Building a basic website;

[Ice Rich]

Hi guys,

I registered a domain name ages ago but have not done anything with it. I had the intention or setting it up to host pictures and have an email associated with it. At the moment I just use the services (webspace + email) that come free with my ISP. I've kind of put all my eggs in one basket if you like which I now realize is not the best idea.

All I have done in regards to setting up my domain is register the website on 123reg. Do I just approach hosting companies now and go from there?
I am right in saying I can get an email associated with the domain right?

Any help much appreciated,

Thanks

 

[Ice Rich]

Yeah, once you get some hosting (TSOhost or Vidahost are well recommended, and have a variety of packages, the ~£15 per year ones will do for a basic website/email) you point your domain at the hosting by editing the "Nameservers" on 123reg.

Once this is done, you'll be able to create email accounts using the control panel of your hosting company (both of my suggestions above use cPanel)

For a website, you will create it and copy the files to the hosting, using an FTP client.


Garry

Thanks for help I'll check out them recommendations.
At the moment I use FTP to upload to my ISP service, so im hoping everything should be straight forward on the changeover.

 

[Ice Rich]

if you have hosting already, why are you changing ? ?

I currently use the free hosting and email through my ISP - blueyonder (now virgin). Their uptime has always been great and i've not once had a problem. I think i'm at a stage now though were I need something more 'official'. I only need the hosting side for showing pictures which I often use for work. If, for some reason, I were to change ISP or they discontinued their services etc, I would be 'up the creek'. Also, I don't know how long viring will support the 'blueyonder' name.

I will check out vidahost now, thanks.

He's using his ISP hosting - which he doesn't want to do, and cannot easily manage.

Using a dedicated host (rather than an old Apache server slung somewhere by an ISP to say they offer some webspace) will be much better for him, and for something like £15 per year - it's pocket change!

Could not of put it better

 

[Ice Rich]

Sorry to bother you again guys,

I've orderd the basic package and selected the domain I have reged with 123-reg. I'm a bit stuck with what to do now though, i can't seem to log into the c/panel. I think i need to update the nameservers on 123reg but I don't know what I change them to?

Any help appreciated,

Thanks

Edit: It's alright guys. i've had an email through now with the nameserver details and i've updated them on 123reg. Looks like I need to wait for it to filter through then I should be able to manage it in control panel. Will I be at a disadvantage because I've used 123reg to register rather then if I did it all-in one go on vidahost?

 

[Ice Rich]

Right guys, I can now login to my control panel. I will have to read some of the guides as I next need to get the email setup, i'm not sure how todo that yet. I'm hoping i will be able to use a pop3/smtp one through mozilla thunderbird.

When I upload to my isp webspace, I have to make sure I put all the images in a certain folder. I should not need todo that now though, right? For the minute I only need the site to host pictures, If I just create folders on the mainpage and upload into them via ftp - that should be ok?

Do you think i should have any security on the site, i see there is some options security related?

Any help much appriciated guys.

 

[Ice Rich]

setting up email in cpanel is easy as....

there is an "email" button, just click it, and add new email addresses in there, choose a password etc. and your done

then enter the details in to your email application.
pop3 and smtp will be mail.yourdomain.com(co.uk)

for the site, just upload it via FTP..

to start with put an index.htm in the main www folder when you log in to the ftp.

then you can build and upload your site at your leisure

Thanks very much for your help,

I've added a email to the domain now but i'm having trouble setting it up in thunderbird. I already have 2 mailboxes active (from my isp - so smtp is the same). I'd like to add the new domain to thunderbird too but when I go to add another outsgoing server (smtp) it states that it is likely to cause problems?

I notice that when I ftp into the domain there are 2 folders, ftpPublic and htttpPublic). On my current isp webspace setup, only I can view the pictures stored as a password is promoted. However, when I link the pictures using code:

[IMG]http...were image is stored etc.....[/img]

This makes the image viewable by anyone (i.e they do not need a password). I would like to get the new domain setup in this way. Would it be best to store the picturesin the 'ftpPublic' folder and then password protect it through vidahost? Should I just create a new folder or do I have to use the 'public' ones?

You help is very much appricated,

Kind regards,

Rich

 

[Ice Rich]

Thanks again for help

If i password lock a folder, will I still be able to link the picture? Or would all the users wishing to view that image have to enter a password too?

I don't really want anyone going onto the site and looking through all the pictures. I want to chose which picture is shown where.

I'm looking into adding another outgoing server on thunderbird now,,,i should sort it soon,

Thanks again,

 

[Ice Rich]

Hi Paul (+everyone),

I've now got the email bit working fine. I can upload to the ftp now and pictures are viewable. I've just put an ocuk image in for the moment for testing:


Only problem I have is that anyone who types in the above url will see all the pictures I have uploaded (not really a big deal as it only going to be work related stuff). However, on my current blueyonder setup I get prompted by a password logon screen whenever I enter domain. I presume i would need to add a password in c.panel todo this? (hopfully the pictures will stil be viewable if I link to them though?).

Cheers again,

 

[Ice Rich]

You don't need a password... what's happening is that the server is showing the directory listing because there's no web page at that location. If you create an empty file called index.html and upload it to the folder, it will stop this from happening.

Ah I see what Paul meant now - thanks, i'll try that.

Only thing is, I need to navigate through the folders/pics myself in order to find the url which I can then use?

 

[Ice Rich]

All is now ok with the hosting+email, thanks again for all help!


1 last question

My domain is due to be renewed next month. Would you recommend moving the domain over to vidahost then both domain + hosting will be provided by them? Or does having the same host+registrar have no benefits?

 

[Ice Rich]

i have all my domains registered with someone else and the hosting with vidahost.. at some point ill move them all over but at the moment, it makes no difference.

btw, with your site, you can still have a passworded folder if you want one

for example

yoursite.com/private

just log in to the ftp and create the folder

and then go in to cpanel and put a password on just that folder

Cheers Paul,
I'll stay with 123reg as registrar then.

I'm in the process of setting up hosting on another site and the 'index.htm' seems to work ok. What i've done is added that file to the main site but bootmarked a folder deeper into the directory. So if you stumbled on the site you would not be able to navigate. I presume someone could work around this but there is nothing really important on the site anyway.

I'm still a bit confused on that password thing, as I would not be able to share info in the locked folder with people unless they know the password? I'll have to mess around with it.

At the moment though I've moved away from my ISP email + hosting which is a relief

Thanks,