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alligator · Mar 15, 2005, 03:05 PM

Using my Windows box for a door stop, how do I use my Mac to set up a server? I need a domain name, that much I know. Any advice on an easy way to set this up? I'm not that good with Unix, but I'll learn.

King Bob On The Cob · Mar 15, 2005, 03:31 PM

if you plan on using it as a WebSever,
This may not be the right forum but here goes anyways
Open System Preferences.
Click on Sharing.
Turn on Personal Web Sharing.
There is no step 4...
(This turns on Apache which is a standard Web Serving Service on UNIX boxes.)
If you need more help (such as how to enable PHP or other services, try a more correct forum or use http://www.google.com/ or even http://www.apple.com/ 's help )

typoon · Mar 15, 2005, 03:33 PM

If not there is a good book out now on OS X server 10.3 Panther. It's the visual quick start quide. It's pretty good for setting this up.

http://amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/det...s&n=507846

http://amazon.com/gp/product/images/...46&s=books

typoon · 03:42 PM

triple post

typoon · Mar 15, 2005, 03:41 PM

Triple post.

MilkmanDan · Mar 15, 2005, 05:01 PM

Its really easy to set up for basic web hosting. Just do some quick google searching or give it a try yourself, either way 10.3 server is easy enough your Mom could do it.

Xeo · Mar 15, 2005, 05:10 PM

Sounds to me like you want to take an average OS X box and run it as a server. No problem there at all. Follow King Bob's advice on that. As for a domain name, you'll need to purchase one from a registrar such as registercheaper.com (the one I use) or godaddy (more popular).

Then, for free DNS hosting, I use zoneedit.com. They are great, you can host up to 5 domains for free, and they offer all kinds of other services to make your life easier. I have them as a backup mail server so if my server goes down, they hold it in a queue for up to 10 days. That service has saved me a lot of headaches since I'm hosting my mail on a DSL, dynamic IP. And it's only $10.95 a year to add that to the free DNS hosting.

For FTP, Mail, and anything else you want to offer, there are loads of websites out there to help you set them up. OS X Client is very easy, most things are already there, and while there isn't a GUI for them, someone somewhere has already set it up and posted instructions on how to use it.

alligator · Mar 15, 2005, 09:18 PM

Thanks, that last post was very helpful.

What is the risk if I set this up on my main machine? I'll only be using it as a server when I'm not sitting at the machine (I think). Can I both use the computer and have it as a server (very low bandwidth)?

Brass · Mar 15, 2005, 09:37 PM

Originally posted by alligator:
Thanks, that last post was very helpful.

What is the risk if I set this up on my main machine? I'll only be using it as a server when I'm not sitting at the machine (I think). Can I both use the computer and have it as a server (very low bandwidth)?

Yes. No problem.

Xeo · Mar 15, 2005, 09:47 PM

Originally posted by alligator:
Thanks, that last post was very helpful.

What is the risk if I set this up on my main machine? I'll only be using it as a server when I'm not sitting at the machine (I think). Can I both use the computer and have it as a server (very low bandwidth)?

As Brass said, no risk at all. However, if you want to use the Windows box for something useful, format the HD (write zeros, then ones, then random selection of the two, a combination of 32 times, just to rid Windows of it

</joke, for the humor impaired>), and install Linux on it. It'll give you good experience and that'll be a fine server as well.