Perhaps you can help me

[modem]

Well ........

To start with, I've been looking for a way to host my own website on my own PC for sometime but I've found nothing. Then I thought in seeking your help. Perhaps you can help me friends.

I'm looking for a way to configure my PC in order to make it PHP, CGI, MySql enabled so it can host my website and forum .... simply for free

I believe there is a way to do this .... I mean ways not one way. But unfotunately ..... I don't know any

Let's see what you've got to me.

[jason]

Well, yes this is possible, but it may not work. Most ISP's block post 80 (the web server port) on their client's computers so that they cannot run web servers. Most also do not give you a permanent IP address, which is needed in order to map a domain name to your computer, so even if it is allowed, it may be hard for your users to find you. Note also, that bun running servers on your computer you are potentially opening it up to hacker and virus attacks, so it is important to keep your server and virus software up to date at all times.

With that sid, the first thing you'll need to do is download a web server. There are many available: Apache (powerful but difficult to set up), Internet Information Server/Personal Web Server (from Microsoft), BadBlue, Xitami, and others. Once you find one, refer to its documentation for how to set up things like PHP, as each will have it own procedure.

--Jason

[Gwaihir]

And to add to Jason's list of possible problems to check out in advance:
-> most internet connections are not symmetrical at all, i.e. download and upload speeds are generally far from equal. Thus the fact that you can surf pretty fast with your DSL or cable connection doesn't mean that you can run a webserver at decent speed, for that you need either a T1 line or DSL connection specially meant for it, or another direct line to the outside world of internet
-> even when you ISP hasn't given you a clear traffic limit, that doesn't mean you may generate an endless amount of traffic. Often there is a fair use policy that translates into something like "we will ask you to lower your usage (or disconnect you) if you transfer more data than twice our average user."
-> And maybe you do have a fixed IP, a fast link and are allowed to open the relevant ports (80) - for example by living on a university campus - but are you allowed to use a domain name? At 'my' university those on the campusnet are not allowed to host their own domain, so they can have a website but only accessible by IP or through 'www.myuniversity.nl/~username'. (This is enforced through scanning the DNS registry twice a year for anything pointing to 'their' IP's).

But on the up-side: if all of that does match, there are ways to set up Apache, PHP, MySQL and more all at once. Just have a look for such a combined package at places like tucows.com. It's just a temporary relieve though: once installed you will have to keep updating / patching all that software, as Jason said.

JAG: did we make this sound hard enough, so we won't get banned for promoting another webhost on your forum?

[modem]

Hmmmmmmm .......

To be honest, it really seems to be more complicated than what I've excpected.

Things like what you said Gwaihir [ Often there is a fair use policy that translates into something like "we will ask you to lower your usage (or disconnect you) if you transfer more data than twice our average user."] often happen here every now and then, so I guess ....

Anyway, I ought to try and see how things work.


Jason & Gwaihir
Thanks a lot for the enlightment

[mike]

It's great for working on pages locally, but for an actual home based server it's not really worth it. I think running a computer 24/7 will likely cost more in the long run than your average budget hosting account.

I use the apache server package from http://firepages.com.au to do all my web page editing locally. I recommend that one, it's simple enough to have running in a matter of minutes.

[modem]

Well .........

You're terribly right Mike. I feel I ought to look for some decent webhosting companies to choose what best suits me.

Thanks anyway.