Nickname: choose a nickname for your server (any name you like unless it's already registered in the Tor network by another user, in that case the message log of Vidalia should notify you once Tor is running, don't use Anti1984, it's registered and can't be used). You can change the nickname anytime but it will only take effect after the server is restarted. If you'd like to reserve a nickname so only you can use it check these instructions. If you can't think of a name yet, simply put in "Tortestserver" followed by a random number.

Contact info: provide an email address (highly recommended but not required) so people will be able to contact you in case something is wrong with your server.

Server port: Either leave the server port on the default setting or choose a different port. In any case, the port must be reachable from the internet. So make sure your router forwards the selected port to your computer and your firewall allows incoming and outgoing traffic on that port. If you don't know what ports can be used or if most ports are blocked, port 443 should usually work.

Put your (external/public) IP into the "address" field. If you don't know your IP, let Vidalia try to find it by clicking on "get address". In case it fails, check the main page and copy the shown IP address (if you use a proxy it might show the wrong IP though). Check "automatically update" in case your internet provider assigns dynamic IP addresses (IP changes on each dial-in).

Mirror the server directory: only check this if you have a lot of bandwidth to spend. This will make your server mirror the entire Tor server directory to every Tor server so they get information on what servers are available and how to contact them, this will definitely increase your traffic. Just like the server port, select a port that is reachable from the outside and make sure it's not the same port as the server or control port.

Only relay traffic between other Tor servers (middle-man): this option will make your Tor server acting as a middle node only. A middle node only receives and sends the Tor traffic within the Tor network, it will be somewhere in the middle of the server chain, your server's IP will only be known by the previous and the next Tor server. So unlike exit nodes it will not be the last server contacting the website a user requested, thus a middle node's IP will not be shown to the website.
If you're uncertain whether you want your server IP information be told to websites or if you don't know if you will be held responsible for traffic going through your Tor server in your country, you should check this box to be on the safer side. Also, exit nodes (box unchecked) should have rather high upstream and downstream bandwidths to maintain a high speed network for Tor users. Be sure to check this part of the Tor FAQ about exit nodes before you decide to set up one.

Bandwidth rate limits: Define an average bandwidth in kb/s as well as a maximum bandwidth in kb/s Tor can use. Tor will respect these settings and try to keep the traffic at the set average amount (and not any higher than the maximum amount). Please note these limits only affect incoming traffic. Currently, there is no configurable limit for outgoing traffic but it might be added someday in the future.

Now Tor is fully configured to run as a server. Right click on the Vidalia icon in the taskbar and click on "start" to launch Tor (as client and server).

If your server is behind a router and/or firewall check the message log for a line looking like this:

Once you get the following message then your Tor server is up and running correctly.

If you don't get that message or if you have any questions, problems, need help etc., register in our forum, its users will most likely be able to help you with any problems you may have.

(mk)