WEB HOSTING BASICS - GETTING STARTED

What is web hosting?

Web hosting refers to the process of running one or more web sites from a designated server computer. Often, parts of this process are outsourced to companies that specialize in running web servers. These companies are called web hosting providers.

What is a web host?

A web hosting provider (or web host) is a company that hosts and maintains the server computer which runs your web site. The computer can be owned by you or by the hosting company, but the important thing is that it's physically located on the provider's premises and is plugged into the provider's Internet connection.

Can I host my web site myself, in my home or office?

Yes. If you already have a DSL, T-1, or, in some cases, cable connection in your home or office, you can dedicate one of the computers to be your web server and run it yourself. In this case, you don't incur any extra charges for web hosting (of course, you still have to pay for your connectivity).

However, this has often been shown to be the least efficient method of hosting as it puts heavy additional requirements on your office connectivity line (with DSL, for instance, you will realistically have to use the more expensive symmetric DSL (SDSL) variant), exposes you to security risks, requires a dedicated computer which can not be turned off, and so on. But yes, this is possible. Read our article on Web Hosting on DSL/Cable/T1 for more information.

How do I get my own domain name?

It's important to realize that domain registration is separate from web hosting and normally these two services are provided by two completely different companies. You can register your domain name with any of the ICANN-approved domain registrars and the registration does not tie you to any particular web host. Furthermore, you can change web hosting providers while maintaining the same domain registrar or vice versa. Read more about Domain Names.

P.S.: We have another site, Freelance BBS, which helps freelancers and those who buy their services find each other.