How to Set Up a Home-Based Internet Server
A home-based Internet server is a computer running software that will allow other computers to download documents and information from it. Even this text that you're reading right now has to pass over a network computer from an Internet server to your Web browser. A server requires a full-time, high-speed Internet connection. Standard professional Internet servers are almost always noisy machines in windowless, temperature-controlled facilities. However, it's possible to run a home-based Internet server from the comfort of your own home.
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Instructions
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Disable any and all programs and security software running on your PC. If you don't do this, the installation of your server software will likely crash or the installation won't work. After you install the server software, you can restart these programs.
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Download the free Apache HTTP server (see Resources). Initiate the "Installation" wizard and accept all of the default settings. When you see the screen asking for server information, enter your own email. After the installation is complete, go to http://localhost/ in your Web browser---make sure you see a message indicating that the installation was successful.
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Install files on your home-based Internet server. You can utilize any types of files that you want, including Web pages, office documents, pictures and videos. Drag files into the "Apache" folder on your server. This is similar to the way any Internet website-hosting account works.
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Access your Web server from any computer by typing the IP address of your server into a Web browser. However, if the computer you're surfing from is behind a firewall (most routers have a built-in firewall), you'll need to open Port 80 on the firewall so you can surf to your home server's IP address. The method for opening Port 80 varies depending on the manufacturer of the firewall.
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Tips & Warnings
Make sure your server computer has the latest security updates to avoid being hacked.
Don't attempt to run a home-based Internet server without installing a firewall.
