How to Host My Own Blog Server
Most popular blogging platforms, such as Blogger, WordPress and Tumblr, allow you to set up blogs quickly and easily without needing to set up your own web server. However, if you want your blog to appear more professional, as well as have more freedom to customize the look and feel of your blog, then host your own blog server.
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Instructions
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Setting Up Your Web Server
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1
Purchase a hosting plan. Hundreds of vendors offer web hosting, such as BlueHost, DreamHost, A Small Orange, GoDaddy and more. Choose one that gives you FTP access, MySQL Database access and supports your particular blogging platform. For basic text blogs with few images, you won't need more than a few hundred megabytes of storage. For photo and video blogs, you need several gigabytes.
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2
Purchase a domain name. Some vendors offer hosting plans along with domain names. Register a domain name that is descriptive and easy to remember, such as JoesFoodBlog.com.
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3
Set up your name servers to point your domain to your web server. This varies depending on vendors. When you purchase your web hosting plan, you will likely be given your name servers. Change your domain name's default name servers to match those of your hosting plan's to direct your domain name to your website.
WordPress
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4
Visit WordPress.org. Note that this is different from Wordpress.com. Click "Download WordPress." Next, click "Download WordPress" for the latest stable version. Save this file to your hard drive and unzip its contents to a folder.
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5
On your web server, create a database and MySQL user with all privileges for modifying and accessing it. If you are unsure how to do this, see the Resources section below for more information on MySQL.
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6
Open "wp-config-sample.php" in a text editor and fill in your database details from Step 2. Save the file as "wp-config.php."
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7
Upload the WordPress directory to your server.
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8
Run the installation script. Open your web browser and navigate to yourdomain.com/wp-admin/install.php where "yourdomain.com" is the location where you uploaded the WordPress files in Step 4.
Installing Nucleus
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9
Download Nucleus from the Nucleus website (see Resources). Save it to your computer and unzip its contents.
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10
Upload the Nucleus folder to the location on your web server where you would like your blog to be located.
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11
Create a MySQL database for Nucleus. This is done in the same way as the WordPress MySQL database. See the Resources section for more information.
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12
Navigate your web browser to yourdomain.com/install.php where "yourdomain.com" is the location where you uploaded Nucleus. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete your installation.
Installing b2evolution
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13
Download b2evolution from its website, listed in the Resources section. Save it to your computer and unzip the contents.
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14
Create a database for b2evolution. Again, follow the instructions in the Resources section if you are not sure how to do this.
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15
Upload the b2evolution directory to the place on your web server where you would like to host your blog.
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16
Use an FTP program to change the file permissions. You need to run the command "chmod" or use your FTP programs graphical interface. Set the file "yourdomain.com/conf/_basic_config.php" to 666 to allow b2evolution to update the configuration of your installation. Set the "yourdomain.com/media" to 777 to allow images and other media to be uploaded to your blog.
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In your web browser, navigate to "yourdomain.com/install" to run the installation script. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete your installation.
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Tips & Warnings
Some web host interfaces, such as cPanel, include Fantastico, which can install blogs such as WordPress, b2evolution and Nucleus automatically.
You can install a blog in a subdirectory by uploading it to a folder on your web server, such as "yourdomain.com/blog."
