How to set up a web server and email server

Hi...

I'm in the thought process of wanting to host a website on a spare box in my
house. I want to also use it to host an email account (ex:
).

Does anyone have any instructions on getting this done? It will be a
somewhat small website, with a very limited amount of incoming visitors,
maybe set up with a password for access. I know I have a dynamic IP address
now with my cable connection, and need to know how to set it up accordingly.

Are there any links that provide step by steps or other information for
doing these two things?

Linda

 

if you set up a mail server you will need to use relevant auhtentification
to prevent you from being blacklisted as an open relay. and www.no-ip.com
shpuld be able to help you with DNS

 

Not the easiest method.

What OS?

Get a hosting package, try www.google.com and search for web hosting,
you will get stuff like hosting providers or comparison charts like
http://www.hostchart.com/
http://www.lypha.com/?ref=hostchart
http://www.affordablehost.com/
http://usawebhosting.info/

The fairly low monthly costs far offsets all the trouble you could end
up with.

You are going to limit visitors how?

If you want fairly easy password setup, get a hosting service based on
Apache, using the .htaccess file.

The dynamic IP can be helped by a dynamic update client and the free
service (or paid for static) like www.dyndns.org this will update the
dynamic IP to a hostname like mygoodsite.dyns.org as in
http://mygoodsite.dyndns.org


You have to also be careful, your ISP allows this. If you register a
domain name your ISP may not allow forwarding of the name to IP on thier
servers. You may simply have to use a simple framed redirection.

Do you need a simple online page construction tool or require FTP file
upload?

On top of the few minor to large issues above, you also mentioned email.

That's another very major issues in it's own right. If not configured
correctly it can be used by spammers to relay spam. This can be another
way to lose your ISP account.

Don;t forget the firewall/router that has port forwarding. This allows
your public ISP IP address to accept incoming requests and forwards them
to the PC on your LAN.

You didn't mention what OS, what webserver or email server you may be
using.

If you still intend to go ahead, do a lot more research first. Then ask
your questions. Not wishing to be rude your question shows you don't
even have a very basic idea of how to start.

Me

 

Lol... Never attempted to HIDE the fact that I don't even have a basic idea
of how to start.... That is why I posted the question, to get some info.

Your issues will be taken into consideration, as I did mention, I'm only in
the thought process stages of doing this, and your response is exactly what
I need to weigh it all out.

My router does allow port forwarding, so that is not an issue.

Thanks.

Linda

 

<snip>

I recommend SME server. It is linux based, and it is a webserver,
e-mail server and network server all in one, and is freeware. They
have a good support network of many people that can answer any and all
of your questions. It also supports dyndns as well as dns2go, so your
dynamic ip would not be a problem. I would recommend downloading and
installing it, and playing around with it. Once installed, you manage
it with a web interface, so you don't need to have a monitor hooked up
to it at all times. I ran it on an AMD k2-330 with 256 MB ram and a 10
GB hardrive, and it ran like a trooper, so using some older PCs should
not be an issue. go to http://www.contribs.org to get the files, and
also check out the forums and other items there, to help you get a
feel of the SME server community. Hope this helps.

Also, the SMTP server only allows local connections, so having
spammers bounce off of your server would not be an issue. You would
set your smtp server on your e-mail program to be 192.168.1.x
(whatever IP address you have assigned to your SME server box).

Mike
HTTP://WWW.HOSTINGFORABUCK.NET
FAST RELIABLE AFFORDABLE HOSTING.
YOU COULD PAY MORE,
BUT WHY WOULD YOU?"