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Build very low cost home Server using Windows desktop OS

Introduction:

Do you have a spare computer with Windows desktop OS installed that is sitting around idle.  The important word here is desktop.  You do not need the expensive server version of Windows OS to create your own home / office server.  The purpose of this page is to demonstrate and provide information about building a zero cost server using a spare computer for use in the home or small office.  If you do not have a spare computer sitting around idle, you can purchase a low cost new or used computer with Windows OS installed and add the packages on this list to get a low cost home / office server.  Of course, if you wish to have a more powerful moderate cost server, you could buy an upscale multicore computer, with all the bells and whistles, with Windows OS installed, and add the packages on this list to get a moderate cost home / office server.  The choice is yours.  The server you are now accessing is built on a spare computer.  Microsoft Windows NT desktop OS is installed on the computer.  All of the server components are from free resources.  Some are closed source and some are open source.  Here is a list of the server packages installed on the server you are currently accessing.  I include services I also plan to install and run on this server.  I invite any comments at info@jimstudebaker.org.  Have fun.

Active Services:

Item	Status	Service
1		hMailServer. hMailServer-5.3.2-B1769 Download
2		Acache Http Server httpd-2.2.15-win32-x86-openssl-0.9.8m-r2: Download .
3		PHP php-5.3.2-Win32-VC6-x86: Download
4		SquirrelMail Web Client Download
6		WebCalendar Web Client  Download
7		Filezilla secure FTP Server Download
8		MySql Server 5.0  Download
= Started    = Stopped

Planned Services:

Item	Status	Service
1		phpMyAdmin -- a web interface to administer MySQL
2		PHPWebAdmin -- a web interface to administer hMailServer
3		Implement secure HTTPS
4		Provide Remote Desktop for user accounts.
5		Integrate ASP with Apache Http Server
6		DHPC Server
7		DNS Server
8		Router
9		Install Java Runtime Engine
10		Install Tom Cat Server
11		Set up netboot service
= Planned     = Installation and Testing In Progress

Resources you will need:

Item	Service
1	Filezilla FTP Client  Download
2	Mozilla SeaMonkey  HTML Composer  Download

Why:

There are many uses for a home or office server.  You can provide disk space accessable to every computer in your home or office.  This is helpful to share files with others on your intranet.  It also allows you to add hard drive space without altering your personal computer.  Add as much hard drive space that you can.  Audio / Video files can be kept on the server, and accessible to everyone connected to the local intranet.  Each person on the local intranet can create their own personal web site.  The server will provide these web sites to the public through your internet connection using the Apache web server.  You can have your own personal email address that is served through your intranet and internet connection using the hMailServer email server.  This allows you to create email accounts for the whole family, friends and office workers served on the private intranet and / or the public internet.  Once you have your own personal email account you can keep that address no matter where you move to or what internet service you change to.  No more changing email account names just because you switch to a new internet service provider.  I have had the same personal email address for 15 years, even thought I have changed internet service providers at least a six times and moved to different states several times.  It is good to be in control.  Integration of ASP with the Apache web server enables you to serve ASP.NET applications to the private intranet and / or to the public internet.  Tom Cat server enables you to serve Java based applications to the private intranet and / or the public internet.