Advice Please - Setting up server on home pc

[Steve]

Ok, as title says ... thinking of setting up website etc on home pc (using xp pro) and getting domain name to point to it.

Anybody have any tips or ideas ... or pro's and cons to this appreciated

Reason being ... yet again another web host I am with has screwed up and getting p***** off with this so thought I might try this idea.

 

[monkeyspunks]

use apachhe web server easy, i thnk its somwhere in my share

 

[Steve]

Got Apache already ... just cannot figure how to set it up for people to connect to via internet

Works when using localhost in the address but cannot suss it out how t allow to connect to my ip

 

[Mick]

just type your ip instead of localhost

ie http://81.86.219.53

and http://dw-mk2.kicks-ass.net points to it like you would want for your website .... and also

thats my server

 

[Steve]

typing ip number won't find it ... unless a setting in my firewall stopping it

 

[Mick]

yes m8 i would suggest allowing full access to apahce in your firewall

 

[Steve]

It has full access ... set at Permit All but when I use ip number to access server it cannot find it ... must be another setting somewhere ... could it be a setting in Apache (the httpd.conf file maybe .... any ideas anyone ??

Also looking at how to set up sub folders .... so ppl can access website with http://myipnumber/folder ... or if poss http://folder.myipnumber ???

Will change the ip number to as actual domain name when I know this works ... if it does that is

 

[Steve]

OK .. .figured out how to use my ip number .... had to use:

http://myipnumber/site/other_folder_name/

anywhere I can set it to only use http://myipnumber/other_folder_name/ ... or preferably http://other_folder_name.myipnumber ... (in other words a sub domain address)

Don't really want to use http://myipnumber/site/other_folder_name/

Any ideas anyone ??

 

[Mick]

you make the main site in the htdocs that way your site will be

http://ipnumber/other_folder_name/

so your main site will be in the ipnumber part

making subdomains is not hard to do you would be better off running php services and mysql to use proppa software.... but if i was you i would get used to apache first m8y

 

[Steve]

htdocs .... confused now

Already got php and mySQL installed .... been running a couple of test forums but they only work via http://localhost but that doesn't place me in the same root as http://myipnumber/ .... which is getting me confused

Will have a search round about these htdocs and see what i can find

 

[Mick]

htdocs is your main folder you get when you install apache >>> that folder is your ip number m8 or localhost

ie

htdocs = http://localhost <---- thats your main route

it should be something like program files/apache/htdocs

 

[Mick]

LMFAO @ got php and mysql installed already and you are having problems with apache lol.

i think php and the conf file can do your nut in and then mysql permissions and security is esential m8 ... dont whatever you do say your ip out if you have not changed the root username and password

 

[Steve]

no folder called htdocs or anything like it anywhere on my hard drive.

Have had apache, php, and mySQL installed for months to test forum mods etc without having to mess up my web site one.

Also, only just thought about using as a server for a domain name due to probs again with a web host

As said, if i type http://localhost it gives me a listing of folders in the www folder (created when installed apache) .... if I type http://myipnumber I get a 'you do not have permission to access / on this server' error 403 ... but if I type http://myipnumber/site/ I get a web page appear that is not even in the site folder (only site folder I can find is in the Perl folder) and empty apart from another folder called lib so something somewhere is telling it to read the page from somewhere and its not in the httpd.conf file

See why I am confused ... it works but doesn't seem to work as you say it should.

Perhaps I will uninstall it and re-install ... especially as no idea of the password etc you mentioned ... .tried 1 username/password it said to use ... but doesn't work

 

[Mick]

for mysql try root/password

but if you installed forums etc then you already know the username and pass or you would not be able to use the software !

but anyway give me a list of folders in your apache folder please

 

[Steve]

the mysql password etc i know .... its the php username/password that doesn't work ... lol

Folders within Apache:
bin
conf
icons >> small
include >> regx >> sdbm >> xml
lib
libexec
logs
modules

That is all within the Apache folder including sub folders

 

[Mick]

what version of apache is it ???

also this is my setup for it

bin
cgi-bin
conf
error
htdocs <------ thats my web main route
icons
logs
modules
proxy

that is the folder layout for my site, i would suggest maybe re-installing a new apache .... only because i dont know that setup and cant reallyhelp you that well

 

[Mick]

and when i was talking about passwords i was talking about the mysql one ... i have not got a password for php ... as everythin i use or install uses mysql usernames and passwords

so makesure you change your root password for mysql m8y

 

[Steve]

Changed the apache one ... they advised that during setup

Version running:

Apache: 1.3.27
PHP: 4.2.3

Although upgraded yesterday but haven't switched pc off so might not register the upgrade until restart pc which I will do now.

notice cgi-bin in within your Apache folder ... mine is within my www folder (which is the root dir)

As you say (and as I mentioned before) ... will uninstall and re-install again .... been a few months now since installing and h/drive prob need a good cleanup so may format as well

 

[Mick]

ok m8 do what you got to do then post and tell me whats happening

 

[Steve]

I gave up installing the latest versions ... too complicated

re-installed previous versions and eventually got it to work how I want ... i think .... (I hope so anyway).

Just got to figure out how to set it up to accept http://sub_domain.myipnumber/ (this will eventually be http://sub_domain.domain_name/ )

and to see how to send e-mails

and most importantly ... if open to any danger from hacks etc