Hosting a website

I am not sure what you mean by "move it".

There are two different things you can mean when you say "move a website". You could mean moving the "host"... or you could mean moving the "domain"... or you could mean both.

A website is made of a bunch of files that sit on a disk drive somewhere. This "somewhere" (the place the files live) is called the "host".

The host computer (actually usually it is a group of computers that all know how to get the files off the disk drive... but this is not important here and I am trying to simplify) has the important job of using the files to send you the web page (i.e. the information your computer needs to show you the web page) when you connect to it.

To move the host... you would need to copy all of the files from the current host computer onto a new host. Someone with a general knowledge of computers can do this pretty easily but this process would probably be difficult for someone new to computers.

The "domain" is the address you use to connect to a website--- for example of the domain of this site is "www.able2know.com". The domains are managed by one organization that then lets private companies to sell these domain names. (This is necessary since you need everyone to agree on which name points where on the internet). The companies that sell them are responsible for setting them and generally give you an automated way to manage the domains you own.

Ifor example if they wanted to move this site to "www.able3know.com" they would have to choose a company and buy that name. This company would then register the name. Then they would generally use a fairly simply application to point the new domain name to the host computer they just set up.

You explained that perfectly, ebrown.

I understand it now and I want to keep the domain name and move the host.
Would you know how I find a new host? Does it have to be a friend or, if I pay, is it expensive? Do you know how I go about finding someone to host it?

I have a Mac and I learnt how to use Nve and RBrowser to keep the site updated.

It depends, of course, on what you want.

There are several prominent hosting companies. My hosting company charges $6.99 a month for a fairly nice set of features (I run a Java server application under Apache) and I have no complaints.

There are cheaper plans for 3 or 4 dollars per month that I believe would be fine for serving up HTML.

If you plan to have millions of visitors... you need to pay more since hosting companies charge more for high bandwidth.

Once you choose a new hosting company, you need to put the web site files on their host-- you normally do this using a program called "ftp". Your new hosting company should offer help to do this, or you can ask for help here when you get to that point.

If you need to get the files from your old hosting company (hopefully you kept a copy of these files in the first place, but if you didn't...) you will use "ftp" to move the files to your home computer.


But you can start by searching for "web hosting"...

Oh...

Once you set up the new host... you then contact the company from which you bought your domain name. They will help you point your domain to the new host.

Generally this is done through an automated web application.

All I think I need from the hosting company is a little space. My website only has a very few visitors, I should think.

I'll have a browse over the internet and see what I come up with.

Thank so much.

Just make back ups of your html pages then upload them via ftp or ftp manager on your new host. I suppose it depends how complex your site is.

The site isn't complicated except for some publications which I sell via Paypal.

My husband has told me I have a .mac account which has enough space to host it. Would this be an option?

Your webhosting issue
Hi Tara,

you can move your existing web site to a new host without starting from scratch.

First thing is to find your self a new web host.

The upload the web pages to that host using the control panel or ftp they provide.

Next step is more technical. You need to identify the company who provide your domain name and get the log in details for your account.

Then you need to find the names of the DNS servers for your new web host.

Next go back to your domain name account and point those DNS server addresses.

If the site is relatively new, it shouldn't hurt to buy a new domain name, which might be easier for you.

A few suggestions here:

http://www.foursquareinnovations.co.uk/software_development_and_ebusiness_articles/how_to_choose_a_domain_name.html

Hope this helps.
Chris

Thank you for that, Chris. I love the name of my website as it's simple and I was unbelievably fortunate to get it so I'd rather not change it.

As I have my own space on my .mac account, can I host it myself?

Re hosting
Hi,

I haven't heard of this web host - but if you have hosting space there, the answer is probably yes - just have a rummage around and see if you can find where to upload your web pages to and also find out what the DNS server names are. Then you're ready to go.

C