How to host a website?

For those of you who aren’t familiar with IIS (Internet Information Service), it is Microsoft’s web/mail/ftp server. In this article, we will be ignoring the mail and ftp server side of things, and concentrate on the web server. The web server that is provided with IIS is one of the best that you can get for Windows.

IIS is already provided as standard with Windows 2000, Windows XP Professional Edition, but not with Windows 95/98/ME or XP Home Edition. If you have any of the last 4, you will need to upgrade. Before you begin setting up the server, it is strongly recommended that you install all service packs, hot fixes, and patches that are available.

When you have your system as secure as possible, it’s time to install IIS. Go to the Add/Remove Programs in the Control Panel, the click the Add/Remove Windows Components button found on the left of the window that will pop up. You will have to wait a few seconds before the Windows Components Wizard will pop up. Double click on the Internet Information Service (IIS) entry and the IIS window will pop up.

A list of IIS components will appear, and you will need to check the ones that you wish to install. Check the boxes next to the following, making sure all of the other boxes remain unchecked:

• Common Files
• Documentation
• Internet Information Services Snap-In
• World Wide Web Server

Click on OK and you will return to the Windows Components Wizard. Click next then IIS will be installed for you. During the installation, you may be asked to provide your Windows installation CD, and if you are, put it in then click on OK. When the installation is finished click Finish, then click on Close to close the Add/Remove Programs window.

Now you will need the website you are going to host. Create a new folder in the C: drive called WEB_ROOT, then copy your web site to the folder. Now, you will need to tell IIS the location of your website. Right click on My Computer and go to Manage. The Computer Management applet will open, and IIS is found under Services and Applications.

You will see Default Web Site under IIS, and you will need to right click on it then go to Properties. This is the main section for adjusting website options and its here you will change anything dealing with your site.

Type a short description of your website in the description box so that you will recognize it in the future. The next time you open Computer Management, instead of saying Default Web Site, it will show the name you have entered in here. Keep in mind that when people are looking at your website, they will not see this name anytime.

Now, click on the Home Directory tab and type C:\\WEB_ROOT in the Local Path box. Click on the Documents tab and make sure that Enable Default Document is checked, and then click Add. Type in the name of the first page of your website that you want people to see then click OK. Select the document from the list, and then use the arrow buttons to move it to the top. Click OK at the bottom of the window to return to Computer Management.

Select your website, then click on the play button located at the top right of the window. This will start the server and allow people to access it. If you want to stop it, press the stop button. When it’s stopped, people won’t be able to see your website. Close the Computer Management window and open Internet Explorer. Type http://localhost/ in the location box at the top, and then press enter. If everything has gone well, your website should appear and you will be able to navigate it.

Now, you will need to figure out your IP (Internet Protocol) address. An IP address is a unique number that defines a computer on the Internet. To find out your IP address, click Start then Run and type “cmd” in the box and hit enter. Now, type ipconfig in and press enter.

Your IP address for your Internet connection is not shown. It will be 4 numbers from 0 – 255 and separated by periods, such as 53.8.42.320. This is hard to remember and tell people, which is where No-IP comes into play. Set up a redirection to your IP address by using the No-IP service, and then when people type in the name you have chosen, they will arrive at your website.

Here are a few things to remember about your website: In order for people to see your site, your computer has to be turned on and connected to the Internet. People looking at your website will use the bandwidth of your connection, and if you’re using a modem it will be slow.