Almost everyone has a router at home, right? 📶 And many folks have a NAS (Network Attached Storage) too. The CPUs in these devices are pretty impressive nowadays, offering a bunch of extra services. For instance, they can run web servers, databases, and CMS platforms, making it a breeze to set up a personal blog if you’re up for it.
When you use the internet at home, your service provider (like KT or SKT) assigns you an IP address when you connect to their network. But each time you reconnect, you get a new IP. It’s dynamic. So, routers and NAS devices usually offer DDNS services, which reconnect your changing IP to a specific URL. That means even if your IP changes after rebooting your router, you can still access it using the same URL. If you create a blog on your NAS, using DDNS allows you to always reach it through that URL.
These days, not many people type domain names directly to access services. We usually click through links we find in searches. That’s why snagging the perfect domain might not seem crucial. But, using a subdomain from your router feels a bit like being a corporate worker, doesn’t it? Or is that just me? 😅 Plus, for tasks like setting up Google AdSense, you need to own a domain. Buying one is like acquiring a company, but it only costs a bit! It’s surprisingly cost-effective.
After you buy a domain, you need to link it to the DDNS service your router or NAS provides. This intro is getting long, so let’s cut to the chase. I’ll sketch out the basics, even if it feels a bit rushed.
Once you’ve got your domain, the next step is connecting it to your web server. Domain sellers usually offer DNS services too. The DNS server links your purchased domain name to a specific IP address. On the domain provider’s DNS settings page, there’s a [Host Registration] menu. It’s for registering your own DNS server’s IP, not for entering the server IP where your blog is hosted.
To use your domain’s DNS server, select the DNS record management menu. Since you want to forward to the URL your router company provides, choose the CNAME record type and enter the URL. (If you have a static IP, opt for the A Record type and input your IP address.)
If you lack system knowledge, I suggest linking your domain to your web server first, then installing CMS solutions. Most CMS solutions store folder path structures in the database during installation, and these paths are referenced every time content is created, saving absolute paths with each post. So, install your CMS once your domain is linked to ensure paths are set correctly, allowing your posts to align neatly under your purchased domain. If you’ve installed CMS first, you can update paths in the database. If you’re not detail-oriented, I wouldn’t recommend this. I’m thorough, so I handled it smoothly. 😎
One more thing: you can’t specify subfolders on the server when connecting domain DNS records. This needs to be resolved within the web server through VirtualHost settings. Some NAS devices support virtual hosts, so use that feature to map subfolders.
With COVID around, weekends can feel a bit dull. Why not give this a try? Time flies when you’re having fun. Well, until boredom creeps back in. 😜
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