Topic: Home Server Implementation with apache

[davidapache]

Hello

I would like to implement home server which has apache, php and mysql, including other features which is almost the same as that of PC. PC is window XP, 32bits. Localhost is working normally by using apache web server. I was told that my own website (My own IP address, domain name) is required. Where do I buy this kind IP address?
After buying it, how could this IP addressed be embedded into my PC which will be equivalent to home server? Therefore, outside, I or someone could access my home server.

Some guideline would be appreciated.
Thanks,

[davidapache]

Hello Folks,

Any feedback would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Davidapache

[DnvrSysEngr]

D:

If you are going to expose your HOME pc to the world as you mention, I would highly advise you to NOT use Windows XP.

However, if you must, you can use a Dynamic DNS service to locate your machine (example: MYHOMEPC.ddns.org).

If you want your own name (example: Apachelounge.com) you will need to use a registrar, such as Network Solutions, and register your own domain name.

Next, you need to have DNS set up so that it can resolve the Domain Name to an IP address (like you asked in your post).

As for obtaining and IP address, you will need to provision that from your Internet Service Provider.

Now, once you have that, you need to configure NAT on your firewall, provided you have a firewall that you can access and configure.

Hopefully, these simple and generic answers give you enough information to get your started.

[davidapache]

I appreciated for the detailed information.

I might look at Dynamic DNS service, because there is no any requirement for name domain.

There are a few more questions because I am novice for network configuration:

Q1)
Can Home server access internet such as google like any PC, once setup is completed by either Dynamic DNS service or DNS setup?

Q2) In order to register/buy my own domain name/IP address, which online site is more legitimate?

Q3) "you will need to provision that from your Internet Service Provider. " What does it mean, including provision? Should I call my internet service provider to provision PC?

Q4) "Configure NAT on your firewall" how to configure NAT?

Thanks

[DnvrSysEngr]

D:

Sorry for not getting back sooner, was enjoying time away from technology.

To answer your questions:

Q1)
Can Home server access internet such as google like any PC, once setup is completed by either Dynamic DNS service or DNS setup? - The answer is YES, as Dynamic DNS is only to help others on the Internet locate you.[/b]

Q2) In order to register/buy my own domain name/IP address, which online site is more legitimate? - [b]I would recommend Network Solutions, Dotster, GoDaddy, just to name a few.

Q3) "you will need to provision that from your Internet Service Provider. " What does it mean, including provision? Should I call my internet service provider to provision PC? - What this means, is that you would need to call your Internet Service Provider and ask them to provision you with a "Public" IP address. This will be placed on the Public/External interface on your firewall.

Q4) "Configure NAT on your firewall" how to configure NAT? - NAT - Network Address Translation. Think of it this way, a firewall is like the front door to your house. You can go out, but those on the outside cannot come in, unless you explicitly grant them permission. So, if you want the world to come in and go to your WEB server that is on your internal network (i.e. the PRIVATE network behind your firewall), you will need to grant them permission to do so. This means granting the PUBLIC permission to access the PRIVATE. That, in layman's terms is NAT.

[DnvrSysEngr]

To clarify, NAT = network address translation - basically map a public IP address (external side of firewall) to a private IP address (internal side of firewall).

Now, to go one step further, because I mentioned going from address to address (NAT), we want to only allow a specific type of traffic to pass through the firewall to your WEB server. This would be what is referred to as PAT (port address translation). The type of traffic you would ONLY want to allow to your WEB server is HTTP traffic. HTTP traffic flows over Port 80. Therefore, in your NAT configuration on your firewall, you would allow ONLY traffic coming from the Internet travelling on Port 80 to go to the Private IP address behind your firewall that you have specified.

Hope that makes things a bit clearer than mud.

[davidapache]

For quick response, Thank you for the detailed explanation.

I will overview your comments.