If I have a computer laying around and a website constructed how can I host that website on that computer?

Question

I'm starting a home-based freelance graphic design business.

Answer 1

You will need to do the following:



- Contact your ISP and get a static IP Address. This means that your IP Address will never change.



- Register the domain name. This is why you need the static IP address. The domain name will point to that IP address. If you have a dynamic IP address you will need to constantly check and update the domain name registration to the new IP address... it can be done, but it's a pain.



- Install Windows Server 2003 on the computer and configure IIS services. Windows XP pro does have IIS, but it's an extremely limited version (only one domain name and a maximum of 10 connections to the website).



- If you have a router you will need to configure port forwarding on that router to point to the internal network IP of the computer you are using as the server. This can get a bit more complex if your ISP blocks port 80 (standard HTTP port). You will need to configure the router and domain name registration to use a different port.



If you want my honest opinion, I would just go with a hosting service. Unless you're a hardcore do-it-yourself-geek like me, it's probably going to be more hassle than it's worth. This is a very general overview of what needs to be done, the specific steps are a little too complex to get into here. This is also just initial setup, this has nothing to do with server maintenance. Hosting is your best bet so you can focus on your graphic design business and not your personal web hosting side.



Best of luck.

Answer 2

Do you really intend to pass such an expensive and complicated process? You should know your site would be unavailable whenever your PC is turned off, and you're leaving yourself open to attacks. So I recommend get a reliable company to do that in return for a few dollars.



As an experienced webmaster I recommend BlueHost service which I’m sure it would work for you and fulfill all your requirements. They have a really great offer for hosting & I have used them for over 3 yrs now, and have never had a single problem with them.



They offer a Full-featured service only $6.95 a month. Their service is really perfect and uptime.



You can go there through the address below:

http://bluehost-service.atspace.com



Here I have copied and pasted its features from their website to view:



- Free Domain Forever

- 1500 Gigabyte Hosting Space

- 15000 GIGS of Transfer

- Host UNLIMITED Domains (Support All Domain Names)

- 2,500 POP/Imap Email Accounts

- SSH (Secure Shell), SSL, FTP, Stats

- CGI, Ruby (RoR), Perl, PHP, MySQL

- 2000/2002 Front Page Extensions

- Free Site Builder

- 24/7 Superb/Responsive Sales/Support

- Free Search Engine Submission





******IMPORTANT*******

* This service was awarded “The Best Web Host OF 2008”.

* If you sign up for this service you will have $100 credits to advertise your website with the google & yahoo search engines for free!

* You Can Register A Free Domain or Use Your Existing Domains. They Support All Domain Names.

*************************

Good Luck!

Answer 3

properly i know Microsoft has some classes available that allow you to attempt this yet there are ALOT of downsides. as adversarial to spending the a million$ month-to-month cost you should choose a swifter connection, because if no longer, it ought to take human beings actually 5 minutes to load a unmarried web page. no longer to point in case you've been on your computing gadget it ought to significantly sluggish it down. Oh and in the experience that your computing gadget must be off then the region must be downed. for sure once you've an previous laptop mendacity round that you fairly would not even choose a video show for, purely hook that pup up. if you're at a public get properly of entry to position which contain a school dorm you're waiting.

Answer 4

You need to register a domain name. Then subscribe to a fixed IP address with your ISP, this costs extra. The may also require you to subscribe to a business broadband package before they allow this, even more money. You then set port forwarding to your server's internal private IP address from your router for whichever ports you wish to offer, and open the appropriate ports in the machine's firewall.

Answer 5

Depending on where you live it is illegal to host your own web server under normal circumstances. I know that many ISPs in both Canada and the US say you are not allowed to create a web server on their EULA.



However if you buy their business package they usually allow it. Also you will have to register a domain name



But if this doesn't apply to you you can download a LAMP package and set one up.



try XAMPP http://sourceforge.net/project/showfiles.php?group_id=61776



you will need to go through guides to learn how to secure it.

Answer 6

If you went to school for graphic design and they didn't teach you how to make a website you should ask for your money back.



apache server is free, mysql and php.



iis and frontpage with microsoft.