How many OCUK'ers run a web/mail server from home?

Freakish_05 · 8 Dec 2006 at 22:31

As the title.

Just wondering how many people have their own servers running. I'm nearly ready to release my server into the wild and take care of all my familys email and host a website or two. I'm on blueyonder 10meg so transfer speeds *should* be ok. Its not like that many people are going to be viewing the site.

If other people could post their experiences I'd be grateful.

Cheers.

iam · 8 Dec 2006 at 22:53

Running http://xion.pointclark.net on a 4MB Blueyonder connection without any problems

What distro you using?

touch · 8 Dec 2006 at 22:56

i hopefully will be when i get my own flat.
Doubt the uni would be too happy if i set up a server on their network from the halls

Minstadave · 8 Dec 2006 at 23:00

touch said:
i hopefully will be when i get my own flat.
Doubt the uni would be too happy if i set up a server on their network from the halls

Most unis will have some form of hosting available for students for free/free-ish.

Felix · 8 Dec 2006 at 23:00

I am in the process of setting one up just for the learning process so I would be interested in what distros people are using.

tolien · 8 Dec 2006 at 23:35

Qmail (and assorted bits and bobs) and Apache 2.2 on Debian GNU/Linux Testing.

R4z0r · 9 Dec 2006 at 08:44

I used to run a mail server but it became far too much hassle (Spam, Virus, ADSL uptime, etc) so I now get my mail through a dedicated provider and am much happier!

It's good as a learning process IMO but after that the novelty wares off.

Freakish_05 · 9 Dec 2006 at 08:44

Does Windows ME count as a distro?

I tried to get Ubuntu working but it just wasnt happening. So I just used the Windows ME licence to throw something together with Apache, MySQL, PHP, Ability FTP and Ability Mail servers.

Although Blueyonder's performance last night is putting me off using it as a full-time mail server!

Freakish_05 · 9 Dec 2006 at 19:16

Ok, new question

How well do you trust your mail servers?

I only ask because I found the details of an old website that I used to have (www.lets-mosh.com) which has IMAP support

I'm thinking of ressurrecting it as it will obviously be on a 'proper' server and thusly more reliable. That said, it will still mean that my emails are stored on a server that I don't control. Call me paranoid but I'm trying to avoid that :cool:

The reason that I ask is that Telewest (usually very good for uptime) played funny-buggers with my internet connection last night and overall downtime (including time to repair my damaged network

) could have been up to 12 hours

Caged · 9 Dec 2006 at 20:19

Don't host a mail server on a home connection, it's a good way to get a lot of your email blocked when servers see it originated from a residential IP.

Freakish_05 · 9 Dec 2006 at 20:36

Caged said:
Don't host a mail server on a home connection, it's a good way to get a lot of your email blocked when servers see it originated from a residential IP.

Ah Pants! I didn't think it mattered where the e-mail came from :confused:

Oh well, I'll resurrect my old site instead.

growse · 9 Dec 2006 at 20:41

Caged said:
Don't host a mail server on a home connection, it's a good way to get a lot of your email blocked when servers see it originated from a residential IP.

No problem with hosting an inbound server at home. Outbound, yes, you're probably wise to forward that onto your ISP's smtp servers.

oddjob62 · 9 Dec 2006 at 20:41

Caged said:
Don't host a mail server on a home connection, it's a good way to get a lot of your email blocked when servers see it originated from a residential IP.

You can just send all outgoing through your ISPs smarthost. I've never had any problems.

Trifid · 9 Dec 2006 at 20:47

I run a web and ftp server on my normal PC* temping until I can get my hands on a spare PC.

I trust it as it is password protected.

celliott · 9 Dec 2006 at 20:59

I ran a home server for a couple of years to host a few sites and it was good. I would reccomend CentOS 4x if you are going with linux. You can install a nice APache, Php, MySQL and Dovecot setup through Yum.

Dave L · 10 Dec 2006 at 17:57

I run an FTP server from my home connection - using Serv-U as the admin interface.

killsta · 10 Dec 2006 at 18:03

Caged said:
Don't host a mail server on a home connection, it's a good way to get a lot of your email blocked when servers see it originated from a residential IP.

What's a residential IP?

Only problem comes when you send mail on a dynamic IP address. Some mailservers see dynamic IP addresses as spammers.

There's no problem if you're on a home ADSL connection with a static IP if your ISP let you change the PTR record to your own domain.

Tony Williams · 10 Dec 2006 at 18:46

I used to run a file server on my computer hosting all kinds but it's not nice surfing the web while your UL'ing at 60KBps.

ghgh · 10 Dec 2006 at 19:20

host 3 websites off my home connection with only 30kb/s up! lol but not many people view them. Ive accessed it from outside before and it seems quick enough so I dont bother getting proper hosting as I see no need.

I use IBServer which includes apache, mysql and php.