What I need to create and host my own website

[washe]

Hi Folks, I'm on the process of creating a personal website, nonthing fancy to start with, I want to know what software I need to get a small website hosted on my home computer, If I can do this I will evolve this on a website for a small company, this is what I have.

Internet via cable, connect with a router (I have 3 machines at home)
One box is running WINXP, ME and the other one Linux Mandrake 9.1.

Suggestions about software and links that can be used in this small project are well received...

[Rand Dusing]

First you will need a web server software like Apache. Which is what I use http://www.apache.org . Get the http server software. If you plan on using forums or automated stuff you will probaly need php and mysql php.net and mysql.com. These can be complicated to install at first. But Apache is pretty simple. You will need to port forward port 80 (usually) to your servers LAN Ip if you have any problems post the question.

[washe]

I think I have Apache on the Linux Machine, I will test it up and surely return with a lot of questions...

[Tomteriffic]

One thing to check before you get too far gone on the project is whether you rISP will allow you to host a server at home. Some are pretty persnickety about that.

[librab103]

I am having problems with port 80 and not being able to access my site. Try this http://lifesavers.dyndns.org

[Rand Dusing]

Librab you should port forward port 80 on your router to your servers LAN IP.

[librab103]

I don't have a router. Is that bad. How can I fix this problem on my computer