How can you host sites

How do u host sites?

Well that is a pretty general question, but you basically need a web server that has a dedicated connection to the internet. Once you have that then you need to install webserver software, many use Linux for the operating system, and Apache for the web server itself. However there are many types of Web servers, from Microsoft products, to Redhat, to FreeBSD, and so on.

can you just use your computer with like Windows and setup like an apache server on there, or do u have to use linux?

You could use Windows if you wanted, I recommend Linux though. Also you could host from your own house if you wanted and simply turn your computer into a server. You would need to have a static IP though, meaning your IP address would always be the same. Then you would have godaddy point to your DNS server at your house which would point the domain to the IP of your machine, for which you could then server web pages.

However, most ISP's do not allow you to host your own website using their connection, and if caught you may violate their TOS and they could pull your plug. Secondly most ISP's limit the upload speed to something pathetic, which would make your site extremely slow, and thus encourage people to not do that.

Also on another note, I mentioned how you would need static IP. It is also possible to use an IP that isn't static by using a service that automatically keeps updating your IP like found at this post:

http://www.ozzu.com/viewtopic.php?t=290 ... ht=dynamic

Overall though, if you are serious about a website, I wouldn't host your own sites at your house. If you are just playing around, it might be okay.

What other ways of hosting sites are there except from your own house...

Hosting at a colocation facility using your own box, hosting with someone else by leasing a dedicated server (meaning you are the only one on the server), hosting with someone else on a virtual server (meaning you share the server with many others). Also one of the last is finding a free host, for which they will force banner ads and popups on your site. I think that is about it.

how do you get your own box from a colocation facility?

You make a server at your house, and then send it to them to put in their facilty where they have a really good connection.

Or you buy a server online, and then have them send the server to the colocation facility that you want to host the box. Keep in mind they will charge you for the space your server takes up, and then the amount of bandwidth you request. Usually its not cheap.

how much does it cost

Well it depends on what you get, and what you want. You can get stuff from about 10 bucks a month up to thousands a month. Just depends on what you need.

what if you wanted like 60 gigs with everything like CGI to SQL

Well that is still pretty general and it all depends on the host you find. For instance with me I would probably charge 50 a bucks a month for:

500 Mb of space
60 gigs of transfer
Full CGI access
MySQL
ftp access
telnet access

Now another host for instance might charge alot more. Check out this link:

http://hosting.verio.com/index.php/web_platinum.html

With that you get:

350 Mb of space
17.5 gigs of transfer
CGI access
MySQL
ftp access

all for $249.95 a month.

That is a rip off.. Im thinking about just going with your plan.. With that how many sites can I host?

However many sites you want. The only thing I charge extra for is if you need more HD space or if you go over your limit of 60 gigs (or whatever plan we decide to go on)