How to Become a Process Server

Level of difficulty: Intermediate

You can set up your own Web-based server right from your home. This is useful if you plan to host your own website or your own file server. It is also useful if you have more than one computer in your home. The process for setting up your own Web server is quite easy.

Materials Needed:
- Processor with a multi-core
- HTTP server program
- Internet access
- hard drive
- router
- RAM
Step 1
Make sure that you have all the components and devices needed to set up your home-based Web server.
Step 2
You also have to make sure that your service provider can accommodate enough bandwidth to cater to your server. Your Internet provider may set a limit to the traffic on your Web server.
Step 3
Before starting, disable the firewall settings on your computer. To do this, click on the 'Start' button on the lower left part of your desktop. Choose 'Control Panel' from the menu. A window will appear. Choose the icon for 'Security Center'. Turn off the firewall if it is turned on.
Step 4
Install the HTTP program that you have. A popular program for a Web server is the Apache Web server application. To check if you have successfully installed the server program on your computer, open a Web browser window. On the address bar, type http://localhost. The Apache Web server test site will load if you have successfully installed the program.
Step 5
Open the file containing the configuration for the Web server. This file is located in C:\Program Files\Apache Group\Apache2\conf\httpd.conf. On the configuration file, locate the '#DocumentRoot'C:/Program Files/Apache Group/Apache2/htdocs''. Type 'DocumentRoot' and the location of disk drive to be shared.
Step 6
On the configuration file, locate the '#<Directory 'C:/Program Files/Apache Group/Apache2/htdocs'>'. Type <Directory 'location of disk drive to be shared'> under the text.
Step 7
On the configuration file, locate the text 'AllowOverride None'. Change this text to 'AllowOverride All'. Do not forget to save the configuration file before closing it.
Step 8
Your home-based Web server is now set up. You can test if your Web server works properly. To do this, open a Web browser window and see if you already have access to the disk drive that you shared on the configuration file through the Web browser.
Step 9
If your Web server does not work, go back to the configuration file and make sure that you did the instructions. Once you have made the necessary changes, check again to see if your Web server works.