[Adam]

Could someone please help me? I have an old Pentium 2 computer that I want to convert to a server. I used to use Microsoft's Personal Web Server (it had Windows 98 pre-installed on it), but it was crappy. I used Serv-U for serving up the FTP content, and it worked okay, but I recently wiped the (6GB) hard drive, and I want to get step-by-step instructions to installing a good easy-to-use version of Linux (or just re-install 98, I don't care), followed by the installation of Apache (or whatever HTTP server program you recommend). Also, the biggie thing here is that I need to know how to install PHP and MySQL programs.

Only problem is, this all needs to be free (or relatively low-cost).

Sorry if this sounds really newbie, but I need to get my website up and running, because the money I spent on my domain name is being wasted. :o

Yours,
Adam

[Nick Presta]

http://www.hostlibrary.com/installing_apac...ql_php_on_linux
http://www.webmasterstop.com/48.html
http://moregroupware.sourceforge.net/manua...endix_wamp.html

I suggest those. And use Linux over Win98.

However, if you must use Win98, here:
http://www.thesitewi...ve/apache.shtml

[loz]

even better than win98...use win2000server or win2k3 server. I never heard of win98 being a server x_x;

exactly how can you use a computer as a server for you website of its hosted somewhere else(has been noobed)?

[Elliott]

http://www.philbrode...orials/server2/
Fantastic tutorial. Really helped me set up a personal server on my comp.

[Adam]

Thanks, you guys, I'll try some of those.
And also: those Windows Server products are extremely expensive. Even though I could get a discount from my uncle working at Microsoft, I don't think that I could get around 300 bucks for it.

[Max]

There are many tools that will install and configure PHP/MySQL/Apache automatically for you to use on a normal computer. However, unless you have a very fast internet upload speed (T1 or better), then you probably are going to not be able to sustain large amounts of traffic.

[Nick Presta]

Also, don't be surprised if your ISP asks why you're using up so much bandwidth.