i would like to host my own site please help

server, static ip, hosting, windows 2003 server

[loz0312]

Hello I am new so please be nice to me......I scare easily.............I know how to build a basic website and am learning with dreamweaver.....I would like to host my own site on a server machine from home...I am not sure how it all goes together.....first things first a static ip address for my server.....where do I get one from?Oh and which basic server hardware should I go for (second hand) and who knows anything about windows 2003 server software....any advice about it?

many thanks

Loraine

[ergophobe]

Loraine,

Start by asking your ISP for an account with a static IP. It's usually quite a bit more for DSL with a static IP and than without (you'll need DSL of course).

Keep in mind, also, that you will need DSL not just with high download speeds, but with high upload speeds as well. Again, more $$

For the difference in price you could almost certainly host with a decent provider.

Then from there you'll need to be super diligent about security (since you'll be exposing your system to any and all hackers) etc etc etc. Are you sure it's worth it? Personally, I run servers locally (Apache and IIS with PHP, Perl, databases, etc) for development and put live sites on hosted servers run by professionals because, though I know my way around a computer fairly well, I'm not a systems administrator.

If you're trying to learn how to be a sysadmin, I would strongly recommend that you get a cheap used computer and use that to put your server on it and expose that to all the hackers you want. Don't expose a machine that you actually count on until you have a bit more experience under your belt.

[Longhaired Genius]

Don't do it, Loraine. If you actually want to get something done with your website.

You will have plenty to keep you busy even if your website is hosted remotely with a nice, low-cost, reliable, web-host.

[ergophobe]

I scare easily.

I scare easily.

I was trying to be gentle... but then on second thought, if you scare easily, I think you should be scared about hosting your own server.

[GaryK]

I (think I) know what I'm doing and I'm still scared about having a computer exposed to the Internet. Even with education, firewalls, intrusion detection systems, backups and common sense I am still scared someone will get in and do some damage I can't recover from.

[dvduval]

Maybe he just wants to be able to run scripts locally for testing purposes?

[GaryK]

Set the server's firewall to only allow LAN access and then there's no problem.

[dmhmd]

It is not really scary at all to run a server from your home. As a test though, to see if you really want to do this. Answer the following;
1] Nothing is more fun than staying up all night and reinstalling windows to a dead computer.
2] The very thought of learning about a whole new feature of windows gives you goose bumps
3]You have far too much time and not enough stress in your life.
If you answered yes ....well then running a server from your home is for you. I run one and it is not difficult at all really.You need to determin the trafic volume you expect. If it is very low then even a 56k modem is enough to serve text pages and the like. To send graphics and such or with higher traffic the need for more bandwidth increases.
See if your isp allows servers, some dont.
You do not need a static IP, but it does make things a little simpler. Check with your isp provider about static ip's and the price. There are brodcast beacons that will allow a non static ip to update a redirect site [ see changeip web site].Do check out changeip and if you use their service you can define the ip of your site.
Try using iis 5.0 its the server from windows 2000 server and is less expensive than 2003.
To host a limited site a Pentium2 above 350Mhz is a minimum. Buy used and operate your server seperate from your other computers. Your server will need a 2 network cards one for the isp and a second if other computers are to share the net with the server.
The software is straight forward, but you will need advice on the settings.
Security is a big issue...but for a simple web server you can use a fire wall and block ports, at least that is a start.
Come to think about it really is scary, I think I am going to move my sites to a web host.

[klogger]

I just set up a web server and have certainly found that it would have been cheaper paying for a good host than doing it myself.

I bought a router (£60) one network interface card for each machine (£20) and some cables (£20) but also have paid for noip's service (£30) which will allow me to host on a dynamic IP. I used an old computer for the server machine itself so got that for free.

dmhmd's post was very accurate in my opinion. I don't know about Windows server software but Apache may take quite a bit of reading if you want to host more than one Web site form the same server.

[mack]

It is very possible to host your own site(s) although I would only recomend doing so if there really is no alternative!

Such examples would be...
.you require direct access to the server
.You need a high end server and the hosting cost for such a server is to high

In many cases co-location may be an alternative. In my case I host from home, but have done this more as a learning excersize than anything else.

For most sites the first choice is still to use a reputable web host.

Mack.

[Rong]

I've got both going. I have a Domino server running on a test box but that is only for development and playing around. I was able to find a very cheap host that has supplies CPanel and oodles of fun add ins, like WordPress, PHPNuke, unlimited MySQL databases, etc, etc. all for under $50 US. Plus I have more HD space and bandwidth than I'd ever be able to use.

Listen to these guys and find a host. Sticky me and I'll send you the link to the guys I'm using. Stick to using your home box for development only.

There's nothing more fun than to find your 200gig HD turned into a French WareZ site overnite!

[WallyBob]

Thank you all for the good information. I too was trying to decide if I wanted to purchase and set up my own server. Your observations make sense that the hassle (and even the money) saved by using a good dedicated host is well worth any loss of cool geek factor. (I've got friends who would think I was a minor tech diety if I was running my own server.)

You've all saved me some pain and suffering.