Reply #1 - July 25, 2007, 06:50:22 AM
I've setup a server similar to what you're asking about a couple of times, but wouldn't suggest using them in any type of professional situation. Internet accounts are too flakey. Plus most ISP accounts have fairly fast download speeds but slower upload speeds, and you upload speed is what your visitors are going to use.
You should just be able to install Apache (which is the server software I would suggest) on the server and point your router to send traffic to that computer either by just sending port 80, the port that http requests default to, or by sending all traffic to that computer - it's called the DMZ on d-link routers.
Your biggest concern is going to be security. Depending on how the server is setup it's possible for someone to get access to your computer through the server.
That said, if you're looking for something stable a $5 a month web hosting package will probably be better solution than working off of a home server. If you find one that allows multiple domains you could even have a domain for your family where your kids could setup their stuff and a separate domain for your professional stuff.
Let me know where you are with your setup and I'll help out any way I can. Like you said, it's a fairly complicated topic so I don't want to just start randomly throwing out steps if you've already passed them
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