Signed up for JPC hosting, don't know what to do next

[Silkroad]

I recently signed up for JPC hosting, they sent me an email about web hosting control panel, email login, server nameservers, etc. It looked like a standard welcome-aboard message. The problem is, I don't know what any of it means.

My website development books (I'm trying to do this myself, and know literally nothing about it) say I need to find out what name to use for home page -- default.htm or index.htm. Seems like that's one of the most fundamental questions, I don't understand why there's no reference to it in info I was sent. Is this something to do with whether JPC uses WIN or UNIX servers? I also don't understand the stuff about updating DNS domain information, what does it mean?

I guess my larger issue is -- what is the set of steps I need to do in order to set up a website on JPC, in plain English, not TechnoSpeak.

BTW, this is not a complaint about JPC support. I'm sure they'd be glad to help if I knew what to ask!

Thanks.

[Connie]

I believe Jag supports either default.htm or index.htm. This will typically be your home page.

Upload a page index.htm with whatever message you want on it. You can do this through your CP, or with an FTP client.

Go to your domain registrar and change the DNS settings to point to Jag.

[Gwaihir]

I'll be rewording what Connie already said, hopefully together we'll have enough non-tech words mixed in to get it across

-> You need content: your webpages, starting with that index.html (or default.html if you so prefer).

-> You need to get that content from your own computer to the server. There's a filemanager in your control panel that can help you with that. (It's a clumsy method though, so once you get going you'll want to get an FTP client, like Filezilla, instead.)

-> You'll want people to find your website. For that you'll want to tie the domain name you bought (you did buy one, right?) to your website. That's what the stuff about DNS settings is about. You go to the company you used to register the name and point it to the JagPC nameservers specified in that mail you got.

[Silkroad]

Thank you both very much. It does seem, however, that they've sent me a lot of information that is not related to those steps.

Yes, I bought domain name -- from JPC (or through them, not sure how it worked). Seems like they should know about it. If not, then how do I find out who I'm supposed to contact?

I'm working on my webpages right now, hope to upload this weekend.

Again, thanks for your help.

[Connie]

Can't offer anymore help if you bought your domain through Jag. Wim or someone else will probably be able to help you.

Based on what I have read here in the forums I do think there is a lack of information communicated, when someone buys their domain name through Jag.

[Spathiphyllum]

I guess my larger issue is -- what is the set of steps I need to do in order to set up a website on JPC, in plain English, not TechnoSpeak.

Sorry, but this is going to be difficult. Web serving is technical.

Fortunately, these forums and participants are generally quite helpful. It's one of the unsung bonuses at Jaguar... pro bono.

Here is a link you MUST visit to get your bearings. Yes, it's technical, but essential to serve content. Jaguar uses Linux, so keep that in mind as you peruse Apache Documentation for v1.3. Pay particular attention to the Directives section and those things modifiable in .htaccess files. That's where Apache allows you to tweak "your" server. There's lots of good stuff in the whole site, so read it all if you get a chance. You'll get a good grasp of the whole web-serving experience.

When you've mastered that, consult the request for comments (RFCs) for the hypertechnical stuff. Use a search engine for "RFC". You'll have more links than you know what to do with; however, this isn't urgent. It's just the source guidelines for everything internet... and I do mean everything.

If you know how to FTP and can understand the Apache documentation, you'll be well on your way. Since Jaguar is your registrar, you should be pretty well set for everything else. You probably don't need to do any DNS modifications. Just do what Connie and Gwaihir said about uploading an index.html file to your public html folder and expand from there.

Good luck!

[Gwaihir]

Thank you both very much. It does seem, however, that they've sent me a lot of information that is not related to those steps.

You sure? Those aren't just login details for your control panel and the ticket system?

Yes, I bought domain name -- from JPC (or through them, not sure how it worked). Seems like they should know about it. If not, then how do I find out who I'm supposed to contact?

That would be "through" them then; they're a reseller when it comes to domains, they are not a registrar themselves. You did notice buying the domain was a seperate step, right?

Well, then they know about it allright, but that probably doesn't give 'm access to those settings. You could ask support (by opening a ticket) if they could take care of this for you, if you pass 'm the login details for the domain registration. They're usually quite accomodating in helping new folk move in.

BTW: Spath does make a valid point: this webserving is technical stuff, so it will probably be a steep learning curve for you. If you're not up to that, or quick solids results are very important for you, you should get more solid help then these forums will provide.

[Silkroad]

Yes, clarification helped. Obviously there's more to this than I ever imagined.

I'm now apprehensive about doing this at all, it sounds like it's a whole lot more technical than the books would lead you to believe. Would I be well advised to just give up and hire somebody to do it all for me (for a lot of money, which I had hoped to save)?

Thanks again.

[Vin DSL]

Yes, clarification helped. Obviously there's more to this than I ever imagined.

Would I be well advised to just give up and hire somebody to do it all for me (for a lot of money, which I had hoped to save)?

Are you under some sort of time constraint?

If so, then the answer is, "Yes."

If the answer is, "No", and you're looking for adventure, then you found the right place!

If it was me, I'd mosey on over to your cPanel, click on Fantastico, go down to Content Management, and install one of them. Joomla would probably be a good choice... or Drupal.

Whatcha gotta lose, you know?

[the_ancient]

I think these guys are over complicating things I weee bit.

Web Serving is extremely simple.

I would look at using SoHo Launch, which comes with all JPC Accounts as a Easy Way to get a web site up and running right away,

Use those Examples as a learning Platform to Expand your skills and get more advanced.

You not going to buy a hosting accounts and in 5 seconds create the best web site ever to hit the internet, but ...........

To get to SoHo Launch, Navicated to Cpanel, Find the "Scripts" Click on "Fanstico" scroll down to "site builders" and click the link for SoHo Launch. Follow the Prompts to install

More info on SoHo Launch can be found at http://info.soholaunch.com/websitebuilder/

[the_ancient]

Also if you SERIOUS you can look at getting a Commercial Web Editor, I personally use the defacto Standard Combo of PhotoShop/Dreamweaver (www.adobe.com) vinDSL prefers corel paintshop or graphic work, which is MUCH cheaper than Photoshop, but IMO is also ALOT less powerful.... I don't know what he uses for HTML, knowing him he is probably still using Notepad because "he is a real man"

Some HTML Editors are

Macromedia Dreamwaver (now owned by adobe)

Adobe GoLIVE (I look for this product to be Discontinued now that Adobe bought Macromedia (dreamweaver)

Mircosoft Frontpage (if you have OFFICE suite you probally have this software)

some free Opensource Alteratives to DreamWeaver
http://www.osalt.com/dreamweaver

Graphic Packages

Adobe Photoshop
Macromedia Fireworks (now owned by adobe)
Corel Draw
Corel Paintshop

Free Opensource Graphics software
http://www.osalt.com/photoshop

[Silkroad]

How interesting... in fact, I bought Dreamweaver and Photoshop, that's what I'm using to design web pages. Dreamweaver training book which I'm using makes website setup sound really easy, yet when I looked at email I received from JPC, I could find no correspondence between info in DW book and info in JPC email. The more I read, the more confused I became. In total frustration, I posted this thread.

[Silkroad]

So if I understand correctly, most of the stuff in JPC email was related to managing the website, i.e., keeping track of number of visitors, and thus bandwidth used, that sort of thing?

That is, I could 1) create and upload website (after I do the DNS stuff) and then 2) spend some time learning about the stats and management software above (nobody would know about it until I told them or search engine bots discovered it, so there'd be no traffic). As long as the site got almost no hits, it wouldn't matter that I don't know much about managing the site.

Is that right?

[Bellthorpe]

I think you've been given too much advice too soon, especially that about Apache and RFCs. People should be trying to simplify your task, not enlarge them. After all, getting a basic web page up is pretty simple.

Gwaihir's advice was the most basic and the best for you at this stage. I'll re-phrase some of what he said.

In your welcome advice from JaguarPC, you would have seen something like this:

To update your NIC records please use the following name servers:
ns3.jaguarpc.net (69.73.134.220)
ns4.jaguarpc.net (69.73.136.220)

when people type in www.silkroad.com (or whatever your site is called) in their browser, the 'system' needs to know how to get to your site. That's why you have to set up your domain, at the place it was registered, to point to your site. When you registered the domain name, through JaguarPC (but actually at enom) you should similarly have received details on how to login to change the registration to point at ns3.jaguarpc.net, or whatever nameserver you were advised.

Now to get your site up. Call your first page index.html. Make sure it looks OK in your browser. It might be as simple as:

====================================
<html>
<head>
<title>Written by me</title>
</head>
<body>
<h1>This is my new site!</h1>
</body>
</html>
====================================

Now you have to get it your allocated space on JaguarPC's server.

In your welcoming letter, you would have received something like:

To upload your to your site now you may use your ip (69.73.139.118)and your
username/password. You may reach your website control panel at
http://69.73.139.118:2082 .

To to that control panel, and look for 'File Manager'. The object is to copy index.html from somewhere on your disk to the web server. Click on 'www', which is where your files will go. Click on 'upload file(s), and point to the file on your disk. When it's uploaded, you can then point your browser to your domain, and you should see the result.

If not, come back here with any error message you get.

HTH

[Vin DSL]

LoL!

He's hooked...