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Make Your Computer Into A Server in 10 Minutes (free software)

by leevonk on November 11, 2007

Table of Contents

Make Your Computer Into A Server in 10 Minutes (free software) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Intro: Make Your Computer Into A Server in 10 Minutes (free software) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Step 1: Download Apache Server Software . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Step 2: Install It . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Step 3: Run It . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Step 4: Test It . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Related Instructables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Comments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

http://www.instructables.com/id/Make-Your-Computer-Into-A-Server-in-10-Minutes-fr/
 Author:leevonk author's website
www.leevonk.com

Intro: Make Your Computer Into A Server in 10 Minutes (free software)

This covers how to quickly set up your computer (running Windows) as a server. This will allow you to host your own website from your computer and will let you to make
web pages with 'buttons' allowing you to control things in your home (robots, cameras, etc) from the internet (I'll cover that in future instructables).

We'll be using apache: very popular, free, open source server software.

While making your computer into a server will be very quick, you should read through the Apache http server software documentation to learn about how to set it up
securely (so that people don't hack into your computer). I'll give this advice but read elsewhere for more:
1) best to install this server software on an old computer that you don't use for anything other than as a server.
2) best to create a seperate user account in windows with limited system access and install this software in that account.

If you want to do this on linux instead of windows (more secure, slightly more complicated) the best combination would be puppy linux and xamp for the server software.
Puppy linux can be loaded off a usb jump drive or a CD, so you don't need to uninstall windows, just boot the computer with one of those. Here's easy setup videos for
puppy linux: http://rhinoweb.us/
See this instructable for how to install xamp once you have puppy linux (or some other linux) working:
http://www.instructables.com/id/Make-a-Server-Out-Of-An-Old-PC/

Step 1: Download Apache Server Software

Download the apache http server software from this apache mirror site:

http://www.reverse.net/pub/apache/httpd/binaries/win32/
_Or_ go to http://www.apache.org/, navigate to the download from mirrors page, pick a mirror and download from there. As you can see from the above link, you'll want to
navigate to the mirror's apache, httpd, binaries, win32 folder.

What To Download:
= You should download the newest version (highest version number), it's 2.2.6 as I type this. Check here to see what the newest version is if you want:
http://httpd.apache.org/
= You want the .msi file, this is a windows installation file (like an .exe)

http://www.instructables.com/id/Make-Your-Computer-Into-A-Server-in-10-Minutes-fr/
Step 2: Install It
Double click the .msi file you just downloaded, it will install, use the default settings, typical install (unless you want the source code, then do custom install).

It should automatically fill in some form boxes with your DNS server name (in my case it was earthlink.net) during the installation.
for server name, put whatever you want, I don't think spaces are allowed though. and make sure after your name you have .earthlink.net (or whatever DNS name is).
for email, put in your email (or don't doesn't matter much).

Step 3: Run It
Once it's installed I think it starts the server running right away. You can see if it's running by looking for the icon in the lower right of your task bar (see pic). If it's not
running and you want to start it, or stop it, just navigate in your start menu (see pic).

if you get an error message when you try to start the server write down the error# and look it up in the documentation or google.

Step 4: Test It
Test it out, when you're sure the server is running open a web browser and type:
http://localhost
into the address bar, this should show up (see pic).

Yay, it works, now do something useful with it (will be covered in future instructables,.. maybe)

http://www.instructables.com/id/Make-Your-Computer-Into-A-Server-in-10-Minutes-fr/
Related Instructables

Customizing
your Apache
server space,
and how to view
it over the
internet. by How to install a Stream video to
an iPad/iPhone
ScriptKing1 Making Your Make a Server Installing WAMP web
development for Free by
Own Completely Out Of An Old Server by 34will
enviornment on acrog2
Free Website PC by Seski localhost by
(And Server) by
cvxdes
0Ihavenousername0

Comments
34 comments Add Comment

TheTechGuy99 says: Feb 27, 2011. 1:39 PM REPLY

could you please tell me the exact name of the file I should download
because there are multiple msi's with the same number

zebsolo says: Feb 25, 2011. 10:12 AM REPLY

where do you put the website html files

mikemmcmeans says: Feb 15, 2011. 8:08 PM REPLY

so if i have a dynamic dyns account using the adderess
aaaa.bbbb.ogr

what exactly should i put in the 3 blanks during install?

Computothought says: Nov 11, 2010. 12:12 PM REPLY

If you use ddns, you can get a domain free for a limited time.

Once you start using a web server, you will wonder why you never used one before. I run my private apache web server on an old an old pII. It is currently
running Ubuntu though I prefer debian when I am not running centos. I had it on I think ubuntu server 6.x and have done in-place upgrades as they came
along the way to 9.x. (i.e. no reformatting or disk wiping). This is an example of the actual web pages i run on it. http://www.instructables.com/id/Uses-for-
your-own-private-cloud/ I have since added doing home automation on it. Keep finding uses for that legacy computer. Microsoft Windows Supporters said I
should have thrown away a long time ago. It is not what you use, but how you use it.

Wampserver is an alternative to xaamp.

Bongmaster says: Nov 11, 2007. 11:43 AM REPLY

I wouldn't recommend using windows.. try Puppy Linux 8or whatever distro u like) and XAMPP.. fast and easy.. and a hell of a lot more secure..

masterme120 says: Jan 1, 2009. 10:17 PM

(removed by author or community request)

Bongmaster says: Jan 2, 2009. 1:57 PM REPLY

no i mean puppy linux as in http://www.puppylinux.org/ ;)

pmartinez says: Mar 26, 2008. 5:21 PM REPLY

I agree Xampp with the auto install is much easier, that's what I use.. I like Obuntu linux system as well

leevonk says: Nov 11, 2007. 12:07 PM REPLY

it's a lot easier to do with windows, but yes it would be more secure with linux. I agree that puppy linux would be a good choice since you can load it off a
CD so don't even need to uninstall windows.

mikedoth says: Nov 11, 2007. 2:01 PM REPLY

I think I agree, i'd like to see it for Linux, perhaps Ubuntu or Suse.

http://www.instructables.com/id/Make-Your-Computer-Into-A-Server-in-10-Minutes-fr/
 schimmi says: Feb 4, 2008. 8:07 PM REPLY
ubuntu server edition...

Sir Maverick says: Jun 10, 2008. 7:01 PM REPLY

Centos5.....

leevonk says: Nov 11, 2007. 10:18 PM REPLY

hey, look, tada:

http://www.instructables.com/id/Make-a-Server-Out-Of-An-Old-PC/

looks like someone has already made a linux xamp installation instructable

PureBreed says: Apr 3, 2008. 9:54 PM REPLY

dude, that links already in this instructable, go read it agiain. xD (thats a comliment coming from me BTW, i make stupid mistakes all the time)
lol

Bongmaster says: Nov 11, 2007. 12:32 PM REPLY

if you get the dotpup of xampp its so easy.. it runs streaght from the get go.. i have been using puppy, and xampp for ages and have no problems.
(appart form my hardware.. but thats old)

leevonk says: Nov 11, 2007. 10:15 PM REPLY

ok, maybe I'll try that, thanks for the advice :)

REA says: Jul 26, 2008. 5:33 PM REPLY

im going to assume it works for Win 98.

Derin says: Jul 9, 2008. 10:44 AM REPLY

Oh No!It didnt fill in anything!

PureBreed says: Apr 3, 2008. 9:56 PM REPLY

if ur rich, go buy a 4,000 dollar server computer. xD wish i had the money

BloodRaven says: Jan 18, 2008. 5:42 AM REPLY

If you have a computer you use a lot, would it mess it up? I have a vista and wanted to make another account on it and use that as a server, but don't want it
being destroyed because of it

cris1133 says: Jan 5, 2008. 8:44 AM REPLY

ill also host a AA server

cris1133 says: Jan 5, 2008. 8:43 AM REPLY

nice! now i can host an online game without paying $300 dollars per month

Dark_Helmet says: Dec 27, 2007. 3:03 PM REPLY

You should cover port forwarding for people without dedicated IP addresses for each computer.

ScriptKing1 says: Dec 27, 2007. 4:58 PM REPLY

I know, but I have a fixed IP, and not a Dynamic DNS or undedicated IP address, whatever you want to call it, so there is no way I can test it with my
current configuration. Sorry, otherwise I would cover port forwarding.

ScriptKing1 says: Dec 24, 2007. 11:38 AM REPLY

Hey, I went and kept researching on how to do a couple things with the server, and once I had it done, I made this Instructable. Here

http://www.instructables.com/id/Make-Your-Computer-Into-A-Server-in-10-Minutes-fr/
 leevonk says: Dec 25, 2007. 8:56 PM REPLY
nice, good job, thanks for following up on that stuff. If you want to use a domain name (e.g. www.blahblahblah.com) instead of your IP address you can
buy a domain name for around $10/year, pretty cheap. Just type buy domain name into google and you'll get a bunch of sites you can use, I used
www.godaddy.com

ScriptKing1 says: Dec 23, 2007. 1:39 PM REPLY

Please make an instructable on how to upload your websites to the internet using Apache 2.2. Thank you. Good instructable. P.S If you don't want to make a
new instructable for it, could you atleast PM me so that I know how. thanks!

leevonk says: Dec 23, 2007. 2:50 PM REPLY

great question, you can edit/replace the index.html in the folder 'htdocs' which is in your apache folder (wherever you installed it). after you've done that
you should be able to access that index.html from any other computer on the web by typing in your server's IP address. If your ISP (internet service
provider) uses static IP addresses you just type in the IP address every time to access your page.
If your ISP uses dynamic IP addresses you'll need to look up your server's IP address each time you disconnect/reconnect it to the web. There are free
services that will do this for you: DNS2Go or dyndns.org. Sorry, I'll try to test all this out thoroughly and update the instructable in the future. Here are
some useful references:

http://johnbokma.com/windows/apache-virtual-hosts-xp.html
http://groups.google.com/group/comp.infosystems.www.servers.ms-
windows/browse_thread/thread/866bad569981327c/b1d7fb821ab94a8f?hl=en&lnk=gst&q=web+page#b1d7fb821ab94a8f
http://www.tivohelp.com/archive/tivohelp.swiki.net/31.html

ScriptKing1 says: Dec 23, 2007. 4:19 PM REPLY

THank you for your help and for replying!! = )

bleachworthy says: Nov 11, 2007. 12:21 PM REPLY

ooh, suckage, only apache http?
I have Apache2Triad on my machine, it has all the necessities, http, ftp, database, PHP, ASP, the works, and it can be found HERE it is all covered in a
basic installer package, and generally installs within 10 minutes (keep in mind this package is pretty big, and it even includes a CPanel-like management
interface, that is easily accessible, and user friendly. I advise it 110% for those of you that are remotely interested in running your own web server.

leevonk says: Nov 11, 2007. 1:21 PM REPLY

cool, I didn't know about that, maybe I'll do that and update the instructable with that program instead

Bongmaster says: Nov 11, 2007. 4:36 PM REPLY

xampp includes apache, php, ftp, pearl, and a few other things too.
and u can get it for windows too (if u really insist on using windows :P )
http://www.apachefriends.org/en/xampp.html
worth a look at least.

leevonk says: Nov 11, 2007. 10:13 PM REPLY

is it smaller than a 75mb download, cause that's how big triad was :-P

bleachworthy says: Nov 11, 2007. 9:24 PM REPLY

not bad, not bad. seems to be the same thing as apache2triad, but with a little twist, and more goodies. I don't think a2t has any data collections,
or a report builder like webalyzer. btw, webalizer kicks ass, I use it all the time on my fialing website ( www.fsforums.net ) lack of advertising funds
kicked the sites ass.

http://www.instructables.com/id/Make-Your-Computer-Into-A-Server-in-10-Minutes-fr/