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Need the steps to bring up my first Virtual Private Server

I don't need ASP.NET at the moment and am trying to give myself an education on provisioning a new VPS to host a simple HTML website.  Could someone provide me a list of all the things I will need to do as I configure it just to run that first "index.html" file?  You could even tell me the name of the ISP so I can get right to testing it out.

I'll need:
a Windows 2003 desktop
No FTP
IIS
SQL Server
a mail server

Can someone list the general steps I'll need to follow in order to get my server up and running so that my domain will resolve to index.html?

thanks,
newbieweb
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cottsak
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basically you need to have your domain host direct requests to your home IP address.
on your home router you must forward those port 80 requests to the local ip of your server.
then on your server, you must set up your IIS to accept incoming port 80 requests for the particular web site you have your index.html file on. make sure a local browse to the index file works 1st so if it fails, we can rule out stuff like default pages, etc.
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curiouswebster
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ASKER

I want to run the VPS at an ISP, not my home.
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cottsak
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i think you want a web host, not an ISP?
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curiouswebster
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ASKER

Oh!

What's the difference?
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cottsak
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curiouswebster
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ASKER

So, I want to know the steps to get a Virtual Private Server resolving my domain to index.html at a web host,  running Windows Server 2003.
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cottsak
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who is hosting the Virtual Private Server? you or someone else?
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curiouswebster
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ASKER

I will use anyone you suggest.  I assume the list of steps you'll provide may be somewhat vendor specific.
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cottsak
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if you just want to host a static web site (one that does not need a backend database) then one of many thousands of providers can help you. i'd suggest somewhere that's semi-local to where you live and it's important that they have phone support. Free Hosting is also available but it has it's drawbacks like popup ad's etc. also, if you wanna set up your pc to host you can get free domains and redirects if you look hard.

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curiouswebster
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ASKER

I am still hoping for a list of steps.  I need a web hosting company so you could define the list for one(s) you know.  I don't want free services (because of the ad popups )and being local to me does not matter.

I just want to have my domain resolve to my index.html.  Could someone please give me a "recipe" to make that happen?  Then as I follow the recipe I may have small questions, but at least I want to start by knowing all the major ingredients.

> who is hosting the Virtual Private Server? you or someone else?
anyone who can make your "recipe" work

If you work with Plesk, then tell me the steps for Plesk.  If not, then tell me the provider where the steps you provide will enable my domain name to resolve to my index.html.