You might be experienced in running a web server, but have you ever tried to deploy one? Being the person in charge of making sure that a specific site runs smoothly is not for the faint-hearted. Sometimes, things can go wrong without any preceding warning signs. The longer you spend on trying to figure out what happened, the more stress you add to the equation. Is there a way to easily set up a fresh web server with all the default configurations and then be able to login and start using it without needing any additional support?
Choosing a Dedicated Hosting Plan
Dedicated hosting is, in theory, the perfect solution for someone who wants to set up a web server for the purpose of storing personal or business websites. With this kind of hosting, you get a dedicated IP address – something that is usually reserved for the big brands – and you don’t have to worry about any of the server-related tasks. All you need to do is upload the files that you want to make available online and wait for the system to do the rest. Of course, this assumes that you have followed the proper procedures to set up the server in the first place. There are a few dedicated hosting companies that will take care of all the technicalities for you so that you can simply relax and enjoy your new site.
Setting Up A Dedicated Server
The first thing that you need to do is pick a dedicated hosting plan that has everything pre-configured and ready to use. In most cases, this will mean that you need to go for a premium service since most companies offer a free version of their product. The good news is that you can sign up for the same service and get a free dedicated IP address for your new site. Make sure that you don’t confuse a free dedicated server with one that is shared. Shared servers will, generally, host multiple sites and, as a result, will be able to take advantage of some of the premium features offered by the hosting service. If you want to keep your site(s) secure, then shared servers are not the option to choose. In case you’re wondering, a dedicated IP address can cost you anywhere between $10 and $30 a month depending on the service that you use.
Shared hosting will also typically come with a control panel that allows you to administer your files through a web browser. If you want to avoid having to log in to your server via SSH or an FTP client to upload files, then shared hosting is perfect for you. You’ll just need to make sure that you don’t exceed the service’s file storage capacity since it will eventually be billed you for each additional GB that you use. This can be frustrating if you’re not aware of how much space you’re taking up.
Step-by-step Guide To Set Up A New Server
Now that you have your dedicated hosting plan, it’s time to move onto the next phase of the process. The first thing that you need to do is log in to your hosting account and download the latest version of the Apache web server software. This will be the core of your new web server and, as a result, all the applications and services that you need to make your site work will be hosted on it.
While Apache is the most popular web server software out there, it is, in no way, the only option. You might also decide to use Nginx or LiteSpeed for the same purpose – it really depends on what you prefer. All of these web servers are free and open source software so you will not have any trouble in obtaining and installing them on your new server.
Once you have the web server installed, it’s time to move onto configuring it. This is where you will need to input the details of the sites that you want to host and how you want them to be hosted. Do note that the server will need some time to process all the configurations before it can be used. At this stage, you can also add users and set up automated backups (via a web server’s cron job) to ensure that your data is safe in case something happens.
After you have finished configuring the server, it’s time to test it to ensure that it works as intended. It’s a good idea to test your site with a few different browsers and operating systems to ensure that it works well on all devices. Once you are sure that it works the way you want it to, you can move onto the final stage which is making it publicly accessible. This is achieved by creating a website that points to the server’s IP address (something like http://example.com) and giving it a memorable name that will be used as the domain name for your site (e.g., blog.example.com).
The above steps will guide you through the process of setting up a new web server and using it to host your sites. Be sure to follow them carefully so that you don’t end up with any errors. You’ll also need to monitor your server’s logs – the output of the command line – to ensure that there are no errors or warnings. If you are stuck at any point during the process, there are always documentation and tutorials available online that can help you out.