Uploading a Web Site

Introduction

After registering a name and finding a host, you can start populating the site. Uploading a file is the process by which you store a file in the computer server that is holding your site. There are three main ways this can be done: you can upload the file(s) using a web page (called Control Panel) created specifically by your web hostingcompany, you can use a software product, or you can use a web editor application.

Uploading a Site Using Control Panel When you establish a hosting contract with a company, among the services they give you, they usually create a web page referred to as a control panel. Normally, you should check with your hosting company: don't think you are ignorant; they had set up your account and they should tell you how to use their system. Most of the time, among the links on a control panel page, one allows you to upload your files. For some companies, it is referred to File Management. If you click such a link, you would be presented with a new page. Once again, you should inquire from your host because, in some cases, you must open a folder called WWW. In some other cases, you must open a folder named public_html. One of the rules is that you must put your files and folders in either the WWW or the public_html folder. Another rule you must find out from your host is that one of your files must be called index.htm (or index.html), or default.htm, or home.htm (but it is usually index.htm or index.html). Your host may have created such a default file announcing Web Site Under Construction, or something like that. This first page (index.htm or index.html) is called the home page. It is the first page people see when they come to your site. Check the site and enjoy After uploading a (few) file(s), most importantly the home page, you can check the site by typing your web address in the browser and pressing Enter. If either nothing comes up or the default page created by the host still comes up, go back to your file manager and check that you had uploaded a file named index.htm (or index.html). If you don't have it, first add it. If you have that file but your web site doesn't show what you designed, then it is time to contact your host.

Finding a Host

Introduction

A web site is one or more computer files that are placed in a machine called a server and these files can then be accessed by interested people. The server is just a computer. Because of, or based on, the complexities of the Internet (file management, security, protocols, etc), it is not particularly easy to simply put a file in any computer and make that file available to others. There are so many issues involved that various details must be taken care of (name translation, name resolution, security, etc) before the file can be accessed by a browser.

Although you can take care of making your web site available to others, in the beginning, or most of the time, it is better to let another company worry about this. Putting a web site (which is primarily one or a list of computer files) on a server is referred to as hosting. A company that takes care of this is called a host.

Find a Host

Unless you plan to host the web site yourself, after registering a domain name, you can shop for a host. There are various companies on the market and dedicated to this business. The Internet is probably the best place to shop for a hosting company. To proceed, you can open the browser, access a search engine, and do a search on "web hosting." You should be presented with various links of different companies. Each company will present you its products and services.

There are various aspects that will drive you to one company rather than another:

Type of Plan: As stated already, web hosting consists of storing the files of a web site on a server. One server can be used for different sites. In fact, the companies that conduct this business deal with people and individuals from different parts of the world with different types of web sites hosted on the same machines without any problem or confusing. This scenario is referred to as sharing a server and it is cheaper. An alternative is to have a dedicated server. In this case, only your site can be hosted on a particular server: no other site is supposed to share your server (of course, there is no way you can check this). Having a dedicated server is more expensive and you should consider it only if either you know that that's what you need or if thecompany hosting your site suggests it (usually because your site may be getting too much traffic than the shared server can handle). If you are starting a web site and don't know yet what is coming, choose a basic plan. You can always change later.

Hosting Price: Like any other service in a capitalist system, the cost of hosting a web site varies from one company to another, and from one hosting plan to another. If in doubt, when shopping for a host, most companies provide a telephone number you can call. Of course, if you call just to inquire, they will try to get you to sign with them. If you are starting a (small) web site, choose the cheapest (basic) plan that allows you to use your own domain name.

Server Space: Normally, most companies nowadays give you as much space as possible: memory is not expensive (anymore). Still when the prices are equal for the same type of plan, choose the company that gives more space.

Bandwidth: The bandwidth is the amount of traffic that a web server can handle, or the amount of traffic that the host is allowing to your web site. If you are starting with a small web site made of just a few files, you may not worry about this. Most companies give you enough bandwidth in the beginning. Depending on your intentions, if your site may start attracting more visitors. Then, the bandwidth will be an issue. Still, when shopping, if two companies offer the same hosting prices, choose the one with more bandwidth.

Company Reputation: Among the attributes you should consider from a company are the control panel (it is web page you will be accessing privately to manage your web site). In the beginning, you may not be able to distinguish one good control panel from another. Only more experience will guide you eventually. Another aspect you should check is the so-called down time. In reality, every company will boast that it's down time is 99.99% (what ever they think that means). Probably the most important aspect of a hosting company is its support: it's ability to answer to your support questions the soonest possible. You may have heard, of you will hear, stories from one person telling about a company that can be reached easily. Another person would tell you that the same company replies to emails only a few hours later or only the following day. Only experience with the company will help you decide for your self.

Microsoft FrontPage: There is no need to dispute that Microsoft FrontPage is the most popular software used to develop web pages. One of the strengths is also that it makes it relatively easy to upload your files (transfer your computer files to the server that is hosting your site). To make this possible, your hosting company must do something on your account (they will usually ask you to do it yourself, which is usually easy).

Other issues that may interest you are the operating system (hosting on Linux is usually cheaper, requesting Microsoft Windows may be a little expensive), the database server (MySQL is the most common and is usually available with most basic/Linux plans), (unlimited) email (most companies offer this even in their basic hosting plan, so there is no reason your company would not include it in your plan), photo, video, blogging, forum, etc.

Getting a Host Once you have decided on the company to use, you must create an account with them and make the (first) payment. When you sign with a company, you will create an account with them by filling out a form. When doing this, you will create a username and assign a password (some companies will create a password for you). All the information you provide or create will/may still be sent to you by email. Probably the most tricky aspect about signing with a company is the payment. Once again, if you have a credit card (Visa or Master Card), you can easy make the payment. Most companies offer other forms of payment.

Registering a Domain Name

Introduction

After creating a domain name, you must register it. The goal is to make it unique among the other millions of domain names. After you have registered a name, it (must/should) belong to you.

There are two main ways you register a name: you can do it yourself or ask a host to do it for you. Both approaches are legal and valid but, because the name is going to belong to you and because you may (will, at one time) end your relationship with your host, it may be (this the author's opinion) a good idea to register the name yourself so you can keep better records.

There are various web sites where you can register a name. Probably the most popular ones are NetworkSolutions and Go Daddy. The first step is to check that the name you want to use is still available, that is, that nobody has already registered it. Both (and all other sites that offer registration) allow you to easily check the availability of your name.

Checking the Availability of a Domain Name

To check the available of the name you want to register, locate the empty box on the web site. Type your desired name and select your desired extension (.com, .org, .net, etc):

After typing the name and selecting the extension, click Search, Go, or the button next to the box (you can also press Enter). If the name is already taken, you will be notified. You can then create another name and try it.

If the name is still available, you will also be let know:

Once you are ready to register the name, you can click the next button, such as Continue or Add Selected Domain(s) To Order.

While performing some of the operations on these lessons, you may be presented with offers to purchase something, to apply for a service (such as web design, email addresses, web site hosting, online store, email services, search engine submission, secure email, etc), or else. Unless you know for sure that you need the advertised item or the said service, you should decline. To do this, you may be presented with a No, Thanks... button. In most cases, you can come back to purchase the item or add the service. In our lessons, we will consider that you didn't include any service and that you are only registering a domain name.

Formally Registering the Domain Name

To register a domain name, there are various steps you may be asked to complete.

• The registration of a domain name is considered on per year basis. This means that you can purchase the name for 1, 2, or more years. You may be presented with the price for a few years. It is up to you and how much money you are willing to pay at this time. There is no strict rule although somebody would suggest that you purchase the name for the longest time you can afford because it can be annoying when you are asked to renew your registration. If you purchase a name for 1 year, you will receive an email next year asking you to renew. If you purchase a name for 5 or 10 years, you certain will not receive an annoying email in the next few years asking you to renew your registration.
• If you have never registered a domain name before with the company (such as Go Daddy or Network Solutions, etc) you decide to use, you will be asked to create an account that provides a username and a password. You must do this because sooner or later, you will need to "manage" or "maintain your domainname. With experience, you will know what a domain name management or maintenance means (updating your contact information, changing your host, answering to federal authorities :), etc)

To formally register a domain name, you would be presented with a form to fill out (you may have been presented some intermediary pages or offers before you get to the form). Here is a form on Go Daddy used to create a Login account:

If you already have an account with the company you are using, you can enter your username (or User ID, or Login Name, or Customer #) and a password then press Enter. Otherwise, proceed with filling out the form and click Continue or Next. You may be presented with additional forms or sections before finalizing the creation of your account.

One of the problems you may have with registering a domain name is the payment. If you have a credit card (Visa or Master Card), you can use the easiest type of payment. If you don't have a credit card, some companies, such as Go Daddy, allow you to use/send a check or to use a Paypal account. Some other companies may provide you with other means of making the payment. The bottom line is that you must make this payment in order to finalize the registration.

After registering the domain name, it belongs to you. You should receive an email with information about that domain name, how to manage or maintain it, and when it expires. This is information you should print and keep accessible.

Creating a Domain Name

Introduction

A domain name is the name or the lettered expression that people will type in the address bar of a browser to come to your site. In order to make this possible, you must start by figuring out a domain name.

To create a domain name, you use a combination of the English alphabet words a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h, i, j, k, l, m, n, o, p, q, r, s, t, u, v, w, x, y, z, A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O, P, Q, R, S, T, U, V, W, X, Y, and Z. A domain name can also contain one or a combination of digits: 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9. A domain name must start with either a letter (example about) or a digit (example 1800Flowers). A domain name can also contain one or a combination of dashes "-".

There are various categories of names: meaningful, meaningless, foreign words, company names, and abbreviations.

Meaningful Domain Names

A name is referred to as meaningful when it bears a word or an expression that has an explicit meaning for the reader. Examples are cable, lesson, about, teach, or any common word of a spoken language. A domain name can also be a person's first or last name. Examples are Robert, Hussein, David, Hamid, Jacob, Olufemi.

A meaningful domain name can also be an expression. In this case, it would the combination of (spoken) words that each has a meaning. To make the expression a domain name, the words must be joined, or concatenated. This means that

• The words can simply be put together without space. Examples are CableTV, SpokenLessons, WordOfMouth, and any possible combination of words. The joined words don't have to be related. The only rule is that they be joined. Examples are TigerDirect, SideStep, GroupTraining, NewGeneration. Commercial companies whose names are a combination of words also join them to make up a domain name. Examples are: AirFrance, AmericanExpress
• The words can also be separated with a dash. Examples are About-Us, Join-The-Team
• The words can constitute somebody's (complete) name. Examples are JerryRawlings, AbrahamLincoln, ThomasSankara

Meaningless Domain Names

A name is referred to as meaningless when it doesn't mean anything explicit or is not commonly known in a know context. Such a name is made up out of nothing or it could primarily have a meaning only for the person or the people who made it up. Examples are Yahoo, Google. In the same way, a name can be a combination of words whose meaning may not be clear to the common person. An example is AltaVista.

Using Foreign Words For a Domain Name

A name can also be meaningful in one language but meaningless in another language. One of the geniuses of the Internet is that it is a combination of languages. This means that a word in one language can be used as a domain name even if the main people intended to use the site speak another language. Examples Songo or Yevol.

A domain name can also combine words from a foreign language. An example is AlJazeera.

A domain name can also be a combination of words from different languages.

Abbreviations

Instead of using a combination of words a domain name, a name can be an abbreviation. For example, if you have many words that would constitute the meaning of the web site, you can extract the first letter of each word, join them, and make up a domain name. Examples are AA (for American Airlines) or HSBC.

WebSite Creation

4 Things to Create a WebSite and Publish it.

Creating a Domain Name:

Registering a Domain Name:

Finding a Host:

Uploading a Web Site: