To all you Websever-At-Home people out there...

[LBK Rules]

As you can see, I am in a delima.

I was wondering if there is a way to setup a public websever, behind a Linksys router.

If not, then how do you convince Comcast to let you have 2 cable modems?

[rbayer]

It's actually fairly easy. There's two ways of doing it:

1. Tell your router to forward all traffic to port 80 to your computer. This is referrred to as port forwarding or just plain forwarding.

2. Tell your router to forward ALL incoming traffic to your computer. Linksys often calls this option a DMZ host.

On my linksys, both these options are found in the advanced section of the web-based config utility.

--Rob

[Jack]

ahh... just though i'd point this out to you:

from http://www.comcast.net/terms/use.jsp

You may not run a server in connection with the Service, nor may you provide network services to others via the Service unless you are subject to a Service plan that permits otherwise. Examples of prohibited uses include, but are not limited to, running servers for mail, http, ftp, irc, wifi, and dhcp, and multi-user interactive forums

Now, I'm not really sure exactly what plan you have and if is does allow a webserver. Just though I'd remind you of that little fact though.

[AJ Quick]

That thing Jack just quoted basically means you can't have more than 1 computer. I know with Road Runner you need to pay for each computer hooked up to the connectiong. Personally we have an open WiFi network, run iRC servers, have a webserver, dhcp, and have 4 computers hooked up..

Oops!

Just setup: FoxServ (http://sourceforge.net/projects/foxserv) and then access it via localhost.. that should work..

[Jack]

Originally posted by AJ Quick
[b]That thing Jack just quoted basically means you can't have more than 1 computer.

Um.. no, not really..

While comcast would most likely never find out unless you were running some major web server, their tos says that: (paraphrased)

You may not use their service (the cable internet) to provide a service to others (another internet user) such as http (webserver).

But... yes.. you are correct. I'm sure somewhere else it also mentions that you can only connect one computer.

[Raven_Writer]

I just read WOW's TOS, and it basically states the same thing. But Jack is right.

[sanddrag]

A lot of people do run webservers anyways even when their ISPs say not to. It's just because your ISP does not have the bandwidth for you that they tell you that they give you. If you took everyone's max allowed bandwidth and added it up it would be way more than what the ISP's total allowed bandwidth is. They just can't have everyone with their service runing web-servers. That's the main reason they say no.

Now, is it okay? No. Could you do it anyway? Probably so.

However, you need some good firewall protection and security because running a webserver will put your whole home network at risk for hacking. People could try to use it to distrubute illegal music and videos or use it in a denial of service attack.

It's really worth it to just pay around 50 bucks a year (or possibly less or more) for some hosting that's got what you want.

If you do run your own, be careful.

Here's a good link about home webservers http://www.dslwebserver.com

[Raven_Writer]

Originally posted by sanddrag
A lot of people do run webservers anyways even when their ISPs say not to. It's just because your ISP does not have the bandwidth for you that they tell you that they give you. If you took everyone's max allowed bandwidth and added it up it would be way more than what the ISP's total allowed bandwidth is. They just can't have everyone with their service runing web-servers. That's the main reason they say no.

Now, is it okay? No. Could you do it anyway? Probably so.

However, you need some good firewall protection and security because running a webserver will put your whole home network at risk for hacking. People could try to use it to distrubute illegal music and videos or use it in a denial of service attack.

It's really worth it to just pay around 50 bucks a year (or possibly less or more) for some hosting that's got what you want.

If you do run your own, be careful.

You got protection if you run Apache and just allowing http://localhost

[rbayer]

Originally posted by AJ Quick
I know with Road Runner you need to pay for each computer hooked up to the connectiong. Personally we have an open WiFi network, run iRC servers, have a webserver, dhcp, and have 4 computers hooked up..

Actually, RR is one of the more lenient companies when it comes to this sort of stuff. At least here in Minneapolis, they don't care (heck, they recomend linksys routers to people) how many computers are hooked up to a single connection; the only time they charge you more is if they put in a second cable modem so you don't have to setup a network.

They do, however, care about running servers. Last time I checked, running a server was cause for cancelling service without any warning or refund.


I personally don't risk it, except very occasionally when I put up a few files so I can access them at school.

[AJ Quick]

Yeah, I was referring to what ComCast had set up in their TOS. I know when I was looking into free dial up from RR, I read that you need to pay like 10 dollars for every IP you have hooked up. So, yes you would be correct about that... I was thinking they would still charge you for using a router to do the same thing without the extra IPs.

This is kinda getting OT now, sorry LBK! Did you find anyone that can help? I know I've tried using this script before, and I've never gotten it to work.. I think its the code.. Has my friends phpBB modding site been any help to you?

[DougHogg]

Check out http://www.dslreports.com . (They also report on cable connections.)

About a year ago, I was able to find a local company that offered dsl with a static ip address, and I didn't see anything prohibiting the running of a server. (Of course it could have be buried somewhere in their sign up agreements. However our school recently signed up with them because they offer static IP addresses.) There were some other frills that they didn't give you: no free dial up service if you were away, and no hosting for a small web site. That company is local to S. Calif. but there should be something similar in other areas.

[Jnadke]

Originally posted by AJ Quick
That thing Jack just quoted basically means you can't have more than 1 computer. I know with Road Runner you need to pay for each computer hooked up to the connectiong. Personally we have an open WiFi network, run iRC servers, have a webserver, dhcp, and have 4 computers hooked up..

1. They restrict providing service to other individuals. You can still provide the service to your own computers.

2. They probabaly aren't charging for the computers, they're charging for the IP address. There are only a limited number of IP addresses for the world to use under the current system, so they cost $$$. Home LAN systems help eliminate this, so most providers don't care.

3. As for servers, in general, don't do it. If you start to generate a lot of traffic (and INet providers do monitor this, because it costs them more $$$ to upload than download) then that's a bad signal. They will begin monitoring your traffic and catch on to you. A lot of internet providers generate income by offering web hosting services. They don't want you doing your own and profiting.

I don't want to rain on your parade, so I'll still tell you how to do it.

First, you need to have your Linksys router forward all traffic on port 80 to your computer (see manual: Port Forwarding). This address is most likely 192.168.0.2 unless you configured your network differently. Go to the command prompt and type ipconfig to determine this.

Next, you need a web service program. If you want free, use Analog X's SimpleServer. It's easy to use and supports CGI and PHP (I believe). Otherwise, you can look what's at Download.com or use a Linux webserver.

Lastly, you'll want a hostname for your computer, you can use various services like DynDNS so you don't have to give people your IP address all the time (especially if it changes a lot). These services run on your computer and it sends your IP address to DynDNS, who then associates it with http://yourname.dyndns.org.

[LBK Rules]

If it's illegal, then I won't do it. (I don't want to go to prison for just a websever)

Thanks for the TOS. I couldn't have found that if my life depened on it.

Now, for those of you who do have written permetion to host a websever, how did you write up the letter?

Or mabe, you'll can tell me how to dump an ISP and go straight to the internet. (If you know how, pleeeaaase tell me how)

[sanddrag]

You will not go to prison unless you are distributing sertain types of material through your server. Your ISP may cancel service without notice and never let you come back and perhaps fine you. That's about the worst that could really happen.

[HFWang]

apache/mysql/php are suprisingly easy to install.

i think apache comes with an installer, and ditto for mysql. adding in php involved moving like two files and then adding (*quickly counts*) two line to my apache configuration file.

so if you want to just try it out, it is seriously easy to just do it yourself.