How to Host Your Own Website for Free

Having your own website...for free!

A little-known fact about the Web is how easy it is to set up your own website. Instead of paying someone to host your website or using an ad-supported provider, you can host it yourself. Though it takes more time to set up, it has the advantages of being free and more flexible than other solutions.

Steps

1.      Install a web server. Windows XP Professional, Mac OS X, and most Linux distributions come with a web server, and you just need to turn it on or install it from the CD. [EDIT] - Software for this can be downloaded from the internet (link [here][1] To use wamp server simply save HTML documents in the www folder of WAMP server.)

2.      Sign up for a DynDNS. It is easier to remember a domain name than your IP address, and these services give you a domain name that always points to your IP address, even when it changes.

3.      Install the client for the domain name service. This ensures that your domain name always works.

4.      If your computer is firewalled, you need to open port 80 so that the web server is visible to the outside world. For a software firewall like Zone Alarm , say yes if it asks permission for your web server. If you have a hardware firewall (a NAT box from Linksys or Netgear), you need to forward port 80 to the web server.

5.      Visit your new domain name in your web browser. Did it work? Congratulations! You now have a spot on the web. Since you're hosting it yourself, you can install all kinds of great software.

Warnings

·         Your ISP might not let you run a website, so ask them before you do this. Some ISPs don't care unless your website gets very popular. Many ISPs block port 80, the typical port used to reach a website (if you configure your server to listen on an alternate port, you might be able to get around that).

·         Your website will only be available when your computer is on and your internet connection is working.

·         Your connection's upload speed is probably slower than its download speed, so your website might be slow. On some routers, there are options available to modify the transfer data limit. By setting the upload/download speeds equal, you will be able to upload at the same download speed. Note: Do not set your upload limit too high, as you may slow your download connection (or completely stop), making it difficult and lengthily to reset settings. Only recommended for experienced users.

·         You usually need a static IP to host a website. Most ISPs require you to pay more for a static IP. (Bellsouth, for one.) This is because a domain name is a alphanumerical way to refer to an IP address. The Domain name will point to one, and most people have a dynamic IP, which always changes. Not all domain name services support dynamic IPs.

Things You'll Need

·         An internet connection that is always on.

·         A computer that will stay running. If you have a spare you can leave in the basement and forget about, that's a good thing.