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The official list of requirements to run StoreFront 2000 either locally or on a live web site can be found here. Here are some of the high points you need to know.
StoreFront webs only run on Microsoft Web Servers. Your live web host must be hosting with Microsoft Windows NT 4 Server or Windows 2000 Server and must support the FrontPage 2000 Server Extensions. In addition, the web host must understand and support the configuration of certain Microsoft Remote Data Services (RDS) components, also know as MSADC. Finally, the web host must install and configure server components supplied by StoreFront to enable full support for UPS shipping and other features.
While all of these requirements could be met by any NT host, experience has shown that you would do well to choose a web host for your StoreFront 2000 web from the list of hosts who have chosen to partner with StoreFront to fully support and know the product. Here is a list of StoreFront Web Host Partners.
I and a number of my clients host with 2COOLWEB. They are a StoreFront WPP Partner and specialize in e-commerce and business web sites. You might want to check them out.
You may sign up with one of the experienced SF2K web hosts and develop your entire store online. Many new users, however, learn to configure and design their SF2K web sites by working locally, on their own PC before publishing their web to their web host.
To run SF2K locally, you need to be running Windows 95 or 98 and have the Microsoft Personal Web Server (PWS) installed and running, to provide the web support needed by SF2K and its ASP programming language.
The following sections contain more information on configuring both local and live web servers.