need for help on setting up web server

[RIgimp75]

ive done alot of searches on this getting conflicting answers and not knowing where to start. heres my situation: i have a regular cox internet conection w/ a dynamic address. i have a 4/port belkin router which is conected to 3 pcs around the house from the toshiba modem. 1 pc being a mdk 8.0 box. i installed apache that came w/ the o/s and acess it thru webmin. i havent yet registerd a domain and havent tinkerd w/ any settitings yet. i read where the ip for this machine needs to be a static address. i do want to keep this behind my router. where or how do i get started? do i need to contact my isp to make some account adjustments? do i just create my own ip address and fwd the port to the router?? does it matter what the location on the router this machine is plugged into? the defalt port for apache is 80 do i need to change that? just so many questions i cant seem to answer myself. if theres more than this to know step in.

thanx :D

[red_over_blue]

Well, all I can tell you about is the situation that I am in.

I have a DSL connection. The connection comes in from the ISP to the DSL modem. From the modem, it goes to a netgear router, which controls the modem. The router acts as a DHCP server, and serves out LAN IP address to 3 computers (linux box, g/f's mac, and another linux box).

ISP
|
|
ROUTER
|-----------|--------|
COMP1 COMP2 COMP3


Now, on comp2 I have apache installed. By default, it listens to port 80. However, when the router receives a request on port 80, how does it know what computer should answer? -> Port forwarding. So, I have to use the config utility for the router and tell it to forward port 80 to the LAN address of comp2.

So, if someone wants to see my web page, they enter the IP address that the router gets from the ISP. This is not the LAN address (192.168.0.1) but the actual IP that the ISP gives (224.32.300.237) or whatever (I just made that up, so don't start to try hacking my computer :))

The problems are:

1. The router get an IP address via DHCP from the ISP. Therefore, if I really wanted to host a web page I would have to call everyone that wanted to see it and tell them the IP address that the router happens to be on for that week. There are alternatives, but I forget what they are called (I'm getting tire, but basically you have someone host a static IP that is linked to your dynamic IP). Your ISP may provide you with a static IP address, I have no idea.

2. If I want a static IP, it will cost me extra.

3. Some ISPs will block port 80 before it ever gets to your network. In this case, you simply have to have Apache listen on another port, and in a browser someone would type http://224.32.300.237:81 for example if you wanted to use port 81 instead. I don't know if 81 is a good port to used instead as my ISP doesn't block it, so do some research first if this is the case.

Well, hopefully that is what you were asking. If it wasn't at all and your thinking to yourself "I know all this ****e, this isn't what I asked" just ignore my post as I am fighting just to keep my eyes open right now :)

[posterboy]

Need to buy a domain, that you own, cheap nowadays.

i read where the ip for this machine needs to be a static address.

Well, yes, that's nice, if it's possible. It's not for me. Answer is a DNS hosting service, I use DNS2GO.com. If your IP changes, it wont matter, as your DNS host will still point requests to whatever IP exists for you at the moment.

i do want to keep this behind my router. where or how do i get started?

The post above discusses the routing adequately.


do i need to contact my isp to make some account adjustments?

Maybe not a good idea. I have AT&T and the terms of service forbid servers, however, they have never said a word to me about it.


do i just create my own ip address and fwd the port to the router??

No, that won't work.

does it matter what the location on the router this machine is plugged into? the defalt port for apache is 80 do i need to change that?

Only if Port 80 is blocked, which it is for me. The DNS host allows routing the www address to any port, so that solves that.
If you browse to www.raymondjones.net, you will actually be directed into port 97, but you will never see it happening.

HTH, Ray

[RIgimp75]

this is good info thax guys. ok i fully understand the hole routing thing now w/ dnynamic ip and static ip. i see how my router has assigned each pc its own address my linux box is 192.168.3.xx my laptop is the same exept after.3. another number. i apreciate the input of not contacting my isp and try and con them into assingning me a static address (which i had no idea on howto apoach that w/ giving as little info as possible). im now thinking of getting a better router or 1 that may have better support both from the mfg website and you guys i was thinkin mabe netgear or linksys. the one i have i just cant seem to get good info on anywhere. so i think thats where im gonna start. next im goin to do another post directed towards some cox guys on this bb to get sum in fo outta them possibly on ports ect.

thanks for your help i did learn a few things.

btw posterboy i couldnt acess your site is there something wrong w/ my browser or or what?