How to make OS X Server 3 accessible from the internet? I am trying to setup an OS X server so that I can see it from outside of my internal network.

I have OS X Mavericks with the Server app installed as a VM for testing purposes right now. It has access to the internet and I can browse it from my local Macs on the network.

I would like to be able to set it up as a basic web server to which I can set up a website or a small cloud backup etc.

I have various domain names which I use for my website and I could repurpose one of these or purchase a new one if needed.

I tried just turning on the Websites option which didn't work, I did have a play around with the DNS options adding in the IP of my domain etc but didn't get anywhere.

Do I need anything else besides a Mac with OS X Server and a domain name? Or am I missing something completely?

I am fairly technical but this is a bit out of my depths here I have done my google searching but everything I seem to find is always based to set up a local web host or within a corporate network.

If anyone can point me in the right directions I would appreciate it.
Essentially you have to make your server accessible behind a router  with a frequently changing IP-adress with a fixed fqdn for the router and forward all http/https requests from the WAN to the OS X VM in the LAN.


Set up dynamic DNS:


Get an arbitrary name from a dynamic DNS service provider (like Dyn (not free) or NO-IP (free))  
or depending on your hosting service and the access level you have, set up your own DDNS service

Set up a DDNS client on your OS X Server
Set up your OS X Server VM with a fixed IP
Set up and check port-forwarding (default is 80/443) on your Airport Express (some firmware versions seem to be buggy) to the OS X Server VM.
Access your home web server  from the internet with the chosen fqdn (e.g. (www.)myserver.no-ip.com).
Consider setting up some countermeasures against evil attackers.