Technology Activity: Hosting

DUE Sunday, Feb 19 – 3 points
(Monday NOON deadline)

  • Gradebook Declaration: I have a hosting account with a web server that can run WordPress, and I have FTP access to that web server. I can access the root folder of a domain name on that web server in a web browser.

Hosting Account

It is now time to sign up for a hosting account. You must have FTP access to your account, and you must be able to run the WordPress software. You can use any host that you like that meets these criteria, but I would strongly recommend you get one of these. (I have worked with all three of these and can help you out of any jam.) I have mentioned all three of these resources in class already, but here are links to them:

  • Webfaction: This is the company where I host all of my own smaller websites and many of my client websites. They let you pay monthly if you prefer, and they let you create an account without registering a domain name. When you sign up, be sure to change the value in the Software field to PHP.
  • Here are some other hosts with which I have familiarity. In some respects these hosts might be a little easier to use, but they are not as flexible as Webfaction is.
    1. ICDSoft
    2. Bluehost
    3. HostGator

Setting Up A Website on Webfaction

Update: It looks Webfaction now sets up your first website for you automatically. The instructions below will be helpful for adding a second website down the road, but for now you can skip to the next section.

Webfaction is a great host, but setting up your first website on it takes a couple of steps. (If you are using one of the other hosts I recommended, you had to specify a domain name. Those hosts set up a website for you with that domain name at that time.) The instructions below should guide you through the process; Webfaction has more details with screenshots in this knowledge base article.

  1. Log into the control panel at [http://my.webfaction.com/], using the username and password they sent you.
  2. Create an Application
    1. In the control panel sidebar, click on Domains/websites, then Applications.
    2. Click the Add New button  in the lower right-hand corner.
    3. Enter a name in the name field; I would call your first application emac3361.
    4. Change App category to Static and leave App type as Static/CGI/PHP-5.3.
    5. Click Create.
  3. Create a Website:
    1. In the control panel sidebar, click on Domains/websites, then Websites.
    2. Click the Add New button  in the lower right-hand corner.
    3. Enter a name in the name field; I would call your first website the same thing you called the application.
    4. Pick the one option in the Subdomains box, which should be %username%.webfactional.com.
    5. Connect an Application to this website.
      1. Click the Add New button  in the lower right-hand corner.
      2. Pick the application you created above in the box on the left.
      3. Type a single slash (/) in the box on the right.
      4. Click Create.

Accessing the Website

Once you have set up the website, you should be able to access that website in a web browser:

  • If you are using Webfaction, you should be able to open [http://%username%.webfactional.com/] in a web browser and see a simple little page with the text “Hello, world.”
  • If you are using one of the other hosts I recommended, you had to specify a domain name. You should be able to open that domain name and see some kind of landing page with the web host’s information.

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Once you have completed this assignment, make your gradebook declaration.

DUE Sunday, Feb 19 – 3 points
(Monday NOON deadline)