Sorry your browser is not supported!

You are using an outdated browser that does not support modern web technologies, in order to use this site please update to a new browser.

Browsers supported include Chrome, FireFox, Safari, Opera, Internet Explorer 10+ or Microsoft Edge.

Geek Culture / Web Host?

Author
Message
Michael S
18
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 2nd Apr 2006
Location: Why do you ask?
Posted: 4th Jul 2006 03:56
Link
Does anyone have any advice about being your own web host?


I pity the noob!
Back to top
Profile PM Website
Richard Davey
Retired Moderator
22
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 30th Apr 2002
Location: On the Jupiter Probe
Posted: 4th Jul 2006 04:16
Link
Yeah, don't bother.

Seriously.

Having both worked for one of the worlds largest ISPs (at the time), and then set-up and run a hosting company for several years (taking it from just an idea the company had on paper, to a large dedicated host that's still going today), I'd say the market is too flooded.

It costs a decent amount of money to offer decent hosting (anyone can just become a reseller, but that isn't being a web host imho). It requires a very good amount of technical skill as well. I remember only too well the joys of configuring a Cisco router at 3am in the morning Ok, so you won't have that trouble now, because most people just hire a box from some host somewhere, offer a slice of space on it (perhaps throwing in a Plesk control panel), and think that is being a real web host. Well, I guess if you manage to find some 'niche' it'll work for you, but unless you do, you're one of a billion similar 'hosts' out there. So, err.. good luck.

Bite my shiny metal ass
Back to top
Profile PM Email Website
Michael S
18
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 2nd Apr 2006
Location: Why do you ask?
Posted: 4th Jul 2006 04:54
Link
What about for just a pratical use, just for me.


I pity the noob!
Back to top
Profile PM Website
Richard Davey
Retired Moderator
22
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 30th Apr 2002
Location: On the Jupiter Probe
Posted: 4th Jul 2006 05:05
Link
Well that's not really being a web host. If it's just for you, then do whatever you like.

Or did you mean to ask for recommendations of web hosting companies, to use???

Bite my shiny metal ass
Back to top
Profile PM Email Website
Michael S
18
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 2nd Apr 2006
Location: Why do you ask?
Posted: 4th Jul 2006 05:25
Link
no i ment hosting it my self. although i plan to use it just for me i might offer free hosting to users here as well


I pity the noob!
Back to top
Profile PM Website
alex 1337
User Banned
Posted: 4th Jul 2006 08:44
Link
Hey Rich, which hosting companies did you work for?
Back to top
Profile
Nicholas Thompson
20
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 6th Sep 2004
Location: Bognor Regis, UK
Posted: 4th Jul 2006 13:26
Link
@Eureka - I dont know your skill set, but cant take a lot of time and effort to maintain your own server. If you want a server which you can use on a dedicated level but dont want to dedicated costs, do some research into a VPS (A Virtual Private Server). Its like a shared dedicated server, except you're completely isolated in your own share of the machine. You get a garunteed minimum amount of RAM and anything thats left over goes up for grabs. I use a company called a2b2 - they're cheap and reliable (so far). I am on the unmanaged 256Mb account and paying abut £17 a month (for which I get 256MB garunteed RAM, 15Gb HD, 200Gb bandwidth + a very basic level of support (like if I break the OS they'll reinstall it for free, etc). The knock on effect is I can host almost as many sites as I like for £17 a month (pending server limits like running out of RAM due to Apache spawning too many forks, etc, etc)

[center]
Back to top
Profile PM Email Website
Zappo
Valued Member
20
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 27th Oct 2004
Location: In the post
Posted: 4th Jul 2006 14:44
Link
To be honest, in the majority of cases you are better off renting space on a proper server from a proper host. That way you don't have to worry about patching it every five minutes, battery backup, monitoring for suspicious activity (attacks), providing support for other people, nightly backups, hardware spares in case of faults... the list goes on.

If you really wanted to run your own Web server for yourself, you could do it with a normal broadband connection. Really you need a dedicated machine so anything you run doesn't interfere or risk crashing your server. I recommend running a modern flavour of Linux on it - Ubuntu or Debian are my current favourite. Its free, comes with Apache and MySql and you can add an opensource control panel if you want to to make administration easier, e.g. Webmin. You will need a static IP address from your ISP (which could cost you extra IF your ISP supports them) so you don't have to bother with Dynamic IP services. You also need a decent upload bandwidth which is something ISPs tend to ignore for normal home users. If you want a domain then I still recommend buying it through someone else and having them look after the DNS for you - otherwise its a very steep and difficult learning curve to set up. They should be able to point the domain to your static IP address and Bob's your uncle.
This is just off the top of my head so I have probably missed some stuff.
Back to top
Profile PM Website
Nicholas Thompson
20
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 6th Sep 2004
Location: Bognor Regis, UK
Posted: 4th Jul 2006 15:51
Link
Zappo's right to a point.

The problem with doing it at home is:
a) Most home broadband connections have less than 0.5Mbit upstream, the most common connections only have 0.25Mbit upstream (~20kb/s). If that gets maxed, your internet browsing dies a horrible death (especially if you use NTL!)
b) Most home broadband connections actualy forbid you to run a server in the T&C smallprint. Running a game server for an hour with your mates is ok, but running a webserver 24/7 might annoy them. You could get threatened with an upgrade to a business connection which does allow it. It also allows you to spend more

As for domain reg - I recommend 123reg. Cheap domains + good control over what goes where. I have a domain with them and I simply use a subdomain to point at my homeserver. Whenever my IP changes (twice in about 4 years) I just manually update my dns settings and wait 24 hours.

[center]
Back to top
Profile PM Email Website
Sergey K
20
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 4th Jan 2004
Location:
Posted: 5th Jul 2006 23:46
Link
dont bother. unless u will get one for free (like i got) .com, no banners,spams and no catch.

MyNewSite:http://gogetax.com
Forums(About BLO and more):http://gogetax.com/forum
Back to top
Profile PM Website
Nicholas Thompson
20
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 6th Sep 2004
Location: Bognor Regis, UK
Posted: 6th Jul 2006 00:11
Link
Quote: "dont bother."

With what specifically?

[center]
Back to top
Profile PM Email Website
UnderLord
21
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 2nd Aug 2003
Location:
Posted: 7th Jul 2006 05:35
Link
dreamhost if your looking for a good host, they have never failed me in the past plus they give you shell,ftp, and i believe telnet access.

Host your site for free www.darkuniverse.net

E-mail UnderLord @ UnderLord AT darkuniverse DOT net
Back to top
Profile PM
Three Score
20
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 18th Jun 2004
Location: behind you
Posted: 7th Jul 2006 06:10 Edited at: 7th Jul 2006 06:11
Link
@sergey
how did you get a free domain(thats not crap .tk)
drawing or something?

edit:
also if hosting your own host and you have some downloads bigger than 1meg then you will want a lot of upload speed

JouleOS and friends
great thanks to http://galekus.com for FREE HOSTING!
Back to top
Profile PM Email Website
Back to top

Login to post a reply

Server time is: 2024-11-17 07:35:32
Your offset time is: 2024-11-17 07:35:32