Web Server OS

VapourTrail

VapourTrail

VapourTrail

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Contemplating setting up my own web server on a spare machine for a project that I'll be doing next year which involves creating a web application. I'll need a database (planning to use MySQL) as the backend to the system. Will either be using JSP or PHP to query the database. Will possibly use dyndns to make the server 'live' on the Net.

At the moment I'm looking for advice on what is the best OS/server combination to put on the machine that I want to run as my web server. As I see it my choices are Windows XP Pro with IIS/Apache or Linux with Apache. I've dabbled with setting up a MySQL/PHP/IIS combination on a XP machine but I have no experience with Linux.

Any thoughts, comments or suggestions would be most welcome.
 
if you're going with php/mysql then it is probably worth going w/ linux.

which linux os is the best - well damn, you "ain't neva gonna get an ansa to dat".

best option, start with something like ubuntu which is widely regarded as a good "n00b distro" however... you've going to be in for a learning curve which ever "distro" you choose. all i can wish you is good luck and ask many many questions in the linux forum of these here boards.

edit: although, you could also throw FreeBSD into the mix if you want an even bigger choice :S
 
if you have no knowledge of linux you'll screw yourself trying to get it all set up, especially if you want to do anything complex, windows and IIS is probably the way to go
 
bigredshark said:
if you have no knowledge of linux you'll screw yourself trying to get it all set up, especially if you want to do anything complex, windows and IIS is probably the way to go
Click to expand...

Its a good point, the intial learning curve will be tough. However if you're planning to make this live on the net the extra security that comes with linux maybe worth the hassle.
 
Does Linux then need a lot of 'hand holding' when installing? From what you guys are saying, it's a lot more difficult than building a new PC with XP and simply installing IIS onto it.
 
If this machine is going to be connected to the outside world, be very careful of what you're doing. If you get slack with updates, it's possible your machine could be compromised.

If you're going to use Windows, use a Windows server OS, something like Server 2003. If you're going to use Linux, go for CentOS, Redhat, or Fedora.
 
there are arguments to both, it's worth bearing in mind that a copy of windows 2003 server and (optionally) SQL2005 for the database backend will not be cheap and will probably run slower on the same hardware
 
As I'm only looking to run the server to help with development of my project I don't need to have it connected to the Net as I could just run the whole package (server and DBMS) on my main PC. However, I thought that it might be useful to build the server/DBMS on a separate machine that could be accessed from the Net for more extensive testing - not sure that I want my home PC connected to the Net with a 'live' site that I want people to access and help with the testing phase. Therefore, low cost is my prefered option. As I'm considering upgrading to Vista anyway I'll have my existing copy of XP Pro that I could then use on the server (with IIS) and then just load up MySQL with PHP and then it will be free, apart from hardware. I already have a domain name that I could have redirected using dyndns to my home server.
 
You could probably get away with running a AMP (Apache-MySQL-Php) setup on your main pc or another pc with Win2000/XP since its nice and stable.

I highley reccomend this WAMP package: http://wampserver.com/en - Comes ready to use and you have to option of easily switching the server Offline/Online for public internet viewing.

Chris.
 
celliott said:
You could probably get away with running a AMP (Apache-MySQL-Php) setup on your main pc or another pc with Win2000/XP since its nice and stable.

I highley reccomend this WAMP package: http://wampserver.com/en - Comes ready to use and you have to option of easily switching the server Offline/Online for public internet viewing.

Chris.
Click to expand...

2nd vote for this.

Very nice for a testing/development environment.

Or if you go down the linux route you can download xampp
 
I'd go the Linux route, I haven't built a web server on Linux for a few years now but back then using Redhat 9 it was nothing like as difficult as people make out and there are hundreds of people out there willing to help.

Linux with apache and MYSQL is a near unbeatable combination it means you can get some briliiant performance out of rubish old hardware and once it's up and running all I eve did was conect to a smaba share to copy in the web files and the command line to edit my databse.

I've also found Linux skills to be pretty useful in the real world since leaving Uni people are always interested in even a little bit of knowledge when interviewing for jobs so I say learn it.
 
the_chicco said:
if you are not up to speed with Linux, etc then Server 2003 with IIS is definately the way to go. don't believe the myth that Linux is more secure and safer, as long as you keep the box patched & up to date, IIS lockdown'd and run the security config wizard you will be ok.
Click to expand...
To put things in perspective though, IIS 6 has had less security patches in 4 years than Apache has had in any given week. IIS 6 has yet to have a major security flaw discovered in it.
 
If its a student project then do it in Windows and concentrate on the prject in hand. If its wholly personal messing about then give linux a go - its tricky if you dont know anything about it, but you can learn it - just takes time.
 
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