nighthawk3001

I recently got my hands on a older yet usable computer and I got a copy of Windows Server 2003 Standard Edition. I've had a previous opportunity to play around with this OS but I don't know the exact steps to setup a web server on here. I've tried searching around online, but most of what I have found is for Windows Server 2008.

Any Ideas?

Davidsimms

What do you want the server to do? Host websites? Run proxies? Use it as a basic file server? Going to setup active directory and create group policies? We need a bit more to go on. If your trying to host web sites because you said "web server" I recommend going with a dedicated server vs running your home server. First off you wont have the bandwidth at your house. Second you don't seem to know to admin a box so you will need some added support and getting DNS working is a pain in the rear sometimes. I would recommend Server Intellect and starting with a VPS server if you want to learn a bit. They have managed services so you can mess up the box and they can help you fix it. Good luck!

nighthawk3001

Just host a web site and as a ftp server. As far as bandwidth amount, this is strictly a personal web site so I am not expecting on a lot of bandwidth use unless if I'm uploading or downloading large files. If it ends up using a lot of bandwidth, i'll host my web site somewhere else.

lorjack

You need to install IIS

GDkitty

You want to go into:

Control pannel > Add remove programs > Add remove windows components

From there you want to have it install Internet Information Services. Probably you will be OK with the defaults, maybe turn off SMTP if you will not be doing mail from it.

After it installs, it will make your default website location usualy

C:\inetpub\wwwroot\

ANything in that folder or sub folders will be made available on your website. To localy view the webpage on that machine in the web browser just need to put in //localhost . For other machines on the network, you can do the same by putting in //<yourservernamehere> .

For people on the internet to be able to view, you need to give them whatever the IP address is. Now, this is where it gets trickey. Im assuming your at a place that has more than one PC on the net, connected with a Router. The IP address of the router is what you will want to give out to people. But by default when they try to connect to that they will be connected to the router. You will have to find the settings inside your router for Port Forwarding. You will want to make sure that PORT 80 will be forwarded to whatever the internal IP address is of your server.

As for the FTP you can enable it under ths same spot.. though i found the IIS ftp server to be a pain in the ***, and are better to use a 3rd party one. Same thing with the router applies, whatever port you will be using for the FTP must be forwarded as well.

Ptroy

I've used the wamp stack (Apache). I know you can setup FTP services with this stack as well, but never got to that point. With Apache, you need to setup virtual directories for hosting your site, which is usually in a file called hosts:

It will look something like this.

# Copyright (c) 1993-1999 Microsoft Corp.
#
# This is a sample HOSTS file used by Microsoft TCP/IP for Windows.
#
# This file contains the mappings of IP addresses to host names. Each
# entry should be kept on an individual line. The IP address should
# be placed in the first column followed by the corresponding host name.
# The IP address and the host name should be separated by at least one
# space.
#
# Additionally, comments (such as these) may be inserted on individual
# lines or following the machine name denoted by a '#' symbol.
#
# For example:
#
# 102.54.94.97 rhino.acme.com # source server
# 38.25.63.10 x.acme.com # x client host

127.0.0.1 localhost
58.23.69.366 mysite.gotdns.com

you can register for free subdomains at dyndns.org, where you can register a subdomain to point to your ip address.

type the following to access the hosts file:
S:\WINDOWS\system32\drivers\etc

open the hosts file with notepad and make the changes then save.

before I keep typing, I'll wait to see what your outcome is with IIS, because
you said you are using Server 03, so this may be of no use. But if you just can't get IIS working, let me know and I'll explain more about Apache.

nighthawk3001

i am replacing the hard drive because it physically died on me. Thats what I get for using a really old hard drive. I've ordered a new one and should have the server up and running in a few days (depending on when it arrives at my house). I will try out your suggestion with IIS once the computer is up and running again and let you know what happens.

nighthawk3001

sorry about the long delay. I've been playing around with IIS but its starting to aggravate me a little. Any idea on how to set it up properly or should I just go with apache?

djaburg

What issues are you having with it or better put, what are you trying to get it to do that it won't? Kinda like saying my car won't work, how do I fix it.

Jason09

And what is the make and model of both your modem and router?

samanderson

Solution:
Control Panel, and then click Add or Remove Programs.

The Add or Remove Programs tool starts.
Click Add/Remove Windows Components.

The Windows Components Wizard appears.
In the Windows Components list, click Application Server, but do not select the check box.
Click Details, and then click to select the Internet Information Services (IIS) check box.
Click Details to view the list of IIS optional components.
Select the optional components that you want to install. By default, the following components are selected:
Common Files
Internet Information Services Manager
World Wide Web Service
Click World Wide Web Service (but do not clear the check box), and then click Details to view the list of IIS optional subcomponents, such as the Remote Administration (HTML) Tool. Select the optional subcomponents that you want to install. By default, the following component is selected:
World Wide Web Service
Click OK, and then click Next to install the selected components.
Click Finish to complete the Windows Components Wizard.


To configure anonymous authentication, follow these steps:
Click Start, point to Administrative Tools, and then click Internet Information Services (IIS) Manager.
Under ComputerName (local computer) (where ComputerName is the name of the server), right-click Web Sites, and then click Properties.
In the Web Sites Properties dialog box, click the Directory Security tab.
Under Authentication and access control, click Edit.
Click to select the Enable anonymous access check box (if it is not already selected).

Note The user account in the User name box is used for anonymous access only, through the Windows guest account.

By default, the server creates and uses the account IUSR_ComputerName. The anonymous user account password is used only by Windows. Anonymous users do not log on by using a user name and password.
Click OK two times.

Basic Web Site Configuration
Services (IIS) Manager.
Under ComputerName (local computer), expand Web Sites.
Right-click Default Web Site, and then click Properties.
Click the Web Site tab. If you have multiple IP addresses assigned to your computer, click the IP address that you want to assign to this Web site in the IP Address list.

Click the Performance tab. Use these options to set the Web site properties that affect memory, and the number of connections to the Web site.


Note Each client that browses the Web site typically uses about three connections.
Click the Home Directory tab.
If you want to use Web content that is stored on the local computer, click A directory located on this computer, and then type the path that you want in the Local path box.

Click the Documents tab. Note the list of documents that IIS can use as the default start document. If you want to use Index.html as your start document, you must add it. To do this, follow these steps:
Click Add.
In the Default content page box, type Index.html, and then click OK.
Click the Move Up button until Index.html is displayed at the top of the list.
Click OK to close the Default Web Site Properties dialog box.
Right-click Default Web Site, and then click Stop.
Right-click Default Web Site, and then click Start.

nighthawk3001

I can't seem to get past this point where when I look at the web page from another computer on my network, it says "You are not authorized to view this page".

I've setup the server connection manually so the local IP is set manually. I know I need to setup some kind of port forwarding on the router.

I have a combination modem/router from verizon.

Model: MI424-WR
Firmware: 4.0.16.1.56.0.10.11.6

I heard that verizon blocks port 80 so I know I need to use port 8080.

I'm really giving thought to just using apache.

nighthawk3001

the error code is 401.1

Jason09

http://www.portforward.com/english/routers/port_forwarding/Actiontec/MI-424-WR/HTTP.htm

ChemicalAfinity

it would be well worth installing DNS on the server as well, that way when you are developing a website, you can go mysite.mudomain.local instead of typing a ip address into the computer

nighthawk3001

ok, I got port forwarding set up on my router. Now how do I bind the external IP to my domain name?

If it helps to know, I got the domain name from go daddy.com if anyone has done stuff with domain names from them before.