Making Webserver

[hazee]

Hi guys,

I have my PC with windows server 2003 installed and connected directly with a router, provided by ISP. I am using eathernet router as a gateway for my internet connectivity. Means router is directly connected to switch and PCs connected with switch are using router as a gateway where router is connected with DSL line provided by ISP.

BTW, I have hosted my website on a webserver somewhere in US.

Is there any way that i can make my PC a webserver(on internet) and i host my website on my machine that web users can access my website from any part of the world.

Any suggestions are heartedly welcome.
OR
Can i get a step by step process to make it. (if its possible)


regards,
Hazee

[mairving]

Depends on your ISP. If you are a residential customer, then most don't allow it in their AUP but most won't really do anything about it unless you are grabbing quite a bit of bandwidth. You will also have to deal with using a dynamic IP and use a service like NoIP to redirect to your site when it changes.

Pretty easy to do W2K3. Just make sure that IIs is installed, configure your site and forward the port on the router to the server.

Operating out of the house also has other drawbacks. You have to be on all of the time or your site is down. Even on broadband, you are probably going to be a bit on the slow side since your pipe isn't that big and your speeds are capped usually at 256K. There are some security issues. A router can help by closing down the unneeded ports.

[hazee]

is there any possibilty that someone can provide me a step by step process ???

I ll be really thankful. Infact I am quite new to networks so dont understand the terms u used like AUP n NoIP .. but I am using a 2MB line with 50 GB bandwidth per month.


regards.

[faulkner132]

In addition to what mairving said, most ISP's also block port 25 (smtp port) to residential customers, so you will have to configure your email to be sent through your ISP.

[hazee]

No, I am not a residential customer. I am having a business line.

[mairving]

AUP is acceptable use policy. It is that thing that you agree to when you sign up.

NoIP is a way of forwarding IP addresses when the IP address changes. Simply, when you type in pcmech.com, it looks up a DNS record for the nameserver that points the IP address to pcmech.com. All that NoIP does is to act as the nameserver.

Microsoft's Guide to IIs

[kstatefan40]

Apache is also an option, and here is a simple tutorial I wrote on how to set it up. Its a little outdated (like not having the latest version of Apache), but everything but the numbers is the same.

I personally do not like IIS, but it will work ok. Is there a particular use you are shooting for (ie: php or asp?) PHP works on Apache and not IIS, but ASP works on IIS and not on Apache.

[faulkner132]

Originally Posted by kstatefan40 PHP works on Apache and not IIS

Actually PHP works quite well on IIS.

[mairving]

Originally Posted by faulkner132 Actually PHP works quite well on IIS.

Works okay. Apache, MySQL and PHP on a 'nix box still is the optimal configuration. Apache 2 does work pretty good on Windows.

[Force Flow]

We have a 2k3 setup guide if you want to persue it: http://www.pcmech.com/show/os/810/

[hazee]

No, PHP and ASP doesnt matter atall, I can work with both.

I know how to setup IIS and i did as well for localhost.

What I want to know is that

- How can I use domain name to access my webserver from internet. I mean how to configure domain name or IP with server,

- Whether the doamin mentioned in active directory will work as Internet domain name.

- How to implement port forwarding and for which ports. Even SMTP port 25 is not a problem I can use ISP mail server if I am restriced to use port 25.

These all very basic concepts which I am lacking from because of a newbie.

Any step by step tutorial to share????

Thanks and Regards,