What is a cached web service?

How to setup my own web-based service for employee management?

• Good day! I really need someone's help to see if and how I can create a web site that would offer an employee in/out board service for a monthly fee. At first, I simply wanted to create a Windows software that would act like a Web server allowing companies to install it on their local networks. They put a single file executable on a reliable computer and ask their employees to connect to the server's IP address. The Server generates an HTML page on the fly allowing them to login and change their availability status using the browser as a Client. The Server is a stand-alone Windows executable that uses its own database files to store user data. This is what a programmer I hired will be creating. However, not all people might like the idea of hosting this (quite simplistic) setup within their company. Therefore, I would like to offer them a hosted solution that I will manage myself. Their employees could go to my web site to login to their accounts. How can I do that knowing that I have a stand-alone EXE (written in Borland Delphi) that generates web pages on the fly when you are connected to it? I suppose that some of you would suggest renting some kind of a server in a hosting company. However, that must be quite difficult to manage. What if I have to install some software, do some trouble-shooting or restart my server EXE? Instead I should probably try to host this web service in my basement. I suppose I would need a reliable computer running Win2000 and a high-speed Internet connection. But, how can Internet users login to a system that is hosted in my basement, for example? Will I need a static IP? How do I get it? What are the things I need to know about, considering that I would like to offer a reliable service but still minimize my expenses? If you want to see an example of such a web-service already in action, go to: http://www.inoutboard.com/products/iob_web.asp Will be waiting for your answers, Eugene

• Answer:

  Good Day oldman-ga, Sounds like you already have the basics figured out. I'm going to present you with a couple of scenarios, and things you should consider. I will elaborate on all my suggestions a little bit too, but because there is a lot to consider I won't go into great detail on everything: once you have read my answer and decide on a course of specific action, I can give you more information that will be relevant to your decision. WHAT YOU WILL NEED: ------------------- You will need a static IP. A static IP will ensure that your computer is always at the same virtual address. Without a static IP, your server would be "moving around virtually". With a static IP, users can type in the IP address into their web browser which will connect them to your computer. Of course, you can link up an IP address to a domain name using a DNS server, creating a web server that is accessible via a regular domain name like www.oldman.com rather than IP address. Not all Win2K versions have the built in capability for running a DNS server. Please check my references listed at the bottom of the answer for more details. You will need to somehow access a DNS server or build one if you wish to use a domain name vs. direct IP address access. A static IP can be purchased from your Internet provider, or "you might get one by default". My cable company offers dynamic IPs to residential customers, but my IP has changed only once in over a year. The IP expires every 48 hours, but I am reassigned the same IP every time. Technically, because the IP address I have is assigned automatically by a server every 48 hours it is considered dynamic. However, it behaves like a static IP in the sense that it never changes. This means you might be able to save some money if you just purchase a regular high speed internet connection and watch to see if the IP changes upon expiry. If it does change occasionally, you can always reconfigure your server, but until you do make the update after a change, your server will experience down time. Of course, depending on how often this happens, this may or may not be an option. Your best bet is probably to talk to someone who has been using the Internet Provider you intend to use for your server. Ask them how often their IP is changing (note that most people won't know, so you will have to ask around until you find someone who has been keeping an eye on their IP address). Of course, you can save yourself the trouble and just ask for an account with a static IP. However, this option generally costs twice as much as a dynamic IP account. OTHER THINGS YOU SHOULD CONSIDER: --------------------------------- Server reliability is going to be hard to achieve. There are tens, if not hundreds of reason why you will experience down time, and here are just a few: - Power Outages BIG BOYS: Have generators for back up power. - Internet Service Interuptions BIG BOYS: Have multiple feeds. If one feed goes down, another picks up the traffic. - Hardware failure BIG BOYS: Most run a network of Unix and Linux servers. Hardware can be replaced without shutting down, while other machines on the network keep working to provide the service. These servers keep on running, without even needing a reboot on 95% - 99% of upgrades. - Virus attacks / hacks BIG BOYS: Have dedicated personnel to keeping the system upgraded daily with newest patches. If you are providing service to clients with multiple work shifts, or across multiple time zones, you will not be able to shut your server down in the evening to upgrade, repair, or maintain. If you are providing service to 9-5 clients in one time zone, you can always shut down the server in the evening for any repairs or maintenance that is required. In either case, hardward malfunction will be a problem sooner or later, and so will the other issues I mentioned above. What I am getting at is that by industry standards you will not be able to create a "reliable service" without a huge investment. Many web hosting companies will allow you to bring in your machine into their environment. This means you would not have to worry about power outages and Internet Outages experienced by your Internet Provider. You still would have to maintain the software to keep your server as secure as possible and deal with maintenance of hardware. This setup only solves a portion of the problem, and will cost quite a bit (the going rate in my city starts at about $200 Canadian Dollars per month - that's about $140US Dollars). I think your best route is still hosting with someone. Define your needs on paper, and start E-mailing web hosts. Tell them your needs and if the web host can meet them, ask how much they will charge you. Tell them you need access to install tools in your web space, and access to be able to trouble shoot some of your new programs. I think you will be surprised on how much you can do remotely. I STILL WANT MY OWN SERVER! WHAT DO I NEED? ------------------------------------------- - non-changing IP address: static, or a dynamic address that you get to keep for an extended period of time - a reliable machine, preferably with good speed if you are expecting a lot of traffic - server software like Win2K, WinNT, Linux, or Unix. - know-how on configuring a web/DNS server Technically that is everything you need for the most basic setup. AFTER WORD ---------- You were already aware of most of the needs to run a server, so there wasn't much I could add there. I hope to have provided you with some decision making knowledge that will help you determine a best course of action. Once you have decided on a course of action, I will be happy to provide more details on how to complete the steps along your chosen way. If required, please ask for a clarification at such time. I have helped setup a few servers, and have seen what goes into preparation. I am by no means an expert. I have setup one server by myself, and it was a Linux server. There is little involved in creating a machine that can be accessed over the Internet. Maintaining it, and having it do what you need done is a whole separate issue that is much bigger then anything else involved. Based on my experience and having heard your needs, I feel that you are much better of finding a web host that will work with you at a reasonable cost. It doesn't sound like you will need that much, and you should be able to get everything from a web host for about $50-75 (Canadian Dollars, based on the City of Winnipeg, Manitoba prices). If this seems like too much money, I can tell you that the piece of mind you will get at night is worth it. There is nothing worse then 15 clients calling you in the middle of the night saying "the system is down, fix it... and fix it fast or give us our money back and get lost". RESOURCES --------- Website: How to setup Win2K for Web Server and DNS Server URL: http://www.experts-exchange.com/Operating_Systems/Win2000/Q_20704130.html Website: How does a web server work? URL: http://thewhir.com/find/web-hosts/articles/webserver.cfm SEARCH STRATEGY: ---------------- Google search for: "web server"+"setup"+"how"+"internet"+"windows 2000" "web server"+"setup"+"how"+"internet" Thank you for choosing Google Answers. Again, please do not hesitate to ask for a clarification at any time. I will be very glad to further assist you. Regards, slawek-ga