How To Create Your Own Server At Home For Web Hosting

It goes without saying that you need a server to host a website. And much like everything else in the world, you have to pay someone for a job you don’t want to, or can’t, do on your own. In this article on how to create your own server at home for web hosting, we will show you how to host your own web in case you don’t want to pay, and have the needed hardware and a strong enough Internet connection.

Please bear in mind that what we instruct here is to help you build a home server to host websites. It shouldn’t be confused with how to set up a home media server, which acts as a location that grants access to media files for users within a network.

Step 1: Choose Your Hardware

The first step in our guide on how to create your own server at home for web hosting is to check if you have the necessary hardware. Now think about how you want to use the website. How many users you would like to serve and how much processing power and storage you want to have?

Fortunately, if you don’t want to shell out some extra money for hardware or don’t have that kind of budget, an old PC is more than enough to run the needed hardware for your website.

One thing to keep in mind is the power consumption if you plan to keep the home server running 24/7.

And another thing, expect to have lots of cables, switches, and computers (you may need more than one), so it’s best to invest in a home server rack to keep everything organized.

Step 2: Choose Your Operating System: Linux or Windows?

The next step in our guide on how to create your own server at home for web hosting is to choose an operating system. You have two choices for the job, Linux and Windows.

The majority of servers now run Linux and why have a home server with this operating system boils down to the ease of customizing and the cost. Linux is open-sourced and free so compared to a paid operating system like Windows, it has a clear advantage.

Another reason to choose Linux is that it is more secure with fewer vulnerabilities for hackers to take advantage of.

Step 3: Check Your Internet Connection

Our how to create your own server at home for web hosting guide continues with the required Internet connection.

The upload and download speed are essential here. A regular connection for residential areas may have a fast download but a slow upload speed which determines how quickly you can upload your site to individual visitors.

Use a speed testing tool to check for connection and check for data limit on your connection. If there is a data cap on your usage, you may want to switch to another provider.

Step 4: Set Up And Configure Your Server

Now when you have had all the hardware you need for the home server build, it’s time to set up the software.

So here is how to create your own server at home for web hosting:

Step 1: Those who opt for Windows can install IIS – a web server add-on. Microsoft has a detailed document on how to do so. Otherwise, Linux users can choose between NGINX, Apache, or Lighttpd. Apache is quite well-known and can be used for Windows as well.

Step 2: You need to open ports on your firewall and home router to allow traffic to pass back and forth. Port 443 and 80 are the most important for the job.

Step 3: After the server has been configured, check to see if it works from a web browser. The majority of servers will display a test page which you can replace with your own files later on.

Step 5: Get A Domain Name And Check If It Works

Now you need a domain name so that people can find you. Of course, visitors can still find your site by typing in the external IP address of your web server. However, to make life easier for you and for them, you may want to buy a domain name or register a free subdomain name from several services like No-IP.

The next step in our guide on how to create your own server at home for web hosting is to set up the needed DNS entries to point to the IP address of your servers. Each registrar will have their own guider on how to do so.

Once the entries have been set up, wait for a few hours and the server should be ready to be used.

So that is how to make a home server, now it’s time to create your own.

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