How to put Java program online?

Question

I am learning Java and am trying to do some experiments with networking Java programs.

I have a program made in 2 parts with a client and a server and it works in local testing but the program actually has usefulness for me and a friend of mine and I want to put the server online so both of us can connect to it and use it.

Where/How can I put the program online and have it running so that the client programs can connect to the ServerSocket with an ip address? (Preferably free)

Answer 1

If you dont want to pay server hosting then I would open a virtual server on my computer. Play around with modem and forward related port to server IP address. I would use a port higher than 40,000. Then just send your IP and port to your friend or update application.

Answer 2

If you really want the application to go live within 5 mins, try Jelastic. If you have built a WAR file, simply sign up with their server,choose a provider closest to your geo location, configure Tomcat and you can upload the WAR file through their fantastic web console. Otherwise if you have some source control system(SVN,GIT etc), you just connect and build it with their Maven console and you can be ready. I used it for my start up(Cloudlabz) and really found it exciting.

Surya