Hosting Http Server Via Your Home Adsl Connection ..on different routers/gateways modems

For those who doesn't download much, why not let your computer host some things to share to the masses on the internet.It's a good way to learn about NATs, DNS, DMZ, firewalls, port routing, etc.Hey, I don't know **** about most of the acronyms there, would someone please teach/tell us what they really are, without having to refer to stacks of manuals and HOW-TOs and what nots.Those of you who knows which ports to enable HTTP request to go thru and assigning ports to HTTPD server IPs, please show us how (for all the modems and gateways available out there)

OK first of all to host a web services on your computer you should get your hand son the latest version of appache or I think the program IIS? Or somethign like that....It comes inside windows xp pro and windows 2003 servers.

With these you can then install them to create a webhost for your computer. Installing appache is hard at first but once you know hwat you are doing it is easy. I have no knowledge about IIs or w.e it is though. Sorry.

After you've installed those you should configure your router or internet connection to allow such services.

Also make sure you get your hands on some damn good firewall protection and worm protection. Espicialy with MYSQL which I will explain in a minute.

Ok now that you have a webhost installed on your computer you can have people connect to your computer and such.

Quick tip: Go to http://dyn.com/dns/ that site allows you to get a link to your site that is more along the lines of http://forums.xisto.com/no_longer_exists/ instead of having your address by a IP like ***.***.***.*** I just find it a lot easier if you have a address to replace the ip....Which is exactly what dynDNS.org does. This tool is VERY usefull if you have a ip that changes. That way instead of telling people to go to the new ip address each time you can still tell them to go to the link, and just download a tool fromt he website that will allow you to update where the address something.something.com points to...In other words whenever your ip changes the program tells the address and updates it so the address is continuously pointing towards the right place.

Now onto MYSQL. MYSQL is also a very important program for any webhost. With MYSQL you can host databases so people can create interactive site type things...The basic thing behind php for example. A lot of php code works with databases so you'll have to have a database host set up so your php codes will actualy work .

The problem with MYSQL is people like to attack it. IT makes your computer very visible to the internet. So it is HIGHLY recommended that you set your firewall and worm protection and virus protection to a way where it will stop hackers.

Next up for simple webhosts is installing PHP. Installing php is a good idea because without installing it no php scripts will work on your webserver or host, and when people try to access them it will try to download them instead of showing them properly. So download yourself a copy of PHP and install it onto your computer.

Finaly for a decent webhost you should download phpMYAdmin so that you can remotely manage your databses and easily provide hosting via databse to other people.

Oh and to make access easier download yourself a program that will allow you ftp connections. I don't have any to recommend right now but sucha program is very utile if you want to maintain your website and you are nowhere near home. Plus that way you can provide ftp access to your webhost.

Notes:

*Don't offer webhost through your computer unless you have a VERY fast connection and ALOT of resources available. I would recommend you just use your webhost that you've set up as a personal host or test host.

*It is VERY important that you keep all your programs up to date if they have to do with your webhost espicialy. There are constant loop holes inside software found by hackers...Or Crackers more likely...So it's always good to have the most up to date version of your software to keep from being attacked or cracked.

*All software I mentioned can be found in google if you type exactly what I said...Normaly it is one of the first two or three results...But if you sstill can't find it...Add the word software next to it to get better results.

*Anything I mentioned in this is just the thigns that I have done to set up my webhost. There are many other things you can do...For example if you want to enable perl? I personaly don't know how to do that. But if I'm not mistaken there are modules on the apache website that will allow you the ability to get those extensions to work.

I hope this helped you out and answered your questions. I didn't go into detail about how to install it because I don't have the time and it's been a long time since I bothered installing it. But there are manuals on the websites for the software.

It's also a good diea you know stuff about MYSQL espicialy because it is the most complicated of all the things I have mentioned above and the manual has gotta be a good 50 pages atleast! So don't bother reading it all unless you have the time

That's all for me though. If you need help on installing one of the programs mentioned just post it and I'm sure we have others that can help you to