100 points to know about...
Eco-Design Web Development

In the previous points, we have been looking at different aspects of web hosting and even considered some green web hosts.

All these types of web hosting discussed above can also be called shared hosting. This means that your website files are located on the same server as many other websites. So, basically, you share a server with others.
Shared hosting is the most popular and affordable type of hosting. The advantage of it is that it can give you anything you need in one place: the domain registration, the hosting, the software and the maintenance as well as security. On the other hand, you are limited on what you can create because of the tools and service provider limits.

Now we introduce you to another term: self-hosting.
The difference between the two types lies in the computer(s) where your website lives. For a self-hosted website you use your own server in your house or business, and you have total control over it.
What do you need to be able to self-host from your own home?

• An Internet Service Provider (ISP) which allows you to do this (be mindful that the upload speed should be capable of letting your site visitors download the page in an acceptable time);
• A dedicated IP address (check with your ISP whether they have this option for an extra cost);
• A computer that will function as a server. You can buy used hardware for this purpose or re-use your computer.
• A server software (depends upon the operating system you choose: Mac, Windows or Linux). Apache is the most well-known software for Linux;
• Set up web traffic by opening ports on your home router and firewall.
• Don't forget that you also need a domain for your website.

Nowadays, self-hosting is quite feasible, and its main advantages are :

• Gives you control over your data and services;
• Can be cost-effective;
• You decide what power it is run by and can provide 100% green energy;
• You can re-use hardware;
• You will learn a lot about how the internet works by operating your own server;
• You can explore new possibilities and customize things.

But, as with everything, there are some downsides as well:

• Quality and performance may be lower than premium services. Your server performance will largely depend upon your internet provider. As soon as you have more visitors, you might come across internet access speed problems. Besides, the CPU and RAM of your computer/server are also crucial.
• Your website availability can be damaged by a power outage or accidentally turning off your computer;
• With great servers come great responsibilities. As you are the one who operates the server, you are the one who is responsible for all the data. In case they are lost, nobody will be able to restore them for you.
• It requires some knowledge, work and patience. You will have to learn a few things in order to set up your server properly; you will also have to do the maintenance tasks and ask for support if something breaks or won't work.

In terms of sustainability:
Self-hosting gives you total control over your server. So if you make sure that your home or business is 100% run by renewable energy (maybe you use your own solar panel system), you can ensure your server is green. As mentioned before, you are the one who chooses your hardware, so you can also contribute to the reduction of e-waste, giving new life to old computers.

Summing up, when choosing between a web host provider or self-hosting, carefully weigh all the pros and cons. Your choice will also depend upon your goals and business model, as well as the time and effort you want to dedicate to site-building and managing.