(Incomplete!)
Making Your Own Web Server
By Tech.Kyle (aka: guest_55)
The Problem:
Ivy wishes to run a web server. I am assuming she wants to run it at home and she is using a simple home router to handle her internet connection.
In this guide, I will attempt to guide you through making your own public web server, complete with domain name. In my examples, I will be using a Linksys WRT54G Home Router and Windows XP.
A Lesson in Computers:
Lets look at what exactly allows your computer view a webpage. This will help you understand why we need to configure and install what we configure and install.
The very first thing your computer does when you try to go to a web page is to convert the domain name (for example, www.google.com) to an IP address. It does this by using DNS (Domain Name System). Once your computer has the IP address, it can send a HTTP request on the default HTTP port (Port 80) to that IP address. The computer with that IP address receives the message, looks at the domain name requested and sends the associated web page back.
With that in mind, we can see the three main things we need to set up.
1. We need to set up a domain name that points to our IP address.
2. If you are behind a firewall, we need to open port 80.
3. We need web server software to handle the HTTP requests.
The Plan:
1. Choosing a Server
2. Installing Your Server Software
3. Setting Up a Domain Name
4. Configuring Your Router
Things You Will Need
An always-on internet connection such as DSL or Cable.
Windows NT/2000/XP/Vista or almost any distribution of Linux
(Optional) An unused computer
(Optional) ???
1. Choosing a Server
Being a web server isn't necessarily that hard of a job for a computer. This is certainly nice to know. Because of this, you can use any old, slow computer and still have a quick, fast website. My personal server is running on a Dell Optiplex GX270, Intel Celeron 2.0GHz, 1GB PC3200. To be honest, that's overkill for what I have it do. For most purposes, if you can run Windows or Linux on it, you can turn it in to a web server.
There are many different Operating Systems out there, but I'm only going to talk about two. Windows and Linux.
Using Windows will be the easiest to set up, but won't be as fast.
Using a distribution (or "distro") of Linux will be much harder to set up, but will run faster.
Since the purpose of this guide is for you to learn, I recommend Windows since many are familiar with it. I will try to cover Linux as well if anyone would like to use that instead.
The final choice you will have to make is what software you would like to use. Like Operating Systems, there are many different options, but I will again focus on only two. Microsoft's IIS (Internet Information Services) and Apache.
IIS is built in to Windows XP Professional and can be installed and configured very easily.
Apache is a very fast and powerful web server, but like Linux, it can be hard to set up and manage.
2. Installing Your Server Software
If you chose Windows to be your Operating System, you should be able to install it without problems if it's not installed already. Remember that you will need Windows XP Pro (not Home) if you wish to use IIS. If you wish to use Apache, you may use either Home or Pro.
If you chose Linux to be your Operating System, check any boxes that say "Web Server" during installation. If you can't find any, that's okay. We'll install Apache later.
3. Setting Up a Domain Name
Since "free" is sort of the underlying theme of this guide, let's set up a free domain name. These domains are actually "sub-domains". If you have a home router, check through the settings to see if your router supports dynamic DNS updates. If not, we will rely on a simple desktop client to do the updates.
Since your IP address often changes, we will need to set up what's called "Dynamic DNS". I will be using DynDns (http://www.dyndns.com (http://www.dyndns.com)) as an example.
Lets go to dyndns.com and create an account. Click the "Create Account" link under the login boxes at the top. Fill out the information and agree to the Terms of Service. Once you've created your account and logged in, click "My Account" on the left hand side. Under "My Services", click "Add Host Services".
This is the section that will allow you to choose your domain name. The first two things on the page will let you choose a sub-domain name (in the text box) and a domain name (from the drop-down box). A sub-domain name of "mikeskitchen" in the text box and a domain name of "blogdns.com" from the drop-down box will result in the domain name "mikeskitchen.blogdns.com". You may choose anything you like assuming it hasn't been taken already.
Once you've decided on a name for your website, go down to "IP Address". For now, click "Use auto detected IP address". Look everything over and if it looks okay, click the "Create Host" button.
You now have your very own domain pointing to your current IP address! Once we configure your router, you will be able to see your own webpage using your new domain name.
4.
Setting Up a Free Domain Through DnyDNS.org
Notes to myself:
DNS updates: if not router, then desktop client.
Write guide for IIS and Apache.
Don't forget screenshots.
This is going to be a pretty grand first post.