kidstar64 Posted October 14, 2007 Share Posted October 14, 2007 Hey guys, So this is my first post here and i consider myself pretty computer savvy until i came across www. hack5. com. it has been very educational watching all of the episodes and now i want to try some things of my own. So I'm trying to turn my regular use computer into a web server while still maintaining its functionality. so have Apache install and have no idea how it works. I want to be able to download say my music files and host some http pages for my personal use. so i guess my question how can i do this, for free or about 30bucks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deleted Posted October 14, 2007 Share Posted October 14, 2007 If you have just done the basic install, you should now go and Edit some Configuration files. Open httpd.conf file (think it is the a folder called etc) in a Text Editor. Look for a line that says "Listen 80". Change This to "Listen YouLocalIP:80". Now, Log in to your Router and Set up Port Forwarding to the Local IP address. I have tried to keep this as breif as possible. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VaKo Posted October 14, 2007 Share Posted October 14, 2007 No no no no... You shouldn't do this at all, your setting apache to listen to your private IP only. You should set apache to listen on port 80 on any IP address, ie your LAN IP and your local loopback. Which is the defualt setting anyway. The only reason you would need to enter a specific IP is if you have multiple IP's assigned to one machine, some of which you don't want apache to listen on. If you only about $30 to spend, see if you can get hold of an old P3/P4 type system. A lot of company's are scrapping systems like this so you should be able to pick something like that up for pretty cheap. Something like this would make a perfect web server for home use, especially old corporate desktop systems (typically there quiet, don't use much power and have a small foot print). Then just install your choice of OS along with *AMP and your set. I would never recommend using your main PC as a publically accessible webserver for many, many reasons, especially since its not that hard to pick up old PC's for next-to-nothing/free. As for software, my personal choice would be FreeBSD (with a customized kernel) running Apache 2, PHP 5 and MySQL 5, but if its your first venture into running a server of any type you might want to look at just running XAMMP on windows. No, not the greatest thing in the world, but it does the job nicely. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iain Posted October 15, 2007 Share Posted October 15, 2007 Hmm - this has set my brain into gear. If it can be as cheap and simple as that, maybe I should investigate myself? I realise that I shouldn't put this on my main PC nor let it be accessible from the internet (some ISPs don't allow home web servers). I'll look around for some tutorials. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VaKo Posted October 15, 2007 Share Posted October 15, 2007 Make it accessible via the web, sure. Very little issue with that, as long as you've paid attention to security. If your ISP is lame and blocks incoming to port 80, use 8000, 8080 or 8008 instead. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EbRiZZlez Posted October 15, 2007 Share Posted October 15, 2007 Sorry to interrupt, but I have been trying to host a web server on my main console as well, but these cheap computers I hear about are very intersting, is there any website I can get them off of? Because, where I live at, few computer shows and auctions are rare , and everything is through the net. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Famicoman Posted October 15, 2007 Share Posted October 15, 2007 XAMPP Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VaKo Posted October 15, 2007 Share Posted October 15, 2007 The 7 I have (3Ghz P4's, 2GB of DDR 3200), came out of a skip I was supposed to be filling with old kit that was being scrapped. I would have taken more but I had to use the bus to get them home lol. I suggest some dumpster diving, putting the word out amongst friends, family etc or getting a weekend job working in a computer store or similar. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iain Posted October 15, 2007 Share Posted October 15, 2007 ... as long as you've paid attention to security... Yes, that's exactly what I meant. I'm not sufficiently up to speed to lock it down 100% (if that's ever possible), or at least not without plenty of tutorials and guidance from groups such as this! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EbRiZZlez Posted October 15, 2007 Share Posted October 15, 2007 The 7 I have (3Ghz P4's, 2GB of DDR 3200), came out of a skip I was supposed to be filling with old kit that was being scrapped. I would have taken more but I had to use the bus to get them home lol. I suggest some dumpster diving, putting the word out amongst friends, family etc or getting a weekend job working in a computer store or similar. Ha ha. Great idea. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SmoothCriminal Posted October 16, 2007 Share Posted October 16, 2007 or getting a weekend job working in a computer store or similar. Thats my favorite part of having a tech job, getting free shit. Also, would you recommend to a newb at web hosting Apache to start out with, or the IIS that comes with 2003 server? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
digip Posted October 16, 2007 Share Posted October 16, 2007 or getting a weekend job working in a computer store or similar. Also, would you recommend to a newb at web hosting Apache to start out with, or the IIS that comes with 2003 server? They can both host your files for sharing over the internet or lan. I personally like the fact that Apache through xampp is simple. Unzipping it and running the setup script and your pretty much done(aside from securing phpAdmin and MySql settings). Start the Apache service, place your html,php and shared files you want hosted in the htdocs folder, call up your IP address in a web browser and your running. Turn the Apache service off and there is no access to the hosted files. I have never used the IIS service, so I can't speak personally on how easy or well it works. I guess it depends on personal preference and needs, and how well you can secure it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VaKo Posted October 16, 2007 Share Posted October 16, 2007 If you want to use MySQL and PHP, use apache. If you want to use ASP and MSSQL, use IIS. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
USBHacker Posted October 16, 2007 Share Posted October 16, 2007 Also, try Abyss (X1 of course) Abyss Web Server It's a really good one, free (choose X1!), and supports all (I've only had trouble with one protocol, and that is php. Use it ;) USBHacker Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VaKo Posted October 16, 2007 Share Posted October 16, 2007 Its better to learn to use Apache or IIS because one day someone might want to pay you to run one for them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
digip Posted October 16, 2007 Share Posted October 16, 2007 Also, try Abyss (X1 of course) Abyss Web Server It's a really good one, free (choose X1!), and supports all (I've only had trouble with one protocol, and that is php. Use it ;) USBHacker PHP is at the heart of Cross Platform compatibility these days. What works when coded in PHP on Linux, works when placed on any other server running PHP, wether it be Windows based or some other flavor of *nix. It was meant to make things easier, not harder. When migrating from a test box to the live thing, all you need to do is copy the pages over from one box to the other and your done. Anything that cannot run PHP is not even worth the time if you want ease of use and flexibility. I have only just started learning it and already see how much easier it makes things. Especially when your doing work for someone and you need to make sure that it works when you move it from your test box to the live website. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SmoothCriminal Posted October 16, 2007 Share Posted October 16, 2007 Thanks Digip and Vako, I will probably just put an apache server on 2003 and play around with both apache and IIS more so with apache. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VaKo Posted October 16, 2007 Share Posted October 16, 2007 Run 2003 with VMware on it, and install freeBSD/Linux for your Apache stuff. You should learn to operate the server in the environment its usually used in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SmoothCriminal Posted October 17, 2007 Share Posted October 17, 2007 Run 2003 with VMware on it, and install freeBSD/Linux for your Apache stuff. You should learn to operate the server in the environment its usually used in. Will do, good idea, thanks again for all the help. Sorry Kidstar64 if I kind of jacked your thread. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SomeoneE1se Posted October 17, 2007 Share Posted October 17, 2007 Also, try Abyss (X1 of course) Abyss Web Server It's a really good one, free (choose X1!), and supports all (I've only had trouble with one protocol, and that is php. Use it ;) USBHacker There's an idea... Use a web server that doesn't support the most supported server side scripting language (and possabley the most used.) Nothing wrong with that idea. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
psychoaliendog Posted October 19, 2007 Share Posted October 19, 2007 To answer the original question, Xampp is great, but you could try Simple Server from analogX not nearly as powerful as xampp but its a great quick server. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
USBHacker Posted October 22, 2007 Share Posted October 22, 2007 Its better to learn to use Apache or IIS because one day someone might want to pay you to run one for them. Okay. Is apache free? Is it easy to use? Does it support python? I have seen that it is widely used, does it have an installer? I want to test it out! Also, try Abyss (X1 of course) Abyss Web Server It's a really good one, free (choose X1!), and supports all (I've only had trouble with one protocol, and that is php. Use it ;) USBHacker PHP is at the heart of Cross Platform compatibility these days. What works when coded in PHP on Linux, works when placed on any other server running PHP, wether it be Windows based or some other flavor of *nix. It was meant to make things easier, not harder. When migrating from a test box to the live thing, all you need to do is copy the pages over from one box to the other and your done. Anything that cannot run PHP is not even worth the time if you want ease of use and flexibility. I have only just started learning it and already see how much easier it makes things. Especially when your doing work for someone and you need to make sure that it works when you move it from your test box to the live website. It's meant to be able to configure with php (http://www.aprelium.com/abyssws/php.html) but that guide didn't work for me for some reason. It might work for you, if you tried. Also, try Abyss (X1 of course) Abyss Web Server It's a really good one, free (choose X1!), and supports all (I've only had trouble with one protocol, and that is php. Use it ;) USBHacker There's an idea... Use a web server that doesn't support the most supported server side scripting language (and possabley the most used.) Nothing wrong with that idea. It's meant to be able too, didn't work for me, might work for you; http://www.aprelium.com/abyssws/php.html Good Luck! USBHacker Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VaKo Posted October 22, 2007 Share Posted October 22, 2007 Its better to learn to use Apache or IIS because one day someone might want to pay you to run one for them. Okay. Is apache free? Is it easy to use? Does it support python? I have seen that it is widely used, does it have an installer? I want to test it out! Yes, Yes and Yes. Its also industry standard where as AbyssWS isn't. Learn what people use. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
USBHacker Posted October 24, 2007 Share Posted October 24, 2007 Okay! YAY! Thanks! I will start using it today. PS: Does it support vista? (32 bit) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VaKo Posted October 24, 2007 Share Posted October 24, 2007 What is it with running software on shit platforms that you love so much? Run Apache in *nix, if you don't have a spare PC use a virtual machine. You don't run a web server on a Vista desktop machine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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