Web Hosting

[Knapp]

On Thu, Mar 27, 2008 at 7:39 PM, Derek Broughton <news at pointerstop.ca> wrote:
> Nils Kassube wrote:
>
>  > Derek Broughton wrote:
>  >> Er...  If you want one "in the area", shouldn't you tell us what area
>  >> that is?
>  >
>  > Not necessarily. As this is a global list, the area would be somewhere on
>  > earth - he just doesn't want recommendations for web hosting on Mars or
>  > Saturn.  SCNR
>
>  Well he did say he wants to support local business, and I think that's a bit
>  more restrictive than the entire planet.  But really, who'd suggest web
>  hosting on Mars, let alone Saturn - can you imagine the latency problems?
>
>  But on that note: will we have to start using domain names beginning
>  with "sww." (or even "gww.") when the 'web moves off-planet?
>  --
>  derek

Just a fun idea but you could host it yourself. All you need is:
Free DNS, I use them: http://www.dyndns.com/about/
but there are others.
server, for a small computer lighttpd seems good.
Maybe a database for fancy websites? Small one is sqlight
Maybe you want something fancy for your site? Try Django to make a
fancy website fast (you need to know a bit for this, mostly python).

Want something bigger try postgreSQL with apache2 and Django.

For both you want a firewall, heck everyone might do well to use one!
Try firestarter. It is more a Gnome thing but it will work anyway and
I think it is easy to use. Hint: open port 80 for in coming
connections for your webserver and nothing else unless you know you
need it.

All this software (the fist set that is) is small, fast and light, you
don't need a fast computer to make it work well for one persons needs,
even big companies use this stuff sometimes.

The advantages of hosting yourself are that it can be free, you own
everything and you can test things out really fast. You have no real
limits put on you about your site's size or scope or content. You can
run your website on your computer without being on the net for
building and testing. Most of the setup can be done just with a normal
install.

Disadvantages are that your site is only on when your computer is
online. Your internet provider might not like it, but in many cases
they don't really care (even if they say they do, your risk) if it is
just you and a few friends hitting the site. You must do it all
yourself which can be hard at first but there is lots of help on irc
(I like to use KVirc).

Have fun!

-- 
Douglas E Knapp
http://sf-journey-creations.wikispot.org/Front_Page