What does it take to get on the internet with your business, hobby or interest? This is just what I have been doing practically since the Internet started being used publicly.
Step 3: You need a Web Server.
Now that you have your registered domain name and your DNS server it’s time to decide on a server to run your website on. This can be as simple as keeping it on premise or locating it in somebody else’s datacenter. If you want to keep is at your location here is what you need to consider:
- Do I have a static IP address. This is an IP address that never changes. most home and many business internet services use a dynamic IP address that can change. You need one that never changes.
- Can your current internet service handle the extra traffic generated by having your website in house?
- Will your firewall handle port redirects so that incoming internet traffic can be routed to your web server?
- Do you have a plan for service outages (either internet or power) to your location?
- Do you have a computer that you can dedicate for the webserver?
- Do you have expertise available to you for setup or when problems arise?
- Is it actually cost effective for this route?
In my office, I have a UPS and generator to keep the power on at all times. I also have a backup plan for redundant internet connectivity if my fiber optic goes down. (In the past 22 years the fiber has only gone down 2 times and was down for 2 hours each time. I have a 2 hour SLA (Service Level Agreement) with my fiber optic provider.
Data Centers are easy to find, and the price range can very by thousands of dollars depending on what you need. If you are running a basic website which is roughly the equivalent of a tri-fold brochure, you don’t really need much. If you need something larger with lots of integrations (Hello Amazon) you probably want something large with a lot of redundancies. I’m thinking that if you are reading this, you are looking for something more basic.
In October 2024 we are offering a special consultation for only $55. You can ask all your questions and have them answered by an internet specialist with decades of experience. There is no obligation to purchase anything else, and you will learn how you can experience a presence on the Internet through your own website and email. Get all your questions answered. The only stupid question is the one you didn’t ask.
Click on the following links the other parts of this series.
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