webhosting-notes/notes.org

Notes

Requirements

If you want to set up a server, you will most likely need the following things:

1. A server.

This can be a shared hosting offer like VPS (virtual private server), which is a VM (virtual machine) running on the same physical server as other virtual machines, or a dedicated root server, which is a real machine, which you have all to yourself.

1. A domain.

There are many domain registrars out there. Best is to find one, which is well known. You will probably need to create an account on the website of the domain registrar and log in to be able to check, whether you can get the desired domain from them, or whether that domain is already in use.

1. An idea for a domain name.

You need to come up with the actual domain name, which you hope to be able to register with the domain registrar.

Finding a server / hoster

You will need to find a hoster, which rents out servers to you. Typically the server will then be reachable via its IP address. Not idea for other people, if they need to remember the IP address of your server. That is why you probably want to get a domain as well.

Finding a domain

Try to think of a simple yet original name, which likely is not yet used. To make approximately sure it is not yet used, try the following things:

• [ ] enter your domain name into a normal search engine
• [ ] search the "Patent and Trade Mark Office" of your country for your domain name
• for example for Germany, you would search on https://register.dpma.de/DPMAregister/marke/basis.kopf.form
• [ ] enter your domain name into the URL bar of your browser

If none of those yields proper results, it is likely, that your domain can still be bought.

Things to consider [0/2]

• [ ] You might want to purchase your domain under multiple TLDs (top-level domains, like ~.com~, ~.org~ etc.), to prevent people from buying the same domain under a different TLD, making it look like you are offering a different service under on domains.
• [ ] Depending on your contract for the domain you purchase, you need to renew the contract or it automatically renews. Otherwise it might run out, you lose the right to that domain and other people could grab it. This might disrupt your service, as your users or visitors then need to learn, that you are on a new domain now and that the old domain is now owned by another person, which you might not be affiliated with, who might even want to cause you or your visitors or users harm.