How To Host Your Own Website

After you develop a website or decide to create one, one of the first things you will need to have is a place to host the website. Website hosting is nothing more than having your website files on a web server that is connected to the internet 24x7. The server can be in your home or business or using a web hosting service. If you choose a web hosting company much of the skill needed to manage a web server is done for you, and they usually have much better connections to the internet than the average home or business user.

In-House vs. Out-of-House

Web servers are becoming easier to configure and run, but still require time and technical know-how to manage, not to mention the cost of the equipment itself. If you're just starting out, or you have a relatively small site, we recommend that you go with a hosting service. (Your Internet service provider known as an ISP may also provide this service.) It will save you time and money initially. Many individuals and companies start by placing their site with a hosting service. As the site grows larger and more complex, you can can always change to in-house if it makes more sense to.

With a hosting service you will not have to pay for hardwar or software which can run anywhere from US $2,000 to US $10,000 or more, depending on the type of equipment. You also won't have to hire someone to administer the site, although you might want to retain a consultant part-time to help with maintenance.

If you don't own your own hardware or already have dedicated staff, the difference in costs for your first year can be dramatic. With equipment and personnel, running your own server could cost you US $50,000 or more in the first year; going out-of-house will cost you much less, perhaps only a few thousand dollars. Keep in mind that regardless of whether you do it yourself or go out-of-house, you are still responsible for the cost of generating your own content and maintaining the site.

Costs vary a lot depending on your geographic location and the different packages available from your ISP. Prices are more competitive in larger urban areas. Development and maintenance costs rise dramatically as the size and complexity of your site increases. The more traffic your site generates, the more expensive it becomes to use an out-of-house provider. If your company already has a robust computer system and an in-house system administrator who has the time to administer the site, running your own server might be a better option.

As far as hardware goes, web servers can run on old Macintosh SE's and IBM 486's, but for the best performance, get the fastest processor you can afford.

Another option is co-location. With co-location, a hosting service physically maintains your computer at their site. This is a good option if you can afford to buy your own equipment, but don't want the hassle of maintaining a 24-hour per day, uninterrupted network connection.