Introduction: How to Start a Home Website/Server

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I did this over the weekend because I got bored so enjoy!

Step 1: What Do You Need?

You need a PC, Mac, or Linux based computer that your not afraid to keep running all day and night.
I am using a broken old Dell Inspiron 6000 with windows XP. Vista works too. To my knowledge all versions of Mac OS X work (I only have leopard)
You will also need software wise:
is your on an pc download and install WAMP
if on a mac download and install MAMP
if on linux install LAMP
if on a pc download and install tightvnc and start the tightvnc server
if on a mac go to system prefs -> sharing -> and turn on screen sharing
if on linux find and install any vnc software if not already installed

Step 2: The Setup

Once everything is installed you will need to get some software for writing HTML. You can use Macromedia's Dreamweaver in mac or pc or in a mac you can use iWeb for a graphical interface in mac. Or you can use a simple text editor and just change the extension to .html. Below I will add a snip-it of simple html code that you can put up on your server while you are building it. If you want a blog on your website download wordpress from wordpress.org and follow install instructions. Right now no one but people on your local network can see your web page. In the next step I will explain how to make it available to the public for free without having to buy a domain.





Hi all where this text is replace it with your special message to your future viewers!

Step 3: How to Make It Public

Okay first thing you need is your local ip. Usually it will be something like 192.168.1.x (where the x is there will be anywhere from 1-3 numbers) and your router is will usually be 192.168.1.1. To find this info on a pc go to start run and type cmd.exe and command prompt will launch and type ipconfig and copy down your ip. in a mac launch system prefs then networking and select your connection (airport or ethernet) and write down your ip. now go to your browser and type in your routers ip (like noted before, unless you have an advanced config then it will be 192.168.1.1) type in the router pass (if there is one) and go to port forwarding and type in your ip and when asked what protocol select both when asked what port stat and stop put in 80 to 3308 (thats default) *note: when using MAMP you need to reset the ports in the application because it doesn't use the default. Next your going to need to go to cmyip.com to see your external ip. Now you can give that big number out and people would be able to see your website or you could follow the next step. So go to dyndns.com and set up a free account. Once verified click add new host and fill in all the spaces. once thats done your good to go!

Step 4: Share the Love!

Share your website to your friends and maybe you'll become popular among the famous blogs and websites.

Step 5: (NEW!) How to Add FTP Access to Your Server.

*Note this will only work if you are on a pc.
-Download and install Filezilla
-go through the install and leave all of the defaults (unless you have IT knowledge)
-If everything went okay then when it is launched you will get a notice on the last line that says "Logged On"
-now click edit -> users
-in the far right box click add and fill in the desired name(repeat as necessary to add as many users as you want)
-Make sure "Enable Account" is checked off and you check off password and fill in an appropriate one
-Next go to the far left column and click shared folders and add an appropriate folder(s) or drive(s)
-If the computer that you are going to FTP from is a pc download Filezilla's FTP client or if on a mac, I highly recommend, Cyberduck its easy and free
-(I have been having problems accessing it externally) but put in the local ip of your pc and your good to go

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