Turn PC into server for website to acces

TheOriginal

Commendable
Feb 22, 2016
25
0
1,530
I have a website that I want to upload a lot of videos to. Unfortunately the host I use doesn't allow mass storage. What I want to do now is have that website acces the video files on my pc. This way I can use my pc as a server.
I still want to be able to use my pc for normal things though, so no changing operating systems.
I have 8gb of ram, an I5 6500.

How would I go about doing it? (this is temporarily, until I get an actual cloud mass storage device)
 

USAFRet

Titan
Moderator


This is actually quite hazardous. You're opening up your PC to the outside world.
Normally, this would be done with a dedicated system, in the DMZ on your router.

But putting your personal PC out there to connect to...bad idea.
If you (and the 'website') can access it, maybe someone else can as well.


In addition, unless you have a really fast upload speed from your ISP, this will be dirt slow.
 

TheOriginal

Commendable
Feb 22, 2016
25
0
1,530


What I need is for the website just to be able to read files (and thus videoplayback). Not alter.
I don't mind anyone else reading these video files, since they could just do it via the website anyways.
So nobody can actually alter files. Also, the site should only be able to acces a specific folder (and its sub folders). So not actually reading any private files on my pc.
 

USAFRet

Titan
Moderator


You're assuming benign users.
I'm assuming malevolent users. There are people all over the planet, with nothing better to do that to scan ALL IP addresses, looking for open ports and possible access.

You'd have to port forward through your router, to your PC.
Your website would have a clicky link to your residential IP address.
Port forwarded through your router to your PC. 192.168.1.25, maybe.
And of course to that particular folder.

But...your IP address is seen on the website. It WILL be scanned, and followed through to your personal PC.
"hmm...what else can I access in here?"

Your ISP may have issue with this. Running a video server on a residential connection may be against their ToS.
Does your ISP have a monthly bandwidth cap?

Upload speed? What do you have? What type of connection is this?
What size are these videos? Every video viewed is that full amount of GB sucking up part of your monthly bandwidth cap.

How many users are you talking about?
 

Rookie_MIB

Distinguished
I have that type of setup here at my home. I have a business class connection and static IPs. You can get away with the same thing, but your ISP might not like putting servers on non-business class accounts. In fact, it might be against their TOS.

That being said, you have several ways to do it, but it will involve (for safety issues) getting another computer. It doesn't have to be high powered, almost any computer can do it.

You'll then install a Linux distro (I use CentOS), and you'll install the OS with the Apache web server, and CIFS/Samba and the CIFS/Samba tools. The directory where you hold your movies (on a Windows machine I assume?) you'll share on the network, then you'll connect your shared directory to the Linux Server and mount it.

Configure the webserver, then you'll be able to access the movies both locally and across the network. You'll have to set up access to the resources and stuff and figure out how linux works, but there is a lot of help out there on the web.

Mine is made a bit easier as I actually have my movies stored on a media server (CentOS based) and accessible to my entire internal network, and as such connecting the two linux servers together is much easier.
 

USAFRet

Titan
Moderator


Yup.
Given a dedicated PC for this, sure. (If the ISP doesn't have a heartache over it)

Running this on my personal daily PC? Not a chance.
 

TheOriginal

Commendable
Feb 22, 2016
25
0
1,530
I made it work.
What I did was set up a WAMP Server, and only allowing the video folder with all the videos to be able to be viewed by the public.
I'm still testing some stuff out, but my friend from another country could view videos.
Now I'm going to test to see if my website (hosted by a hosting company) can acces those videos too.
 

Rookie_MIB

Distinguished


Agreed. Hell you can pick up a slighty used Dell on eBay for $75-100 bucks. Install CentOS and call it a day.

Heck, even installing VirtualBox and installing a server on THAT would be preferable. If the VirtualBox server got compromised you can wipe it and start over without losing control of your PC.