--- title: "What are the server requirements for Trade Portal?" canonical: "https://kb.myframeworks.com.au/space/TPF/28246022/What%20are%20the%20server%20requirements%20for%20Trade%20Portal%3F" format: markdown --- # Question What are the server requirements for Trade Portal? # Answer Trade Portal Module is primarily used by external parties and so requires an external facing web server. That is, a machine that is accessible to everyone on the Internet. For security reasons, the recommendation is that this machine resides externally, such as at your web hosting provider. This way all browser / http access is completely external to your internal network, and if the web server is compromised (hacked), the possibility for damage is quite isolated. This design requires firewall rules on both ends (client router and hosting router) to allow communication between ProStix & the Trade Portal web server. > ℹ️ Sterland have an arrangement with Web24, a web hosting company, to provide this at a very low monthly subscription. There are no specific hardware dependencies. The actual hardware specifications depend entirely on your anticipated load, such as the number of concurrent remote connections and the volume of their simultaneous transactions. Sterland will install & configure the **Apache Web Server** & work with your local IT to provide a DNS hostname & SSL digital certificate.  There are firewall rules that will be required to allow the external hosted web server to communicate with the Frameworks Database. Two Options for Trade Portal Server: - **Option #1: Server hosted by 3rd Party Provider e.g. Web24** (Recommended by Sterland). For this option, customer can order the server hosting from Web24 directly. Once ordered this information can then be provided to Sterland for installation, setup and configuration. Our recommended starting plan is their Linux VM 2GB Ram, with 2 vCPU Cores, 25Gb SSD Storage at just $20/mo with free setup: [https://www.web24.com.au/vps-2](https://www.web24.com.au/vps-2)  (discounts for longer terms) You will also need an SSL digital certificate, also available from web24 for $25/yr: [https://www.web24.com.au/domains-ssl/ssl-certificates](https://www.web24.com.au/domains-ssl/ssl-certificates)   - **Option #2: Server hosted on-premises** An alternative to hosting externally is to host on-premises, or on-site, but external or separate from the internal network by using your router's DMZ, which maintains a network separation between your internal network and the externally accessible web server. Similar firewall rules are required to allow communication, however all https traffic to/from the external clients and the web server will traverse your own internet connection. This may be undesirable, particularly if the web server becomes the target of a DoS (Denial of Service attack: [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Denial-of-service_attack](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Denial-of-service_attack) ) Once the Server Option has been selected, Sterland will work with the Customer's IT Provider to: 1. Install Trade portal on the server 2. Setup and configure 3. Handover to Customer (including health check testing and training) Please contact Sterland for more information or quote to implement Trade Portal for your business. > ❌ The least preferred method, which we highly discourage is to host the web server on your internal network and make it available externally by publishing its web server via a NAT port forward on your router. While this method is the simplest to deploy, **it is a high risk**. If this machine, publicly accessible to everyone on the Internet, is compromised, your entire internal network would be at risk. # Additional Information > ✅ - Refer to the [Trade Portal FAQs](https://kb.myframeworks.com.au/space/TPF/720044037) to browse or search for a solution. > ✅ - If you are still unable to find a solution, contact [Support](https://kb.myframeworks.com.au/page/support).