Running a server?

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Original post by YellowShadow I have an extra computer and I was wondering about turning it into a server. I have some questions. 1. Power. Will power be an issue? Will the bill rise? 2. Internet Connection. Will it lag while I'm on the internet? Will my internet connection lag? Will the games I play lag or make the server lag? If anyone could answer these questions for me it would be great :). Thanks.

1. Depends. Yes, but not that much.
2. Depends. Depends. Depends.

Power being an issue or not is up to you. If the small rise is too expensive, then it'll be an issue.

Everything else depends on what the server is doing. In the US, normal internet connections die when you use too much upload bandwidth. On my connection, for instance, if I go above 13k/s up, no one else on my network can do anything even remotely quick.

If I post my upload/download speed would that help?

Here it is:

Last Result:
Download Speed: 2586 kbps (323.3 KB/sec transfer rate)
Upload Speed: 257 kbps (32.1 KB/sec transfer rate)

Tested it connecting to Los Angeles using the Speakeasy Speed test.

You will have to check this with your ISP. Most of them have rules on providing these types of services on a standard internet plan.

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Original post by Zmurf You will have to check this with your ISP. Most of them have rules on providing these types of services on a standard internet plan.

What do you mean? I can't run a server from an extra computer I have?

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Original post by YellowShadow Quote: Original post by Zmurf You will have to check this with your ISP. Most of them have rules on providing these types of services on a standard internet plan. What do you mean? I can't run a server from an extra computer I have?

Often, no.

Well that sucks :(

I have Charter Internet Connection, do you guys know if they let?

Almost all ISP's allow you to run a server, you just have to sign on to a special plan. But there's one draw back ...

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Original post by YellowShadow Well that sucks :( I have Charter Internet Connection, do you guys know if they let?

From here:

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Can I host a server with this service? No. Hosting Web servers, file servers, etc. using our residential services is not allowed due to the high outgoing-traffic volume likely from your computer to the Internet. If you require hosting capabilities, contact Charter and ask about our Charter Business Internet services, which may meet your needs.

This is interesting as I was thinking of setting up a server at home, but it wouldn't be a web server, at least not to the outside world. I have several PCs at home and would like a file and e-mail server on my home network to allow me to edit files on any PC (things like photos), have a single PC to backup data from, allow me to view/send e-mails on any PC and filter web content (have kids!)¹.

I can understand ISPs not wanting you to host a web server/remote file server on a residential line. I hope they don't have any issues with the above scenario - I can't imagine they would as my internet usage would be the same regardless of the presence of the server.

Skizz

1. A bit OT but has anyone set up a system like this?

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Original post by YellowShadow I have an extra computer and I was wondering about turning it into a server. I have some questions. 1. Power. Will power be an issue? Will the bill rise?

It depends on how dedicated you want to make your server. If you leave it on 24/7, then it'll consume a bit more power and you'll see an almost insignificant jump in your electric bill. Just turn off the screen and you'll be okay.
I'm guessing this will be a personal server for gaming or something related. If you're going for a webserver and getting a DNS to point to your IP and you expect more then a couple hundred hits a day and you can't have downtime, then consider a hosting company...

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2. Internet Connection. Will it lag while I'm on the internet? Will my internet connection lag? Will the games I play lag or make the server lag? If anyone could answer these questions for me it would be great :). Thanks.

Yes, you will get lag. It will be dependent on how much traffic your server is sending. If its a dedicated game server on your LAN, you won't notice any lag between you and the server -- but other connected people will. If your connection can handle 25kbps up, then it probably can't support too many connections... depending on the game and its net code.
If you're surfing the internet while you have a dedicated game server and there are people actively using it, yes, you will notice a slowdown on your bandwidth...

...I wonder... if you get multiple internet connections, would there be a way to load balance the connections to one server in a many to one relationship? interesting... maybe that would just be something as simple as a second or third NIC...

I have a server running at home. It's a fileserver for my network, and an Apache / SVN Server for the outside world(Also for the inside).

The internal home server scenario can't be blocked by your ISP, as long as you're not constantly connecting to it from the outside world. However, most ISPs don't want webserver in their network.

My ISP does allow it, and normally my connection doesn't lag, unless someone is checking out my 16 MB robot project repository. As long as someone isn't poking your server, it doesn't lag.

Toolmaker

Thank you guys :). You guys have been a great help.