Website Creation Question Created 16 years ago2008-06-27 16:00:31 UTC by naserve

Hi, I'm attempting to create a website, I've made a few HTML documents, but how do you host them so you can view them via a URL?

You will need some webspace or find a friend who has a server and would give you some for free (I wouldn't recommend a free webspace company like 741.com or freespace because they tend to really limit what you can upload and they run slower than a granny on a moped) Then all you need to do is upload the files and if you want a .com or .net URL, buy one of those.

So you couldn't run it off of your own pc via an ftp?

no, we have to buy the interwebs... =[

I'm not big on the whole webserver thing. All I know is I have to use an FTP to upload to my webspace provider (kkore) and thats it.

I don't think you can use your own PC, unless ofcourse it is a webserver and its always switched on and online.

I could leave it on all the time, and the FTP running, but would that allow me to put an HTML document on it, and then go to the URL of the file, and view it in an internet browser?

not on your own network, but yes, if you have apache running 24/7.

you don't need FTP running all the time, it's just a file transfer protocol after all.

and you'd still need to pay for a domain

http://www.nouptime.com/ <-- the best webhost ever

No Uptime used my credit card to buy porn magazines. This service is a sham!

Lol'd

Let's get a few things clear. FTP is not web hosting. It's a file transfer protocol, often used to upload stuff to a web server.

A web server, e.g. HTTP, is what you want. My own ZLDB (up like 12/5) runs off of my own computer using the Apache HTTP server. It's both free and the most widely used web server on the internet.
You won't get a domain name - those, you'll either pay for or get a free one from sites like dyndns.org - but the web site will still be accessible through your IP immediately.

As far as commercial web hosts go, I've never used one personally, but have heard good things about dreamhost.com.

And it's really not a good idea to leave your computer on 24/7. Fist it will slow down, spend a lot of time on your electric bill and then it will die.

.. unless you can spend a decent amount of cash on strong cooling systems.

And it's really not a good idea to leave your computer on 24/7. Fist it will slow down, spend a lot of time on your electric bill and then it will die.

Really have to disagree here. Running Apache as a low-load server is just about the least heat-producing activity you can carry out on a computer. Doing resource-intensive activities such as playing games even for a short time will cause far more harm to your computer.

No expensive additional cooling required.

I wouldn't risk it, they build special "server-computers" that can stand to be switched on and working 24/7, but a normal household computer can't take that kind of abuse. Disagree all you want. Sure, it will probably survive for quite some time, but it will be renderd pretty much useless after some time.

Just look at your frind, you know the guy who doesn't switch his computer off when he goes to bed, how often doesn't he complain about how slow and useless that piece of crap is? I'm telling you, don't risk it. And it will be expensive as well. So just buy some space from another server, it's easier, cheaper and just an over all better idea.

but a normal household computer can't take that kind of abuse.

On what do you base this whole argument on?

Actually its better to keep your system running 24/7. Except for cleaning and maintenance offcourse. This is because all of the components are made to run for a long period of time, by shutting down and starting up all day it will eventually wear out.

you know the guy who doesn't switch his computer off when he goes to bed, how often doesn't he complain about how slow and useless that piece of crap is?

Uhh.. I dont.. mine is just fine too-

I usually keep torrents and downloads going though

"Normal household" computers are fine with running 24/7. You should probably do some maintenance every few weeks or months, but that's the case with any computer. Server boxes are usually very similar to desktops in terms of hardware, only with more redundancy - if one component breaks or malfunctions, the server should still work.

However, a normal household internet connection is pretty terrible at serving content to a lot of people. Standard DSL and Cable connections will very often have a lower upload rate than the download rate - my own is 8Mbit down, 1 Mbit up, which is just barely enough to simultaneously serve files to 2 people. More than that, and it becomes fairly slow. This, of course, depends on computer speed as well.

I have Surpass Hosting for $6 a month.

It's pretty reliable and works well for www.gamingparents.org