versus setting it up on your own computer. Are there things that one just can't do if their site is hosted, rather than totally under their own control?

I'm just trying to decide if there are any negatives associated with keeping my (low traffic) site on my own DSL connection, rather than spending $3/month or so to put it somewhere else.

Obviously, if my site was going to be a high traffic site, I would want it to be on a server at a hosting company. But I don't think it will be.

Thanks

Comments

kbahey’s picture

As always, it really depends on your particular situation.

First, check with your DSL provider if hosting a site is within the terms of service that you signed. Some providers do not allow it, but look the other way, some allow it explicitly, some actively enforce their policy.

Second, will you use any modules that use SMTP? If so, again check whether you ISP blocks SMTP or not, and whether they allow it. Many don't because of spam.

Third, check that your server is always up to date with regards to security updates and such. You will get scanned by all sorts of script kiddie and professional bot net operators, ...etc.
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drupal777’s picture

They allow siting (I'm running a static HTML site now), it is consistent with terms of the product.

They allow a secure SMTP server (I'm running a secure SMTP server now), it is consistent with terms of the product.

That leaves us with the issue of staying on top of security. Well, I've had a MySQL port running for years along with my HTTP:80 and HTTP:8080 and never had a problem. I keep Apache up to date with all security patches, look at the logs every once in a while, block an IP here and there, but otherwise, no successful intrusions.

Anything other than security?

I was thinking that if I wanted to interface my Drupal site with any other software I might not be able to do that on a hosted site.

Thanks for the comments.

andre75’s picture

I consider the few bucks that hosting costs me well spend. If something goes down in the middle of the night or while I am on vacations someone will take care of it.
Downside: Lots of people on a shared hosting account can also create more problems (things slowing down or crashing servers).
Since I dropped my laptop that I had planned to use for my private hosting experiment I have no other choice anyways :-(

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