experience of it. It's really nto about the money. Or at least it never was for me anyway. I must say that having my own home server GREATLY prepared me for what I would face when I got my own dedicated at a datacenter. So because of my experience I guess it did end up saving me money because I don't have to pay for a "fully managed" server like most dedicated owners because I already know what I'm doing.

P.S. My blog is hosted on my home server and has been for years

(Dell Poweredge 400sc)

But even I wouldn't recommend hosting critical sites on there. Maybe as a testing environment for coding or small startup sites you're testing. Like when I'm coding PHP I can set php.ini to whatever I want (ERROR_ALL globals off etc). But not something that's already earning you revenue.

**T0d** · 02-28-2006, 01:42 PM

Yeah, they are good to learn on that's for sure.

askohen · 02-28-2006, 03:34 PM

No, it wouldn't be for anything serious, or for making money, or to save money that's for sure. Just to get some experience with servers and Linux and help keep myself marketable. I assume there is something on this forum about what ISPs are server friendly, no? I have Verizon DSL, and assume they don't allow servers? Is that true? If so, what ISP should I switch to (in MD)?

**T0d** · 02-28-2006, 04:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by askohen

No, it wouldn't be for anything serious, or for making money, or to save money that's for sure. Just to get some experience with servers and Linux and help keep myself marketable. I assume there is something on this forum about what ISPs are server friendly, no? I have Verizon DSL, and assume they don't allow servers? Is that true? If so, what ISP should I switch to (in MD)?

Call your ISP and ask - they may offer a 'business' type service where you could run one.

WhiteOvalStickers · 02-02-2006, 05:40 PM

Prolly not the best idea but maybe someone just wants to see if they can do it.

**T0d** · 02-02-2006, 07:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WhiteOvalStickers

Prolly not the best idea but maybe someone just wants to see if they can do it.

He said he wants to use it for his websites not to see if he "can".

Michael Allison · 02-02-2006, 07:32 PM

Yeah, it's ill-advised.

askohen · 02-28-2006, 01:18 PM

Certainly appreciate that setting up and maintaining your own server is not for a prod environment. But what about for learning? I was told that setting up a linux box and configuring a web server would be a great learning experience. Or would setting up just a home linux server to hold images etc be just as good as a learning experience?