I want to host my own website from home. Mainly for learning how to set it up purposes. I have a few questions on how to do it.

note: I have a constant 24/7 cable internet connection.

1. first i will need to get a domain name, for example; COULSON.com

this is the part i get stumped with.

my incoming ip address from my ISP is static, is this the ip address that my example domain 'www.coulson.com' will use?

how does this ip address and domain name get put out on the internets DNS servers so it can find my website?

in other words, how does my website get out to the DNS servers on the INTERNET??? so when someone types www.coulson.com, it can find my website wich is being hosted from my home/

Before you go too far, you'd best check with your ISP, if they allow you to run a web server. Many ISP's don't allow it.

Please let us know if you found someone's advice to be helpful.

Well, as long as it's just for educational purpose, I think the ISP won't say a thing. I've setup servers myself at home, and not just the web server.

I've even use ftp server to "easily" send files to people (it's easier to tell them to download directly from my PC rather than emailing or uploading it to rapidshare or something).

Back to the question:

how does this ip address and domain name get put out on the internets DNS servers so it can find my website?

You need to use a DNS server, Check out http://dyndns.org and ask again if you still have questions.

You need to pay if you want to use your own domain name, but it's free if you use a subdomain they provided.

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Fubar

my ISP assigns my incoming ip address as a public address, so my domain name would be linked to that ip address, but how does that ip address and domain name get put out on the internets DNServers?

or do i need my own DNS along with my web server?

So, Laler types out a nice response, complete with a useful link, and you just ignore it?

Your question has been answered.

Please let us know if you found someone's advice to be helpful.

=D

how does that ip address and domain name get put out on the internets DNServers

Just put it in an authorative DNS server (like the one in DynDNS) and it will propagate to the the whole internets. And you sounds like the president. =D

But btw, before doing the domain names, you should try if the internets can access your PC (eg: your ISP don't route-out port 80 traffic from the internets to your PC). Ask someone to open http://your_ip_address while you already have a webserver running, and port 80 opened in your firewall. Or take down the whole firewall to make sure on these tests.

Or you can test your ports at ShiledsUp. If port 80 is blocked (by your ISP), there's still chance that some other port isn't. My port 80 is blocked, but people can still access my web server by typing http://mydomain.com:8888 for example.

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Fubar

would it be possible for me to have the webserver connected to my internal network and not directly to the router?

I presently have a Win2000Svr DC (2 NICS) connected to the router, DC also connected to a switch along with client computers. Could the webserver be connected to the switch also? and then have the W2000SVR DC direct the traffic that is intended for the webserver to the webserver?

would it be possible for me to have the webserver connected to my internal network and not directly to the router?

Not the internet? No need for a domain name then?

Is it possible? Of course, and it's even easier. If you have http://localhost running without problem, then just open port 80, and all connected PCs will be able to open http://computername or http://ip_address

And you didn't mention about routers before. If you want the internets to access your web server, if you use a router, then you must set a rule in the router to forward incoming port 80 traffic from the internets to the PC where the web server is installed.

I presently have a Win2000Svr DC (2 NICS) connected to the router, DC also connected to a switch along with client computers. Could the webserver be connected to the switch also? and then have the W2000SVR DC direct the traffic that is intended for the webserver to the webserver?

What is DC?

And why do you connect the router to just a single PC?

I think people will use 2 NICs only when they don't have a router. So they need a PC to act as a router, to accept internet connection, and share it to other PCs (acts as a gateway). This is the purpose of a "broadband router". ("broadband router" is not a "real" router which costs more than $1500)

For the other question, yes it's possible to let both your private network and the internet to access the web server. Just open the correct ports (port 80 traffic from both directions should not be blocked). And also, set a forwarding rule in the router.

internet -- port 80 -> router, forward traffic to --> PC with web server (with port 80 opened for this connection)

Other PCs inside your network --> PC with web server (with port 80 opened for this connection)

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Fubar

DC=Domain Controller

I have 2 NICS in the DC because I setup a home domain called 'mylastname.com' and this W2K Svr DC I have configured NAT to give the computers in this LAN/domain that are connected to the switch internet access.

so this server is also acting as a LAN router.

There are other computers connected to the linksys router that are not part of this LAN domain getting internet access.

do i still need to use a free DNS hosting site to make my webserver, wich will also be an intranet server, available for people to view on the internet?

i'll make a seperate intranet site and a seperate site for web visitors.

Ah okay, so I assume DNS server is featured in the W2K server DC?

You can create your own DNS server, and make it authorative, but it's kind of beat the purpose when DNS and other servers are stucked in the same IP (or even PC?).

So to answer your last question, I'll say yes you'll still need a DNS server on the internets.

Btw, where'd you bought your domain? Some companies provide more options than others. You might be able to point your domain name directly to your IP in your domain name control panel (no need to point it to DynDNS first).

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Before going into domain names:

(1) Assuming the web server is located in the W2K DC, make sure http://localhost works in the W2K DC

(2) Open port 80 in the W2K DC, in the NIC that connects to the Linksys router.

(3) In the router, forward requests from the internet on port 80 to W2K DC port 80

(4) Ask someone on the internet to type http://your_ip_address, and they should see the web server on W2K DC.

If it works, then you can start worrying about the domain name.

And btw, to get a more specific answer about networking you should ask in Networking or Windows2000.

I never use a W2K DC, nor playing with "Windows Domains".

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Fubar