Hey all!

I'm pretty new this all this.

I am looking for guidance or a tutorial explaining everything on starting from scratch.

Especially, I need to know how to set the server up. I know the obvious, such as PHP, MySQL, and Apache (Don't really know how to set them up though) .

Do I need BIND to direct all the incomgin requests to the right location?

Control panels....I want to use Cpanel/WHM, but have never set this software up before. Is there another control panel higher than WHM for the administrator to add accounts such as resellers and shared accounts?

Any help is greatly appreciated...thanks.

Kevin.

Hey all!

I'm pretty new this all this.

I am looking for guidance or a tutorial explaining everything on starting from scratch.

Especially, I need to know how to set the server up. I know the obvious, such as PHP, MySQL, and Apache (Don't really know how to set them up though) .

Do I need BIND to direct all the incomgin requests to the right location?

Control panels....I want to use Cpanel/WHM, but have never set this software up before. Is there another control panel higher than WHM for the administrator to add accounts such as resellers and shared accounts?

Any help is greatly appreciated...thanks.

Kevin.

Hi Kevin,

WHM would be the control panel you use to set up resellers, shared accounts etc. there is no control panel higher then that one in that aspect. Of course don't forget your billing software thats going to tie it all in ;)

What kind of server are you trying to setup?

I'm trying to setup a server to host websites.

From my experience, I thought WHM is the control panel used to create shared accounts for people that purchase a reseller package.

WHM is a tool above cPanel, used to manages accounts, servers, and there features/functions. Make sure you know exactly why you want to use WHM/cPanel. There's pros and cons for any software. From cPanel to Plesk, ModernBill to WHMcs..

Dig it these forums, really DIG. If you wrote a list of every aspect you'll need to cover you could easily write 100 pages(atleast I could). Understand everything from the Networks, to the software, the programming, & the hardware.

Of course you don't need to know everything, but it wouldn't hurt(IMO).

at this stage you can try and read as much as possible, it will be good to have a testing server to learn on

Curious about one thing. How do you have 1800+ posts and know so little about the web hosting industry. This is honestly not a cut on you, I am just curious what you spoke about previously.

Hi,

1. Get a cPanel license
2. login to SSH and type "wget http://layer1.cpanel.net/latest". Type "sh latest"
3. Get PlatinumServerManagement to manage and set the server up for you
4. I recommend WHMCS for billing/auto account creation, and has in built support - it's great.

That's the easiest way of doing it :)

Curious about one thing. How do you have 1800+ posts and know so little about the web hosting industry. This is honestly not a cut on you, I am just curious what you spoke about previously.
I 've been hanging out in the lounge for like 5 years.




DanServ, thanks for all that information, I actually have them bookmarked becuase I planned on using them.

Thanks all!

Why do you want to get into an industry which you have so little experience in?

Why do you think you'll have any chance at being successful?

How much money are you going to be throwing away watching this dream fail?

How are you going to be better than anyone else who's similar plan for becoming a webhost meant:

1) Download cPanel
2) Outsource everything
3) ???
4) Profit!!!!

My biggest gripe about the industry is the number of "hosts" who have no clue about how to do any administration... whose concept of administration means "install cPanel and click the icons".

A control panel should be a tool to make one's administration tasks easier and more automated... but I still contend that if people don't know the underlying commands and config changes that the control panel is automating for them... they have no business using it.

What I see happening is people who have no technical ability to provide value added services to their hosting product simply start competing on pricing and overselling (in a BAD way).

We end up with clueless hosts and clueless clients asking all kinds of retarded questions. Hosts asking "how am I supposed to compete with all the huge oversellers," and clients asking, "why can't you provide a dedicated server with 100Mbps for $50 like company X?"

Let's face it... you're going to make mistakes... everyone does. What I dislike about hosts who just want to jump into the industry without the proper background is that they don't seem to care about the clients their mistakes will affect as long as they are getting paid.

Hi,

Everyone needs to start somewhere, and at least they came to us to ask for help, instead of just going alone without any advice from people with experience like a lot of people.

I think It's ok to say, "No, I am unwilling to provide that sort of information as I believe you will harm yourself or someone else with it, and that providing that sort of information will only hurt the industry. Take a step back and re-evaluate your plans, and get a better basic understanding of the skills necessary to enter the business."

Sure, everyone needs to start somewhere.
But, helping someone to start on step 3 when they don't know what steps 1 and 2 are just seems wrong.

Why do you want to get into an industry which you have so little experience in?

Why do you think you'll have any chance at being successful?

How much money are you going to be throwing away watching this dream fail?

How are you going to be better than anyone else who's similar plan for becoming a webhost meant:

1) Download cPanel
2) Outsource everything
3) ???
4) Profit!!!!

My biggest gripe about the industry is the number of "hosts" who have no clue about how to do any administration... whose concept of administration means "install cPanel and click the icons".

A control panel should be a tool to make one's administration tasks easier and more automated... but I still contend that if people don't know the underlying commands and config changes that the control panel is automating for them... they have no business using it.

What I see happening is people who have no technical ability to provide value added services to their hosting product simply start competing on pricing and overselling (in a BAD way).

We end up with clueless hosts and clueless clients asking all kinds of retarded questions. Hosts asking "how am I supposed to compete with all the huge oversellers," and clients asking, "why can't you provide a dedicated server with 100Mbps for $50 like company X?"

Let's face it... you're going to make mistakes... everyone does. What I dislike about hosts who just want to jump into the industry without the proper background is that they don't seem to care about the clients their mistakes will affect as long as they are getting paid.
<snip> I was looking for information.. I didn't say I wanted to lead the hosting industry.

I'm sorry if I'm not a Linux admin like yourself....Actually, I'm sure there are a ton of hosts out there that know very little Linux.

I hope I don't see you post in this thread again because you're no benefit to me.


danserv, Thanks for yout input.....I appreciate it.

<snip> I was looking for information.. I didn't say I wanted to lead the hosting industry..Lightwave is right on all accounts. I'm sure customers are just beating each other over the head to be "hosted" by someone that lacks even a modicum of industry experience and business acumen; moreover, whose apathy leads them for some reason to think that they deserve to be in business and have it handed to them. Contrary to what the amateurs that make up this board believe; the indelible right to further pollute this industry with amateur offerings and swindle customers into thinking that they're buying from a legitimate hosting operation after merely reading the posts which comprise "hosting for dummies" here on web hobby talk, does not exist.

There are 2 viable paths for you: get an education, then apply for a job with a real hosting company- (there are several hundred to choose from across the country) learn the business front to back or back to front, then get a business loan for a few hundred thousand and start a business. Alternatively, head to your local rapid cuisine establishment, don a headset and leave the hosting business to those that are willing to make the effort to do it justice.

Use google for cpanel tutorials and you'll find a good number of results.
If you're new to this and using your server for hosting services for clients I highly recommend that you hire a professional server admin company to setup and properly secure and configure the box first.

I'm sorry if I'm not a Linux admin like yourself....Actually, I'm sure there are a ton of hosts out there that know very little Linux.

And that's a big problem with the hosting industry! You need to understand your industry fairly well before jumping in and accepting money from customers. If you don't personally know Linux, then you need to have an employee that does.

And you all started this way?
Elitism aside, some of the advice is quite sound, Carp. Learn what you're doing first (which is what I assume you're doing by finding information), form a business plan, and *then* offer out actual paid hosting.

I think most of the naysayers here were assuming you were starting out selling first, and then learning. If that's true, your odds of providing a quality service aren't very good. On the other hand, if you're using this to learn while maybe just hosting your own sites, more power to you.
I'd help you, if you needed it.

I'm sorry is I was misleading.....I plan on setting everything up and getting to understand how everything needed is understood. I want to work the the control panel and learn it 100%, I want to learn the Linux skills needed to be in the hosting industry...I do know some linux, but not all i need to know.

Thanks.