DNS Server Redirect Help

8enjicraf2 · June 14, 2015

Hey Guys, I want to be able to host a website, however I don't want to have my IP as the website name for obvious reasons, I've being reading up about it and I need a DNS apparently, so I have one, I am using dot.tk to host it but can't get it to work. As you can probably guess I am a noob and have only just started into websites, sorry for that

Help much appreciated, 8

Redportal · June 14, 2015

If all you are wanting is to allow users to visit your website using a domain name, this first thing you are going to need is a either a static IP, or dns service such as something from no-ip.com

Do you have either a static ip or dns service setup yet? (A domain name such as .tk is not the same thing as a dns service)

A domain (You'r .tk) is what people enter in the browser to visit your website.

You want this to redirect to your self-hosted website (So you need a public IP address which is static)

How to setup your website:

1) Setup a free account with no-ip.com and download there dynamic dns client which will provide you with an online static ip which does not change. (It forwards any requests to your own IP which is updated using there client)

2) Copy the public ip you get from no-ip.com (Not your own IP) and setup a .tk with that address.

3) If there is no firewall stopping traffic, your website should be reachable within 12 hours or so.

If you don't understand any of the above, just let me know and I would be happy to help.

If anyone else knowns of a simpler way, I am sure 8enjicraf2 would appreciate it.

JakeCharman · June 15, 2015

I'd get some free hosting from somewhere like Hostinger or Zoho instead of self hosting. Especially if you're new to networking and the security that goes with it. Both services provide good, easy to follow guides on setting up a domain name to work with their service. Unless you completely know what you're doing it's fairly easy to screw up and give anyone who has the domain name full access to your home network. I learned that the hard way when I was new to networking.