Website Hosting Questions

Answers to Common Website Hosting Questions

Many people who sign up for web hosting quickly learn that hosting a website actually requires a number of steps in order to make a web page active. This article will cover many of those basic, and not-so-basic website hosting questions.

Registering a Domain Name

What's the difference between a domain and a website?

A domain is the url that will direct website visitors to the actual website. When you register a domain, you are registering that url, such as "www.yoursite.com" which you will own. Once you own a domain name, you can point it where your website files are hosted. The website is actually the host where all of your web page files are stored.

Do I have to buy the domain name where I buy website hosting?

You can register the domain name with any domain registration service. It doesn't have to be purchased with the same company where you purchase your web hosting service. However, web hosts are often willing to provide free or discounted domain name registration if you sign up for a hosting service.

How do I make my domain point toward where my website is hosted?

When you register a domain with a registry service, you will need to configure the DNS settings to point the domain to the location where your website is stored, or "hosted". To do this, take the following steps.

1. Log into your web hosting account, and look for the IP address listed for the "Nameservers" or DNS addresses. There will be a "primary" and a "secondary." The IP address will be 4 numbers separated by a period. Or it might be a "nameserver" address such as "ns11.yourhost.com."
2. With this information, log into your domain registration account. Edit the primary and secondary DNS settings for the domain you registered so that it matches those of your web host.
3. Make sure to allow enough time (up to 48 hours) for the change to propagate through the Internet for your website to "work."

Creating, Uploading, and Viewing Your Website

How do I upload a website to my hosting account?

Once you have HTML files that you've created on your computer, the easiest way to upload those files to your hosting account is to use FTP. You can either use an FTP client, or an internet based FTP application most web hosts offer their users, sometimes called "file management systems."

How do I edit pages on my website?

The basic method to edit existing web pages that are being hosted is to download the html file to your computer (using the FTP application), editing the file with either notepad or one of your favorite HTML editors, and then uploading the new file back to your host.

If you want an easier method to maintain the web pages on your website, a new technology now exists called content management systems which let website owners who aren't quite as technically savvy to easily update existing web pages through a very easy to use interface. Some of the most popular ones are Joomla, Drupal, or Mambo. There are many others. Contact your web host to determine which ones they recommend.

Web Hosting Basics

I've uploaded my web pages, but my website doesn't display.

The most common mistake new webmasters make is not having their main webpage named as "index.html." Although this default name can be modified if you prefer to name your main page something else.

Customizing the .htaccess file.

".htaccess" is a file that allows you to redirect visitors to a different website, include password protection, or change the default home page file name, and much more. However editing this file is for the seasoned webmasters. If you don't know what an .htaccess file is, it would be best to leave it at the default settings.

Adding Features to Your Website

All of the features described below are typically installed on your web host directory structure as a new directory under the httpdocs directory. They will usually also make use of the existing database support, such as mySQL. Before setting up any of the services below, make sure that your web host has the features to support it.

How do I create a chat room on my website?

Your web host provider should offer a number of free chat room applications for use on your website. Otherwise, some other common chat room scripts include Chat Files, Everychat, and many others. Follow the software provider's instructions on how to install the chat on your website.

How do I host a forum?

Popular website forum software includes phpBB, SMF Forum, or WWWBoard. Typically installation only includes that files are placed in a particular directory under httpdocs. You may also need to run an install script. The final step is typically to access the admin page and configure the settings for your new forum.

How do I host my own blog?

A blog is set up and configured much like a forum. Popular blog scripts include B2Evolution, WordPress, or Nucleus. There are many others available if you conduct a web search for "blogs for my website."

Additional Resources

When you've registered a domain name and have successfully copied your html files and images to your web host, there are many features, both free and paid, that you can add to your website. Using these applications, you will have a website that visitors can interact with and enjoy.