Home Server

[Andy]

I use Vertrigo Serv for local web development on my Windows PC. This is an installation of Apache Server, MySQL etc. It is easy to set up and maintain but now I want to try running a Web server from a Windows PC to host multiple sites. So I will use Vertrigo again but I want to set up virtual servers and maybe have a website control panel.

Does anyone have tips on free control panels available for WAMP servers? I am stuck with Windows since the server is running a game server too for Battlefield 2.

I found Helm Control Panel which I think is free for up to 5 domains. oops, this is for Windows server only.

I'm not sure if I can use Plesk.

This is just for my own sites running on a home-based server so rather than editing text configuration files I liked the idea of having a graphical control panel not only for myself to use but also for my son.

[SensoVision]

I know that you asked something different, but why you don't wish to try Linux? You can utilize cheap old PC even without monitor for it and assemble(I'm talking about programs and interfaces to control them) what you wish instead of what available on the market.
I think that even you agree(I know you believe that Linux isn't mature enough for home use) that when it's come to networking *nix based system are much superior than Microsoft products.

[Andy]

Well, I would implement a Linux server if I had a spare machine. My son won a computer from NVidia but these scum will not send it to him. Then I could use the mini ITX PC that my wife uses. This would be ideal since it's small and quiet.

[SensoVision]

That would be good solution and if you really wish to have GUI interface there are variations of web interface exist which help to control various aspects of HTTP server(although I've never used them).
If you decide to go to this direction and need help let me know, I'll be glad to share my knowledge.

[Andy]

I'm not sure why, but I couldn't get my router to port forward port 80 to the server. The settings seemed to be configured but when I typed my IP address into a web browser, no server was found. Also, I can't see any network traffic due to this browser request in the Firewall log. The local web serving works OK over the LAN. Also, it is working with port forwarding for game serving with the web.

Maybe my ISP is blocking port 80 http requests? It's a very strange system where the router settings are configured at a secure page at the isp and the settings are downloaded to the control box called a CTU which does the routing for our home network. I have my own spare router so maybe there is a way to bypass the CTU by MAC address cloning but this thing connects to a VOIP phone as well via a LAN port. Plus all the menu's and documentation is written in Japanese so it's difficult to hack. My wife can read it but she doesn't have a clue what she is reading about.

I guess I should simply ask the ISP what to do since there's nothing to lose.

[SensoVision]

since you've did everything like with game server and there are no additional rules in firewall which affect HTTP port(I assume that you have router with built-in firewall am I right and web admin control?) than there is probably problem on ISP side, just like you've assumed yourself.

I guess I should simply ask the ISP what to do since there's nothing to lose.

yeah I think it doesn't harm to check it out, maybe they banned this service for safety reasons.

BTW here is useful tool which I've used when setting up my firewall rules: http://www.t1shopper.com/tools/port-scanner/
It could be handy if you can't ping your IP from other network.

[Andy]

Thanks. That tool is no different to keying in http: and my IP address into a browser I think for checking out port 80 but may be OK for other special ports. It seems like port 80 is blocked.

[White Wolf]

It seems like port 80 is blocked.

Thats probably the reason, my isp started blocked port 80 couple years ago.