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.NET Forum / ASP.NET / Web Services / February 2008Hosting Web Services
Dear List, I have been writing Web Services and running them from either a local IIS Server on XP Pro or within the built in web server in VS2003 and more recently VS2005. I was considering getting a 'real server' to host some web services, but am not sure which Microsoft server is best suited to hosting Web Services and a database. Right now my Web Services connect to an Oracle database, however, I realize that a Sql Server database would probably be best so as to keep everything more tightly integrated and maximise compatibility across the Microsoft and .NET environments. Is Sql Server a standalone server on its own, like an operating system, or is it installed on another server such as Windows 2003 Server, and run from there? Generally, could anyone suggest what Server is best suited to my needs and what might be best avoided? many Thanks, Dave > Dear List, It's actually a newsgroup you're posting too ;-) > I was considering getting a 'real server' to host some web services, > but am not sure which Microsoft server is best suited to hosting Web > Services and a database. Right now my Web Services connect to an > Oracle database, however, I realize that a Sql Server database would > probably be best so as to keep everything more tightly integrated and > maximise compatibility across the Microsoft and .NET environments. Oracle works fine in .NET - but licensing is a bit expensive right? > Is Sql Server a standalone server on its own, like an operating > system, or is it installed on another server such as Windows 2003 > Server, and run from there? SQL Server is loaded ontop of Windows. However, there are several versions of SQL server: SQL Server Compact Edition - a small embeddable database SQL Server Express - a free standalone database SQL Server Workgroup, Standard, Enterprise - the regular offerings Take a serious look at Express, it maybe good enough for your needs. If you outgrow Express you can upgrade to the full product relatively easily. Microsoft has the feature comparison charts on their website. > Generally, could anyone suggest what Server is best suited to my needs > and what might be best avoided? Which database server you need depends on several factors such as features you'll be using (i.e. data import? failover? load balacing?), traffic, etc.  Signaturespamhoneypot@rogers.com (Do not e-mail) "> Generally, could anyone suggest what Server is best suited to my needs and > what might be best avoided? What should be avoided? That would be you exposing any Web server to the Internet, period. All you'll be doing is putting up hack bait that will be compromised and used as a jumping off point to attack other Web servers and networks on the Internet. On the NT classed O/S, if the O/S, file system, user accounts, registry, and IIS are not secured on a MS platform box that's facing the Internet, then it's just hack bait. There are entire books that cover all of this, and IT professionals can hardly do it. I suggest that you find a Web Service Provider and use that, if you want to play. WSP(s) are cheap. > I suggest that you find a Web Service Provider and use that, if you > want to play. WSP(s) are cheap. www.crystaltech.com - very good and reliable. 2.95 a month developer plans. Signaturespamhoneypot@rogers.com (Do not e-mail) Hi, Thanks for your replies. Yeh I'd considered just buying some hosting, but think it might be fun to have a play with my own server - obviously using caution in terms of security. The last thing i want is to have my server hacked! Still, its probably easier to just buy a host package, but I might want to transfer unlimited amounts of data and dont want to end up paying over the odds if I can host it all locally and be in more control. We'll see I guess... Cheers, dave > Hi, > [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > see > I guess... Like I said, Web server and Security admins can hardly do it, and they have read the books, and they have been given the proper training, to secure a Web Server, running the Windows platform, and the Web server is being exposed to the public Internet. There is no such thing as caution in terms of security. You had better know what you're doing security wise with the Windows O/S and IIS, as otherwise, it's just hack bait you're putting out there to be attacked and used as a jumping off point to attack others. > > Hi, > > [quoted text clipped - 16 lines] > it's just hack bait you're putting out there to be attacked and used as a > jumping off point to attack others. Would you care to offer some tips on how to secure a web server so it is not hack bait? You must have learned the secrets somewhere, care to share a good reference to doing it 'right'? Cheers, dav Dav > Would you care to offer some tips on how to secure a web server so it is > not > hack bait? You must have learned the secrets somewhere, care to share a > good > reference to doing it 'right'? If you're planning on using a Windows Workststion O/S like Win 2K Pro, XP Pro or one of the Vista Business editions, don't because they are not solutions with an O/S that's designed to face the Internet hosting a Web Server. <http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=how+to+secure+Windows+2003+server&btnG=Goog le+Search> <http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&sa=X&oi=spell&resnum=0&ct=result&cd=1&q=how+t o+secure+IIS+6&spell=1> <http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=how+to+secure+a+.net+Web+application&btnG=Search> <http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=how+to+secure+windows+2003+running+IIS&btnG =Google+Search> I suggest you find some books, because this is nothing to play around with from a home user perspective, which many a home user think they can do or don't even know about it period, and they just put up a Win NT based O/S workstation edition hosting a Web Server. <http://www.windowsecurity.com/articles/Hidden_Backdoors_Trojan_Horses_and_Rootki t_Tools_in_a_Windows_Environment.html> I point you do the above link, because no personal firewall or some AV application is going to protect that machine, and you have got to look. I also suggest that you abandon this mission of yours, and find a secure Web hosting service provider, but of course, you're going to do what you want to do. > If you're planning on using a Windows Workststion O/S like Win 2K Pro, XP > Pro or one of the Vista Business editions, don't because they are not [quoted text clipped - 23 lines] > do. > Cheers for the information. After doing some further research I have decided to go for a web Hosting package (perhaps discount ASP). I might get a cheap Windows 2003 server box for a small play, one day, who knows :-) Best, David > Still, its probably easier to just buy a host package, but I might > want to transfer unlimited amounts of data and dont want to end up > paying over the odds if I can host it all locally and be in more > control. We'll see I guess... Web servers use very little data - unless you're transferring binary data. CrystalTech has full shared hosting plans with generous transfers :-) In anycase, check your ISP TOS too ... they may or may not allow home servers, and depending on your usage, you could end up losing your home connection. Signaturespamhoneypot@rogers.com (Do not e-mail) > > Still, its probably easier to just buy a host package, but I might > > want to transfer unlimited amounts of data and dont want to end up [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > servers, and depending on your usage, you could end up losing your home > connection. Certainly $2.95 pm is not to be sniffed at, does that include hosting for web forms if I got a www. domain. i would like to have both a website and host web services. And yes binary data is one of the things I will be transferring in large quantities. Think of a Web Service data transfer version of a German beer festival, thats how much binary data I'll be drinking... Dav Free MagazinesGet these publications absolutely FREE for up to 12 months. 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