How to Create a Website – Part II- NeonBloG

Oct 18th 09 Posted by Randy in Site Owners

How to Create a Website – Part II (Hosting)

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Part II in a series of Step-By-Step Instructions for the web do-it-yourselfer .

There are a couple of ways to go when you go with web hosting. The true web do-it-yourselfer should think about installing you’re own web server and hosting your website yourself. The fact of the matter is hosting a site is easier than creating one. It is also easier than dealing with a hosting company, in my opinion. You probably already have what you need: a computer and a broadband connection. Obviously, you don’t want to use a laptop if you carry it around to different places since your website won’t be available while it is in transit. All you need are a few FREE programs. I’ll walk you through the steps below.

1. The Web Server. It’s just a program. If you have windows, you can install Microsoft’s IIS (Internet Information Services). You already have it! Just go to Control Panel ==> Programs (Add/Remove Programs on XP) ==> Windows Components ==> Internet Information Services (slightly different in XP).

If you don’t want to use IIS, use Apache. Apache is the original web server and also the world’s most popular. It is officially called the “HTTP Server” and is available from apache.org. Just install it like any other program. Accept the defaults the first time through.

Just copy the files that comprise your website to the appropriate directory, called the “web root”. For IIS, look for a directory in the root of your C drive. If you used Apache the web root is C:\Program Files\Apache Software Foundation\Apache2.2\htdocs.

If you don’t have a database or server side scripting, you are done! Just punch a hole in your firewall for httpd.exe and anyone can access you website by using this URL: http://NNN.NNN.NNN.NNN:80 where all those N’s are your external IP address.

Cool, huh? You have your website hosted and you didn’t spend a dime! But, typing that IP address is a drag and, if you have DSL, it will change fairly frequently. Cable IP addresses change far less frequently, but they sometimes change, too. Fortunately, there is a company called No-IP that will let you choose a DNS name and associate your changing IP address with that name for FREE! Is that cool or what? Moreover, if you already own a domain name, No-IP will provide the same service for $25 per year.

Now, it’s time to party like it’s 1999 because your website is 10 years behind the times. What do you do when your visitor fills out a contact form? Email it to yourself and hand enter it into Excel? That’s crazy. Besides, re-entering data introduces the possibility of error. That’s a bad thing. Or, what if you want a modern CMS like Joomla! or a WordPress blog? In that case you will need a MySQL database and PHP, a scripting language used to access the data.

2. The Database. Now, download and install MySQL. Again, it is just a program like any other. Install it and follow the instructions to configure it.

3. The Scripting Language. Next, download and install PHP. This is a little trickier because PHP has so many optional components. For starters, just install the MySQL and MySQLi components. Add other optional components as they are needed. Once PHP is installed, you will have to stop then start your web server, since it is the web server that executes the PHP code.

to be cont’d.