Hello, I have been using linux for a while now and I have recently taken up an interest in hosting my own website. I have read that Apache, MySQL, and PHP/Python/Perl are really important tools for serving, mangement and database purposes, however this is all I really know about webhosting. I read on yolinux.com that an FTP server and DNS server are required. Is this true? Since I am the only person I am going to be hosting couldn't I just transfer files (HTML) via SSH? Also, when I register a domain, wouldn't that automatically bind my IP to the domain name? Anyone have any advice or good starting point?
EDIT: I forgot to ask. Would having an FTP, HTTP, and DNS server mean having three different computers or can one computer handle these three jobs?

Try

http://www.linuxhomenetworking.com/#Linux

To host your website on your own internet connection (and machine), you need to do the following:

1) register a domainname. (many providers can do this for you)
2) Let the provider, point your domainname to your internet connections IP number (this IP number should be a fixed one!)
3) Have a machine on your side of the internet connection (which will serve as server.)
4) IMPORTANT! configure a firewall!!!!!
5) Have Apache installed and configured.
6) Install additional modules for Apache *if needed*, e.g. PHP,mod cgi
7) You do not need a DNS if you use (as stated before on point two), a DNS server from your provider.
8) You do not need a FTP server if you tend to use scp for file transfers. *SSH server must be configured and running on the server*
9) copy the website files via scp to the designated location on the server.
10) basicaly done.

Optional:

11) Install MySQL server and client on the server
12) Compile PHP with MySQL support
13) Build/import a SQL DB into the SQL server
14) make the site interactive with php/MySQL

15) Install/configure a mail server
16) Install/configure a POP/IMAP server
17) Let the provider point the MX (mail exchanger) record to your internet connection IP number.


And yes, all those services can be served by one machine.

that's about it.

good luck.

If your the only one that will use the web server then maybe a simpler solution. This is not the safest way, but it will do what you ask.

1. Install Apache
2. Start web browser
3. go to: <your linux box>
4.

Now you have a html server. If you have dynamic IP you need to do some more work. Also the server is not safe now. You migth want to put up a firewall and other security measures.
But your on track!

alright ill try all the things above but I have come across a problem. My ISP issues a dynamic IP. Is it still possible to run a web server?

yes, if you need your own domain name, check out dyndns ... or if you have your own domain name (I didn't read the whole post .. use zonedit

Both are free and work great.

cheers

I don't think zoneedit will handle dynamic IPs, but I gather dyndns and other will. It's not a matter of whether or not you have a domain name

Right after installing, the MySQL server is not secure, because a couple tables allow root access without a password. This is to allow you access initially. Look in /usr/share/doc/packages/mysql/ for a manual (maybe called manual.pdf). It has a section on what you need to do to after installation.

Good Luck, and have fun!

:P
Firstly, zoneedit does handle dynamic IP. I am using it right now [zoneedit dynamic]. Secondly, the reason to use dyndns if you do not have a domainname is they have a large pool of free domain choices. The reason to use zonedit over dyndns is you do have a dommainame is zonedit is free in this case (unless you have huge bandwidth) whereas you must subscribe to dyndns'CustomDNS service for $25 for the same functionality with them look here

Linux Magazine ran an article a few years back about setting up Postnuke on a Linux machine.

While this article is pretty old, it covered pretty much everything from setting up apache, PHP, and mysql in a very straight forward manner, then moved on to installing and configuring Postnuke. it's a short article and very easy to follow. Worth the time to look at if this is your first LAMP server..

http://www.linux-mag.com/id/1057/

Once the base server is setup you are not restricted to Postnuke of course.. but the foundation of the article is pertinent to your original question.


Other things you can look at ..
http://www.apachetoolbox.com/
A script that allows you to customize your installation of apache, and related modules, download the latest versions of all and compile/install them. a bit more advanced than using your distros pre-packaged versions of these apps, but still a very neat project.

Fair enough, but enough of the faces

hehe. no disrespect intended mate.

None taken either