Question about starting my own small web server..

[Jaihahih]

I'm kinda new to this so I need confirmation on some things.

Do I need to register a domain name?
What do I do after I register the domain name?
I am completly clueless.

 

[AdamSnow]

It's pretty simple actually...

Register the domain name, and point it to the static IP address that your server is on... set everything up on your network so that all inbound requests go to that local IP and you should be pretty much set... you of course need hosting software (IIS, Apache, etc) and some other stuff... but the general idea behind it isnt that complicated when you look at it...

Static IP is required though... or if you are on DSL or somethnig you can always get a static ip at like www.no-ip.com or something... otherwise you would need to change your DNS settings every time you got disconnected.

 

[CTho9305]

Do I need to register a domain name?

Not really. Until you have it working, you can test it out without a domain name.

I'd suggest getting apache (probably version 2.0.x), installing it, and browsing the documentation. It's pretty easy to get started - once you have it installed, any files you dump in C:\Program Files\Apache Group\Apache2\htdocs will be online at http://localhost/ or http://your.ip.address/. If you want a free domain name, google for dyndns (or free dynamic dns if you want to find other providers).

 

[jdport]

Aye, any old computer with the apache web server will do just fine. The server doesn't even have to have much power, an old computer will work fine unless you develop something that will be getting a ton of hits. You will only need to register a domain name once your site is ready and you want to make it easy for others to access the site... Others can access your site though even without a domain name by simply using your ip address, i.e. http://111.222.123.2 or whatever your ip happens to be.

 

[crownjules]

Out of curiosity, what if you do not have a static IP? Is there something for this case or a way to make your DHCP become static?

 

[ChunkiMunki]

I use no-ip.com. free service to forward your traffic to your dynamic IP address.
LINK

 

[CTho9305]

Out of curiosity, what if you do not have a static IP? Is there something for this case or a way to make your DHCP become static?

dyndns.org will give you a domain that automatically updates to your current IP. Often you have to pay your ISP an extra fee if you want a static IP.

 

[jdport]

A lot of ISP's give you a dynamic address, but it never actually changes (or very rarely changes and when it does you can just update your DNS zone to point to the new address). This seems to be the case with most people I know who use cable modems like myself. My IP address is dynamic but it has only changed twice in the years that I've had it.