phpBB and Server question

[brbubba]

Great job on the site and the phpBB board. The board is running real nice, maybe thats because I am the only person on it right now. :mrgreen:

I just had a few questions about your implementation of the phpBB board. What platform r u running, win2k, red hat, etc? Also what database do you use, postgresql, mysql, etc? Also did you get it running with Apache 2 or did you have to fall back to 1.3? Also what kind of bandwidth is it taking up (may be too soon to tell)? I guess as it scales you will have a better idea. The phpBB.com board has mad users, but they are also using a $1700 web server program and have gobs of bandwidth.

Sorry for the 20 questions, I was just looking at eventually implementing phpBB myself if I ever get a site up and running. At the very least its a good learning exercise. Thanks and keep up the good work.

[DnD]

pah wish i could host my own site....but I dunno how to use Apache O_o so its kinda dead thing...I believe most likely he is using a Mysql database because they are the most common for PHP (am i right or wrong?) wish I could host meh own site cause the other server that hosted me for free and all kicked the bucket permanently....

[Kurtis]

our host is www.downtownhost.com. As for bandwidth etc I am not sure because the forums aren't very popular yet. Once they get more popular, who knows, ask again in a month or so and I can give you a better idea of how much bandwidth to expect. :)

[brbubba]

pah wish i could host my own site....but I dunno how to use Apache O_o so its kinda dead thing...

Dude, Apache is so easy to get up and running. On windows you just install the file and you are already up and running. All you need to do is have your firewall relay incoming HTTP requests (port 80) to your box running apache. Then maybe if you have non-static-ip just use http://www.dyndns.org/ (ooh i love how phpbb does urls). Then when you access the address you will be running apache or you can just type "localhost" to see if your installation is running. After that you just drop your html files into the correct folder in apache. I think it's htdocs on windows.

Linux is pretty easy too. I think most of the distrib packages offer a version of Apache as an install option. So all you do is make sure the the Apache service is turned on and you are set to go.

I think it only gets difficult when you need to start adding modules. :P

Kurtis,
Thanks for the info. I would go that route, but I already bought a server, doh! Downtownhost looks pretty reasonable in their fees, it's their dedicated hosting that will kill ya. Seriously, after 3-4 months paying those rates you would have enough to buy your own fancy dancy 1 or 2u rack server. Then again I used to work for a company that used Intel cohosting and was paying 4k a month before I got there. Within a month I had it set up on site running on our dinky DSL. No wonder they went out of business. :roll:

[DnD]

could you like write up step-by-step instructions for me? I would appreciate it if you did :D

[Kurtis]

yeah, i dont think i would pay for dedicated hosting, I would rather do it all myself. One possibility is that we will get popular enough to get a free dedicated host. *crossing fingers*

[brbubba]

could you like write up step-by-step instructions for me? I would appreciate it if you did :D

I would be glad to write a quick little something up for ya. What OS are u running though? Are you running DSL, Cable modem, static IP, non static-IP, etc? What type of router/firewall do you use (this is less important if you know how to configure it yourself)? Just give me as much info as possible.

[DnD]

I would be glad to write a quick little something up for ya. What OS are u running though? Are you running DSL, Cable modem, static IP, non static-IP, etc? What type of router/firewall do you use (this is less important if you know how to configure it yourself)? Just give me as much info as possible.[/quote]

I use Windows XP ;D
I got cable but i'm using it VIA Wireless LAN
static IP? I got Dynamic IP is that Dynamic IP? :P *shrugs*
I got ZoneLabs Firewall.... I could configure it for that though. (I think theirs a firewall with a company i get my cable from.....comcast.
that all ye need? if ye need more i'll tell ye ;D

[T-shirt]

I'd be interested in seeing your instructions also.

[brbubba]

Well I guess I have to write these, since I did say that I would. Ok so here is a quick and dirty, it should be enough to get you up and running. For more info about nitty gritty details I suggest you go buy yourself a book on Apache.


First thing we need to do is download Apache.
This is their website in case you want to reference any documentation etc.
http://httpd.apache.org/

This is the direct download link to the installer for windows (This works on the assumption that you have 2k or higher. I have no idea if there are special needs for 95, 98, or NT. Although I would assume NT would work and maybe 98 )
http://mirrors.ccs.neu.edu/Apache/dist/httpd/binaries/win32/apache_2.0.45-win32-x86-no_ssl.msi

Once you have that downloaded, simply double click it and the install will begin.

During the install it will ask you for the following information: Network Domain, Server Name, and Admin’s Email. Obviously you want to enter whatever your domain is going to be, so it should look like this (It will not allow you to leave this part blank, so if you have no idea, skip to the Wrapping up the loose ends section at the bottom).

Network Domain: somenet.com
Server Name: www.somenet.com
Admins Email: joeschmoe@somenet.com (Or whatever your email address is)

Below this information it will ask if you want to install for All Users or just the Current User. Choose All Users.

After you finish installing the program a new icon will appear in the taskbar on the lower right. This icon is used for monitoring the Apache Service. Double clicking it will open a window up telling you whether the Apache Service is running or not. From this window you can start, stop, and restart the service.

At this point the Apache server is already up and running, yes it was just that easy. The first thing you probably want to do is test it out in a web browser. All you do is open up an Internet Explorer window, or whatever your browser of choice is, and type “localhost” in the Address line or “http://localhost/”. The default page for Apache should pop up if everything is working ok.

Next we will want to move our webpage into the correct Apache folder, so that instead of the default web page we will see our own webpage. Navigate to your programs folder, or wherever you installed Apache. Open the “Apache Group” folder…then the “Apache 2” folder (This will be the “Apache” folder if you installed any version below 2). Inside that folder will be a folder called “htdocs.” Open that folder up and drop your html documents in there. WARNING: you must rename your main page html file to “index.html” or apache won’t see it.

Once again you can type “localhost” in your browser and now, instead of the Apache page, your own webpage should come up.

Wrapping up all the loose ends:

Now it’s probably all fine and dandy that you have a working webpage, but if you want people on the Internet to see it, there are a few more steps you are going to have to take.

#1 – If you have a static IP great, just go sign up for a domain name and have it point to your IP. But, if you are like the rest of us with a Dynamic IP you are going to have to sign up for a Dynamic DNS service. There are a number of options out there, but the cheapest option, i.e. free, is http://www.dyndns.org/ . Basically you download their client software, install it on your computer, and everytime your IP changes it sends a message out to them and updates their DNS Servers. Instead of client software on your computer, you can also do this on your router if you have a router that supports this type of service. Once this is done you can then sign up for a domain name, but instead of pointing to your IP, you would have it point to your dyndns address.

#2 – If you don’t have a router you should be all set. But if you do have a router/firewall separating you from the Internet you are going to need to forward all incoming http (port 80) requests. All you have to do is find out what IP your Apache machine has and then set the router to forward incoming http request to that IP. It is recommended that you use static IPs on the LAN side so your router doesn’t switch your computers IP. I personally use DHCP with unlimited IP lease time, which seems to work, but do so at your own risk.

Miscellaneous Concerns:

After all this is said and done the possibility exists that it still might not work. If you can see your web page working on your own computer, but suddenly it stops working when you try to hit it from outside your network, i.e. the Internet, your ISP may be blocking incoming http requests. Warranted I have never personally seen this, but there are services people sell to get around this, so I assume it exists.

Also keep in mind that having a web server on your DSL or Cable Modem connection may be a violation of your terms of service. So if they come knocking on your door to make you shut down your web server or to cut your pipeline to the Internet, don’t come blaming me. In fact, don’t come blaming me for anything that goes wrong in any of these instructions. They are provided as is, follow them at your own risk. :D

p.s. - If anyone has anything to add, please do so.

[Kurtis]

wow, thanks brbubba :)

[DnD]

ok I have a problem....I have done everything you've said with the Apache server put the stuff in the right area and did the thing with the
http://www.dyndns.org/
and this is what I got for it...
roleplayingalliance.dnsalias.com
but I can't see my webpage, can you help?

[brbubba]

Ok so I assumed you tested the page from within a browser and that it is working properly. I also am assuming that you installed the client software for DynDNS and configured it. I have never used it so I don't know what is involved. Also if there is an "update now" button or something that will sync your IP with the DynDNS DNS servers try that.

If all that is working, which I assume it is, because I just pinged your hostname and it is feeding me an IP but timing out, then it might be your Zone labs. The one thing I forgot to mention was configuring ZoneAlarm. I think you have to configure it so that all IP addresses can access port 80. You might want to try and disable Zone Alarm briefly just for the sake of finding the problem. If you do that I think you can test if it is working if you go through a proxy server, such as http://www.anonymizer.com/ and enter your address.

If you still can't get it to work give me as much detail as possible.

[brbubba]

DnD,

I just did a test for you using Zone Alarm. When Zone Alarm is set using the High Security setting it does indeed block all incoming http requests. I tried it using Anonymizer and right when I tried to access my page Zone Alarm would pop up a warning about blocking an http request. However, if you change all the settings to Medium security the request went through without a hitch. :)

[DnD]

Ok so I assumed you tested the page from within a browser and that it is working properly. I also am assuming that you installed the client software for DynDNS and configured it. I have never used it so I don't know what is involved. Also if there is an "update now" button or something that will sync your IP with the DynDNS DNS servers try that.

If all that is working, which I assume it is, because I just pinged your hostname and it is feeding me an IP but timing out, then it might be your Zone labs. The one thing I forgot to mention was configuring ZoneAlarm. I think you have to configure it so that all IP addresses can access port 80. You might want to try and disable Zone Alarm briefly just for the sake of finding the problem. If you do that I think you can test if it is working if you go through a proxy server, such as http://www.anonymizer.com/ and enter your address.

If you still can't get it to work give me as much detail as possible.

Their was no mention of Client software on the site, so I dunno what you're talking about. That may be my problem. I do have zonealarm but thats not the problem either....

[brbubba]

http://www.dyndns.org/services/dyndns/clients.html Any of the ones for Windows should work, I guess I would just go with the first one, DirectUpdate. Just IM me if you need anything else. I tried IMing you but it said you were offline.