Just a thought and....a question.

Hmm, it has been on my mind for sometime now that paying for webspace is a complete waste of money - It usually is inadequate and expensive. So, how would i go about making my own server? Is it too expensive to be a worthwhile alternative?
I realise there isnt just one quick answer to this ie. 'You just do this' and badabing! - you have your own server, so please, if your thinking to taking the piss; dont! Im just interested on how i would go about it.

Cheers for anyone who can be assed replying.

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:m:

 

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Oh yeh, and if you could mention a rough ball in the park figure on the running costs i would be thankful.

Cheeers.

 

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Unless you're planning on running a really small server, as in almost '0' traffic, then don't even bother. ESPECIALLY in the UK. Bandwith there is incredibly expensive. If you have a cable connection then you can easily turn your computer into a server for next to nothing. But be warned, the bandwith drains away really fast. A gig really isn't all that much on the internet. Remember.

That's all I really know. My friend set his computer up as a server to his small family site. With virtually no traffic. If it ever gets any, his ISP will surely kick him off. I guarantee (sp?) it. He offered to host my upcoming site for a really small sum, but I knew enough to decline.

 

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The upfront cost of running a server (as well as the know how to run either Apache or IIS) is quite high. Plus the bandwidth cost is quite high. If you have cable or DSL you can maybe swing it, but again it's probably against your EULA.

I'm not advertisting so the mods can just leave me alone! haha No really, im not, im just offer, but I do host sites with my server (thus how i know about the upfront costs), what were u looking to pay? How much space?

-AntonK

 

In what way are the running cost quite high?

Sorry, im not on the market for renting more space, i have some just now that should be adequate but when it becomes a problem ill have to do something about it by getting a different server. Is this all just an obscure ad campaign?

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Presently I hire a server (very costly)
It's about as good as a few mid to low range PC's and lives at one of the Telehouse buildings in London.

It exists as apart of a network, which contains proxies, which increases performance as not all access directly address the server, they tend to pull some from caches of the proxies.

Running a Dedicated server has had some benefits:

I own some domain names and have access to their zone control.
(I can add subdomains to apache virtualhosts or point them at completely different internet nodes.)

I've decided my own OS (FreeBSD, or any BSD range is the best for a dedicated server, unless of course your talking real UNIX boxes)

I'm able to load what ever is compatible to that OS (This means if I want an IRC server, I install it)

Its up 24/7.

The Drawbacks are:

Costly to hire

Limited monthly Transfer, Approx 10Gbs per month.
(I almost blew that amount in launching a program for someone in 2 weeks)

How ever my server has been happy running Apache, MySQL and a Forums and is now testing an IRC server.

(How ever I will note that any installation of FreeBSD needs PLENTY of SWAP space, at least 150mb's, or your processes start being killed for lack of room)

If I was to re-hire my box again I would:

First start with a free website with banners and get the design, layout and content you want.

Once your happy with that then consider upgrading to either a Dedicated (Where you can learn to deal with problems that might arise) or pay for a webspace to house your site.

[Plan your site and contents before embarking on spending money, and try to work out if you can formulate a turnover through banners and paypals to cover a dedicated server]

 

This is a VERY interesting subject - almost wish the title were more descriptive.

Back in the 80's I created a BBS for my staff to be able to `TeleCommute. Each member had his/her own computer at home, and worked there on average, three days a week coordinating and interacting the other two days. In those days, if I wanted to connect to the Net I had to go to the nearest DoD base (I had clearance and an ARPNET ID) or the equidistant University. Our bills for Compuserve ran around five hundred a month. Around the early 90's local ISP's began to spring up, and I have always tried to patronize them ever since out of appreciation. Briefly, before they did, there were some upstart challengers to Compuserve such as Parody (??? Sears) and the now big-shot AOL. Even they cost several hundred a month for any serious use (11,95 for first 20 hours!-)

For many reasons, not the least being things like TCPA, Palladium and Carnivore, setting up an InterNet server would have much merit, so please lets expand on this subject bright young people (like Anton; (when you were 7 yo with that 75k MoDem I was probably well in my twenties working with mainframes, Northstar 1000's, and OS-1, and we would have really enjoyed having you around!-)).

Am inclined to think the first step, if you're going to get serious would be a T1...........

 

Oh yes;

As an early `guesstimate' I'd put the budget at $1,000.00 USD and $100.00 / month.

If we can manage to keep it at that we should be able to `lease' enough lines to defray `hard costs'.

Think in terms of a co-op. Maybe we're getting onto something here?

 

Cheers for all the info everybody.

d'oh! sorry.