What alternatives are there to Microsoft Personal Web Server?  I want
to host .asp pages, so I can build a front end to a Microsoft access
database, but PWS has some nasty security flaws.  Any ideas?

You can find a large list of free web servers at
   - Todd VerBeek's Microsoft Personal Web Server & other webservers
     ( http://microsoft.toddverbeek.com/phttpd.html )
The page provides you with a list of free and low cost replacements
for Microsoft PWS.It rates the options according to the features they
offer and cost. Also links to real sites on the web that utilize these
servers.

You can see that when it comes to choosing Web server software, the
choices available  can be quite bewildering. Your requirement that the
server contain an ASP engine does narrow the field considerably,
however.
 Here are the options you have, depending on which version of windows
you are running :

WIN NT/2000/XP
==============
   - IIS 4/5
The ideal web server for ASP development is Microsoft Internet
Information Server (IIS), which comes free with Windows 2000/XP, and
can be downloaded free off the net for NT.

   - APACHE with Sun ONE Active Server Pages
       - Download the Apache Web Server from www.apache.org
       - To get it to run ASP pages, you will need the Sun ONE Active
Server Pages product from http://wwws.sun.com/software/chilisoft/.
         You can get a free developers download which allows you to
develop, test, and debug ASP pages.

WINDOWS 9x/ME
=============
      Unfortunately the only free option you have here is the
Microsoft Personal Web Server 4.0, which is a scaled-down version of
IIS 4.0.Unfortunately, this only supports the older ASP 2.0, not the
newer ASP 3.0

      If you are open to commercial options, you can buy the
commercial iASP ASP engine from Stryon :
     - Stryon - iASP 2.1
       ( http://www.stryon.com/products.asp?s=1 )
This ASP engine, when used in conjuction with free webservers such as
Xitami ( www.xitami.com ) allows you to work with ASP pages.

ALL VERSIONS
============
     Another option you have is to use the free web hosting solution
at Brinkster ( www.brinkster.com ). The Brinkster General Solution
offers the following features :
     Cost
       • FREE

     Main Features
       • 30 MB of Web Space 
       • 500 MB/Month of Data Transfer (bandwidth) 
       • Web Based File Manager more info
       • ASP.NET / .NET Framework v1, Mobile Internet Toolkit v1 
       • ASP 3.0 Support (Includes ADO, FileSystemObject) 

     Extended Features
      • Windows 2000 / IIS 5
      • WAP Enabled (MIME Types Installed) 
      • Flash Enabled (MIME Types Installed) 
      • 24/7 Network Monitoring 
      • RAID 5 Based Hard Drive Storage 

For more info see : http://www.brinkster.com/AboutGeneral.asp
As you can see, this free web account will allow you to host,develop
and test ASP pages utilizing the latest versions, for free.

=======================
I hope the above was of help to you.
If you need any clarifications, just ask!
:) 

RELATED LINKS
=============
 
 - Getting Started with ASP : Setting Up an ASP Server
   ( http://www.webmasterbase.com/article/371/10 )

---

Request for Answer Clarification by den2002-ga on 21 Nov 2002 10:08 PST

does iis  only come with XP pro?

---

Clarification of Answer by theta-ga on 21 Nov 2002 10:54 PST

IIS is available for Windows NT/2000/XP Pro. Microsoft does not
support IIS on XP Home Ed. and recommends that users that need web
server capabilities upgrade to Windows XP Pro.
However, a workaround has been found that allows you to install IIS on
WinXP Home Ed. Check out the following articles for more info :
 - How to get IIS running on your Windows XP Home system  by Pippo
Mares
   ( http://www.webthang.co.uk/tutorials/pippo_xp/pippo_xp.htm )

 - Running IIS on Windows XP Home Edition? By 15 Seconds Discussion
List
   ( http://www.15seconds.com/issue/020118.htm )

I hope this solves your problem.
:)

Certainly gave me a lot to think about.  I can see that i'm going to
have to examine my options very carefully.  Thanks for a clear answer