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I have a cable internet connection and I would like to set up a small web server at home. I could use my existing computer for this but I don't like to keep it on 24/7. I don't expect it to get many visitors (mostly me when I'm abroad) but I do want it to run 24/7.

I also want to develop my own web pages for it, which are developed in ASP.NET for Windows, so it needs to support Windows with IIS.

While I could use any computer for this, I am interested in knowing if there are some custom systems that are build especially for this purpose. I know there are plenty of Network disks that support FTP access and static web pages, and I've heard about similar disks with a full LAMP environment running on it, including PHP and MySQL.

I could use some cheap web hosting company instead but those often limit the amount of disk space. A home server would provide me a lot more disk space.

So, any options?

(One more requirement: It needs to be as small as possible!)

Wim ten Brink
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6 Answers6

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It sounds like a custom setup you have there.

LAMP supports PHP/MySQL, but for ASP.Net you need to use Internet Information Services.

UltiDev is an alternative ASP.Net web server, but I have not used it and can't say how it performs.

Setup a separate box with either IIS or any alternative ASP.Net server and FTP server. I recommend you configure both of those to use non-standard ports, to maximize security, and a firewall to lock down all other unused ports.

FileZilla Server should provide your with the FTP functionality

invert
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First: Check with your ISP to see if that is or is not a violation of your TOS. Some cable companies get all in a twist if you start hosting a website and you're not using their "screw the small business" package.

Second: How much disk space do you really need? You start out saying you don't need it to take up a lot of space, and then say that shared hosting is too small... FWIW 1 and 1 has some decent cheap hosting with enough space for me to run 3 low traffic sites, one of which has the last 2 years of sermons as MP3 available for download.

Lastly: Decide what your ultimate goal is. If you are ultimately going to put this on a server with IIS (for work, for someone else, or whatever) you're probably better off starting with IIS. Last thing you need to do is code around some quirk in another server software only to find it jacks with something in IIS.

There are other lightweight web servers out there, and they have been discussed in great detail at StackOverflow and ServerFault.

AnonJr
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I recommend building something to your hardware specifications such as large hard disk and or powerful cpu. Than install Windows 2003 or 2008 server on it. After you do that you can use the IIS built in to the operating system, and you could use miniportal for the rest of the services such as pro/pure ftpd, httpd, dns etc...

recommendation: just rent a windows vps from a reliable data center such as PEAK the same company that host SuperUser.com and StackOverflow.com check them out peakinternet.com

AskaGamer
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I think you could make a good system with a ASRock ION Atom system. It's a very cheap and power efficient system that runs windows. Thing is you have to recase it with 2 big hard drives instead of the 2,5 inch 320Gb one, if you need more than 1 2,5 inch drive. But in its basic form its really tiny and power efficient.

If you want total built to order, you might want to check: www.mini-itx.com

They have a built-to-order rack server based on the low-power atom boards. For 380 pounds you have a dual core Atom server with 2x gigabit ethernet, 2Gb ram, DVD drive and 2x1Tb 3,5 inch hard drives. Not so tiny, but not big considered its a real rack server.

If you just want to store a lot of stuff online, remember that Hotmail accounts have a 30Gb Skydrive which works pretty well.

splattne
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bert
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I hear what you say about wanting experience of running your own webserver. I considered that option myself. But I am glad that I stuck with my ISP simply because of hackers, we ordinary webmasters have no idea of their dasterdly tricks.

A novice inernet site is to hackers like blood is to piranhas. That said, if are determined to setup your own site, then I am sure that you will learn to fend off attacks, and I wish you luck.

Guy Thomas
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You could try a Windows Home Server setup - it is aimed at home users who want to consolidate files, photos, document onto a central server, but it also allows remote access via a custom domain name (yourname.homeserver.com).

From the WHS remote access web page, you can access your files, music, documents or whatever. You can customise the pages to a limited extent, but you could add a link to another IIS website on the same server.

You can buy a preconfigured server (check out the HP MediaSmart series) or build your own.

Jazza
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