Since 2001 The808.net has ran on a computer at my home. Computer=Server. ...To me there is not much difference. The page you are looking at was typed on the same computer that served this page that you are reading. It runs Windows (and a GNU/Linux virtual machine) and does the same stuff your computer does. However, unlike yours, mine is serving web pages and processing emails in the background. This does not effect my day-to-day computing tasks. (I'm not running ebay here.) In fact, all of the pages here were created or processed using the same machine that serves the pages. In my mind, this is how all web sites, save a few larger ones, should be operated. This site chronicles my life and adventures mostly through photos, but I also use my web site and server as a place to experiment with various web, system and network technologies. ...Some tried and tested, others not so much. When this site first appeared, running a web server on a "home computer" was not a established or accepted method for publishing on the web. There was virtually no information available at the time for a DIY'er except for a couple tutorials on IIS. ...I initially used IIS but quickly switched to Apache and still do. I tend to think of myself as a pioneer of home web servers because of that. Since I first started, bandwidth speeds have increased, processor speeds have increased and hard drive stoarge capacities have increased, making it easier than ever to do it yourself. Currently The808.net is on its third computer after recently retiring my previous workstation-server after about five years of continuous 24/7 web serving and daily use by me.
The808.net goals: Learn about web servers and web technologies, increase my productivity and knowledge by having direct local access to my web server (this speeds everything up), save money by not paying a web host to do something I can do for myself - for free, rationalize the high cost of computers and high-speed Internet by having the Internet come to me, instead of me having to "go online" (the connection and my server are being used even when I'm not personally using it).

Chris was born in the Chicago area and moved to the Phoenix area with his parents. Chris eventually lived in Arizona for about 14 years.
While living in Arizona after high school Chris became interested in the Internet and how it worked. After successfully setting up a 'web site' on the university's server, Chris quickly grew tired of constantly uploading files to the school's server any time a change was made to a page or photo. Chris knew there was a better way to run a web site and The808.net was soon born. The goal of The808.net has never been completely clear, but vowed to always be ran on a server Chris operated himself out of his house. This kept operational costs down (less than $10 a year) and kept Chris in control of everything from log files to unlimited disk space. During the time Chris started pioneering the concept of the home-based web server, 808 Consulting was soon founded. The mission of 808 Consulting is to show the world how the home/office based web server is the only way to run a web site. It's main goal is to overrun the internet/world with home and office based web servers and eliminate the need for a web host. During this period of time, Chris decided a change of atmosphere was needed.

Chris made the decision to move to the Seattle area and arrived in July of 2004. Instantly falling in love with the area, Chris quickly began learning his way around his new home, and quickly felt comfortable in his new environment. First living in downtown Issaquah for a period of 11 months, Chris wanted a change of pace and moved to downtown Seattle. Living near the intersection of Denny Way and Stewart Street, Chris lived in a studio downtown for a few months. It should be noted that while living downtown, Chris hosted The808.net locally from his own server as usual. However, his Internet connection comprised of a 24dbi gain Wi-Fi dish pointed 1/4 of a mile away at Capitol Hill and a wireless network card. This meant Chris did not pay for cable internet while living downtown, and The808.net got a free ride to the Internet from someone's unsecured wireless LAN. (I love port forwarding.)

Chris currently resides in West Seattle and spends his free time with his girlfriend Madeline, his friend Taylor and back country skiing whenever possible. Chris works for 808 Consulting.

Last Update: 1-1-2010