: Hosting an apache server from my mac I created a website with PHP and JS. I want to send my IP address to a friend who is in another state and let him see it. My site is loaded by xampp.

@Pierce454

Verizon lets you log in (on recent routers) at 192.168.1.1. If you don't have the password, hold the reset button on the back of your router for 30 seconds or more (not 29! it's picky). The settings for open ports are considered advanced, I recommend watching this video, as it shows the process well. Simply open the port 80, or select the web server/HTTP option from the list.

You'll have to specify which device to forward the ports of. Open a terminal on your Mac, and type ifconfig | grep '192.168'. You'll likely see 192.168.1.3 with perhaps a different ending number instead of 3. This is the router's name for your computer on the local network, and which device you should use on the port settings page.

If you decide to go with free hosting, some options include X10Hosting (gives most control) or 000webhost (almost as good, I've used both). If at any point you decide you need more, I strongly encourage Cloud Hosting, as it costs the same or less as paid versions of the aforementioned hosts and gives you about 20x the performance per dollar spent (based on my benchmarks of Bluehost vs Digital Ocean).

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@Sent6035632

This may get complicated depending on your ISP. If your ISP hasn't blocked port 80 then it is as simple as making sure that your router forwards all requests on port 80 to your computers internal ip, then just going to whatsmyip.org then having him type in followed by your IP address, then of course followed by the subdirectory of XAMPP.

Also, remember that depending on your ISP your IP may change so he will want to view it fairly fast. If your ISP does not allow port forwarding it becomes quite a bit more complicated and I would suggest just finding a free host and having him look at that.

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