Set Up Your Own Web Hosting Server

Web hosting servers are powerful computers that store and serve website files to visitors online. While many web hosting companies offer server space for website owners, there are some cases where it may be more beneficial to set up your server. In this guide, we will discuss how to set up your own web hosting server and the benefits and drawbacks of doing so.

Let’s begin!

Setting Up Your Own Web Hosting Server

1. Choosing Hardware

The first step in setting up your server is choosing the hardware to power it. Here are some considerations when selecting hardware for your server:

Processor: The processor is the brain of your server and will affect its overall speed and performance. Choosing a modern multi-core processor with a clock speed of at least 2.5 GHz is recommended

Memory (RAM): RAM is the temporary storage that your server uses to run programs and processes. The more RAM your server has, the more processes it can handle simultaneously. Having at least 8GB of RAM for a basic server is recommended.

Storage (Hard Drive or SSD): Your server will need storage space to store your website files, database, and other data. Choosing a hard or solid-state drive with enough capacity to store all your data is recommended.

Network Interface Card (NIC): The NIC connects your server to the internet. You can choose a NIC with gigabit Ethernet capability for faster network speeds.

2. Choosing Software

Once you have chosen your hardware, you must choose the software that will run on your server. Here are some considerations when choosing software for your server:

Operating System (OS):

The operating system is the software that manages your server’s resources and runs your server’s programs. Choosing a stable and secure operating system such as Linux or Windows Server is recommended.

Web Server Software:

Web server software serves your website files to visitors online. Choosing a popular and well-supported web server software such as Apache or Nginx is recommended.

Database Software:

If your website requires a database, you must choose database software to manage it. Choosing a popular and well-supported database software such as MySQL or PostgreSQL is recommended.

Control Panel Software:

Control panel software allows you to manage your server and website through an easy-to-use web interface. Choosing a popular and well-supported control panels software such as cPanel or Plesk is recommended.

3. Server Setup

Installing the OS

Once your server hardware is ready, the first step is installing the operating system. The most common operating systems for web servers are Linux-based distributions, such as CentOS, Ubuntu, and Debian. Each of these distributions has its own strengths and weaknesses, so choose one that fits your needs and preferences.

Configuring the Network

After installing the OS, you need to configure the network settings. This includes setting up the IP address, subnet mask, gateway, and DNS servers. Depending on your hosting environment, you may need to configure additional network settings such as VLAN tagging, network bonding, and network security settings.

Installing the Web Server Software

The next step is to install the web server software, such as Apache, Nginx, or Microsoft IIS. Each web server software has its own strengths and weaknesses, so choose one that fits your needs and preferences.

Once you have installed the web server software, you must configure it to serve your website’s content. This includes setting up virtual hosts, configuring SSL certificates, and configuring access control rules.

Configuring the Control Panel Software

Control panel software provides a web-based interface for managing your server and websites. Once you have installed the control panel software, you must configure it to manage your server and websites.

This includes configuring email accounts, creating FTP accounts, and managing domains. Choose the right web hosting control panel software like cPanel, Plesk, or Webmin to make server management more manageable.

4. Domain Name Setup

Choosing a Domain Name

The first step in setting up a domain name is to choose a domain name that reflects your brand or website. Your domain name should be short, memorable, and easy to spell. Avoid using hyphens, numbers, or special characters in your domain name.

Registering Your Domain Name

Once you have chosen a domain name, you must register a Domain Name in Pakistan with a domain registrar, such as Tezhost.pk. Domain registration typically costs around 1000-2000 PKR per year, depending on the domain extension (.com, .net, .org, etc.) and the registrar.

At TezHost we are providing cheap web hosting in Pakistan along with free domain name registration.

Configuring DNS

After registering your domain name, you need to configure the DNS settings to point your domain name to your server’s IP address. This involves creating DNS records, such as A records, MX records, and CNAME records.

You can manage your DNS settings through your domain registrar’s control panel or a third-party DNS provider, such as Cloudflare or Amazon Route 53.

Securing Your Server

Installing Security Software

To protect your server from cyber-attacks, you need to install security software, such as anti-virus software, intrusion detection software, and web application firewall software. These softwares can help detect and prevent cyber attacks, such as malware infections, brute force attacks, and SQL injection attacks.

Configuring Firewall Rules

In addition to security software, you need to configure firewall rules to control network traffic to and from your server. This involves setting up firewall rules to allow only necessary network traffic and blocking unauthorized traffic.

You can configure firewall rules using your server’s built-in firewall software or third-party firewall software, such as iptables or firewall.

Configuring User Accounts

When setting up your own web hosting server, it is essential to configure user accounts securely. By default, most Linux distributions create a root user with full administrative privileges.

While this is convenient for administrative tasks, using the root user for day-to-day server management is not recommended, as any mistakes the root user makes can have severe consequences.

Instead, it is best to create a separate user account with administrative privileges and use that account for routine management tasks. This reduces the risk of accidental damage to the server and makes it more difficult for hackers to gain control of the system.

To create a new user account on your server, log in as the root user and enter the following command:

adduser username

Replace “username” with the desired name of the new user. You will then be prompted to enter a password for the new user and provide additional information, such as their full name and phone number.

Once the user account is created, you can grant it administrative privileges by adding it to the “sudo” group:

usermod -aG sudo username

This will allow the user to run administrative commands by prefacing them with “sudo”. For example, to install software or modify system settings, the user would enter:

sudo apt-get install package-name

It is also a good practice to disable root login via SSH and limit access to the server to only authorized users. This can be accomplished by modifying the SSH configuration file located at “/etc/ssh/sshd_config”.

Conclusion

Setting up your own web hosting server can be a challenging but rewarding experience. By planning and preparing, you can create a server that meets your needs and your clients’ needs.

Choose your server’s hardware, operating system, and control panel. Follow the steps outlined above on How to Set Up Your Own Web Hosting Server and secure your server once it’s up and running.

With the proper knowledge and tools, anyone can set up their own web hosting server and provide hosting services to clients.

Good luck!