Brief Description Objectives Materials and Resources Activity Description Internet Resources

Brief Description

    For those who wish to manage their own Web server, this activity describes the steps required to set up your own Web server. In order to set up a Web server, you need a dedicated computer (PC or Macintosh) running Windows/95, Windows/NT, or Linux or a Macintosh computer running MacOS. You also need a direct Internet connection and TCP/IP software. You can download shareware HTTP software for these platforms and operate your own Web server.

Objectives

• Learn how to find and download shareware software for a Web server.
• Learn about PC/Windows and Macintosh Web server programs that are available.
• Learn what is required to set up a Web server.
• Learn where to find additional information on setting up a Web server.

Materials and Resources

    In developing our lessons and activities, we made some assumptions about the hardware and software that would be available in the classroom for teachers who visit the LETSNet Website. We assume that teachers using our Internet-based lessons or activities have a computer with the necessary hardware components (mouse, keyboard, and monitor) as well as a World Wide Web browser. In the section below, we specify any "special" hardware or software requirements for a lesson or activity (in addition to those described above) and the level of Internet access required to do the activity.

1. Special hardware requirements: none.
2. Special software requirements: none.
3. Internet access: High-speed connection (greater than 28,800 BPS).

Activity Description

    The tasks below lead you through the process of setting up your own Web server. While the process described is necessarily incomplete, it is offered as a guide to the things you must do to successfully set up a Web server. Links to software (for networking, HTTP, CGI, etc.) are provided to encourage you to gather your own toolkit of Web server products. Commercial software is also available, including Netscape's Communication Server (available free to educational institutions) and Microsoft's Internet Information Server, for both PC and Macintosh platforms (see Internet Resources below).

• Step 1 - The computer: A Web server requires a dedicated computer that is directly connected to the Internet, usually through an ethernet network (LAN/WAN). You can run a Web server on a low-end computer (80386-based PC or 68040 Macintosh), but if you want your server to be responsive to Web surfers you should probably use a more powerful computer (such as a Pentium or PowerPC-based Macintosh). A Web server needs a fast and large hard drive and should have lots of RAM (over 16 MB).

• Step 2 - The operating system software: The following operating systems can support a Web server: Windows/NT, Windows/95, MacOS, Unix, and Linux. Of these, most of the existing Web servers run on Windows/NT, MacOS (on a PowerMac) or Unix. Linux is a PC/DOS-based version of Unix.

• Step 3 - The networking software: All Internet computers need TCP/IP, and a Web server is no exception. As stated above, your computer should be directly connected to the Internet and thus may require appropriate ethernet software.

• Step 4 - The Web server software: There are a variety of Web server programs available for a variety of platforms, from Unix to DOS machines. For the Macintosh, a popular Web server is WebStar from StarNine (see Internet Resources below). For the Windows/NT platform, both Microsoft and Netscape offer a powerful Web server program free to educational institutions (see Internet Resources below). Download or purchase the Web server software and install it on your computer using the instructions provided.

• Step 5 - Configuring your Web server: Whey you install your Web server, you will be prompted for basic settings - default directory or folder, whether to allow visitors to see the contents of a directory or folder, where to store the log file, etc. Depending on the Web software you install, you will have to configure the software per the instructions that come with it.

• Step 6 - Managing your Web server: As your Web server is accessed by more and more people, you may need to monitor the log file to see which files people are reading, identify peak access times, and consider upgrading your computer. You can always add more RAM and disk space to your Web server computer to improve its performance. Also check for bottlenecks - such as your TCP/IP software. For example, Open Transport 1.1 from Apple has been modified to support faster TCP/IP access if installed on a Web server.

• Step 7 - Getting more information on operating a Web server: For more information on finding, downloading, installing, and operating a Web server, see the Internet Resources below. For example, Web66 has information on setting up a Macintosh and Windows/95 Web server, and there are many other useful resources available.

Internet Resources

Web Server Software
• Communication Server from Netscape
  [http://home.netscape.com/comprod/mirror/server_download.html]
  Netscape offers a free Web server program for Windows/NT to educational institutions.

• Internet Information Server from Microsoft
  [http://iisa.microsoft.com/iis3/freesoftware/downloadiis3/systemreq.htm]
  Microsoft offers a "free" Internet server program for Windows/NT.

• WebStar from StarNine/Quarterdeck
  [http://emod.starnine.com/evals/evals.html]
  WebStar is a Macintosh-based Web server available for evaluation from StarNine.

  Locating Web Server Programs and Utilities

• Macintosh Web Servers
  [http://www.yahoo.com/Computers_and_Internet/Internet/World_Wide_Web/Servers/Macintosh/]
  A list of links to Macintosh Web server programs at Yahoo.

• Macintosh Classroom Internet Server Cookbook
  [http://web66.coled.umn.edu/Cookbook/MacContents.html].
  At Web66, this page contains everything you need to set up your own Macintosh-based Web server.

• Server Watch
  [http://serverwatch.iworld.com/]
  "Serverwatch is designed to be the ultimate resource on the Web for timely and accurate information on Web server technology and supporting tools." Be sure to check out their Web server comparison chart!

• Windows/95 Classroom Internet Server Cookbook
  [http://web66.coled.umn.edu/Cookbook/Win95/Contents.html]
  At Web66, this page has everything you need to set up a Windows/95-based Web Server.

• Windows & Windows/95 Web Servers
  [http://www.yahoo.com/Computers_and_Internet/Internet/World_Wide_Web/Servers/Microsoft_Windows_Windows_95/]
  A list of links to Windows & Windows/95 Web servers at Yahoo.

• Windows/NT Web Servers
  [http://www.yahoo.com/Computers_and_Internet/Internet/World_Wide_Web/Servers/Windows_NT/]
  A list of links to Windows/NT Web server programs at Yahoo.

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