Using a domain name instead of ip address for my website???
 

I've got a real basic question. I'm using ATT broadband cable to connect to the internet. I'm also running linux with Apache and Tomcat. I've been building a website and now I want to use a domain name I bought instead of using my ipaddress, is this possible? Can I host my own website, using my own domain name instead of the ip address that ATT gave me? If not, I'd welcome any suggestions.

Thanks.

First: It's far from a basic question.

<disclaimer>Given the current flood of http requests over @home network from CodeRed-II, now might not be the time to pursue a web server project. If you've got a plain-jane home connection (cable/dsl) your Acceptible Use Policy from your ISP will likely state in no uncertain terms that you are not to run httpd/mail/news/irc servers from your connection. And even if they don't state it now, I would wager it will be in place (and enforced) before the end of the week.</disclaimer>

That being said,
You will need at least two name servers for your new hostname. Those name servers will need to have the zone info and A records which point to your ip address. If your IP is dynamic, there are a couple of hack solutions - (dyndns being one of them).

Hey thanks for your help. You raised some valid points. What are your thoguhts on using a DNS service? I looked at a few on the web that seemed like they could do what I'm looking for.

What I would do is use a service like redirection.net and then you can just redirect the domain to your IP # lol about the easiest way to do it

Okay, so in my terms of service, it says I'm not supposed to have a server. Will they find out about this if I use one of these redirection techniques? I imagine a lot of people who are supposed to have ftp servers do.

It depends what you want to do, if you just want to host a few webpages than I say what the hell go ahead, but if you are going to have lots of people uploading/downloading to your ftp server than your cable connection will soon become very lagggggged. I doubt your cable company would have any problem with you hosting a small site..

I just want to host my own website. I don't even use an ftp server, I just used it as an example of a server that most people get away with. The thing is, I'm using a lot of jsp and servlets, and to get an outside source to host any j2ee application, the price is pretty steep. On my own computer, I can use a combination of Apache and Tomcat and they're both free. I don't think my isp will be able to notice if I had a website (I imagine the bandwith would be significantly less that somebody with an ftp server.) I just wanted to hear what other people thought. Thanks for your replies.

Looks like your cable modem party just got shut down. http://help.broadband.att.com/faq.js...category_id=54

AT&T cable and Excite@Home have closed inbound connections to port 80 for an "indefinate" period of time.

It looks they they _do_ have a problem with web servers. :)

That may be true, but Tomcat doesn't run on port 80.

lol