An old computer can be used as a server for raising a personal web resource or file storage. To start the server, you just need to install the appropriate software and configure it to work correctly.
Instructions
Step 1
A suitable operating system must be installed to set up the web server. Linux distributions may work best. For example, Red Hat, Fedora, and Ubuntu Server are good packages for a web server. Choose the Linux option that suits you and download it from the Internet. You can also install a server-ready Debian Wheezy system.
Step 2
Write the selected distribution kit to a storage medium. You can record to a USB flash drive, CD or DVD. Among the most popular programs for burning images of operating systems, it is worth noting UltraISO and UNetbootin, which allow you to correctly extract the selected image to any removable media.
Step 3
Open the downloaded distribution using the selected program and burn the disc following the instructions on the interface. To make a bootable USB flash drive in UltraISO, use the "Burn hard disk image" section.
Step 4
Insert the storage medium into your computer and boot from it. Install the operating system according to the instructions on the screen. To boot from disk, you need to go to BIOS settings by pressing the F2, F8 or F10 button (depending on the motherboard model). Use the First Boot Device section to set the required parameters. Specify your floppy drive or USB reader in the list, then save the changes and restart your computer.
Step 5
After installing the operating system, you will need to install the application package to start the server (Apache, MySQL, PHP). To do this, open a terminal and enter the following commands:
Sudo apt-get install tasksel
Sudo tasksel
Step 6
In the list that appears, use the keyboard buttons to select LAMP Server and press Enter. The installation process will begin, during which you will be asked to set a password to access the MySQL panel. After completing the operation, you can start setting up and configuring your server, as well as installing your own website.
