When publishing, do you have to have a host company?

K

Krystle

I want to publish my site, but i don't really understand what a host company
is, or why i need one. Can't i just publish the site from my computer? Do i
need a third party?
 
S

Steve H

You can publish from your computer if it is set up as a
server with its own domain name and URL (I'm assuming it's
not an intranet, but you want your files to be accessed by
anyone on the Internet). Otherwise, you'll need third-party
server services to handle your files.
 
M

Murray

Don't even think of doing this. Yes - you need a host.

If you try to host your own site (although theoretically possible), are you
prepared to deal with the security issues, and the backup issues, and the
hackers, and the upgrades, and the .... ISP cancelling your access to the
internet because your pipe is always filled? I think not.... 8)
 
R

Rick Budde

A bit of clarification:

When you develop a web site on your PC using Front Page,
you are the only one who may view it as it is not stored
in a place where the general public may gain access to it.

You engage the services of an Internet Service provider
to make your connection to the world wide web. Some ISP's
also provide a limited amount of hosting (see next
paragraph) but for the most part are limited in the
extent of service and other capabilities they provide.

So how in the hell do I get my site so it can be viewed
by others you ask? This is where a "host" comes into
play. The host is simply a server (another computer
dedicated to serving up its content to those on the world
wide web). You should strive to find a host that supports
Front Page and more specifically the Front Page
Extensions.

You sound like a novice in the of website development so
the host with Front Page Extensions will make your life
MUCH easier than those who do not support them.

What the other folks are telling you is that you could
elect to be your own host but with your level of
expertise, you should NOT even think about this.

When you engage the services of a host, you will need to
set up a website address (www.YourFantisticSite.Com or
whatever). Some hosts will allow you to do this through
them and others will not. What this does is to create a
listing on public servers such that when a visitor types
in your site address, the right computer (ie, your host's
server) will be accessed. These public servers are termed
DNS servers ... Domain Name Servers.

Your host will also help you select a username and
password which you will use to access your account on
their server.

Alright, it is time to publish your site. Log on to your
ISP as though you were going to do email or surf the
world wide web. From within Front Page, open your website
that resides on your local computer. Select File, Publish
and answer the questions Front Page asks of you ...
webiste site address, username and password.

For a bit more info on the publishing process, consult
Front Page help. I would also suggest you run, not walk,
to your favorite bookstore and pick up a copy
of "Microsoft Front Page 200x Inside Out" by Jim Buyens.
Be sure to get the version of the book that covers your
version of Front Page.

I hope the above gives you a better understanding of the
whole process and why you need a host.
 
S

Susan

Since you accessed this newsgroup, I assume that you may already have an
Internet Service Provider. Your ISP may provide free web space that you can
use publish your site. Check with your ISP first.
 
K

Krystle

okay, so what you are all saying, is that basically i am too inexperienced to
be makin a site without an ISP, ok
i'll just find me one
 
T

Thomas A. Rowe

Making a web site has nothing to do with having an ISP. You need an ISP to connect to the internet,
you need a web host to host your web site, if you want others around the world to access it.

--
==============================================
Thomas A. Rowe (Microsoft MVP - FrontPage)
WEBMASTER Resources(tm)

FrontPage Resources, WebCircle, MS KB Quick Links, etc.
==============================================
 
V

Vagabond Software

Krystle said:
I want to publish my site, but i don't really understand what a host company
is, or why i need one. Can't i just publish the site from my computer? Do i
need a third party?
Click to expand...

If you have Windows 2000 Professional or Windows XP Professional, you can host the site from your computer. However, there are added risks and vulnerabilities associated with that kind of configuration.

There is also a "free" way to do it with Windows 98/ME using the unsupported personal web server (PWS).

Let me know what operating system you have.

carl
 
M

Murray

Good grief. You want the person who asked this question to put a web server
on the internet? Are you nuts? 8)

--
Murray

Krystle said:
I want to publish my site, but i don't really understand what a host
company
is, or why i need one. Can't i just publish the site from my computer? Do
i
need a third party?
Click to expand...

If you have Windows 2000 Professional or Windows XP Professional, you can
host the site from your computer. However, there are added risks and
vulnerabilities associated with that kind of configuration.

There is also a "free" way to do it with Windows 98/ME using the unsupported
personal web server (PWS).

Let me know what operating system you have.

carl
 
V

Vagabond Software

Murray said:
Good grief. You want the person who asked this question to put a web server
on the internet? Are you nuts? 8)

--
Click to expand...

LOL! Well, not really, but I just answer the questions these days. I stopped trying to protect people from themselves a long time ago.

If he wants to run IIS on his machine, I'll tell him how to install it, lock it down, and open port 80 on his router. After that, he's on his own.

carl
 
A

Andrew Murray

If you're publishing to the web space of your internet account - that's all
you need.

For your information:

A host company is the people who run computers (web servers) that have your
site on them.....a Host may be dedicated to just hosting a site where an
Internet Service Provider might give you both internet access and host a web
site for you (often you get "web space" with internet accounts these days
for personal homepages)

Yes you need to publish the site from your computer to the Host's computer
(i.e. the "web server") - to make it publicly accessible to the whole world.
You could host it yourself, but this means effectively the whole world is
accessing *your* computer to view the web site and not a good idea if you're
not experienced with doing this. To host a site you need particular
software, a machine that will cope with the demand (processor power) and
internet access with the bandwidth to cope with the demand of visitors.
 
A

Andrew Murray

No, you have an ISP - you wouldn't be writing to this group if not. The
thing is your ISP may *also* host web sites - but check with them, unless
you're accessing this group from an internet public access point ('Net cafe,
the airport, whereever?).
 
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