Google does not index private IP addresses

[eslobrown]

So I turned my Mac Mini into a web server.

I have a couple of websites online that I do for fun so I decided to stop paying the monthly fee to host them since they make me no money.

The problem is that after submitting my sitemap to Google, I am getting a "General HTTP error" from Google. Upon further inspection, I have discovered that Google does not index private IP addresses:

"IP in excluded range - The IP address is in a private address space, reserved for local use (for instance 127.0.0.1). See RFC 1918 for information on private IP ranges."

Does anyone have any idea how I could bypass that? After all the work I went through to set up MySQL, PHP and configure Apache on my mac, this is a real deal breaker. I am REALLY not looking forward to setting up my site on a real host just because Google won't index it.

My domain is <snip>
Please help.

[edited by: physics at 6:02 am (utc) on Feb. 7, 2006]
[edit reason] No domain drops, see TOS [webmasterworld.com] [/edit]

[FalseDawn]

The best answer I can give is not what you want to hear, but IMO it is plain silly to try to run a website "from your basement" nowadays.

You simply cannot provide the connectivity/reliability/bandwidth that even an average shared host can, for peanuts a month.

Uploading your files to a web host is really not a big deal - a few hours work at most, and almost all hosts provide php, mysql etc already installed and ready to go (as part of a control panel normally).

[JKMitchell]

I have discovered that Google does not index private IP addresses

Again, probably not the answer you are wanting but if your website is running on a private IP address how will visitors outside your network access it?

It may be possible, if you are on ADSL to set your router to forward http trafic coming in to your external IP address on port 80 to the internal IP address. How you would do this depends on the router you use.

[4specs]

Ask your ISP about a public IP#. Some ISP's (including Direcway satellite as just one example and my Wireless ISP) routinely do not provide a public IP for their users, running everything through a NAT (Network Address Translation) router. You simply cannot get from the network to your machine without you sending out a request.

I pay $10 extra per month for the public IP which is also a static IP.

[moishe]

you could also use something like dyndns I would think..

[moishe]

oh, by the way, welcome to WebmasterWorld. As a side note, your posted domain will probably get snipped here shortly as url posting is not permitted at WW.

edited for spelling

[physics]

Hi, welcome to webmasterworld.com
So when setting up your domain with your registrar what did you put for your IP? Did you put 127.0.0.1? This is a 'special' IP that every computer in the world calls itself by. If you somehow put this for your domains IP adress then I guess that whatever computer tried to go to that domain would see their own computer's home page (if they're running a web server). In any case, what you need is either a dedicated IP from your ISP or some sort of dynamic DNS service as others have mentioned. You can run your web sites from home but the rest of the world does need some way to find your computer. Look into dynamic dns or a dedicated IP and you should be golden. Like others have said though, keep in mind that uptime will not be what it is at a good web host and also you're inviting the whole world into your mac mini ;)

[eslobrown]

Thanks for all the help. And apologies for posting the domain.

To clarify, I have the IP address that my cable company assigned me being routed over my network to my mac mini (port 80 is open). The website is completely accessible from the outside world but Google seems to have a problem with it.

I have decided to go with a real web host. As Falsedawn suggested, it isn't that expensive and much more reliable. (I'm in Florida -- electricity hard to come by during hurricanes.)

The exercise of setting up my own server was very educational however. I recommend it. Being forced to rely on myself for tech support (and great forums such as this one) has taught me a great deal.

Thanks again.

[BillyS]

>>The exercise of setting up my own server was very educational however. I recommend it.

Someday, when you get lots of traffic, this experience will help you to run your own dedicated server. Best Wishes.