How to Host a Ready-Made Website on the Internet

Hosting a website involves uploading your website files to a server and configuring the domain to point to your server’s IP address. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the process of hosting a ready-made website on the internet.

Step 1: Purchase Hosting and a Domain Name

The first step is to purchase hosting and a domain name. You can choose from various hosting providers like AlexHost depending on your needs.

• Shared Hosting: Suitable for small websites with low traffic.
• VPS Hosting: Offers more resources and control for medium to large websites.
• Dedicated Hosting: Best for high-traffic websites that require dedicated resources.

Additionally, register a domain name through the hosting provider or a separate domain registrar.

Step 2: Set Up DNS for Your Domain

Once you have purchased your domain name and hosting plan, you need to point your domain to your hosting server using DNS (Domain Name System) records.

1. Go to your domain registrar’s dashboard.
2. Find the section for managing DNS or “Name Servers.”
3. Update the DNS records (A record) to point to the IP address of your hosting server.

It may take a few hours for the DNS changes to propagate globally.

Step 3: Upload Website Files

To upload your ready-made website to the server, follow these steps:

1. Access Your Hosting Control Panel: Log in to the hosting control panel (cPanel, Plesk, etc.).
2. Open File Manager or FTP: Use the file manager in the control panel or connect via FTP (File Transfer Protocol).
3. Upload Website Files: Upload your website’s files (HTML, CSS, JavaScript, etc.) to the public directory, often named /public_html/.

Step 4: Set Up a Database (if required)

If your website uses a database (e.g., for a CMS like WordPress or Joomla), you need to create a database:

1. Go to the MySQL Databases section in your hosting control panel.
2. Create a new database and database user.
3. Upload your website’s database via phpMyAdmin or a similar tool.

Step 5: Test Your Website

Once the files are uploaded, and the database is configured, visit your domain in a web browser to test the website. Ensure all links, forms, and pages work as expected.

Step 6: Configure SSL (Optional)

For security, you can enable SSL (Secure Socket Layer) to ensure encrypted communication between your server and users. Most hosting providers offer free SSL certificates through Let’s Encrypt.

Conclusion

Hosting a ready-made website involves setting up hosting, configuring DNS, and uploading files to a server. By following this guide, you can get your website live on the internet in no time, providing your users with a seamless online experience.