Setting up our own server/couple questions

I'm working on a website for a small vintage audio company. Initially, I had planned on simply going with a Zen Cart approved host. After talking with the owner, he liked the idea of setting up our own server. I have experience setting up LAMP and WAMP servers but mostly for development purposes.

All of our payment will be done through Paypal if that matters at all.

But I'm looking through my collection of computer parts and I'm thinking I potentially have everything it would take to get started.

I've got:
Case w/ 500w power supply.
512MB RAM (x5 for a total of 2.5GB)
250GB HDD (x3 for total of 750GB)
1 DVD ROM Drive
1 AMD Athlon 64 3500+ processor.

So I would need a motherboard and monitor.

Would I be able to create a server (LAMP, specifically Ubuntu) with the above hardware capable of handling our store? (<10 transactions per day).

Also, if I can go this route, could anyone point me in the direction of a good security checklist? (things I should make sure to do prior to going live).

I would not make a home box server for a real store. A dev site or play site maybe. You will need to set up apache purchase a plesk or cpanel license I think they are around 300 per year. Trust me just go with a real host that has backup power generators ext. It will be cheaper, and more reliable. Of course there are free open source alternatives to p:cry:lesk but haven't tried them yet.

zen cart help

I agree with Branden, while setting up your own server 'will work' but in practice you will have a lot of problems,

Setting up the server is pretty straight forward, the issue you will have is keeping it on the internet, I gather it will be on a home broadband connection, Ideally you will need extra IP's from your ISP to run DNS properly, what will you do in the event of a telephone fault? will you have multiple lines? what is your upload speed like?

your ISP probably doesnt allow home webservers and may block port 80 so connections wouldn't get through.

You can pick hosting up for a few $ a month and they would have all you need to get up and running in a very short space of time, you should concentrate on running your business and not spending time with a webserver that will let you down.

But if you want to set it up at home there are plenty of guides around for it.

I have also looked at this option (running your own dedicated webserver) in the past.

Yes, it is an exciting undertaking but I agree with flobster and Branden, there are MANY considerations indeed - and it can run into an expensive venture with many headaches.

My simple advice: go with an established, reliable and fast host - leave the headaches to the operators (that's what you or your client pay them for) and just concentrate on developing your store(s).

Sure, you can run your own server, but be prepared for less time with your loved ones (unless you know exactly what you are doing). I you want to go that way then consider Ubuntu 10.04 LTS Server and consult the Ubuntu forum.

Guess, this topic is not really Zen Cart specific ...... :no:

Thanks for the advice. The owner of the shop already uses a business class internet connection and I called to make sure a server would be within limits.

The question was more so about would I be capable of running a single zen cart setup with the above hardware.

schla104:

Thanks for the advice. The owner of the shop already uses a business class internet connection and I called to make sure a server would be within limits.

The question was more so about would I be capable of running a single zen cart setup with the above hardware.

Yes. The hardware you specified will be more than capable of the task.

Also, don't let the nay sayers turn you off. Running a server really isn't that difficult. I've been running servers from home since way back in 1997, and the biggest headaches have been the occasional power outages. This can be mitigated with the use of a high capacity UPS though - but you will need a good quality one - The 'cheap' UPS's that we originally used actually caused more problems than they solved.

Cheers
Rod

ps. I'd be more inclined to use CentOS or SUSE rather than Ubuntu server

flobster:

Ideally you will need extra IP's from your ISP to run DNS properly,

Not so. Just because a person chooses to run their own web server (and possibly email server) doesn't mean they also need to run their own DNS.
In fact doing so for a single host/domain is a gross overkill.

flobster:

what will you do in the event of a telephone fault?

That's when you do kernel and system updates :-)

flobster:

will you have multiple lines?

A better question would be 'is the site mission critical'
If not, then multiple lines are probably a needless expense.

flobster:

what is your upload speed like?

Naturally faster is better, but our first server was connected with a 9600bps modem and this was not only serving our webpages and email. but it was also shared by several dial-up users for web browsing.
Most people overestimate bandwidth/server requirements.

flobster:

your ISP probably doesnt allow home webservers and may block port 80 so connections wouldn't get through.

A decade ago this used to be quite common, but these days most ISP's do allow it (At least in Australia).

flobster:

You can pick hosting up for a few $ a month and they would have all you need to get up and running in a very short space of time, you should concentrate on running your business and not spending time with a webserver that will let you down.

Yes, this is an option, but for those that have more of an interest than simply running a website there is no substitute to running your own server.

Even though our 'main' servers are now hosted on a commercial site (a forced change - long story) I/we still have several of our home machines running for some services (my own machine provides shell access to a number of clients, my wifes' machine is responsible for our live camera feeds).

Cheers
Rod

schla104:

250GB HDD (x3 for total of 750GB)

As a server you should probably be RAIDing these. I suggest RAID5. You'll 'lose' 250Gb of drive space but your data will be secure in the event of a disk failure - which WILL happen at some point.

schla104:

So I would need a motherboard and monitor.

Motherboard Yes. Monitor is optional. Most servers are locked away in an isolated room and maintained remotely.

schla104:

Would I be able to create a server (LAMP, specifically Ubuntu) with the above hardware capable of handling our store? (<10 transactions per day).

I suggest CenTOS or SUSE rather than Ubunto.

schla104:

Also, if I can go this route, could anyone point me in the direction of a good security checklist? (things I should make sure to do prior to going live).

This is easy:

1. Block all ports except those you specifically allow.
2. Install an IDS (Intrusion detection system).
3. Don't allow remote logins as root.
4. Inspect all log files at least once a day.

I think that about covers it :-)

Cheers
Rod