Creating a server to run a website and an access database

[bombatron]

I am pretty new to all this i figure that what i require would be something along the lines of apache and my sql and how to make it all work ive no idea. What my plans are are to run a webpage and a database from the one server accessable via the internet am quite sure its possible but i have very little experience in this and would appreciate any advice i could get.

[bufferzone]

If you have no experience at all, it would be quit a task to explain it all her. I would suggest that you make it simple and start small.

Do you need to have your own server? How about renting a web hotel? They come in all shapes an sizes, with and without support for databases, with and without support for asp or php.

Also you ought to consider buying help with the programming of the whole thing

[bombatron]

well the database and the website are already made its just really an idea of the simplest software that i could use to run the server i have the apache serevr software and i can make the website run off it but i really would like to get the database into it aswell but nothing to complicated any suggestions on packages i could use or such the like

also if this would be simpler i could run a server for each that wouldnt be a problem i dont know if that would be in anyway simpler

[mack]

What kind of database are you running?

Apache is a good choice for your web server.

In most cases the database and the web server are actualy not related. One of the most common databases on the web is mysql so I will use this as an example...

You have mysql and apache. Each is in effect a different server, but can run on the same machine. The term "server" can become quite confusing. Many people thing of a server as a computer, whereas others thing of it as a piece of software...
apache is a server but so is an IBM e-business server.

If you where asking about using 2 (pysical) servers to host your application, then this really comes down to the strain you intend to put your system under. This also has the downside of creating a lot more work for you in terms of networking and conectivity.

Mack.

[nobody]

TBH, you would be better off approaching this from two angles.

- Approach a hosting company who can provide you with the webserver and database you want to use. They can set it all up, and they are responsible for keeping it running (which makes your life easier).

- Download Apache and MySQL (for example) for your local development machine, install them, and get to know how they work, what tools you can use etc.

[bombatron]

well after some effort at this i believe i have came up with a solution of sorts, i am running a small operation nothing fancy by anymeans just an access database and a webpage also not to fancy, i can get bassicly wot i need by creating data access html pages connected to my access database so as far as i am aware this should be able to be linked into my web page and passworded and should operate its a bit of hassle cause i basicly need to recreate 20 forms or so but shall be much more simpler than tryin to fast trak learn sql if any1 sees any fatal flaws in my plan feel free to advise me thanks for the advice recieved so far btw and i shall put some effort in to learning sql at a nice pace

[Voltec]

I would assume that if are you running an Access database with your website, then you are on a Windoze host. The flaw I see is that if your site becomes popular, you are going to have to move your site and re-write every script you are using.

My previous website was doing ok initially with Access but then it started to bog down... so I started using Microsoft SQL Server 7 on the same machine. That cleared up the problem for awhile - but we continued to grow. When we were hitting 80,000 pages daily, we started crashing the machine on a daily basis and that was when we decided to move to Unix.

We ran over 150,000 pages a day on the Unix server using PHP and never went over 40% of CPU usage... So my suggestion is that if you have asperations of popularity for your site, move to a Unix box and start working with PHP and mySQL.

Matt