Noob here

[rjolly10]

Hello. Thank you for looking. I have learned recently a little about web servers and how they work. I enjoy making web sites and ever so often, I have a good idea for one. I heard about the Dreamweaver program and have debated on buying it. I know I would have to designate a computer for my server and so on. I have used Microsoft Front Page and thought it was easy, but not enough detail for a site I want. So I just have a couple of questions:

1) Should I purchase DW?
2) Should I purchase an external Hard Drive?
3) How many GB would a relatively small web site need to have?
4) How should I make a Forum? Host or on DW?
5) What else do you suggest I have?

Any suggestions or help would be appreciated.

[sr71000]

90% of the internet connections out there don't allow you to host a website so I deffinately wouldn't suggest that as an option. Instead you buy hosting from a site like godaddy.com . For free forum software you can check out phpbb (just google...you'll find plenty of stuff including tutorials to set it up!). That can just be tacked on to a basic godaddy account. Just make sure you get an account that supports php . I don't bother with dreamweaver and instead choose to do all my work right from notepad . It takes a little longer and is a little bit more involved but the control....well.....you don't get more control anywhere else! lol. If you're interested I plan on teaching an online xhtml and css class. It started off my 2 friends wanted me to teach them...and then it grew to like 5 people...so i said i'd put it online and now it's up to about 10 people so if you're interested it'll be free lol.

[amtrac24]

Here is the deal...most isp do not let you run a web server...however they do leaves ports open which you can use to host a site...Most isp will leave port 8081 or 8082 open which i use for my web server....

so a user would enter http://mysite:8081
or if you use your routers ip address it would be http://168.151.1.1:8081/mysite

Dreamweaver is ehhh. Not sure how much it runs but its good for non dynamic web sites.

For dynamic sites u will need something more such as visual studios or an open source architecture.

As far as the web server...you really don't need to dedicate a whole computer if your not expecting to get alot of traffic.

If your just not using asp or asp.net then you can use apache which is free. Google apache and download it etc. (IIS is easier to use though)

Another option besides Apache is Microsoft IIS it actually comes with Windows as long as you have the professional edition.

If you have the pro version then control panel, add remove programs , add remove windows components, then install internet information servvices....

the gui to configure it will be in your administrator tools then internet information services

[mil_imo]

heres the deal if your used to having some kind of stuctured design. with a little more then fundamental control. say semi advance control. dreamweaver is prolly a good option for you.. although i dont condone it without serious consideration of purchase after trial. i believe you can trial dreamweaver from the site directly by download. or you can bit torrent it. but im totally against pirated software,unless use of it is to try it out and then buy it. i would suggest trying it though. and if its for you buying it. but also i would suggest learning it on your own. and getting comfortable with doing all the nitty gritty parts of scripting your self.