web server setup

i am connected to the internet via broadband dialup 256k modem. Is it possible to setup a webserver on my home pc? I'm thinking of using apache http server on my WinXP pc. Any suggestion or advice is welcome!

>>broadband dialup 256k modem
Sounds cool
you can easily get apache working on xp box if your provider doesn't block ports.

yes, it's way possible. I've set up a testing environment on my home computer running windows 95 with apache 1.3.24, perl 5, php 4, mySQL. There is extensive documentation all over the internet on how to install and configure these things. One thing though: if you intend to serve web pages to the general public you will need a static ip address

You don't even need a static ip, though it does make things easier.

I've been hosting pages for over two years from my dynamic IP adsl connection, and it's work slick as heck.

Check out www.tzo.com, www.dyndns.org, or www.dynu.com for services that match domains to dynamic IPS.

www.geekuprising.com (among other domains) are hosted from my linux box at home. I wouldn't host any e-commerce/really important websites this way, but it's good for development/testing/casual hosting.

Note that you should have a good upload speed if you want to run a faster server.

I have a cable connection, I can download at speeds of up to around 35kb/second, but I can only upload at a maximum of 8kb/second - I guess my ISP doesn't want their users to run servers, as that would mean they would use a lot of bandwidth (or potentially could).

If you don't have a restrictive ISP like I do, then good for you - have fun with your webserver!

code, what kind of messed up cable is that? I get ~200kbytes down and ~50 up for US$60 and I'm not anywhere close to be satisfied with that speed.

This is getting a bit off topic but is there some way to test your down/upload speed? A web site? Software? I am running cable too, and I am actually quite impressed with the speed. I downloaded the linux redhat disc 1 iso at approx. 650 MB in four hours.

Not bad compared to my crappy old 33k modem connection.

To test download just find something bug and start downloading it and see where it'll be about constant. Like for me it usually starts at 220 but drops down to 190 stable from good server. To upload, find some ftp pub and see how's fast it ups - i'd use some ftp client. If you aren't going to up/down wholla lot you can use ftp.digitalstate.net I'll enable anon ftp for ya. It gives somewhere ~300/200kbytes

edit: use guest/guest

Ok,

I tried that but doesn't the speed of the server and the amount of simultaneous users make for an unaccurate test?

I wonder if there is some sort of software that can get right in your cable and figure out the absolute limit. . .?

'spose it doesn't matter

That is new server I just registred so there're no users whatsoever. Its not even published yet anywhere.
Software to figure out absolute limit? You dont need software for that - 30mbits/ap for cable is the limit. Then your cable modem is hardcoded to certain speed.
As I said, the best way would be to go and download something big and see stable number.

whoa!

I tried your FTP server and peaked at 1000kbps!!!
I'm content with that, thanks

uhm. I hope you're talking 1mbit and not 1mbyte because 1mbyte is a little bit too fast. Although let me try to re-check or get another faster ftp.
It doesn't really matter what it peaks on, the only thing that matters is stable speed.

well, I was looking for a large file, but couldn't seem to find one. I downloaded a few different ones, and every time my FTP client said "successfully dowloaded at 1000kbps"

I thought 1000kbps was good? The same as 1mbps right?

use ftp client to connect to guest:guest@ftp.digitalstate.net and download 500k2 file. or go to http://digitalstate.net/guest/500k2

check
www.dslreports.com

for a really nice speed test app.