you need hosting and domain to do that.
how do I get it out on the internet?…
…Basically how do I attach a URL to my blog
Here’s the short version…
You need a domain name that resolves to your residential ip address. That can be problematic, because most isp’s issue residential ip addresses dynamically, meaning that they change every now and again.
You can look into DynDns or a similar service (and an updater) to circumvent those issues.
You need to assign a static internal network address (ie.. 192.168.x.x) within your own home network, to your Mac. You then need to configure your router to port forward (at least) port 80 to that static ip address, so it can receive requests from the WAN.
You need to install WordPress using the actual domain name you’re going to use, rather than using “localhost” in the WordPress addresses in order to make it available to the WAN. ( Because all computers are “localhost”, requests for a localhost address from the WAN will always result in an error ).
You then need to configure the Apache host container (default, or virtual) to resolve your domain name to the directory where WordPress has been installed.
None of this even begins to touch on the security implications of opening a home computer to the WAN for use as a web server, of course…
Alternatively, you might look for some inexpensive hosting.
If you want to see your site on the Internet, you will need to move to a hosting account.
Here are some instructions to get you started
http://codex.wordpress.org/Moving_WordPress
But basically, you need to get hosting, install wordPress, move all of your files and the database.
I have hosting at 1&1.com I have the domain name ready and everything.
But you’re saying to switch it over I need to undergo all of that?
No, you need to install WordPress at 1&1.com under your domain next.
Well, to be fair, you appeared to be asking how to put the site located on your Mac, on the internet.
It’s only on my own server for now. Basically how do I attach a URL to my blog?
You made no mention of having an account with a hosting service. 🙂
But you’re saying to switch it over I need to undergo all of that?
No. Of course not. You simply need to read a little documentation.
http://codex.wordpress.org/Main_Page
http://codex.wordpress.org/New_To_WordPress_-_Where_to_Start
http://codex.wordpress.org/Installing_WordPress
http://codex.wordpress.org/Installing_WordPress#Famous_5-Minute_Install
http://codex.wordpress.org/Installing_WordPress#Detailed_Instructions
Moving a WordPress site is a little daunting at first, but you should do it at least once or twice and see how it goes. It’s really not that big of a deal, but it is a bit like riding a bike, so you might fall and have bumps along the way.
Good luck.
True, Christine…I was once quite bumpy (were not we all?)…good advise…create test sub domains and host folders.
