How To Convert a Computer Into a Web Hosting Server
There are a number of ways to convert a desktop or laptop computer into a web server. The first thing to decide is the operating system of the server. Although many people are familiar with Microsoft Windows, Linux is often a more stable server operating system. If running Windows, you then need to select a web server. In most cases, the choice will come down to Microsoft's Internet Information Server (IIS) or the open source server Apache. The most stable, least expensive web server will use Linux as the operating system and Apache as the web server. Both Linux and Apache are open source software that has no associated licensing fees.
Instructions
Difficulty:
Step 1
Put your Linux installation disk in your computer and turn it on. Your computer should boot from the CD.
Step 2
Follow the installation instructions for the Linux operating system. Each distribution will have a very different procedure, but most will offer you the choice of a workstation or server installation. Select server, if the computer is very old. Server installations usually are command line installations without a Graphical User Interface (GUI). Select workstation if you want to work in a windowing environment.
Step 3
Select Apache if your distribution allows you to select installation packages. Apache is usually installed automatically in server installations, but may need to either be manually selected or installed later in a workstation installation. If you must install Apache manually, follow the installation instructions on the Apache website. If you are using Red Hat or CentOS, you can install Apache from RPM files. Debian-based operating systems, like Debian and Ubuntu, have standard package files available in their repositories.
Step 4
Configure your Apache server. The configuration file is in /etc/apache or /etc/apache2, depending on the version you are running. Make any changes to this file needed to support specialized needs. In most cases, if you installed from RPM or a Debian-type repository, the configuration file will already be configured for a basic web hosting server on the server's port 80, the standard web server port.
Step 5
Configure your network router or access point to allow IP passthrough for direct access to the server.
References
Article Written By Ma Wen Jie
Although he grew up in Latin America, Mr. Ma is a writer based in Denver. He has been writing since 1987 and has written for NPR, AP, Boeing, Ford New Holland, Microsoft, RAHCO International, Umax Data Systems and other manufacturers in Taiwan. He studied creative writing at Mankato State University in Minnesota. He speaks fluent Mandarin Chinese, English and reads Spanish.