External host or host from home

[Debt.tv]

Ok, I am in pretty heavy development of my first website. I hope to launch by January 1, 2010. What should I do.

1. Should I find an external host such as Hostedfx (already using for some of my blog sites) or hostgator?

2. I have a desktop computer that I don't use anymore, but is still hooked up and runs good. Can I make it into a server for my website?

I would prefer 2 but I don't know much about setting my computer up to work in that capacity. Would I be subject to hackers? What would I have to do besides keeping the computer running all the time. Are there any special programs that I would have to install and run?

Thanks

Eric

 

[CrazyTech]

How old is the desktop? (IE: An old desktop with an older CPU/low amount of memory is not the ideal to run a website on; performance will suffer). Beyond that, does your ISP permit you to host a server? (Many don't.)

To answer your other questions, anything hooked up to the internet is subject to hackers. Do you know how to manage Apache, PHP, MySQL, a DNS service, etc? Can you secure them instead of using the default vulnerable states that many of them come with? You've also got to manage firewalls. Are you okay with no internet for a day or more when you get a DOS/DDOS attack?

I'm not trying to scare you, but running a server is a serious thing. There are plenty of good tools where you can run a local server for development purchases, but I wouldn't exactly recommend running your own live server for security and headache reasons. I'd personally suggest putting that in the hands of the professionals.

 

[Debt.tv]

How old is the desktop? (IE: An old desktop with an older CPU/low amount of memory is not the ideal to run a website on; performance will suffer). Beyond that, does your ISP permit you to host a server? (Many don't.)

To answer your other questions, anything hooked up to the internet is subject to hackers. Do you know how to manage Apache, PHP, MySQL, a DNS service, etc? Can you secure them instead of using the default vulnerable states that many of them come with? You've also got to manage firewalls. Are you okay with no internet for a day or more when you get a DOS/DDOS attack?

I'm not trying to scare you, but running a server is a serious thing. There are plenty of good tools where you can run a local server for development purchases, but I wouldn't exactly recommend running your own live server for security and headache reasons. I'd personally suggest putting that in the hands of the professionals.

That was the answer I was looking for. Thank you!

Rep'd!

 

[SiberForum]

I suppose that would be wise to chose the cheapest web hosting solution for that

 

[iHubNet-Matt]

That was the answer I was looking for.

I too suggest you to go for a professional solution. And there is not much to explain as CrazyTech has already given a nice description about the concerns.

 

[Lulu]

Yeah a professional solution like hostgator will be the best answer. moreover, i dont think that you will be having a high broadband network to put your server on.

 

[cindyfowler]

so sometimes,the old brand is credible and remarkable,when you dont know to choose what kind of it,you can think about it ..