How to set up and host a Web Server for small company

[cal060307]

Hi all

As I am asked to get our website hosted by us, currently it is hosted by a hosting web and email company. And that is the first task I have never done before.
So please tell me where I should start in terms of hardware and software to make it publice as usual, I am not concerned about web development, but networking.
We got a cisco fireall ASA 5505, so I know we have to put that web server in DMZ or something to secure internal network.
Could anyone tell me any resource/information step by step to build a web server. It would be very much appreciated.

Cheers

 

[ChrisHirst]

have a read (and a search if it is working) in this forum, it has been covered many times.

But one proviso;

Don't even think about it if you are on a broadband connection and the site is moderately busy.

Chris.

Indifference will be the downfall of mankind, but who cares?
Woo Hoo! the cobblers kids get new shoes.
People Counting Systems

So long, and thanks for all the fish.

 

[lhuegele]

Personally, I think you should leave the web hosting to a 3rd party, especially for a small company. Otherwise you will be mired in security issues, backup issues, redundancy issues, intrusion detection and prevention, just to name a few. This will leave you little time for anything else.

Good luck,

 

[computerhighguy]

Hosting is sooooooooooo cheap. Find a hosting company. Most ISP will give you 50MB or more of webspace. Put it there and point the DNS records to it. Why bother with uptime, backups, UPS, network latency, etc. Let the big boys do it and use thier infrastructure.

It is what it is!!
__________________________________
A+, Net+, I-Net+, Certified Web Master, MCP, MCSA, MCSE, CCNA, CCDA, and few others (I got bored one day)

 

[cal060307]

Hi All

thanks for your replies and suggestion.
Leaving the web hosting to 3rd party, that is what I'd prefer too. But currently my boss asked me to publish our records based on our SQL server to ourside world.
Could it be done without hosting Web at our company?
Could anyone tell me any source or direction. much appreciated.

Cheers

 

[computerhighguy]

It could but you probably wouldn't want to. You would have to either 1) create a VPN beween the hosting company and yourself so the website can access to the SQL server or 2) log ship, replicate, etc all your data to the web server. Option 2 may be OK if it isn't a lot of data but most providers don't give you access to the actual server your website is on. Most are Linux anyways and there isn't an SQL install for Linux. Given your business requirements, I would probably make a virtual server using web edition on my powerful virtual server and use it to serve out the webpages. Why use virtual server you ask? That is easy. You can move the machine to new hardware in about 10 minutes (however long it takes to copy the VHD file to the new server).

It is what it is!!
__________________________________
A+, Net+, I-Net+, Certified Web Master, MCP, MCSA, MCSE, CCNA, CCDA, and few others (I got bored one day)

 

[lhuegele]

Without having more information on what "SQL records" you need to make available to the outside world, it is hard to point you in the right direction.

- Do your website users need to run queries?
- Are the reports you need to put on the outside static or do they need to be up-to-the-minute accurate?
- Have you considered publishing these SQL reports as PDF documents instead?
- Can you provide more information on exactly what you're trying to accomplish? Perhaps there's a better way.

 

[cal060307]

Thanks for your replies

- Do your website users need to run queries?

not quite sure, all they need is that to view our reports created from SQL database that is updated everyday. Currently we have this report up and running but only for internal users.

- Are the reports you need to put on the outside static or do they need to be up-to-the-minute accurate?

Yes it should be live and as up-to-date as possible.

- Have you considered publishing these SQL reports as PDF documents instead?

Negative, the existing intranet reports looks like a website, very friendly use and simple, say you want the report to show the date range from within 1 month, you select that range, the area and the products etc..then hit OK it shows you everthing that you just selected above.

And now my boss wanted me to do exactly the same like that and publish to outside world.
Please help

Thank you

 

[lhuegele]

Ok, if you're selecting a date rang, area, and products, etc. then you ARE running queries in the background to do that.

We have a production system here that is web based, and the employees in that production area use a web browser to do their workflow and to manage reports, that sort of thing.

We have a connection to that SQL server via a Linux and mySQL server hosted in our DMZ. The queries and reports for the outside world are then hosted on this Linux box. There is no direct connection from the outside world to our SQL environment except through the Linux box in our DMZ. This helps us to minimize any risks that come with exposing our internal SQL production system to the outside world.

If this is all greek to you, I highly suggest that you talk to your boss about getting a consultant in to help you get this done right without opening your company up to security risks.

Good luck,

 

[cal060307]

Hi

Thanks a lot for your info and suggestion.
I will talk to my boss about this issue.
Once again very much appreciated.

Cheers