# DSL - PC web server
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dsl-pc-web-server/196105
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [August 19, 2003, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dsl-pc-web-server/196105 "2003-08-19T02:11:17Z")
**Posts on this page:** 5
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@ccwaterback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ccwaterback)
#### Post date: [August 19, 2003, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dsl-pc-web-server/196105/1 "2003-08-19T02:11:17Z")
Since I have DSL and my connection is virtually 24 x 7. Would I be able to run a web SERVER on my PC? If I can, what web server software would you recommend? I am running Widows XP Pro on my PC.
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### Author:  [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)
#### Post date: [August 19, 2003, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dsl-pc-web-server/196105/2 "2003-08-19T02:21:55Z")
That depends on your ISP. Most ISPs do not allow users with regular accounts to run webservers, so you should check with them first. If they allow it, there’s tons of server software out there.
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### Author:  [@Berkut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Berkut)
#### Post date: [August 19, 2003, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dsl-pc-web-server/196105/3 "2003-08-19T02:26:47Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by ccwaterback \*
> \*\*Since I have DSL and my connection is virtually 24 x 7. Would I be able to run a web SERVER on my PC?
\*\*Yes, assuming it isn’t against your ISP’s service agreement. Also, it will help greatly if you have a static IP and you aren’t behind NAT.
> [@](#):
>
> **If I can, what web server software would you recommend?**
I use [Xitami](http://www.xitami.com) myself, but I’m sure there are tons of them out there. I have always used Xitami and I’m very happy with it.
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### Author:  [@Nanoda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nanoda)
#### Post date: [August 19, 2003, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dsl-pc-web-server/196105/4 "2003-08-19T04:44:44Z")
There’s loads of software available. Cable or such isn’t required; you can run one on a dial-up machine if you’d like. So long as you know your IP, and your ISP doesn’t actually block port 80 or others, anyone can reach your own personal page.
I can’t say it’s amazingly useful… I use it to host images and stuff so friends and family can check them out. If you want more people to be able to access it, you can actually host your own domain, using such places as [Dynamip](http://www.dynamip.com/) (which I admit looks suspect, but my friend used it for a while with success).
As for the “no servers” rule, IMHO most ISP use it so they can boot people for excessive bandwith usage, which would happen especially if they happen to post images that most people _wouldn’t_ show to friends and family. 😉 You’d have to call someone pretty high up to get an answer like that though.
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### Author:  [@ccwaterback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ccwaterback)
#### Post date: [August 19, 2003, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dsl-pc-web-server/196105/5 "2003-08-19T05:05:27Z")
Thanks for the replies folks. I know most ISPs I have had allow me some space on THEIR server to host a website. But they don’t allow server-side programming (CGI). So I am stuck with a site that is basically display-only.