Web Server How To

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Preparation

Gather, and assemble your hardware

Make sure your high speed internet connection is up and running

Write down your IP address, provided by your ISP, unless it's dynamic
- If you have a dynamic IP visit www.DIYwebserver.com for more detailed information.
- Look into third party Dynamic DNS services
  - www.tzo.com
  - www.zoneedit.com Zone Edit also does fee DNS for up to 5 domains.
  - www.EveryDNS.net My current free DNS provider, also provides dynamic DNS services.
Make sure that your ISP doesn't block ports, especially port 80
make a list of the specifications of all your hardware, and software
- Product Name
- Manufacturer
- Model Number
- Version number if appropriate
- Specifications
  - Size(kb,mb,gb)
  - Speed(kbps,mbps,etc.
  - Type(SDRAM,mhz,khz etc.)
Backup everything
- Make sure you have backed up your system
- Make an emergency start up disk
- Make a CD, or series of disks with all of your system drivers
- Print out all necesary guides, and tutorials in case you lose internet access temporarily
Register your domain name
set your DNS to point to your IP address
Download the server software(Apache For Windows)

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Installation, and Setup

Open the installer. You will see a welcome screen. Click next.
There is a license agreement which you should read. If you agree, click next, or accept.
The readme file will come up next. I recommend reading it even if you don't yet understand it.
Configuration will be next. Enter the information replacing yourdomain.com with your actual registered domain name.
- NETWORK DOMAIN: yourdomain.com
- SERVER NAME: www.yourdomain.com
- ADMINISTRATORS EMAIL ADDRESS:youremail
- Click Next
You will be asked to select an installation type. Choose Typical.
You will have the option to change the installation directory. I would leave it at the default.
Finally you will be given the option to install. Click install, and wait.
When informed that apache has completed installation click finish.

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Testing

To test your installation open your web browser, and enter http://localhost. You should see this page:

The local host address will only work on the machine running the server.

Although it is possible to store web pages elsewhere, the default location is in the C:\Program Files\Apache Group\Apache2\htdocs directory.

Open the htdocs directory.

Place your html files directly into this directory.

This arrangement will only be satisfactory for running a single website. For more advanced instructions, and ways to modify your set up visit www.DIYWebserver.com.

www.samspade.org is a good place for testing your setup.

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Help and Troubleshooting

For help visit www.apache.org

And

www.DIYWebserver.com

I really can't plug DIYWebserver enough. The guides are detailed, but written in plain English for the "newbie". The real treasure though, is the forum. Everyone is friendly, and helpful, it is well organized, and no one is castigated for lack of knowledge on any topic. Everyone there is a guru in something, and a neophyte in something else. It is not uncommon to see "the experts" asking for help in areas they are not familiar with. Hit me up there if you have a question. My handle is Truecrimson, and despite what Warlock says, I am the reigning champ of asking stupid questions. Or look for me on my own board www.thecrimsonpirate.com/thecrimsonpirate/forum/index.php where we have a section for ABS programming students.

You can contact me by email:Admin@thecrimsonpirate.com

Or visit one of my little projects, none of which are complete:

TheCrimsonPirate.com My disorganized, and haphazard playground.

Corlissonline.com

D'Orazioonline.com

UncleWilliesWieners.com

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Advanced

For advanced guides, tutorials, and help check back here in the future, or if you are as impatient as I was(am) visit(can you guess?)www.DIYWebserver.com.

Things you can do include: Server side scripting with perl, or PHP, dynamic web hosting with MySQL, forum/messageboard hosting with YABB, YABBSE, or PHPBB, Email hosting with Argosoft, X Mail, Mail Enable, FTP with the server for your favorite FTP client, run your own name server using Simple DNS, or N13 DNS, E Commerce with OSCommerce, host a community site with PHPGroupWare, PHPNuke, or it's little brother PostNuke and many other things.

For help and tutorials on web design visit www.WebMonkey.com

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5/13/03 Jerry Corliss

Admin@thecrimsonpirate.com

This project, and my own server were made possible by lots of help from Bill, and the crew at DIYwebserver.com Thanks Bill, Ramy, Joseph, Rob, RSoloman, RR, Warlock(your wu shu is better than mine!), DigitalHeart, Adrian, Dfitch(the hands on man), and everyone else I forgot.