How to host websites from home for free

The general feeling on website hosting is that you have to have an awesomely powerful computer/server, or that you have to have vast experience coding and setting up websites. However, those days of futility are over as installing a server application and dropping in files is as easy as that: installing a server app. and dropping in pages.

The most common, and in my opinion, easiest to work with server application is Apache HTTP Server, latest version being 2.2.3. Currently, Apache is available for download in a .Zip containing the necessary files, or a VERY easy to use MSI installer that pretty much guides you through simple configuration, such as domain name. By default, Apache will use your IP address and port 80 for access to the .html files stored in its htdocs directory. There is also the option of finding a free DynamicDNS (DDNS) provider out there that will provide a hostname that can resolve to your IP, facilitating the use of your webpage by users outside your network. Either, all that’s needed is .html pages, which can be created with fancy site creators like Microsoft's FrontPage or Macromedia Dreamweaver, or just simply coded through a text editor such as Word or TextPad. Next step is manually launching the Apache server from its directory, in which case a cmd window will pop-up displaying current IP configuration, status, etc.. The site(s) can be viewed by typing in your IP address onto your web browser's URL bar, and maybe adding the port number 80 with a colon (:) behind it. The .html files residing in the htdocs directory of the Apache folder should come up if the application has been configured properly when installed or placed in computer. Note: If your internet setup includes a router of some sort (layer 3 device in general), you might have to interface with it and forward some ports like port 80 in order for it to effectively redirect incoming port 80 traffic to the proper port connected to your computer and not some other node on your LAN.

This basic Apache setup can provide an amazing level of quality hosting, while also keeping your wallet happy. However, depending on your computer setup, internet connection, and bandwidth setup and distribution, Apache at home implementations work best in smaller scales, providing efficient ways to publish sites and information for free on relatively old/slow machines. Be wary of keeping applications such as this open without supervision or constant review, as small flaws in configuration or .html security holes can lead to people gaining the wrong type of access to your site, and maybe even your computer.