How to Create Your Own Server at Home for Web Hosting

HTTP protocol

For those seeking to create and maintain a family and friends-styled website, it is not necessary to utilize the services of an online web hosting provider. Quite often it may be a simpler and less expensive option to host one's own website. With a few web server programs, a bit of hard drive space, and a solid connection, creating one's own hosted website can be accomplished with little to no money being laid out.

Instructions

1. Ensure you have a high-speed Internet connection. The faster, the better. DSL and cable modem connections are considered the best in this regard. It is not advisable to attempt hosting your own website on a dial-up (or similar) connection. Additionally, DSL or cable modem connections are always connected, ensuring visitors to your website are able to connect 24/7.

2. Create a separate section on your existing hard drive for your website. Ideally, this should be set in an area of your existing hard drive that will not allow public access to other areas (personal files, email, etc.). Alternatively, a second hard drive can be put into place and be used for your website. Depending on the overall size of your site, between 2 gigabytes to 40 gigabytes is recommended.

3. Install a web server software program. The preferred and most widely used web server program is Apache. There are a number of resources online that will allow you to download and install Apache. One of the best and free resources is XAMPP (see References for link). XAMPP installs Apache, MySQL, PHP, PHPMyAdmin, Perl, an ftp program, and an email program. This program also incorporates an easy-to-use administration program.

4. Determine if you have been provided a static or a dynamic IP address by your ISP (Internet Service Provider). IP addresses are assigned to each Internet connection. If you are connected via a high-speed connection such as DSL or cable modem, you most like have a static IP address---a permanently assigned IP number. A dynamic IP address is one that changes each time an Internet connection is made. For the purposes of home hosting a website, a static IP address is best. To easily find out what your IP address assignation is, go to whatismyip.com.

5. Purchase a domain name. While visitors can access your website via the IP address, it is easier to assign a domain name to that address. Instead of having to remember to type in a combination of numbers, visitors can simply type in your domain name. Once purchased at a domain registrar such as GoDaddy.com or NetworkSolutions.com, you can use the tools available within the registrar's administration program to point your domain appropriately.

6. Create your web pages. Using a website creation and content management program such as Wordpress or Drupal, you can create an entire website quickly and easily with no coding experience required. Both of the suggested programs (as well as dozens of others) are free and work well within the XAMPP environment.

Tips & Warnings

• Ensure you keep your website pages and programs separate from your regular computer programs and files. Unless you are very skilled in security, allowing public access to your standard data on your computer can have disastrous results.

References

• Code-Crafters: Self Hosting - Hardware
• Apache Friends: XAMPP for Windows
• "WiseGeek: What is an IP address?"
• What Is My IP Address?