Building my own server
 

I have a PC to spare with 100GB hard disc. I have installed WIndows Home XP edition. I want my PC to act as a server without paying for a host.

Now I'm quite new to Apache, PHP and SQL although I manage to install vBulletin on my own. SO I do also have a basic idea.

I've read many threads where they suggest that I need to install the APache etc like PHPTriad, Wimaxx(Or something similar). I've tried to do install and managed even to get some response from my localhost. But still my vBulletin is NOT recognised.

I need a basic dummy and RECENT thread where I could follow and install my vBulletin.

By the way is my OS Home enough to host/compatible the vBulletin??

Thanks

I would at least recommend OS PRO, if not have you tried maybe getting a Server software? Like 2003 Server or even Linux?

Thanks but any guides here to set up my PC step by step

my advice is get xampp from www.apachefriends.org as it installs every component needed for a server.. an you should get an extra hard drive with enough banwith an space to run a site .. im not sure how much you need to run a site ..there are a few tricks you can do to get the site to be viewed globaly my method isnt recommended but what i did was turn my firewall off to allow outside connections to my computer.. but when you turn your comp off your site is off

Thanks. I did use xampp but I am sure I'm doing something wrong.

First of all where do i have to put vBulletin once xampp is running? I mean under which folder?
Secondly, if I open a new database and try to install vBulletin, localhost gives an error not found.

That's why I need a step by step.

ANother thing XP Home is enough?

no windows XP is not being created to run as a server ..... Also running servers on your own personal computer is NOT a good idea

you have to put your vbulletin files in htdocs.. take the above post in consideration if your hard drive isnt powerful enough it cant slow down your comp and you wont be able to open a page.. thats why i suggested a big hard drive for xampp... the drive needs to be static and has a switch to turn off if you want your site to always be on.. because if you have to restart comp for some reason your site will be offline. technically a pc is a server so you can get by with just a compaQ

xamp is a good localhost.. but its also good if you got a site that doesnt need to be up 100% of the time......... your url is

http://localhost/forums or http://ipadress/forums ( when you buy a domain make sure there is dns fowarding so your domain will foward to your ip )