Can a Mac be a full blown web server?

Fri Jun 26 11:48:09 EDT 2020

Hi,

The provider of your:

internet access and IP,
Website hosting,
Email,
DNS,
Doamin registration,
SSL certificate

Can all be provided my different companies but there does need to be
cordination between them for everything to work as expected.  This is one
of the reasons they provide multiple services.  However, from a
technical point of view they can all be provided by different companies.

Ben

On Fri, 26 Jun 2020, 16:38 Das Goravani, <das at goravani.com> wrote:

>
> Rob,
>
> I have one basic question for you.. it regards DNS.. and IP..
>
> My websites are registered with GoDaddy.. do I have to keep them in my
> life because my sites are “with them”.. do they handle the DNS to my server
> ?  Is that what you need an ISP for?
>
> Thank you,
>
> Das
>
> > On Jun 26, 2020, at 8:31 AM, Rob Mostyn <mostyn at platformis.net> wrote:
> >
> > Hi Das,
> >
> > If its any comfort, we use Mac Mini servers for web hosting:
> > -     one is a regular web server... Apache server that has Omnis
> installed.
> >       This is our ultra thin server that responds with HTML.
> >
> >       traffic hits DNS
> >       DNS returns the IP address (public IP address) of our server
> >       traffic hits our server
> >       traffic picked up by Apache
> >       Apache diverts traffic to Omnis
> >       Omnis processes parameters and returns HTML
> >
> > -     the other is an App Server that serves javascript apps based on
> Omnis
> >       The conference registration form is an example of this.
> >       The one server runs about 7 instances of Omnis, each with its own
> >       library serving different customers / applications
> >
> >       traffic hits DNS
> >       DNS returns the IP address (public IP address) of our server
> >       traffic hits our server
> >       traffic picked up by Apache
> >       Apache returns web page that has Omnis resources within it
> >       Omnis resources return javascript forms for client to interact with
> >
> > Macs are unix based and I feel much more confident with unix security
> than Windows.
> >
> > You could have the one machine serve both HTML pages (ulta thin Omnis)
> or Apps although we have never done this.
> >
> > Rob
> >
> >> On 26 Jun 2020, at 17:05, Das Goravani <das at goravani.com> wrote:
> >>
> >> Steme
> >>
> >> Hi!  I have a few basic questions for you.
> >>
> >> Does one need an ISP as you seem to indicate you do. I currently use
> GoDaddy. I am very worried that they will close any route for me in this
> regard as you said yours did. I have seen people say they couldn’t get
> their web sites away from GoDaddy. I am very worried about this. I
> registered one with them I am very attached to: ReadMyAstrology.com <
> http://readmyastrology.com/>, and I have my main site Goravani.com with
> them… very worried.. has anybody gotten their sites away from GoDaddy?
> >>
> >> Next, I read that MAMP Pro (for Mac) is hard to use.. that the company
> doesn’t really reveal how to use it.. doesn’t support it well.. would you
> help me if I got it and used it? You seem to be friendly about it. I have
> not yet gotten a machine.. yes my needs are small and will remain small
> forever. That’s one reason I’m trying to really feel this out.. why should
> I make it harder than it has to be? If the Mac is SIMPLER then I’d rather
> go that way.
> >>
> >> I am so worried about whether to use Windows or Mac.. I am normally an
> ALL MAC guy.. I only use Windows the bare minimum… would rather go Mac if
> it’s a real working thing.. which you seem to be doing.. you say if the Mac
> mini is sufficiently strong you can install AppServer on it too.. well I
> would hope so… Apache, AppServer, Omnis (If that’s needed), my library..
> have to all be on one machine, one server, yes please comment on whether
> good laptops would be a fine server too.. it’s nice to have the keyboard,
> trackpad, monitor, computer, all in one device.. .
> >>
> >> I heard you at the end when you said you regard this approach to be
> most simple and effective.. for ME.. you’re listening and responding to the
> expressed needs.. thank you.. it’s really daunting to approach this topic..
> at first.. when you dont have a clue like me.. you aren’t sure about
> ANYTHING.. so it’s hard to take a step.. you dont know for sure which
> machine to buy, so you can’t start installing and learning, you’re stuck
> just asking questions, reading so many topics on the web, head spinning..
> >>
> >> Just so you know.. I have converted my app to use SQLite. So my app
> uses SQLite but that is just one text file that sits next to your library
> wherever it is stored, there are no other files and nothing to install or
> manage, it’s a lot like the DF1 in that regard. One might put it on it’s
> own hard drive if one had tons of data, but otherwise, it sits with your
> library and grows there. Way easier than Postgres.
> >>
> >> I will look into MacMini’s today
> >>
> >> Thank you VERY MUCH for chiming in like this with this opinion.. it
> steers me back towards Mac because I really hear your last statement about
> simple and effective.. Well known OS (YES) and approaches.. (Speaking from
> experience) compact server install, YES, I am working out of a bedroom with
> limited space.
> >>
> >> A normal Windows machine would have a fan or two running.. I have
> worried about that..
> >>
> >> Stene, I started Apache.. but I have to ask.. there are no controls on
> the localhost webpage.. there is no app.. how do you control your web
> server? All through Terminal commands? Isn’t setting up a web server
> something that has ongoing need for controls over the web sites you set up?
> That can all be done through Terminal? Is there ever an App window that we
> see for Apache on the Mac.. or is it all Terminal? So the Apache that you
> start up with Terminal is the Apache you use?
> >>
> >> If my ISP supports me serving for myself and they support putting the
> certificate out there.. then is it easy to setup the certificate in MAMP or
> Apache? Wherever it goes.. ?
> >>
> >> If I can get it I would suspect that 16 GB of RAM is better in the
> server yes? Or it doesn’t matter?
> >>
> >> A bit of this I can probably guess the answers.. but I figure there’s
> no harm in asking.. what may seem obvious sometimes is not as it seems..
> like if Omnis and App Server dont USE the 16 GB of RAM then why buy it? For
> all I know these things are simple Utilities that are just complex to setup
> but have really small footprints.. for all I know that could be true.. at
> this point I’m just asking questions and gathering info. And gradually
> gaining the insight I need to take the step of committing to a machine, Mac
> or Win, and then installing, learning, going forward..
> >>
> >> Thanks so much Stene, and to everyone, sorry I type so much.. I dont
> know how you all type so little. :-)
> >>
> >> Cheers
> >>
> >> Das
> >>
> >>
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