How to host your own Website.

[Cloud Geek]

If you are reading this tutorial it means that is working fine because this website is hosted on my computer at home and I have done exactly what is written on these pages.

I'll try to explain to you my personal experience in doing all the steps to host a website on your own PC at home, from registering your Domain name, configuring the dns server, the router and the web server.

If you're planning to have your own website, you've got different options for hosting it , depending on how big your web site will be and how many visitors is going to have. Obviously , for a professional web site with thousands of daily visitors it is recommendable to have the support of a dedicated server and professional hosting. But if you want to be on the net only for pleasure and with a small budget, you can try to host your website on your own at home.Oh yes,you could go on one of the free services that you can find on the net, but doing that you will have a lot of limitations .

The first would be the limit of space .

Instead hosting on your own you are really free,and you have the full control of your website.You can also host other websites and make money with that.

The first step to start with is ,assuming you have a website , having a look at what minimum hardware and software you need. Click here to check Requirements

The next step is to find a name for your website and then register that domain name.Here how to register in a step by step tutorial How to register your Domain name

When you have your domain name,to make it available on the Internet you need a DNS Server that will do all the job to serve your IP Address to the requests from the Net.Click here to learn How to configure a DNS Server

Now you have done all the external jobs it's time to start getting your computer ready to host a website.If you don't have it already , Install and configure IIS (Internet Information Services) the Web Server supplied by Microsoft.Here a step by step tutorial on How to Install and Configure IIS

At this stage we can configure the router and open the gate to the external world at the newly hosted website.Follow this tutorial Configuring Your Router

Finally you can check whether the ports on the router are actually opened. Click here Check computer port

Domain Registration

The first step to get your website online is to find the right name and to register it .There are lots of dedicated sites for that and you can have a look around and choose what you think is the best. Personally I registered my web site with www.domainmonger.com for just $13.00 for 1 year but now they raised the price up to 17.00 dollars. It doesn't really matter on which site you register your Domain name because , basically,you have to do the same . This is ,step by step ,what I have done:

Go to www.domainmonger.com You will be asked to register a new account first, but it's free and quick.After that ,on the page below you can check the availability of your domain name by typing it on the left under Find a domain Name and click Search.

Here you can select the name of you website and proceed with the checkout.

After the payment you will be redirected to the page below ,where you will have to type the primary and secondary DNS servers that you'll obtain from www.zoneedit.com where you'll have to register.But you'll learn about it in the next step.

Now just leave these fields as they are.

Make sure that Use Your Own Name Servers is checked

Go to the next step Find and configure your DNS Server

http://www.maniacomputer.com/webServer/WebServer.html

http://www.maniacomputer.com/webServer/IIS.html

http://www.iis.net/default.aspx?tabid=7

[MasterC]

If you are reading this tutorial it means that is working fine because this website is hosted on my computer at home and I have done exactly what is written on these pages.

You host Neowin on your computer? :p And you can definitely tell the site you linked to is hosted on a home computer because it takes forever to load. Also, I don't think most ISP's let you run a webserver. I know mine doesn't.

[markwolfe Veteran]

Not all versions of XP or Vista have IIS. Apache is an option in those cases.

But, indeed, any home user setting up a server ought to check their ISP's Terms and Conditions to see if it is allowed. It usually isn't. Also, usually, if your server uses very little bandwidth, some ISPs may not care (you might get away with it for an unknown length of time).

You have been warned. ;)

[dr.bisho]

i say pin that...

i guess many are waiting for this ... great job

dont worrry we all had this experience once

[Pc_Madness]

Isn't IIS limited to max 10 connections at a time on XP / Vista? Better off with Linux + Apache, imo. Depends what your after though of course, if its just something to show a mate every once in a while, why not XP. :)

[GrimReeper]

In Australia its pointless hosting from a home computer because we have ****ing usage limits/caps :angry: which means if we did have the best plan out of any consumer ISP and went against the T&C of our ISP and hosted we never have anywhere near enough bandwidth to host a decent site :'(

Damn government not understanding technology -_-'

Sorry for being a bit off topic but that was my rant for aussies :)

[dr.bisho]

why... cant you get a bussines plan ???? or you need cerifications etc ???

[Glassed Silver]

In Australia its pointless hosting from a home computer because we have ****ing usage limits/caps :angry: which means if we did have the best plan out of any consumer ISP and went against the T&C of our ISP and hosted we never have anywhere near enough bandwidth to host a decent site :'(

Damn government not understanding technology -_-'

Sorry for being a bit off topic but that was my rant for aussies :)

just a question: what does the gov have to do with those nasty ISPs?are they run by state? all of them?are there laws for it? (which would be like... strange as freak you now) does that state own and operate the cables and connection points?

Glassed Silver:mac

[Colin-uk Veteran]

I assume there are only 1 or 2 ISP's in australia, this means they can keep the limits and speeds low because there is no competition.

and the goverment doesnt care.

thats how i understand it anyway, but i could be wrong, im not australian :p

ontopic: not a bad guide, another good idea would be to download wamp or a similar package that contains apache/php/mysql.

the majority of people who host a website of thier computers wont have a very big upload speed and therefore have a very slow website, if you plan to make a popular website, i'd suggest getting some wwebsite hosring, but hosting from home is ok if you dont plan to have too many visitors.

[dr.bisho]

about wamp... does it come itegrated.. i mean as for settings of mysql and php....

you see... iam having trouble setting up a drupal CMS,....

[GrimReeper]

just a question: what does the gov have to do with those nasty ISPs?are they run by state? all of them?are there laws for it? (which would be like... strange as freak you now) does that state own and operate the cables and connection points?

Glassed Silver:mac

Colin-uk is exactly right except governments see speed but no limits/bandwidth as a issue.

[Colin-uk Veteran]

yay i was right :p

about wamp... does it come itegrated.. i mean as for settings of mysql and php....

you see... iam having trouble setting up a drupal CMS,....

yeah it comes together in one package, with a system tray app for starting/restarting all or specific services.

[dr.bisho]

yay i was right :p

yeah it comes together in one package, with a system tray app for starting/restarting all or specific services.

thnx

[Iian K]

XAMPP :) I use it for testing, and such.

[Wannes]

Not intending to be a troll here but you can easily just buy some hosting for not even ? 5 / year:):)

Anyway, nice guide but it'd be cool to see some variety and structure in your guide such as underlined titles, bold attention points, ... . That's just a tip though.

[dr.bisho]

well... some people may not afford that, or find that money going into ppl who dont deserve it etc ..

[RDExpress]

Not intending to be a troll here but you can easily just buy some hosting for not even € 5 / year. :)

Don't want to go off-topic, but where can you get decent hosting for €5/yr?

Edited January 20, 2008 by RDExpress

[Cloud Geek]

well... some people may not afford that, or find that money going into ppl who dont deserve it etc ..

well 5 a year is not much but some people may want to host more than 1 website to make money or maybe just learn how to host a website.....

or have controll over their site and content (webstores)