How To Host A Web Server - 6 Crucial Elements You Need To Know (Part 3)

Welcome to the third and final series of How To Host A Web Server. In the second series you should have gained some great insight into the importance of routers and the various network types.

Next, you'll see the value of having firewall protection and find some highly recommended server software and hardware that'll be good for hosting a webserver.

Firewall

It's very important to have a firewall to prevent unauthorized access to your server. It aids in blocking unwanted communication between the network and external computers. It utilizes a barrier to prevent routing information through a proxy server outside the network.

As for speed, dialup is obviously slower than DSL and cable but it does provide better protection from hackers. Why? Because every time you sign on you are given a different IP number.

This makes it harder for a hacker to pinpoint which gateway to utilize when trying to take over your computer. Cable and DSL will likely have static IP's which allows the hacker to "bookmark" the number and come back later.

A good firewall to use is ZoneAlarm. It's a great solution for preventing others from hacking into and stealing your server space. You can use both a software firewall and the firewall that came installed on the hardware router.

This will provide double protection for you. Please be cautious as some firewalls could actually conflict with one another causing your server to become more exposed to attacks. Make sure you check for compatibility first before installing.

Server Hardware

An important decision needs to be made when it comes to choosing hardware for your server. If you will be utilizing various scripts (e.g. cgi, asp, php, etc), you want hardware with a fast cpu speed. If your focus is more on having a game server, you need a computer that's quick and has a fast internet connection.

Another important thing to keep in mind is the stability of your server. You can have all the speed in the world but it doesn't make sense to have to restart it every 48 hours. A web server should be capable of running for months at a time.

Good stability starts by preventing overclocking, having adequate drivers, and preventing high temperatures which will lead to server crashes.

Server Software

Webserver software is important because it allows you to control every aspect of the server through its interface. The most stable and easy to use software that can be ran in conjunction with server software is...

Windows XP Professional with Apache!

It's a very stable program that has the ability to run the latest software and can be ran with the necessary hardware. You'll likely have to reboot every few weeks or so to install the latest updates and patches that Microsoft suggests every now and then. This is a common step that will help protect your server space so don't be alarmed.

Apache is perfect if you are expecting to have a lot of website traffic. If not, the standard Windows XP Professional will do just fine.

You can also go with the Linux setup - it's extremely stable and has the ability to run Apache. The only drawback is that it's a very complex system and not easy to configure and use.

There you have it, the important items you need in order to host your own web server. It's not going to be easy to do if you're new at this. It'll take time to grasp but it is something that is very manageable.

As long as you have an good understanding of the 6 crucial elements that's needed, you'll be up and running in no time.

This article was brought to you by GR8 Website Hosting where you can get excellent information on a low cost web host. You can also browse the website to get information on virtual web hosting and much more.

Can't find what you're looking for? Feel free to search our site or the web for the information you need.