[Necro] Running my own blog on a VPS: Tips to start?

[riahc3]

Ive had the idea of starting my own blog but I need some advice from a technical standpoint

1: Domain registration. Where should I register my domain? From some places, Ive seen that my FQDN is available so that shouldn't be a problem.
From the start, I think I just need my own domain, thats it. Email for it, Ill probably make a Exchange server at home.

2: Hosting. I dont think Ill generate THAT much traffic and Im sure I want to go with a VPS for the low cost and yet have complete control over underneath layer because of 3...

3: Virtual machines to VPS. I want to program/etc my website on a virtual machine here at home and then SFTP transfer everything. So SFTP must be supported.

4: Revenue. This is the area I really know least about. I want to generate some revenue from the blog so at least I know Im not wasting my time writing a blog that noone is intrested in. My ads would be strictly banner HTML5 ads (no Flash or Javascript or cookies crap). Where would I find information on this?

5: Software. Wordpress comes to mind as being the most popular but are there better alternatives out there? I perfer PHP and I hate Java.

Thank you

Warning: Thread from early 2015 was necroed -- Programming Moderator Ken g6

 

[riahc3]

Also, no censorship; If I want to put porn on my blog, let it be.

 

[Ken g6]

My first question is, are you sure you want your own server? A couple of places I can think of where you could host a blog with limited censorship are Blogger and Tumblr. I know Tumblr allows registering your own domain for a blog; not sure about Blogger.

4: Revenue. This is the area I really know least about. I want to generate some revenue from the blog so at least I know Im not wasting my time writing a blog that noone is intrested in. My ads would be strictly banner HTML5 ads (no Flash or Javascript or cookies crap). Where would I find information on this?

I don't know, but that's quite a restriction you've placed on ad providers. Even many innocuous ad providers embed their ads using JavaScript. I know because even when I turn AdBlock off most ads still get blocked by NoScript. :sneaky:

Also, no censorship; If I want to put porn on my blog, let it be.

This is an even greater restriction on ad providers. Many advertisers don't want to be associated with certain things. I suspect we'll need more details on your intended topics before we can even begin to suggest an ad provider.

5: Software. Wordpress comes to mind as being the most popular but are there better alternatives out there? I perfer PHP and I hate Java.

Given that you want to host your own blog, I can think of three platforms. Wordpress is probably the easiest if you just want to blog. Drupal is better for more complicated stuff. And there's something called "Joomla" that I've heard of but I'm not familiar with it at all.

 

[DaveSimmons]

Also, porn is against the TOS at some hosting companies, so read up on that when pickling one. So is copyright infringement.

 

[riahc3]

My first question is, are you sure you want your own server? A couple of places I can think of where you could host a blog with limited censorship are Blogger and Tumblr. I know Tumblr allows registering your own domain for a blog; not sure about Blogger.

Not only do I want a blog, but I want to add other things (a forum comes to mind) Shared hosting sites like those are not for me.

I don't know, but that's quite a restriction you've placed on ad providers. Even many innocuous ad providers embed their ads using JavaScript. I know because even when I turn AdBlock off most ads still get blocked by NoScript. :sneaky:

I might not have explained correctly: I dont want to live off the revenue from the website. Thats why I dont mind getting a cent a month just as long as the ads are normalized and fit with what I want. HTML5 (so they can be viewed on all devices) and Javascript only if needed.

This is an even greater restriction on ad providers. Many advertisers don't want to be associated with certain things. I suspect we'll need more details on your intended topics before we can even begin to suggest an ad provider.

Well, if its the advertisers fault, then no ads. I want to be able to post/put whatever I want and please on my site. The content will be generally technologic but maybe I find interesting topic for research how bombs are made, or a pornographic actress, or a rare copyrighted file that is difficult to find and be able to host it as a mirror. As you can see, a lot of grey areas.

Given that you want to host your own blog, I can think of three platforms. Wordpress is probably the easiest if you just want to blog. Drupal is better for more complicated stuff. And there's something called "Joomla" that I've heard of but I'm not familiar with it at all.

Ive heard of the three. Honestly, never played with any of them but with a VPS, if I dont like one, erase it and just start over. Thats one of the many advantages with a VPS.

Also, porn is against the TOS at some hosting companies, so read up on that when pickling one. So is copyright infringement.

Then I wouldnt use that hosting company. Like I said, Im looking for a hosting company with few restrictions.

 

[Carson Dyle]

Ive had the idea of starting my own blog but I need some advice from a technical standpoint

1: Domain registration. Where should I register my domain? From some places, Ive seen that my FQDN is available so that shouldn't be a problem.
From the start, I think I just need my own domain, thats it. Email for it, Ill probably make a Exchange server at home.

You don't _have_ to have your own domain name. It's pretty common for people to use subdomains on a blogging site. For example

http://masonearle.blogspot.com

But if you do register your own domain name, you can also map it to a subdomain like that. The blogging site may charge you a yearly fee to do that.

I like namecheap.com for registering domains. They use eNom, which provides free DNS servers. Namecheap then has a DNS web application that you can use to manage your DNS records.

2: Hosting. I dont think Ill generate THAT much traffic and Im sure I want to go with a VPS for the low cost and yet have complete control over underneath layer because of 3...

3: Virtual machines to VPS. I want to program/etc my website on a virtual machine here at home and then SFTP transfer everything. So SFTP must be supported.

Almost certainly overkill and more expensive than you'll need. You can get inexpensive shared hosting for just a few dollars per month. That will also handle your email needs, as nearly all will include email boxes, often an unlimited number of them.

Many shared hosts will run cPanel. And from cPanel you can easily install canned blog packages. I think Wordpress is usually included, or you can install just about anything written in PHP/MySQL, although it will take a bit of technical knowledge to set it up.

4: Revenue. This is the area I really know least about. I want to generate some revenue from the blog so at least I know Im not wasting my time writing a blog that noone is intrested in. My ads would be strictly banner HTML5 ads (no Flash or Javascript or cookies crap). Where would I find information on this?

You're not likely to make anything on any kind of advertising if you have little traffic. Not even enough to research it.

 

[riahc3]

You don't _have_ to have your own domain name. It's pretty common for people to use subdomains on a blogging site. For example

http://masonearle.blogspot.com

Um, I know I dont have to....but it belongs to *.blogspot.com, not to me.

But if you do register your own domain name, you can also map it to a subdomain like that. The blogging site may charge you a yearly fee to do that.

At my work, We have one of the [worst] shared hosting in the world. It lets us map it to all the subdomains we want. I honestly doubt there would be additional charges.

Please don't swear in the tech forums -- Programming Moderator Ken g6

I like namecheap.com for registering domains. They use eNom, which provides free DNS servers. Namecheap then has a DNS web application that you can use to manage your DNS records.

Mangaing DNS records would be a plus. It would let me point my local servers to a DDNS record so I could use a subdomain (local.mydomain.com) to actually point to a DDNS record that points to a dynamic IP at home. Could be fun.

Almost certainly overkill and more expensive than you'll need. You can get inexpensive shared hosting for just a few dollars per month.

Shared hosting sucks. Period. No control over anything. Its disgusting.

I just googled a quick search for VPS and this is the first option (not intrested in them):

2 cores,
2GB RAM (up to 4GB burst)
150GB HDD (75GB SSD optional)
"Unlimited" traffic (Unlimited is NEVER unlimited)
Linux or Windows
Static IP
Parallels Plesk 12 (I need clarification on this)
root access (to my VPS I imagine)
100 Mbit/s bandwidth
1 domain and up to 1000 subdomains
Automatic backups

4.99€ a month (59.88€ a year)

Are you trying to tell me there is SIGNIFICALLY CHEAPER shared hosting than that? And what? 2 euros? 1 euro a month? Please...not worth it vs having complete control in a VPS.

That will also handle your email needs, as nearly all will include email boxes, often an unlimited number of them.

The above includes 250 email accounts, 2GB per account (at most I need 2) and they would go to my Exchange 2013 server here at home.

Many shared hosts will run cPanel. And from cPanel you can easily install canned blog packages. I think Wordpress is usually included, or you can install just about anything written in PHP/MySQL,

cPanel sucks. Its horrible, the prepackaged software is outdated and is horrible to upgrade, etc.

although it will take a bit of technical knowledge to set it up.

Are you suggesting I dont have the technical knowledge to set it up? Laughable.

You're not likely to make anything on any kind of advertising if you have little traffic. Not even enough to research it.

Thats your opinion. I still want to include advertising on my site.




Anyways, from what I understand (Im gonna research this some more) Parallels Plesk 12 presents you with premedidated options and you choose. I dont want this. I want to be able to install any linux distro I want and any Windows version I want, without any limitations.

 

[riahc3]

Yeah, Im not feeling Plesk; Doesnt allow you to install/put your OWN OS on the VPS. I want to choose from my own complied from source Linux distro to Windows Server 10 Tech Preview. That freedom of being able to choose whatever I want.

 

[Markbnj]

Shared hosting sucks. Period. No control over anything. Its disgusting.

Disgusting? You are disgusted by odd things.

 

[riahc3]

Disgusting? You are disgusted by odd things.

A example comes to mind: Symbolic links. In shared hosting, most places (at least projects Ive seen), dont allow access to a shell and you can't make a symbolic link.

You either have to do work arounds with PHP's symlink() (which again a lot of shared web hosting do not allow) or, another example, send raw unix commands thru FTP.

Ive seen a couple of projects where we told the client that what he wanted wasnt possible with the shared hosting he choose. I dont want that limitation.

If you arent "disgusted" by that and like your good old Windows "next, next, finish" setups with no user intervention, obviously, you dont have much experience.

 

[Crusty]

You get what you pay for.

If you need a place to copy these HTML file thingies into this FPT directory so Snooty McBossface can view company secrets while in the coffeeshop then shared hosting is what you're after.

Shared hosting is dirt cheap for a reason.

Just rent an Amazon EC2 instance and roll your own web server. It's not terribly difficult and there are thousands of how-to guides on the net.

 

[Leros]

I'm afraid to run a blog on my own hosting. The nature of a blog is that it can have massive spikes in traffic due to a post getting popular or going viral. I'd hate to have my site go down during the time it gets the most traffic.

 

[Carson Dyle]

Are you suggesting I dont have the technical knowledge to set it up? Laughable.

I wasn't before, but now that I read your replies, I'm certain that you have little idea what you're doing.

Good luck.

 

[DaveSimmons]

Yeah, Im not feeling Plesk; Doesnt allow you to install/put your OWN OS on the VPS. I want to choose from my own complied from source Linux distro to Windows Server 10 Tech Preview. That freedom of being able to choose whatever I want.

Then you need either a dedicated server or cloud server. VPS hosting generally does not let you install your own OS, you just get a choice of CentOS and maybe 1-2 others.

 

[riahc3]

I'm afraid to run a blog on my own hosting. The nature of a blog is that it can have massive spikes in traffic due to a post getting popular or going viral. I'd hate to have my site go down during the time it gets the most traffic.

Well, due to it being a personal blog, I dont think it would have massive spikes but if that were the case, most hosting allows you to upgrade to VPS to dedicated in a day.

I wasn't before, but now that I read your replies, I'm certain that you have little idea what you're doing.

Good luck.

Still here? I suggest you go play with Dreamweaver and load a template to modify so you can call yourself a professional (laughs)

Meanwhile, let the adults speak in here, OK?

Good bye.

Then you need either a dedicated server or cloud server. VPS hosting generally does not let you install your own OS, you just get a choice of CentOS and maybe 1-2 others.

Quick google search:

https://www.transip.eu/question/142-install-other-than-ones-specified/
http://www.openitc.co.uk/virtual_private_servers.php

These two basically allow you to install any operating system you want. Like I mentioned, I can comply for source and install it on these VPS. I don't mind if there is a small review process (I'm completely for that, it makes sure its stable within their virtual environment). I just want to choose what I want on a VPS.

Hell, if its that complicated to find something like this, Ill make a DMZ at home and host it from home. The only issue is that I have a dynamic IP but Im sure there is some way to play with DDNS to fix that.

 

[Carson Dyle]

Still here? I suggest you go play with Dreamweaver and load a template to modify so you can call yourself a professional (laughs)

Says the guy who doesn't know where to register a domain name.

 

[Leros]

Well, due to it being a personal blog, I dont think it would have massive spikes but if that were the case, most hosting allows you to upgrade to VPS to dedicated in a day.

Yeah, it depends what your needs are. My goal is to get my blog posts in front of as many people as possible, which means I sometimes see spikes. Previous experience tells me that a spike peaks after a few hours and dies after about 8-12 hours. By the time you realize you need to upgrade your VPS, you've missed your chance to get those views and gain that audience.

 

[Ken g6]

Still here? I suggest you go play with Dreamweaver and load a template to modify so you can call yourself a professional (laughs)

Says the guy who doesn't know where to register a domain name.

Alright, you two, cut out the personal attacks. Before I'm the one who has to say "goodbye". -- Programming Moderator Ken g6

 

[Markbnj]

A example comes to mind: Symbolic links. In shared hosting, most places (at least projects Ive seen), dont allow access to a shell and you can't make a symbolic link.

I have access to a shell on my shared host, and I can make symlinks. In any case, I think we have different notions of what rises to the level of disgusting.

 

[Carson Dyle]

Personal attack removed, warning issued. Any more personal attacks in this thread will result in an infraction.

-- Programming Moderator Ken g6

 

[riahc3]

Yeah, it depends what your needs are. My goal is to get my blog posts in front of as many people as possible, which means I sometimes see spikes. Previous experience tells me that a spike peaks after a few hours and dies after about 8-12 hours. By the time you realize you need to upgrade your VPS, you've missed your chance to get those views and gain that audience.

I understand. My blog would be geared towards a different audience than my website. As you put it, there are different goals.

I honestly don't see my blog growing.

I have access to a shell on my shared host, and I can make symlinks. In any case, I think we have different notions of what rises to the level of disgusting.

Yeah, Ive had clients that pregot their shared hosting and like you said do allow symlinks.
We did a external project for a client and we had to switch his shared hosting because it did not allow symlinks.
We did a internal project for us and we chose one with symlinks (they arent the same, we choose them for different reasons)

So, yeah, shared hosts can have symlinks but it was a example: The point is that you don't have root access to install for example one day Apache Tomcat and run some servlets.

 

[riahc3]

Since there are very poor answers here, Im thinking of making a DMZ at home and be done with it.

 

[Red Squirrel]

Only issue with that is if your ISP does not allow servers or does not provide static IPs. I'd probably stick with the VPS idea. You can get pretty cheap ones now days. I'm not sure which one is good or bad though but you might find more info on webhostingtalk.com. If your ISP does allow servers and provide static IPs then it's a no brainer. Build yourself a half decent server and get a decent UPS with good run time and host it yourself. Will be the cheapest option.

 

[Leros]

Spend $5/mo at Digital Ocean for a 512MB VPS. Will be plenty for a blog. They even have a wordpress image if that's the route you're going.

https://www.digitalocean.com/

 

[DaveSimmons]

This is a spammer necro of a thread started by a now-banned user, but I'll suggest again that for most people if you want to offer a blog you should just do it at wordpress.com instead of getting your own VPS or hosted account.

WordPress and other content management software continue to be high-priority targets for for-money hackers who take over the server to host malware ,phishing pages and to send out spam.

Keeping a site up to date with the never-ending CMS patches that are needed is more work than most people will want.

Also, making money from advertising and referrals isn't as profitable as it used to be. The guy running one of the top anime / managa review and discussion sites (FandomPost) just started a donation drive because the annual site income is only around $15,000. He's been doing this since 1998.