Question: Best Way to Build and Test Server Prior to Public Launch

[Melandril]

Hi,

After reading the wonderful sticky on compiling the source, I was not able to configure my router to open the ports necessary to get everything freely flowing. (One of the routers needed a power cycle and the other needs a hard reboot...I went to bed when I finished the initial test and expect to get past that block tonight.)

However, this got me wondering:

What is the best way to test a server prior to making it publicly available? Is Mini-Login the way to go? (If so, can you link me to anything I would need to install/compile mini login?) Or, is there a way to do while using the eqemulator login servers?

Thanks