Nelson's Web Hosting

About The Project

Since 2015 I have been hosting websites for artists, authors, and independent creatives. Besides taking care of all the technical details, I help my clients troubleshoot issues and protect their sites from spammers. I also offer additional services, such as VPN access and cloud file storage. To run the platform I use several Linode servers, which I also configure and maintain. My goal with this project is to provide affordable solutions for creatives like me because I fundamentally believe that technology should empower our best work, not get in the way of it.

How it Started

My role as a systems administrator began several years before I took on paying clients. I first learned how to setup up and manage a Linux server in 2007 while working on a project for S.B.C. Panamá. Using source software, I was able to set up an internal website for the company so they could track inventory and orders. After a couple of years of working with Linux, I felt comfortable enough to set up a public-facing server, which would allow me to host my websites but also brought a new set of challenges.

Unlike the S.B.C server, which could only be accessed at the business, a public server is accessible to anyone on the internet, which means you have to configure it properly, or it can become a target for hackers. I took great care to research security best practices and launched my first website, Ana's Miracle, using the Wordpress software. Over the next couple of years, I got better at configuring and optimizing my server as I setup even more sites for my various projects.

I began to realize how challenging running a website must be for people who do not have the same programming background as I do. Even a simple Wordpress blog requires maintenance, backups, and optimization. So in 2015, I started offering my services to family and friends. The addition of paying clients was challenging to manage at first, but it forced me to design a more robust service. I also expanded into new offerings such as VPN access and cloud file storage.

One of the most rewarding aspects of this work is building a system that makes people's lives easier. As an artist, I know how emotionally challenging it can be to share