Hosting a website off my computer?

Okay so I downloaded apache and I am using Ubuntu Linux. What I want to know is how do I make my http://localhost accessible to everyone over the internet? Do I need a domain name or can I use an IP address?

Hosting a website off my computer?

You can access using the IP its just a little hard to remember!

The access will be to the PUBLIC IP (which on most home connections changes!) To see your current IP go to http://whatismyip.com the number that shows is your public IP.

You may find you have to use a service which will %26quot;track%26quot; your IP like http://dyndns.com this is a dynamic IP service which can keep your changing IP associated with a domain name. You can use a name from them even like myserver.dyndns.com! It is easier than the IP route.

If you setup your Ubuntu behind a router, you will need to port forward port 80 (in the router) to the private IP of your server. If you use https you also need to forward port 443. (see http://portforward.com for how to do that for your router etc)

Check with your ISP before you do this! Many have restrictions on running servers off of HOME dsl/cable lines and block port 80 inbound to stop the use, so check with them first to see if it is allowed.

Have fun but do check before your ISP kicks you off for running a server (some allow it some don%26#039;t!)

Hosting a website off my computer?

well the domain name will come hand in hand with ip address (i know you need a domain name to run apache with server 2003, but im not too familiar with ubuntu, im sure youll need a domain name anyway)

not sure how you promote ubuntu to a domain controller.

anyways..

you can use port forward on your router to forward all port 80 (or http traffic) to your ip address (servers ip)

set the server ports on your router (should be a separate page for this defining what ports to use for HTTP and FTP traffic.

make sure your server has a static private ip address instead of DHCP assigned.

hope that helps a little bit.