How do I convert a PC to a Server?

In my honest opinion - it's a bad idea to run your own PC as a server, unless you have an incredibly high end internet connection, and quite a few years experience with network security - it's generally worth getting hosting with a good hosting company, then they can deal with any issues that arise with their servers.

But anyway, back on topic. If you're going to use your own PC as a web server, I recommend getting Apache ( http://www.apache.org/ ), which acts as the web server software - it responds to requests from web browsers. If you're going to want any user interaction, other than clicking links - for example, things like forums, shopping carts, etc., you'll need a server side scripting language - PHP ( http://www.php.net/ ) is my personal favourite. Finally, you might need a piece of database software to allow storage of data from your PHP scripts. I'd go for MySQL ( http://www.mysql.com/ ). If you want to install all of these, you can use xampp ( http://www.apachefriends.org/en/xampp.html ) - which includes (amongst other things) Apache, PHP and MySQL.

You'll also need to have DNS records pointing to your PC - basically, allowing a domain, like "www.google.com" to resolve to an IP address of your PC. I'd highly recommend at LEAST having the DNS managed by a professional company - I for one would have no idea how to go about setting your own DNS servers up. I'd also highly recommend having a static IP address for your server - that solves a lot of issues you'd otherwise have with DNS.

Finally, the question of using your normal PC as a server. I'd recommend against it, but it SHOULDN'T pose a problem. It'll just operate more slowly than usual if you use it as a server too. One issue is that your server will need to be on ALL the time. 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Any time it isn't on, your website will cease to exist on the internet. That's the main reason I'd recommend going with a professional hosting company - they have guarantees of their servers being up for 24 hours a day (1&1 ( http://1and1.co.uk/ ) - the company I'd recommend for UK users, for example, has a 99.99% uptime guarantee).

Hope that helps!

If you aren't willing to put out the $4 a month that a cheap host costs then don't bother with a web site. You will need a domain name also $$, your hosting space $$, then a shopping cart such as osC (free), SSL Cert $$.

You will also need to learn PHP, MySQL, web site security, how to run your hosting control panel, Search engine optimization (on page and off page), etc, etc.

On the osC forum you see so many people who want to start their own web business but fail to realize that it is a business and it takes hard work and a lot of learning to make it successful. Very few make it off the ground and most are gone within a year.

I don't want to put a damper on your idea but just realize that "if you build it, they will come" does not work on the internet. You need a very good marketing strategy and be willing to put in the time and money to make it an attractive store that is safe and secure for people to shop at.

Our internet business is coffee and on Yahoo there are 842 million results. Only the top 1,000 are shown and only the top 50 will get any traffic. To even remotely make a profit at it you have to be in the top 50, preferably in the top 30. That means that to get there your site has to be better optimized, better indexed, better linked to, etc than the other 841,999,970 other sites that are out there. That takes a lot of work and learning and is not an easy task.

If you want to test osCommerce you can download XAMPP and install a server on your desktop and try build your storefront. That won't cost anything. But to actually have people visit a live site takes a lot of work.

Probably. I've been into networking since the early 90's and while I've never run any of your software, I've found that high-spec PC's do just as well as servers -- better in fact, since I can upgrade more often with high-end PC's than with servers. Usually, it's the server/network OS that's a big difference and is sometimes temperamental with the hardware. I suggest you try it on a temporary basis. What've you got to lose?

Very bad idea.

If your serious about the website - pay professionals to do it for you, otherwise you'll learn within 12 hours of hosting the site how hard it can be to secure a modern server on the net today.

You can download opensource software "Wampserver" you can build you PC as server, has all the components you will need to get started.

You can check out the http://www.thepcline.com/ for web host info. I also left a link that gives you step by step instructions on how to host your own website.