Home web server troubleshooting help needed

[jfranci3]

I have a webserver running on my home computer.

Problem: People accessing the site can bring up content initially from the web server w/o a problem. The content is just pictures, only an index html page listing directory contents. However, 3 or 4 pictures, the web server cuts out for about 5 minutes, then continues working. When the web server is working, all content load very quickly.

I'm fair certain it's not the hardware, as it is a respectable computer. It's not the load because it is a low, low traffic site. I think it is either Road Runner handicapping my site, or the OS. Any thoughts as to where I should start looking for the problem?

Setup Details: The computer is Windows XP Home machine accessing the internet through a cable modem (Road Runner is the provider). I am running an Apache web server w/ minimal config. The Firewall is ZoneAlarm. There is also an ftp server running on the computer. I haven't been able to asses if the problem exists on the ftp server also.

 

[Newposter]

How mayn pictures and what file size? If you have 10+ pictures over 500K in size each, there's your problem. Newposter
"Good judgment comes from experience. Experience comes from bad judgment."

 

[jfranci3]

Well the html page doesn't display the picture, just link them. The pictures are about 250k each. Usually, it craps out after the third picture.
This site is more or less a libary of pictures for my friends to upload from.

Any ideas where to start troubleshooting?

 

[npeelman]

ZoneAlarm has been known to be troublesome on XP... also RoadRunner blocks port 80 for residential users.

 

[Serbtastic]

If you try to load the site locally, does it stall as well? This would help determine if the problem is the web server, or the network connection that is causing the problem.

 

[Newposter]

Are you aware that XP Home only allows 5 simultaneous connections, whereas NT and 2000 Pro allow 10? Maybe it's the 6th person who's getting dropped.

Newposter
"Good judgment comes from experience. Experience comes from bad judgment."

 

[tarn]

HTTP probably treats each image as a single connection .... there's your problem if "newposter" is correct with the XP = 5 sim connections .... ?

 

[jfranci3]

I've fixed it. I switched out Apache with Abyss Web server. Much better. I also don't need to restart the machine everyday.