Brtest Tutorial
Web Hosting
Web hosting is a service that stores your website’s files on an online server so people can visit your site on the Internet. To put a site online you typically need a domain name, a host, and a way to deploy your files.
🌍 Domain vs Hosting vs DNS
- Domain: The human-friendly address (example.com).
- Hosting: The server where your files live.
- DNS: The “address book” that points your domain to your host’s IP.
Tip: You can buy a domain from a registrar and host your site somewhere else. You just connect them with DNS records.
🧩 Common Hosting Types
| Type | Good For | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|---|
| Static Hosting | HTML/CSS/JS sites | Fast, simple, cheap/free | No server-side code |
| Shared Hosting | Small sites/blogs | Low cost, easy panels | Performance varies |
| VPS | Growing apps | More control & power | Needs setup/maintenance |
| Dedicated | High traffic, special needs | Maximum control | Expensive, managed by you |
| Cloud | Scalable apps/APIs | Scales on demand | Complex pricing/ops |
🔐 SSL/TLS (HTTPS)
HTTPS encrypts traffic between the browser and your site. Most hosts support free certificates (e.g., Let’s Encrypt). Enable it in your control panel or via your web server.
Apache (.htaccess) – Redirect HTTP → HTTPS
RewriteEngine On
RewriteCond %{HTTPS} !=on
RewriteRule ^ https://%{HTTP_HOST}%{REQUEST_URI} [L,R=301]
📦 How to Publish a Static Site
- Build your site folder (index.html, /css, /img, /js).
- Choose a host (static host, shared host, etc.).
- Upload your files (GUI uploader, FTP/SFTP, or Git).
- Connect your custom domain with DNS (A/CNAME records).
- Enable HTTPS (SSL/TLS).
FTP Upload (basic)
Host: ftp.yourhost.com
User: yourname
Protocol: FTP or SFTP
Remote folder: public_html or www
Upload: index.html, /css, /img, /js
Git Deploy (concept)
git init
git add .
git commit -m "Initial site"
git remote add origin <host-repo-url>
git push -u origin main
🧭 DNS Essentials
Update your domain’s DNS so it points to your host. Changes can take up to 24–48 hours (usually faster).
| Record | Purpose | Example |
|---|---|---|
| A | Domain → IPv4 address | example.com → 93.184.216.34 |
| AAAA | Domain → IPv6 address | example.com → 2606:2800:... |
| CNAME | Alias → Canonical name | www → example.com |
| MX | Email routing | example.com → mail.provider.com |
| TXT | Verification, SPF, etc. | v=spf1 include:mail.example ~all |
Tip: Use www as a CNAME to the root or point both root and www to your host. Add a redirect so there’s only one canonical URL.
📁 Directory Structure
Most shared hosts serve files from a folder like public_html or www. Your homepage should be index.html.
Typical Static Site
/public_html
index.html
/css/style.css
/js/app.js
/img/logo.png
⚙️ Server-Side (Dynamic Sites)
If your site needs a backend (databases, logins, APIs), choose hosting that supports server-side tech (e.g., Node.js, PHP, Python) and a database (MySQL, PostgreSQL). You’ll deploy app code and configure environment variables.
Environment Variables (Concept)
DATABASE_URL=mysql://user:pass@host:3306/dbname
JWT_SECRET=your-secret
NODE_ENV=production
🧰 Control Panels & Tools
- cPanel / Plesk: File manager, FTP accounts, databases, SSL, emails.
- Logs & Monitoring: Check errors, bandwidth, and uptime.
- Backups: Schedule automatic backups (daily/weekly).
- CDN: Speed up global delivery and cache static assets.
✅ Hosting Checklist
- Custom domain connected (A/CNAME)
- HTTPS enabled (redirect HTTP → HTTPS)
- Backups configured
- Uptime monitoring enabled
- Compression & caching on (static assets)
- 404 and 301 redirects configured
Basic Redirects
# Redirect old page to new page
Redirect 301 /old.html /new.html
# Force one canonical host (www → root)
RewriteCond %{HTTP_HOST} ^www\.example\.com [NC]
RewriteRule ^(.*)$ https://example.com/$1 [L,R=301]
🚀 Quick “Go Live” Paths
- Static Site: Use a static host with drag-and-drop or Git.
- WordPress: Use shared/managed WP hosting; one-click install.
- Full-stack App: Use VPS or cloud; deploy via CI/CD.
Next step: Continue to “WD Web Hosting: Deploy a Site” for a step-by-step guide (static + dynamic).
