How to Host Your Own Website

Do you wish to host your site without the restrictions imposed by commercial web host providers? With our sure steps, hosting a website all by yourself has never been easier. You can do this from your home PC and let the website go public on the internet.

Just ensure you have a setup program to get a network. The network grants public access to the internet records of your site. This way, people can easily see your web pages through the internet.

We shall discuss how to host your own website in this article.

Local Hosting Using Windows

It is an exciting thing to host a website on your computer server. This option is only recommended if you want your site to be hosted on your localized development server. WAMP server is the essential tool for hosting a website on Windows.

WAMP Server: What Is It?

Steps in Hosting Your Website from Your PC

Hosting Your Website from Your Linux

You can equally host your website from your Linux machine. However, to do this, you still need to install similar programs.

These are the Apache, the MySQL, and the PHP. Instead of having to install these programs individually, the LAMP Web-Server offers a package that has the three essential packages for hosting a website.

To effectively host your website on your page like your Windows Operating system, there are several essential steps that you need to follow.

What is LAMP software?

sudo apt install apache2 MySQL-server php libapache2-mod-php7.0

Because the package has huge volumes of computer files to be downloaded, you could spend quite some time installing it.

Then subsequently, you need to try setting your root user password of MySQL. It is recommended that you confirm your password now.

If this field is left blank, changing the password once you set up the LAMP application will not become possible. The password is important.

You will need it every time you want your database updated or if you are looking to include other users into your system.

Furthermore, it is equally important that you change up the system Apache configuration anytime you need to start the Apache all over. This restarting operation is executed by using the command:

sudo /etc/init.d/apache2 restart.

But this is not usually the case if you execute this process while using files from the local .htacess application.

Second Step: Testing the PHP program.

There is a testing system provided by LAMP that can be used to check if PHP is functional. It can also be used to check the modules available.

To do this, add the PHP test file into the root directory of the WebServer, /var/www/html/. To try this, you can develop the test PHP website page will you will name as “name”. Next, input this code below inside the root directory web-server:

sudo echo "" > /var/www/html/name.php

Then, open up your web browser, then type in: http://localhost/name.php and press enter. On loading, it will display the test PHP application.

You should see the operating PHP version, the configuration, and the existing modules also. Subsequent PHP modules can be added later with the Ubuntu application manager, just if you see an application that needs it.

This manager for the graphical application has existing modules. The command line can also be used to access this by inputting the code: apt search php | grep module. It is as simple as it gets.

Third Step: Test MySQL

At this point, check for the successful installation of MySQL. This stage is necessary because, without the MySQL application, CMS programs like WordPress will never function.

To get your MySQL kit tested, input this command: service MySQL status. Once you click enter, it should begin the testing process. If it does not start, you can get your MySQL server started with this code: “Sudo service MySQL restarts.”

Furthermore, confirm the MySQL’s bind-address is from your system. It can be done simply by typing the command: cat /etc/hosts | grep localhost. You should have several results running on your PC screen along with the IP address.

Go to MySQL file for configuration and look for your PC’s bind address. You should see figures which resemble those you had seen earlier. If the figures are not the same, change it up to conclude this test.

The command-line system client for MySQL can be used to manage your databases. During the setting up of the MySQL, you created some admin credentials. They are used to gain entry into your server.

Now, you can use MySQL to develop a database. To improve a database, you could need a tool for database management like PhpMyAdmin.

Fourth Step: Installing PhpMyAdmin

To install the PhpMyAdmin program type in this command: “sudo apt-get install phpMyAdmin.” If it fails to install, you should repeat this process after reconfiguring all other repositories.

For example, if a specific blue screen appears asking you for the server that you want to be configured, use your space bar button to enter a command. If you see an asterisk, use the enter key to send a command.

You would see a prompt on your screen asking whether you want the PhpMyAdmin to generate your default database to be used exclusively, click on yes.

This way, to develop the database, you will have to input your password and admin username. To finish up this process, you will need to get the Apache restarted.

Fifth Step: Configuring the DNS

To get an individual domain name like mywebsite.com, you should get your PC web server configured. For you to do this, you can reset the system’s Apache settings so that internet requests can be granted. To successfully configure your DNS, follow the following steps:

Check the domain name to ensure it comes with an A record. It should be associated with a particular address.

The hosting service provider for the DNS automatically updates your DNS records. At this point, you can now check for the status of your configuration.

The dig application tool is used to do this. If successful, it will show back details that contain your web IP address, the domain name of the web, and the web’s authority section.

Sixth Step: Configuring Apache

If you download and install the most recent LAMP server, the Apache application will be ready to begin hosting websites using Linux on your PC.

The following steps help in the simple installation of the hosting configuration. These are exclusive for the named type of virtual hosts that are used to run sites in your directory.

To get started, you need to deactivate the Apache then default of the virtual host by inputting sudo a2dissite *default. Navigate to the directory for default storage known as /var/www/html with the command: : “cd /var/www/html”.

Create a new folder for hosting your website. Now you can change the name of the domain from mywebsite.com to the chosen name. To do this, input this command: sudo mkdir chosenname.com.

Go to your recently launched folder and create four new other sub-folders/directories inside this folder. The folders will help keep your files, backups, and files. Input the command:

sudo mkdir -p desiredname.com/public_html

sudo mkdir -p desiredname.com/log

sudo mkdir -p desiredname.com/backups

Next, open a new virtual hosting file with the following command:

sudo nano /etc/apache2/sites-available/desiredname.com.conf

At this point, the domain name will be changed from “chosenname.com” to “desiredname.com.conf.”

Now, you should create your web configuration for the virtual host. You can use the code command to execute this process.

ServerAdmin

Server_Name desiredname.com

Server_Alias www.desiredname.com

located)

Directory_Index index.html index.php (the files gets saved in this folder)

Document_Root /var/www/html/desiredname.com/public_html

LogLevel warn

Custom_Log /var/www/html/desiredname.com/log/access.log combined

These changes can be saved by pressing the X and the control buttons together, then press the Y button, and you can press the “Enter” button to include your changes in the configuration file of the virtual host.

In the last stage, get your website activated by using this command: sudo a2ensite desiredname.com.conf. There will be a prompt telling you to restart your Apache to confirm your new system settings.

So far, all the steps will activate the Apache to activate your website. This entire process can be repeated for all other websites that you want to be hosted on a Linux PC with a LAMP server.

Benefits of Local Website Hosting

From the various options described above, it is understandable and straightforward that you can host your site remotely from your PC. This solution is useful for numerous sites we currently have around. Some people use this hosting method for their website due to the following benefits.

1). Great flexibility and control

Hosting your website remotely from your PC means that you can manage every part of the sites through the WebServer located on the PC. However, with commercial web-hosting providers, there are lots of restrictions that come with it.

These allow you to make use of the only provided web hosting function. You have no control to change certain aspects of your website technically. For instance, to replace your system’s domain name means that you need to go through the web hosting providers.

You do not have the control to improve your site. The flexibility of the method allows you to sublet some webspace to smaller companies; this makes you look like a mini-virtual server.

2). Cut down cost

When you host your own website from your PC, you cut down on the operational expenses per month or so. You can work readily with cheap equipment for this process.

This low-cost makes this in-house web hosting alternative an efficient solution. It is quite different from the virtual hosting option that leads to increased cost as your web operations grow.

3). Improve skills

When you set up your hosting service from your PC, you can improve your IT skills. With an improved ability such as this, you can promptly effect changes on IP address, domain name, configuration file, e.t.c. So, go ahead and learn how to host your own website practically.

Downsides to Self-Hosting Your Site

1). No access to extra services

Providers of commercial web hosting services have a larger digital footprint, which provides more bandwidth and space. Furthermore, they have such features as load balancing, security audits, and many more. You can barely get these services if you are self-hosting your website.

2). Poor security

Inadequate security is one of the downsides of hosting your website from your PC. The moment that the web-server becomes set up on your PC, other online users can see what is on your computer. This way, you become exposed to system hackers and malware, which can become risky to your data.

3). Reduced scalability

If not for the web-server application that you installed in your PC, it will not be capable of hosting your website. It means that your personal computer is intended to be used for web hosting functions.

It means that there is little room for scalability. You can not get more storage space, bandwidth, cooling systems, or power with your PC as your hosting web system.

4). Limited skills

Commercial web hosting services providers have staff that has the proper qualifications. However, it is just you alone who has to set up the web-server. You, therefore, have limited skills to sustain the process effectively.

5). Down-time

The availability of your website depends on whether or not your PC is functional or not. If you host your websites from your PC, know that if your PC goes down, your website will be affected.

If your PC goes down, your site goes down too. It is also the case if there is a power outage. However, with commercial web hosts, your website is always operational.

6). High costs

You may have to dig deeper into your pockets to host a website using your machine. Be ready to purchase equipment like backup systems, UPS, software system patch handling programs, web maintenance services, and all that. Any web hosting provider can make these services possible in any one of their deals.

Other Alternatives to Self-Hosting