What is Digg?114 Comments
- Mabu, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5I run a web hosting company and this article is totally bogus.
I have three banks of servers in three different locations and loads of bandwidth. This article is about installing FreeBSD and some web software. It has very little to do with being able to practically provide reliable web hosting.
Your average dork who sets up a *nix box and thinks he's going to do hosting is mistaken. This type of service on consumer broadband connections is usually against the ISPs terms of service, and most connections are throttled outbound so that you couldn't reliably handle a lot of traffic in the first place. On top of this, broadband IP space is widely RBL'd by most legitimate systems online, so you could not reliably run a mailserver without seeing tens of thousands of systems refuse to even connect -- thank spammers and the government for not cracking down on them for this.
Hosting is not some type of commodity where the only thing that matters is price. It's about reliability and service and the quality of your connection to the net. I've seen ISPs that offer xGB of monthly transfer, but they have ***** third-rate connections to the net and they throttle their clients so that the one time the web site gets attention, most of the people can't even hit it. Some of us hosting companies know that you need really good DIRECT connections to the backbone, and not three-levels removed like most of the cheap-ass hosting companies. And below that are broadband providers that have their own set of issues. - clickwir, on 10/12/2007, -2/+6Kind of misleading IMO.
This is just one step in becoming a webhost. This is just setting up apache to be a webserver.
This is very small in the grand scheme of being a webhost.
That and it's way overly complicated to just setup a webserver, there are so many linux distro's that have apache built in and you can be up an running in 30mins.
There's a lot more to being a webhost than just setting up a webserver.
WEAK SAUCE! - vaserv, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3No digg. Yes its a tutorial on setting up Apache webserver on FreeBSD so thats ok but what about thef the other things about being a webhost. Off the top of my he
email support (both for customer to raise support issues as well as POP3/SMTP support)
domain name
billing solutions
Terms of Service/AUP/Privacy Policy/SLA
DNS services
Does your ISP even allow you to host of the end of your connection?
What about ongoing security updates?
I could go on..
Rus - Robotsu, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3It's a very interesting article and I appreciate the digg. In my current capacity as a website developer, I have always been interested in hosting my own websites and the possibilities of being able to host my client's websites in house.
While the article is informative from a technical standpoint, the issues I am most concerned about are cost, reliability, maintanance, and speed.
I am an average linux user (currently my only OS), so I more or less know my way around the basics of *nix based systems (or so I would like to think). Maintanance isn't really a huge consideration because I can usually figure things out.
But the real issues for me, especially if this is for a business, are cost and speed. By speed I don't mean the speed of the system itself, I mean connection speed. How fast of a connection do I have to have to handle users accessing my client's webpages? How muh does a connection like that cost? What are the chances that my system, not a specially crafted server (does it matter that its not a "server", or does just any decent machine do?) will not be able to handle requests?
This all boils down to a central question: Will my clients be able to tell the difference between their site being hosted on something like GoDaddy's services and my own in-house hosting?
If the answer is "yes" to the last question, I'm not so sure it's even worth it... - fartron, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2from tfa:
"7. Hit Shift+A, and then Shift+Q."
Excellent directions, certainly will teach people a lot about what they're doing. - alchemista, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2should be "Become Your Own SLOW-ASS Web Host in 75 Steps". There are a lot easier ways to set up your own web server than following all this. It may be good if you're already on a t1+ line.
- saleens281, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1no digg. What happens after they get it setup and have no clue how to administrate it or fix it if something goes wrong? It's great to make it "simple to setup" but having machines that aren't properly administered is exactly what's WRONG with the internet. Where do you think all those packet/spam spewing zombies originate? N00bs who don't' know how to secure their systems.
- mrkoje, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1wow this sure falls behind the usual 10 step blogs
- blong, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1
75 steps! Brilliant! - linuxwarz, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1This is missing a VERY important step! Before using ports, edit /usr/share/examples/cvsup/ports-supfile make sure that it point to the server cvsup8.freebsd.org . Save this file and run cvsup -g -L 2 /usr/share/examples/cvsup/ports-supfile . Let it run for 20min until its done. Now you may install programs.
- rhettnyedotorg, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Step 76: if you need any help, or have any questions, my rate is $50 per hour and my phone number is:
- hsteckylf, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1This is just ridiculous in my opinion. This guide gives nothing in ways of talking about a) the security of your web/db server, b) bandwidth issues that any sites worth its weight will run into, and c) continual server maintenance and backups. Plus, if you already know all about these three things, there is no reason you would need a guide to tell you how to install a Linux distro or Apache.
- burstlag, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1This is great and all, but building a machine to act in the capacity of a web server is only a small part of what we know as "web hosting".
Quality web hosting also means good, reliable outbound bandwidth; battery and generated backup power, in a climate-controlled data center. Even so much the better if backups are part of the deal and they manage all of the hardware.
I can build Linux and FreeBSD web server boxes all day long, but that doesn't mean I can just up and become my own web host for a site that I actually want people to visit. - MasterRuthless, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1They forgot to add a few steps...
1.) Make sure to make sure all visitors to your site know to access your site via a strange port. Due to the fact most ISP's block port 80.
2.) Don't expect your emails to get through being alot of ISP's are now using dynamic ip address blocking.
3.) Don't allow your site to become too popular or you may find your 256kb up speed will not handle more then a few hits at a time.
This is the dumbest thing I have ever seen in a blog in a long time.
With hosting with REPUTABLE hosting companyies going for about 5 to 10 bucks a month why would you spend the money and suffer the headaches of setting your own server up on a lame dsl or cable connection...
I would rather buy space on a dedicated server from a 14 year old then do what this article suggests.
No digg here actually if there was such a feature I'd anti digg this ignorant blog post. - raccettura, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1The only issue I see with this is:
1. Against TOS for many ISP's
2. No redundancy. Most ISP's have multiple DNS Servers, multiple mail servers, and extra hardware for a webserver (if not an extra server on standby).
Not to mention getting bandwidth is rather tough. For $20 you can get decent hosting. Try getting that type of bandwidth in your home.... it's MUCH more than $20. - findhostcoupons, on 03/21/2009, -0/+1Interesting story! bonlebon thumb up for you!
- davetanguay, on 10/14/2008, -0/+0Here's a recent comment from one of my customers in regards to our web hosting service at http://interactiveonline.com
I have permission from the customer to post this...
---------------------------------------------------------------
I almost don't want to tell anybody about these guys. Seriously, after years of sucky hosts, spotty support, and unexplained outages, I found the glorious oasis that is InteractiveOnline.
I was suffering from the dreaded 500 server error before I switched to them. I was sure that the problem was not on my end. The nasty thing about a 500 error is that a crappy host will lay it on your software even though we all know the problem was in overextended servers.
But those days are over for me now for good it seems. InteractiveOnline's servers are fast and well configured. Not only did they completely move my Joomla/VirtueMart site, email, SSL, databases Etc for me (for a very nominal fee), but the site itself feels responsive and professional.
The support staff at InteractiveOnline have been very responsive, helpful and wise (yeah, that's you David T.). I feel very fortunate to have found these guys.
So don't sign up with them. Leave all the hosting goodness for me!
---------------------------------------------------------------
More info on our web hosting services is at http://interactiveonline.com/solutions/web-hosting - globotec, on 12/22/2008, -0/+0hello http://www.globotec.com.ar
- flybeta, on 02/19/2009, -0/+0http://besthost.comli.com/ web host reviews
- megerisi, on 09/22/2008, -0/+0Hmm,
Maybe it should be renamed web hosting reseller :), as then it would be easier, less of headache :). Between a web hosting company and another web hosting company seems to be 1000 other hosting companies!
Found this useful in choosing a webhosting company though, came accross it today; http://ukvpshosting.bytehouse.co.uk/misc/choosing- ...
Have fun in creating another hosting company! - AnilMishra, on 08/04/2008, -0/+0For unlimited domain hosting with cpanel and fantastico, you can visit www.webhostingmonsters.com
- Xaurora, on 08/24/2008, -0/+0nice post check out www.xaurora.com
- conartun, on 09/06/2008, -0/+0for web hosting articles, check out the following url - http://www.sparkhaven.net/Articles/Webhosting-Arti ...
- mansour, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0It's about becoming your _own_ host. Not a megacorp. As an individual, how many of your personal websites do you need to host? For those concerned with traffic / ISP - neither of your mighty 2 or 3 websites will become a new Yahoo or Slashdot overnight.
- ek3s, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Stop bitching, something to do with my Xbox.
- h0dg3s, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Easy stuff, as for a "web host" you'd need to have a pretty fat pipe if you wanted more than a few users. This isn't something somebody could easily setup at home and then get even moderate traffic. No digg.
- orsoihaveheard, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Where are the other 7500 steps when they've installed their Apache instance and don't know how to manage it in order to host their content reliably? Oh, that's right, I forgot, they'll be coming to a forum near you r/s/n.
If you need an idiot's guide like this you should most definitely not be self-hosting in this day and age... well, maybe, if your time is worth like less than US$/hour. - meatbites, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Extremely misleading title. This doesn't prepare anyone to become a web host. At all.
This isn't even for the people who don't know how to install a distribution of Linux and Apache. Pointless, I'm afraid. - WorldBuilder, on 10/12/2007, -0/+075 steps?!
I got two for you...
1. Install your favorite flavor of linux.
2. Install Apache.
No Digg for one simple reason. People who need a tutorial like this one shouldn't be hosting in the first place. RTFM! - sainfoman, on 05/22/2008, -0/+0No man this site http://www.vpsinabox.com is easy..
- fiascooptima, on 03/10/2009, -0/+0I would ALSO recommend reseller hosting account from http://www.ihubnet.com their reseller hosting service page is at <a class="user" href="http://www.ihubnet.com/resellerhosting.php" rel="nofollow">http://www.ihubnet.com/resellerhosting.php</a&g ...
I have been using their account almost 2 years+ for my web hosting...got most of tools I need from them to start my own web hosting...but require bit of knowledge since not much newbie tools at here.. - atbnet, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0I have setup servers on both Linux and Windows with Apache and the whole package. There is just something about doing it yourself that is a lot more satisfying than buying hosting or a server already setup. Of course you still have to worry about bandwidth if you have a popular site or large files which is harder to do it yourself at home or a small business.
- bbqribs, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Don't forget some OTHER things that are involved in web hosting:
* Bandwidth
* Security
* Technical support
and the worst but most important.. users. Yes, the damn users. I've had more issues with customers that want AOL-type pointy clickyclicky "control panels" than I can shake a stick at.
I hate pointyclicky 'control panels' and aside from C-panel or Plesk, there aren't a whole lot of them. Webmin/Usermin just ***** suck balls when you're in a multi-user environment, and I don't have on-staff PHP programmers to write interfaces.
This is a stupid article. really, it sucks. There are countless "how to set up Apache" or "Build a LAMP server" articles on the web already. I rate this as "Internet Clutter" - modpancake, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Dugg because it's all on the same page.
- n8han, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0You have to be a real DIY-fiend to even want to host yourself, not someone who needs these 1-2-3 instructions. But I'm glad people are talking about self-hosting anyway; it's great if you're more interested in playing with new technologies than you are in cranking out big JPEGs. I've been doing it since October, and wrote up my experience (not instructions): http://technically.us/n8/pages/bricolage
- ralamosm, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Although most hosting companies provide their clients with such big figures as "125215215GB data transfer, 42421421Terabytes of HD" they don't tell you that if you have a shared plan you only have 10 allowed simultaneous connections to your database (mysql,postgresql,etc). That particular detail prevents you to have your site bigger because if you have much visitors they'll only get an error page saying that 'DB has reached its connections limit' . If you want good hosting go and get a dedicated server where you can control that kind of aspects of your machine while others are handled by the people from the hosting company.
- Adeian, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0This is pretty much just the first step in becoming your own host and pretty much the easiest one. The bigger and harder part is support and the fast connection to the Internet. Your broadband cable or DSL connection at home isn't going to take you very far.
- pondster, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0i would like to see DNS setup and config added to this...
-setting up dns
-hardening dns
-getting your domain name working
-mx record configuration
-vhosts
-user facilitation
these steps added to the posted article would allow someone to go from nothing to a complete web-host.
---------------------------------
You can kill a few birds with these
--------------------------------
DNS - Not sure what hardening is
Go to
etc/namedb
Write your DNS file there and include it in the named.conf file
-----------------------------------
As long as your NS is pointed to your ip and you set up your vhost in apache your site should work after propagation - burndive, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0I like this better:
1) Download and burn a Gentoo Linux ISO
2) RTFM - farfromsubtl, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Yeah, and then pray to the bandwidth gods, cause it aint friggin' free. No Digg.
- mattvirus, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0i would like to see DNS setup and config added to this...
-setting up dns
-hardening dns
-getting your domain name working
-mx record configuration
-vhosts
-user facilitation
these steps added to the posted article would allow someone to go from nothing to a complete web-host. - robsonde, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0I have been hosting my own stuff for over a year....
1. get old computer.
2. install freeBSD
3. setup apache
4. link domain to IP
5. upload website.
6. done
I add the steps of installing mysql and perl due to the way my site works..
http://www.theanswerguy.co.nz - KevinJ, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0UMMM BANDWIDTH!!
- spamdies, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0but what is step 3 dammit...
- gamerzworld, on 10/12/2007, -0/+075? dam the internet is getting harder these days...
- atbnet, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0The only thing is linux I had problems with was making ftp accounts. I could never figure that out.
- toomuchcaffeine, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0This is more about how to setup a computer than how to become your own webhost. Seriously lacking some of the information that I would say it requires to live up to the headline. No DIGG.
- nerdjesus1, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0I found the description of this story entertaining. I'm currently signed up with a web host that's 16 years old, but I get it for free so I'm collectively over it.
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