Hosting Where to begin?

[jBud]

I’d like to learn all I can about hosting, server management etc.
I’m thinking I’ll convert one of my old desktops into a server, and hence I have a cable connection with a static IP and all ports open it could serve as a great learning tool.
But I have no clues as where to start, are there any tutorials, books etc. out there?
Or should I just stick to forums and start posting questions?
What I’d really like is a Web Host for Dummies sort of book.
Any Ideas?

PS don't mind the typo in the title (i just ate the "T")
[ADMIN NOTE: I cooked up a new one for you, don't eat this one.]

[Chicken]

Or should I just stick to forums and start posting questions?
You know, there are a whole slew of people on these forums who seem to know a bit about everything. Aside from you finding a place to begin (never a bad thing), when I had a question I would search and if I couldn't find the answer, post a question. So what, you post 100 questions... you may help someone else some day in the same aimlessly-drifting boat one day.

[BurstPR]

If you are learning linux, a good start would be getting the install complete and installing all the packages you want/need. Make sure you can get apache running, etc. You didn't indicate any references to knowledge, so sorry if this is already trivial to you. But, it's a good place to start none-the-less.

[jBud]

Yeah i guess getting down and dirty seems to be the logical way to go..
I'm going to put CentOs on one of my old pc's and see what i can learn. :-)

[Tinkletinkle]

You can get some tutorials on using Centos....
http://www.reaper-x.com/2007/06/16/learning-to-use-centos-distro/

[EWH-Chris]

You can also find a lot of useful info on http://www.linux-tutorial.info/
I point a lot of my own clients here when they wish to read up on their own as opposed to sitting and asking questions

[servmap]

to make it short, learning technical aspect is not very hard.

install and learn linux, centos is favourable distro for hosting as many of you have already mention.

install hosting control panel, try the free ones first. then spend some bucks to commercial hosting control panel, you can learn it by leasing a vps.

next step is learn the business part in hosting industry.

[rainboy]

Think the most common learning path would be:

- Shared hosting account, get familiar with what customers do and can do.
- Reseller hosting account, get in the driving seat, no need for knowledge on Os yet.
- VPS account, get in the driving seat, knowledge on the Os a good thing (if you have a fully managed VPS you can fall back on the techs of the company you have the VPS from).
- Dedicated server, you are on your own (if you have a fully managed dedicated server, you can fall back on the techs of the company you have the dedicated server from, or you could hire an external managed service).

Costs go up from step to step, personally i would try to avoid the 3rd, been there done that and wasn't happy with it.

Having an understanding of linux (or windows, when choosing for windows hosting) is a very good thing as from step 3, so get those ISO's and install them, one good hint, minimize ! do not install more as really is needed, every package needs to be updated, besides installing new features is just as much part of the learning curve as just install everything at the installation ;)

Good luck!

[LoganNZ]

Google.com is going to be your best tool throughout your learning process.

Be sure not to skip anything, I skipped a lot of things that I had to go back and learn :\

Also, refrain from having children around during learning times :P Linux + kids = bad mix.

Good luck on your linux path :)

[resellerchoice]

If you are looking into windows hosting, most windows OS's come with a "lite" version of IIS

[DeusExMachina]

As for books, I highly recommend the Safari bookshelf service. You can read from many topics, without having to buy many $30+ manuals. It's great for programming/OS study/web design and more exotic topics.

I like the ease of online tuts, but they don't explain the why/where/whats that will give you a true grounding why XYZ is done as ABC. So if you want more indepth study, Safari's a cheaper route with a huge at-your-finger-tips library. Sure helped me learn *nix and *BSD, and have the time to truly sample books from different authors to judge their writing style (and humor), before ordering them for further study, too.

[suhailc]

Hi,

I don't recommend you turn a desktop into a server - too much hassle with it.

The best thing to do is to get a VPS with its own external control panel so you can reload/restore it as and when you need to.

VPSs are cheap nowdays starting from $9.95 and upwards for a decent starting spec.

[roming]

Hi,

I don't recommend you turn a desktop into a server - too much hassle with it.

The best thing to do is to get a VPS with its own external control panel so you can reload/restore it as and when you need to.

VPSs are cheap nowdays starting from $9.95 and upwards for a decent starting spec.
VPSs are really not expensive nowsdays and they will be a suitale soluton for you. But do you want managed or self-managed ones - that is the question? For instance, A2hosting.com provides only self-managed VPSs with many features.

[JetNet]

As others mentioned, getting a cheap VPS with a control panel such as HyperVM + cPanel / WHM is a good idea. Try and force yourself to do a lot of maintenance work via SSH so that you become familiar with the commands. Soon enough, it will be like riding a bike; or if you don't ride a bike, like swimming; or if you don't swim, like...

[Zax]

The best way to learn about linux is to work for a company supporting linux clients, or to get a partner who will reach you all the stuff.

[symbiote_venom]

I'd say the best way to learn unix is to mess around with it until you start to learn how everything works.

From there, buy a book, take a class, expand your knowledge on the OS, how to do this and that, and anything else you want to learn.

[She-Bear]

Informative posts - thank you.

[suhailc]

I'd suggest that you get a cheap VPS to play with, and if you mess up anything, just ask the host to rebuild your VPS.

[Lotosus]

I’d like to learn all I can about hosting, server management etc.
I’m thinking I’ll convert one of my old desktops into a server, and hence I have a cable connection with a static IP and all ports open it could serve as a great learning tool.
But I have no clues as where to start, are there any tutorials, books etc. out there?
Or should I just stick to forums and start posting questions?
What I’d really like is a Web Host for Dummies sort of book.
Any Ideas?

PS don't mind the typo in the title (i just ate the "T")
[ADMIN NOTE: I cooked up a new one for you, don't eat this one.]

You should start by reading basics about web hosting (for example in Wikipedia), then find a hood reseller hosting company, check what control panel they are using and start by reading that manual... That's your first step

[MagniRack]

I would suggest PLAY AROUND WITH IT! I did that in my early stages too!

Good luck

[dbkooper]

Hello,

You could avoid a lot of the technical side of things if you go with a reseller hosting plan. This would save you time and money during your startup, and while you are gaining customers you should start learning some linux and system admin skills. Then when you outgrow your reseller web hosting you could upgrade to a dedicated server and know what you are doing by then

[Thales]

Hands on experience would be your best bet. Converting an old desktop to a linux machine and tinkering with it on a daily basis will yield a wealth of experience. The business aspect of webhosting will also come from experience, perhaps from working in the industry or taking an internship somewhere.

-fin
Thales

[anand4hosting]

best way is google.. and keep your old pc in a rack and make it online..then choose a good pc with little big config then install the windows 2003 enterprise.then make all the racked pc as member of domain..then assign a IP to all the old pc fist try with one@@ then try to take the remote desktop connection if its works fine..then you can sell this old pc space as small VPS for clients Note:: you need a good Internet speed and cooling this is the real time work..if instead of old pc if you keep a IBM rack server your home will be come a data center..

[Limespace]

Thanks for the tips guys! I'm new and this thread has been really helpful :)

[jainritesh]

Hello All!
Thanks for the tips, I'm new into webhosting and the same has helped me lot.

Thanks once again

Regards,
Ritesh

[jocoolguy]

first u have to get a domain name...than after...

[mjhosting]

Running it out of your house may be difficult depending on the bandwidth that you have acess too, I mean you could do it but it would be a very poor connection for your customers. I'd rent a vps first, you can get a good managed one for 60 bucks a month easy.

[Sabrina Gage]

yeah, I agree with BurstPR.