Apache Networking Question

I have Apache on old PC for testing

[bumpaw]

I just got Apache, MySQL, and PHP set up on and old Win 98 machine and I'm clueless as how to set network configuration so that it will be visible on my main XP PC.

I have DSL modem feeding into a router and 3 machines sharing the internet off the router. My main goal is to use the server for testing PHP development from my XP station. I would like also to be able to serve files to the www for a brief time for learning purposes.

As an added note I have Zone Alarm on all three machines.

[coopster]

First, you're going to have to allow Apache to act as a server through ZA.

Next, you'll have to determine how you will access your web pages. I'm guessing your DSL router is a gateway, handling your connection to the net as well as dishing out IP addresses via DHCP and getting the DNS servers from the ISP. The easiest way to connect to the machine acting as a web server is going to be by ip address -- so, for example, on your XP machine, open up a web browser and key in the ip address of the Win98 box. Apache should dish up the default page.

Lastly, if you are going to want to access the Win98 box from the net, you're going to have to either have a static ip address on the WAN port of your router, or you'll have to use a dynamic DNS server. Open up the router administration interface and plop the ip address of the WinXP machine in the DMZ setting. Voila, you have a web server. Be careful now as you are officially opening that port and that machine to any and all.

Best 'o luck ;-)

[bumpaw]

Thanks Coopster, That gives me a good jumpstart.

[bumpaw]

Now I have Apache running well I am wondering if it would be fun to learn something about Linux and maybe wipe it all out and replace Win 98 with something Linux. I know nothing about Linux, but have some notion that Apache would work even better with it.

The question would be where to start, and is it a waste of time. I wouldn't be concerned about running any applications that weren't needed for the server project.

[jdMorgan]

If you have a lot of free time to play with it, sure, learning a *nix OS would be worthwhile. However, I'd suggest you go with FreeBSD, as it is the most 'solid' *nix OS with Apache.

Jim

[coopster]

You may even want to keep the box you just set up running for a bit. Find a friend with an old box and setup *nix on that, then you can network :)

[bumpaw]

FreeBSD looks like the way to go, but I didn't see the word easy on their website. I'm wondering if someone has a distribution aimed at beginners.:)

Correction: I went back and it does say "Easy to Install".