You seriously SHOULD consider getting a host. It saves alot of effort, speed will be faster, you won't need to sacrifice any functionality (mail, in this case) and you wouldn't need to worry about tripping over the wire or your own server going b00m. It'd all be on a reliable server quality machine, and most hosts have ALOT of backups.

__________________

What i really don't understand is though, you would rather run it from home when the speed varies, and its usually slow for me, than get some paid hosting, as you've paid over $300 for vB's - it's a trust thing? hosts are going to steal your database..

Getting hosting is a hell of alot easier than running them from your own house & i'm starting to question the validity of your vBulletin's due to what you're saying doesn't make much sense..

Also, you need to work on your security

__________________
Immortality will come to such as are fit for it

If you can afford vB, you can afford hosting. Your site WILL NOT succeed running off a home connection. The rate at which you can download files is much, much faster than the speed of which your visitors receive the page.

Also you won't be able to send emails on a home connection - because of the amount of PCs being infected with "zombie" trojans and becoming spamming machines, most email providers block emails sent from a home DSL/cable connection.

__________________
Host your forum with a reliable, stable host from just $2 per month!
Are you running a bigger forum, or a network of sites? Get a VPS from just $6 per month!

Like it has been said already there is a very slim chance that you will be able to use a mail server. Also as a note, your site is down with a database error...

__________________

Guess this proves how reliable and secure hosting at home is

__________________
Host your forum with a reliable, stable host from just $2 per month!
Are you running a bigger forum, or a network of sites? Get a VPS from just $6 per month!

- what's up with it..?

__________________
Immortality will come to such as are fit for it

New error now, may want to check it out...looks bad.

__________________

It's not about the cost, it's the experience as well.

I used to host forums off my home server. In fact, my blog GeorgeBoone.com is still n my home machine. I have a Dell poweredge 400sc.

I now rent dedicated servers from real hosts but without the experience and knowledge I gained doing it myself at home I would

#1 be out a lot of money paying people to manage it and do simple tasks for me (especially someone trustworthy)

#2 not be as confident in doing what I do every day.

HAVING SAID THAT... there's a huge issue with hosting a mail server on your home system (besides the obvious security issue).... Most ISPs block mail sent from home ISPs like charter, cox cable, etc. Because the majority of mail coming from those source IPs is spam zombie machines. So you can't really rely on your home server to send confirmation emails because about 50 to 60% of them won't get through.

__________________
George from PCHangout.com
Want some free HD wallpapers?
Find hot deals coupons, discounts, bargains, and freebies here.

The forum got h4x0red. It's down, for good...for now.

I highly doubt vBulletin was the problem for your site getting hacked.

I'm putting my money on your "reliable" server as the reason your site is down now

__________________
...some super-sweet signature