I was thinking about a home server for dowloads, and so do i only need to buy Windows Server 2003 to use with my computer or do i have to buy the server and stuff too? Can someone reply back with a list i need to buy?

Hi,

buying Windows Server 2003 is not necessary for running a home server. You can also use MS Internet Information Server (contained in Windows XP Pro) or Apache Web Server or any other free webserver program. I guess Windows Server 2003 is pretty expensive, isn't it?

All you need is a computer with an internet connection with a server program running on it and an own IP-adress, or a DDNS (Dynamic Domain Name Service) like for example http://www.no-ip.com/

GreetingZ

Very expensive option for home, all servers will act as FTP/HTTP servers, you can even get XP to run nicely as a server ...if you want it even cheaper (and more secure) try linux and apache fro web services and one one the many FTP server available.

Make sure that you configure whatever you buy, properly or you can be in for a shock if someone finds your IP and it's a host ... windows isn't the best at security on a good day.

Have a read on the web about creating "honey pots" and security before putting a server on-line.

Mark

over 2 thirds of internet servers run free software.
why buy anything.

search sourceforge.net for ftp servers. i use vsftpd (stands for Very Secure FTP Daemon)
(in *nix terms, a daemon is a program running in background)

get vsftpd here http://vsftpd.beasts.org/

edit: oops, just been to the homepage, seems vsftpd only woks on every operating system except windows... lol.

similar aprears to be true for most ftp server.

i suppose they just automatically assume you will be using *nix if your running a server.

Windows Server isn't even very good software-wise. Apache is much more stable and featureful, even when installed over a crap-OS like windoze.

You have a few options here

I always run a server on my home machine for the sake of testing my site. (HTML doesn't require a server, where PHP does need one )

Firstly, why buy stuff? I got an old laptop and run a server
Just download Apache (which is a webserver, but you can easily use it for downloads too - just set up links on a page ) And install it. Apache runs on windows, but if you want to save yourself heartache, get an older pc, not state of the art and install Linux with Apache as server, you can select FTP server too when installing and then you're good to go already.

Also make sure your ISP allows you to run a server, if not they can stop giving you net connection. And check your upload speed (if it's slow, let's say lower than 512Kbps then don't even think about a server, it's FAR too slow to offer downloads). Also some ISPs (like mine) have a limited upload and download volume per month, also check into that.

well u can turn ur Own computer to server But im sure it will die soon as Home pc's Are just designed to function with Rest..! So running them day n night is very expensive too..

Yeah but u can configure windows 2003 server if you Just use that as secondry thing.!

But if u want to have ur own hosting buy a cheap server.. as servers are made to Work day n night without rest..! they function Really well..!