How do I host my own website on my computer?

Question

1. I have to keep it on all the time (well when I want the website to be up (I will have closing times) - Okay!
2. I installed WAMP Server, working fine (Windows - Apache - MySQL- PHP5) - Okay!
3. I have got my outside IP - static, Okay!
4. ISP allows non-commercial servers - I am not commercial, Okay!
5. I am over 13 years of age - Around about 7 years over, Okay!
6. I want to host a MediaWiki site - Yes!
7. I want to host a PHPBB3 forum site - Yes!
8. I want to host a chat site - Yes!
Computer OS: Windows Vista: Home Premium.
Computer Type: Notebook : Laptop.
Model Make: HP Invent.
Model: Pavilion dv8000.
Model ID: dv8129ea.
Knows how to programme in MediaWiki - Yes!
Knows how to programme in PHPBB - Yes!
Knows how to programme in PHP - Yes!
Knows how to edit file systems such as BOOTSECT
files (yes I passed university on electronics ICT) - Yes!
Has past experience with free hosting websites - Yes!
Current free hosting website as a user - AWARDSPACE.COM - Yes!

How do I host my own website on my computer?
My friend did it on his and I have seen it on his actual PC, he calls through localhost and calls his external IP and it is 100% free and legal to both ISP and law. He won't tell me how he did it because he wants to host me on it for free, but I want my own with 24/7 access on my PC, I will redirect my external IP path with Freedomain.co.nr dynamic IP.

Answer 1

Well you are nearly setup if all you say you have done is live.

Localhost should be working NOW if WAMP is installed and running! Try it from your laptop. If it is not working now as you say you are setup then you need to find out why cause your server isn't running if it doesn't work.

For a web server to work you have to get the IP to see your computer.. most of the time this is done with a live URL..
like yourdomain.com etc. So register a domain, then at the same location have them register some nameservers for you or have them run nameservers for you. Point the nameservers at your IP!

Second if you are behind a router with your computer (you can connect it directly to some DSL/Cable lines) you will need to forward the following services
Port 21 (for FTP)
Port 23 (for SSH)
Port 25 (for mail)
Port 53 (for DNS if you run the DNS servers)
Port 80 (for webserver)
Port 110 (for SMTP mail)
Port 443 (for secure https --if needed)
Forward these ports to your laptops nated IP like 192.168.0.101 etc.. once that is done you can reach your website from the web using your IP or if you registered a domain name with the domain!

Your firewall will also need to accept traffic to these ports.

Answer 2

If you're running Windows XP (or other versions of windows), you can install IIS (in add/remove programs), then you'll be running a web server on your computer. Next - assuming your are doing this on your home broadband connection - you'll need to setup a port-forwarding rule on your router, so that incoming requests on port 80 from the outside world get forwarded to the computer that you are running the web server on. Finally- assuming that you have a domain for your web site - you will need to setep the DNS for your domain. This can be a little tricky if you are doing this on a home broadband connection, because most home broadband services do not have a static IP address, meaning that your router's IP address can change any time. So, you will need to use a dynamic DNS service, such as DNS2Go or DynDNS, which will continuously update the DNS A-record of your domain as the IP address of your router changes. Last but not least, you will want to be sure that the computer that you are doing this on is patched and up to date, because you are basically leaving it open (at least on port 80) to the whole world. As you can see, it's a bit involved to do this, but it can be done.

Answer 3

Well you tend to be almost setup if all you say you have done is live. Localhost ought to be operating NOW if WAMP is installed and running! Try it from your laptop. If it is not operating now as you say you tend to be setup then you need to discover out why trigger your server is not operating if it does not work. For a internet server to function you have to get the IP to see your computer.. most of the time this is done with a reside URL.. like yourdomain website etc. So sign-up a domain, then at the identical location have them sign-up some nameservers for you or have them operate nameservers for you. Point the nameservers at your IP! Second if you tend to be in back of a router with your pc (you are able to hook up it straight to some DSL/Cable lines) you will need to ahead the subsequent services Port 21 (for FTP) Port 23 (for SSH) Port 25 (for mail) Port 53 (for DNS if you operate the DNS servers) Port 80 (for webserver) Port 110 (for SMTP mail) Port 443 (for safe https --if needed) Forward these ports to your laptops nated IP like 192.168.0.101 etc.. as soon as that is done you are able to attain your web site from the internet utilizing your IP or if you registered a area title with the domain! Your firewall will as well need to accept visitors to these ports.

Answer 4

Did you forward traffic to port 80 to your local machine from your router/firewall? You seem to have pretty much done everything else.