Home Web Server Setup

[rhysmoe]

I'll make this as brief as possible, I keep reading, figure myself fairly savvy but have little to no web dev experience.

I took my old black macbook, turned it into a media server connected to my tv with backup hard drives for all media, and software. I have a IP identifying to give myself a static address. I have a VNC server setup so i can get in via computer and iphone outside of my home network. I have setup mamp and here is where the trouble starts.

I am simply trying to setup a site that is password protected, that I can let myself, or others into, so I can get to my media, and more importantly, documents and software, outside of my home network.

I can get it to display my files, but many of them try to stream on the web and not download. I can't get it password protected, and I'm getting frustrated. If I point mamp at a .html file, it doesn't find it, I can only point it to a directory, then it just lists allt he files with no ability to password protect.


I feel like I am completely missing the boat on steps here, I don't want anything fancy, but if someone could tell me what direction to go in that would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

 

[Cerebrus' Maw]

I'll make this as brief as possible, I keep reading, figure myself fairly savvy but have little to no web dev experience.

I took my old black macbook, turned it into a media server connected to my tv with backup hard drives for all media, and software. I have a IP identifying to give myself a static address. I have a VNC server setup so i can get in via computer and iphone outside of my home network. I have setup mamp and here is where the trouble starts.

I am simply trying to setup a site that is password protected, that I can let myself, or others into, so I can get to my media, and more importantly, documents and software, outside of my home network.

I can get it to display my files, but many of them try to stream on the web and not download. I can't get it password protected, and I'm getting frustrated. If I point mamp at a .html file, it doesn't find it, I can only point it to a directory, then it just lists allt he files with no ability to password protect.


I feel like I am completely missing the boat on steps here, I don't want anything fancy, but if someone could tell me what direction to go in that would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

Ok, MAMP setup is not my strong point, but a few things that I might be able to share from working on Apache.

For password protect, you need to use .htaccess file with a .htpasswd file in the directory that you want protected (usually in root directory of your website) If you do not have them you can simply create them with a text editor. Here is a good source.

2)
If you go to the directory and it is listing all of your files: Most Apache servers are configured to look for certain files in order if it cannot find one if it is pointed at a directory, it will look for the next etc etc. Once this list runs out, I think it will then display all files to the browser. The list usually runs something like:
index.html, index.php, index.asp, index.jsp etc

This list is configurable on the Apache setup. Although I'm not really sure what you want to display when users actually go to your site....?

Hope this helps a bit.