Web Hosting Talk







View Full Version : Questions About Running Server At Home


WebCobra
02-21-2007, 12:07 AM
Hi I got a question on running a server at my own house. I would like to start a webhosting biz, but everything on t1 lines, and offices are too expesive. So my question is this. I am planning on buying 2 servers, here are the details.

****************************************************
Server 1:
CPU: Duel Core Pentium D 2.8Ghz/800Mhz FBS
RAM: 1GB DDR 533 Mhz
HD: 300GB
OS: Linux

Server 2:
CPU: Celeron 2.8Ghz/533Mhz FBS
RAM: 512MB DDR 533
HD: 80GB
OS: Linux

*****************************************************

My first one will be server 1. So basicly, the real question is this, will my server be good with my internet connection?

Connection Speed: 3MB Download - 512KB Upload

*****************************************************

The real reason I will use my servers are not gaming servers, but only basic webhosting, hosting my websites. So? What you think? Will it be create.

And Also I will be making my hosting company too.

vpsfusion
02-21-2007, 12:54 AM
I do not suggest you do that because 512KB upload speed is not a sufficient upload speed to host multiple websites. You probably will need to co-locate the servers in a facility where higher uploading speed is avaliable. You can try starting off with that and it might work if your websites are text based but once traffic picks up, you will need to co-locate.

Qgyen
02-21-2007, 02:26 AM
Additionally, many residential high-speed providers will have a policy regarding home servers. Sometimes they will block certain ports, other times they will ban your NIC address if they see a lot of traffic on certain ports (ie, I've had a NIC banned for receiving email on a home server) and others have bandwidth limits, like 50gb/month. Even more, home connections usually don't have an SLA.

Overall, I would not recommend it. You can do it for your own sites, but the quality of service could easily suffer for your clients.

cywkevin
02-21-2007, 03:42 AM
When you factor in power and other factors it's substantially cheaper to just get a shared web host.

apg4you
02-21-2007, 04:10 AM
hi,
and you would need to invest a lot of money to meet the over heads of running a home server, and it would be a cheaper if you get a server from datacentre.

iam from india and you don't get more than 18-20 hours of electricity supply in most cities so we can't even dream of running servers from home.

amodi

siforek
02-21-2007, 04:34 AM
Just calculate your cost for those 2 servers + your ISP, then all the other junk you'll have to buy. Then add up your cost to just get a VPS or reseller account. You'll see where your money is best spent.

You can run a server from home, I run 2. But they're not for client's sites, just for my personal/business files, a few friends site, etc.. Keep in mind that I have fiber @ 15mbps up/down, I wouldn't be able to do it on cable or DSL.

WebCobra
02-23-2007, 06:27 PM
Ok thanks guys, just one more question....

will the power take alot per month plus the high speed upload costs be more expesve than rent a server online?

Tailseh
02-23-2007, 10:13 PM
Ok thanks guys, just one more question....

will the power take alot per month plus the high speed upload costs be more expesve than rent a server online?Yes, in most cases.

SeriousServers
02-23-2007, 11:00 PM
To be honest, if you have to ask these questions you are not ready to host your own personal site, let alone start a hosting "biz".

1) Try to understand the concepts, technology and fundamentals of hosting.
2) Your above "biz" plan has already failed, why? No SLA for the server, the data is not secure, etc

What you need to do is come up with a real plan, including a Reseller Account, a VPS, or a small server. Then setup your legal services, including SLA, TOS, AUP, setup the company as a LLC, etc to limit yourself from legal actions that might happen to you, because lets face it, you do not know what it take to run a hosting company, and until you do, you will have problems, and downtime, and very mad clients, and the way to avoid this is industry experance.

I could keep going, but the base of my point is the fact you have learning to do.

osphere
02-24-2007, 12:07 AM
Ok thanks guys, just one more question....

will the power take alot per month plus the high speed upload costs be more expesve than rent a server online?

Once I ran a Shoutcast server on my house, my internet connection was fine, until I saw the bill on the electricity it was huge!!

That same day I decided that it was better to purchase a dedicated... home hosting is a bad experience. And to run a hosting company from your house.... its not a good idea... go for a simple reselling package ;)

SLH-Ken
02-24-2007, 03:15 PM
Why even attempt hosting from home? There are so many datacenters that you can colo in. You can probably find a datacenter (if you are in a major city) within a 15-20 minute drive.

ITHost-KoreyR
02-24-2007, 06:58 PM
T1 line = roughly $500.

A home connection most likely has a bandwidth cap. Reliability will also be compromised due to downtime and power interruptions.

This wont work unless you're hosting 5MB websites for clients who dont mind downtime.

I suggest a reseller account. Everything is taken care of for you and you've got a much more reliable base to build on.