Home server..

[Sir Travis D]

If I have a domain registered through a company, can I transfer it to myself? I don't know how to explain this, but if I can transfer the domain to other hosting companies for them to host, can I host it on my own computer with a static IP and windows server 2003/2008? I want to be in control of it myself, not having it registered with a hosting company. Or will I be able to have it registered still, but host it myself. I basically want to know how I can take control of it like that.

-Also, if my hosting company goes out of business or whatever, will I lose the domain, or will it still be registered?

 

[tlarkin]

You won't be able to run DNS yourself, that is a very big and long and expensive process to run your own live DNS services on the world wide web.

You can get a domain cheap through godaddy and then host it anywhere you want, but most ISPs block incoming port 80 requests and your upload speed on a home connection would suck really bad. You also don't need to run Windows Server, in fact no one really runs Windows servers for webhosting, it is all either Unix or Linux.

XAMPP would be a good place to start.

http://www.apachefriends.org/en/index.html

 

[Sir Travis D]

Okay. So basically, I should be able to transfer my domain from my current host to enom, register it for 10 years, and link it to a new host? And even if the company goes out of business or something, I would still own the domain during those 10 years?

 

[tlarkin]

As long as the company that provides the domain is still in business yes. You can host anywhere you want, some domain companies though only allow certain hosts which is why I recommend godaddy. It is cheap (always an online coupon) and you can use any host you want and they don't care.