I.T people - I need your help/advice!!!

[costargh]

Hi,

I require some help/advice in regards to starting up a website.

I know that there are different elements that are required to start up a website and I currently manage one in my profession though a CMS and I want to be able to do the same with this new website.

I need to buy a domain name (.com.au) but am not sure if I should do this at the time of hosting the website or buy it in advance. I'm thinking about just buying a template (like one of these - http://www.templatemonster.com/joomla-templates.php). If I understand correctly Joomla is a CMS? If I buy a template through this site, how do I go about hosting it and where should I host it (with who?). Also, how much of a template that is bought is editable through a CMS like Joomla? I have no problems working within a CMS I just don't know how to get to the point where my template is hosted on a server and my domain name is directing traffic to the server (or however you'd explain it).

Once I have it all set up I will be able to edit the website and add pages etc with no problem through the CMS (correct?)

If someone could explain to me what process I should go through to get to my end result and which providers I should be using in a step by step process that would be much appreciated.

[chansthename]

I have little knowledge in this area but would urge you to go post here: http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/forum/116 and get advice from the people there as well.

[Cthulhu]

Joomla is indeed a CMS. You would host the actual joomla site on your server/web storage and if I'm correct joomla itself should have an option to upload the template.

For hosting it depends on how much bandwidth you're going to use, disk space you're going to need and other factors. You'd also want to find a host that has PHP and some form of SQL database server (most common is MySQL)

Personally I used Linode for my VPS.  I have heard good things about Dreamhost as well.

Are you concerned about hosting the site in Australia? I should warn you that Australian hosts can be rather expensive....

[costargh]

Joomla is indeed a CMS. You would host the actual joomla site on your server/web storage and if I'm correct joomla itself should have an option to upload the template.

For hosting it depends on how much bandwidth you're going to use, disk space you're going to need and other factors. You'd also want to find a host that has PHP and some form of SQL database server (most common is MySQL)

Personally I used Linode for my VPS.  I have heard good things about Dreamhost as well.

Are you concerned about hosting the site in Australia? I should warn you that Australian hosts can be rather expensive....

Thanks for your helpful reply.

I'm not really sure how much bandwith/disk space I would use. The site isn't going to be very large. It's just a business website so it will have some pages about services etc, not much images or anything. I wouldn't expect any more than 80 unique page visits a day.

Is the server different to hosting?

Say if I purchase a Joomla template, where do I go from there?

I'm quite confused haha sorry

[costargh]

I think I've found a site that explains what I have to do pretty well

knol.google.com/k/how-to-start-a-joomla-website

[Cthulhu]

Joomla is indeed a CMS. You would host the actual joomla site on your server/web storage and if I'm correct joomla itself should have an option to upload the template.

For hosting it depends on how much bandwidth you're going to use, disk space you're going to need and other factors. You'd also want to find a host that has PHP and some form of SQL database server (most common is MySQL)

Personally I used Linode for my VPS.  I have heard good things about Dreamhost as well.

Are you concerned about hosting the site in Australia? I should warn you that Australian hosts can be rather expensive....

Thanks for your helpful reply.

I'm not really sure how much bandwith/disk space I would use. The site isn't going to be very large. It's just a business website so it will have some pages about services etc, not much images or anything. I wouldn't expect any more than 80 unique page visits a day.

Then you'd probably want a basic web account that shouldn't cost you more than $20 a month and that would come with quite a bit of web space.

Is the server different to hosting?

You have complete control over a server: Your choice of Operating System, Services, Web Server, SQL Server of choice what you do and don't run is up to you.

Normal web hosting accounts are usually on a server with predefined software usually MySQL(instead of PostgreSQL or some other variation) Apache webserver software and PHP5. It's a lot less mucking around and much easier if you aren't familiar with linux or running a server.

Say if I purchase a Joomla template, where do I go from there?

I'm quite confused haha sorry

You should be given a link to a downloadable file and then the joomla documentation/there might be a file in the download instructing you on how to install it.