How to host my website(s) on a Mac Mini with OS X Server ?

* Mac Mini late 2012 (the server) with OS X Server Mavericks (3.xx)

* iMac early 2013 (the admin mac, for daily use, developing and editing websites, and screen for Mac Mini (via thunderbolt)

* MacBook Pro late 2012 (client in network)

* My and my gf's iPads and iPhone 5s

* AirPort Extreme (brand new)

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All of them up to date.

Replaced my dynamic IP with a static one. So I won't need 3rd party services like dyndns etc.

Registered a domain from goDaddy, off their control panel, created two new hosts NS1.mydomain.com and NS2.mydomain.com and redirected the name servers to them.

From goDaddy's control panel, changed the A host record to my static IP.

Bought an SSL certificate.

On my Mac Mini the server, I turned the website publishing on. Added two new websites (www.mydomain.com), one for port 80 and one for port 443 (for SSL).

When I try to go to Safari and open up the website, it says the page can't be found. What's wrong ? Did I miss something ?

The settings for adding a new website were all done true. I mean, redirected port 80 one to port 443 one, added the www.mydomain.com and mydomain.com versions as aliase. They were simple and clear and making a mistake there was impossible.

Is it about DNS settings ? Do I need to go to my router's control page and set the both ports to the Mac Mini's internal IP ? You know maybe all those tutorials on the net were for those who have just one IP in their network so it automatically redirects the queries to that mac. Do I need to change the router settings and tell the router that if somebody asks for visiting my website (port 80 and 443), redirect them to my Mac Mini, not to iMac or any other internal IP or something like that ?

I really need a guide, Server App's tutorials are not enough, because I did what was said there and still can't see the website. And they don't talk about the router settings or static IP or any other thing. It just explains how to set the Server App which can be done without a tutorial.

Some may ask if I have a website or index page (html or something else), I just pick the Server App's sample php page, and add it to the list and bring it up to first on the list. So I suppose it should display a sample php page. But it doesnot load anything.

Should I play with those DHCP NAT settings, I don't know what they really do, so left them untouched.

Even sharing a website is hard enough to make me tired and bored and I am about to give up my project. I don't want to think about publishing a database for my iOS app.

I need help. Nobody knows enough about Mac Server, and many people told me it was a bad choise. But when you see the Mac Mini Server, I mean it's design and the way Apple makes everything simple, you think mac is the best choise. I hope I am not wrong.

Hello GreyWullf,

I guess the path has changed with Mavericks. I can't find that path on my mac. Maybe yours just a result of wrong path, well hope it's that easy.

I am having problems with AirPort Extreme too, don't know how to change port settings there even.

I guess we need a tech guide.

Cheers, good luck.

This is the localhost page.

I had to change name servers to my friend's hosting. I rechanged them but it needs some time to let me access to A Zone, since my friend's name servers dont belong to me. (The zone file is unavailable because the domain's set nameservers do not belong to this registrar.)

Here is the screenshot of the index page I've put right inside the folder;

and here is a screen when I try to open the server's ip

Here is another question. How can I rearrange the internal IP numbers for each device. I mean 192.168.0.3 Server 0.4 MacBook Pro 0.5 iMAc and goes on, and is it possible to clean the other once used ip numbers from the network ?

Thanks.

I found where was the directory. Right now I am waiting for godaddy to accept my nameserver edit.

By the way, I only have websites and DNS sections turned on (Server app). After readding my website there, I was working on DNS, and I figured out that rather than the server's internal ip, there was external ip of mine. So probably that was the reason I couldnot manage to run the website. It couldnot find which mac the server is I think. Dont know how or when did I make that mistake. Still waiting for godaddy. Then I will share the screens.

I did changeip command prompt, first it was all good, they both were same and matching. Then I changed the hostname of the server.mydomain.com thing. Now they don't match. Don't know how to take it back. Can you explain what is that for. I mean should I register another host for it on godaddy where I created name server hosts ? And what happens if I use just server.local or lan.server instead of server.domain.com ?

I know that it's the admin panel for server, but does it have to be on my domain ? That'd be great if you explain it a little bit.

Here is a screenshot, of DNS settings page. This IP was my external IP, then I changed it to Mac Mini's IP. This is the new look.

I think there's nothing wrong right now. I ll report back right after godaddy lets me to access A zone. Thanks.

Tho that guide isnot up to date. There is no Server Admin first of all and I think that makes things little bit more complex.

Here is the DNS section screen shot.

Anthing looks wrong ? The guide of yours making it look easy, but without Server Admin, it's lit bit confusing.

By the way mine is not Mac Mini Server, it's Mac Mini. Don't think that matters though.