Most free hosting packages do not include MS-SQL. You didn't say why you
required MS-SQL.
Brinkster has free asp.net hosting. For database you can use XML or MDB.
This works for low-volume scenarios, seems like it would fit your case, 20
sites, a handful of users.
If you really need SQL and want a hosted solution, then Local hosting seems
like a better idea. Local hosters have an incentive to support local
not-for-profits. Too bad none of your locals do ASP.NET and SQL !
But you also said you have a W2000 machine with network access. If it is a
broadband connection, then you are nearly there. Broadband means DSL or
cable modem or better. What else do you need?
for hardware:
- nearly any old desktop machine will suffice. I would say 300mhx cpu and
128mb RAM would be nice to have.
- probably want 6gb disk minimum.
For software:
- .NET will install and run on a Windows 2000 machine. .NET is a free
add-on to Windows 2000.
- ASP.NET will install and run on a W2000 Pro machine. ASP.NET is a free
piece of the .NET Framework install.
- IIS 5.0. This is available as a feature of Windows 2000 Pro. It is
Free.
- MSDE, the free version of SQL Server. Free.
what do I need to add to give the students and other outside the
organization access to the server?
You have to insure that you can connect to this machine from outside. Some
network providers disallow incoming connections. Check with yours.
Once you verify that, then you need a DNS name. There are free options
here. eg, Dyndns.org. you will get a name like
YourOrganization.dyndns.org. Let's suppose your organization is called
"Family Tree". Then using the free dyndns option, outside users could go
to:
http://FamilyTree.dyndns.org/TheApp
Or, you could register your own DNS name for $20 or so per year. Check with
godaddy.com . Your students should be able to help with this. This would
give you a dedicated DNS name, like www.FamilyTree.net . Web access would
be available as
http://www.FamilyTree.net/TheApp
Before going forward, think about upgrading the machine to Windows XP.
Windows 2000 is 5 years old and will go out of mainstream support phase next
year. The upgrade to Windows XP Pro is easy, and I think you (a non profit)
can get it cheap on www.techsoup.org .
Or, consider getting an additional machine just for the service. For your
low volumes the machine could be any old desktop machine that runs WinXP
Pro. I have it running on a 5 yr old PC with a 300mhz cpu, and it works
fine. You can buy suitable machines on ebay for $25. Or, you should be
able to find free, fully-depreciated yet functional PC hardware from a
willing local corporation. My sister just contacted me last week to help
find a non-profit to accept 150 Dell Optiplex machines 3 years old, 600mhz
cpus, 40gb disks. This is the kind of thing that would do just fine as a
host.
A Windows XP Pro machine will need the same software and hardware minimum
configs as I listed above for Win2000.
-D
"HotRod" <NO****@youremail.com> wrote in message
news:eK*************@TK2MSFTNGP11.phx.gbl... Since this will only be used by our company, from 20 sites and only a
handful of employees we are not looking for something expensive. I
originally started with our local ISP's because they offer free hosting
for "Not for profit" businesses, however I now realise that none of them
will work. Can anyone recommend a "FREE" provider that I can use that
would have an SQL database and IIS with .net extensions?
THANKS
"HotRod" <NO****@youremail.com> wrote in message
news:OV**************@TK2MSFTNGP11.phx.gbl...I am new to this so please go easy. We currently have some students doing
some work on some web based tracking documents for us. They are currently
using VB .net to develop what we requested. Anyway I've been calling my
local ISP's and no one supports .net it seems to be all apache and MySQL.
I'm wondering if everyone here can answer a few questions.
1) Can I run vb .net web pages on a regular IIS server without the .net
extensions?
2) What version and what needs to be on the IIS server to run .net
3) Since this is an internal use only application what would I need to
run this on my own server? We currently have a machine windows 2000
machine that everyone in the building has access to (that also has
internet access) so what do I need to add to give the students and other
outside the organization access to the server?
