Hosting questions

[brad211987]

In the past, I've set up a few websites, but hosted them off of my own machines using apache and a free dynamic dns service. I'm getting ready to set up a website for a small family business and wanted to try out a hosting service, but had a few questions first.

1. When you get a hosting account with someone, how does it work? do they give you access to the operating system so its no different than working at your desk?

2. Does it matter if I choose windows or linux?(I can administer either one).

3. Does anyone have any recommendations for a cheap hosting service?

4. I saw an advertisement for a cheap hosting service($4 per month) that advertised 250GB transfer, is that enough for a small business website?

5. Is there a real downside to keeping the site hosted on their system? I currently have a domain name for them, and it forwards to the free domain that does the dynamic dns service. This keeps track of the IP address for their computer and the site is hosted there.

[Pennimus]

1) No, you don't get access to the server OS because it's shared with lots of other sites (unless you buy a dedicated server). You generally get a control panel to administer domains, databases, email accounts and the like, plus FTP access.

2) Linux is cheaper and more flexible. The only reason to get a windows server is... actually I don't know what the reason would be... maybe if you're a microsoft fan boy? :D Joking aside, if you want to code in ASP you probably need a windows server.

3) I've only ever used one host so I'm not well placed to judge this.

4) Depends on the nature of the site and how popular it's going to be. The size of the company itself makes no difference. Likely though that 250 gb will be more than enough.

5) No downsides to using a hosting service, many upsides compared to hosting it yourself (one major one being it's a lot more stable, since they are actually designed for the purpose).

[_Aerospace_Eng_]

1. Usually you'll get a control panel but thats about it. You won't be able to actually install new software on the server its on. Sure you can install something like phpmyadmin if you wanted to but something like you imagemagick, you wouldn't be able to install because it required that you actually had access to the physical server itself.
2. I prefer Linux mainly because php could operate differently on a windows server sometimes.
3. http://www.siteflip.com/cheap-domain-hosting/ I currently use the first plan.
CleverDot is decent as well.
4. I would like to know where you saw that advertisement. It sounds to good to be true. It may be to much bandwidth. What kind of site is this going to be?
5. Some ISPs don't like people hosting their own sites on their computers because if it was a large site it could suck up too much of the bandwidth. What if their computer crashed? Then what? No more site? Most hosts now days are constantly creating backups.

[evo]

If you opt for a VPS plan, you do get root access to a server, and you can freely install/upgrade/patch whatever you wish.

I currently use WebIntellects.com's VPS 4 plan - but Mediatemple.net are the forerunners of that market as far as I am aware. VPS's come at a price though, dedicated even more.

Unfortunately, I think Mediatemple.net (from what I remember when I last went to check them out) only offer CPanel... *shudder*

[pepsi_max2k]

>> 3. Does anyone have any recommendations for a cheap hosting service?

currently looking for a new host myself, best one i've found so far is http://www.cirtexhosting.com/ , very cheap and lots of options like ssh access if you need it (might be what you meant in q.1 ). reviews are pretty good from what i've seen too.

take a look at somewhere like http://www.webhostingtalk.com/ for loads of peoples opinions on other hosts.

[rfresh]

Hi Brad -

If you've hosted your own websites before I would recommend continuing to do that. Yes, of course you can always go with a hosting provider but for 4.00 a month (as you stated) you get a shared server. This is the big difference!! There may be hundreds of other web businesses on the same server so with shared servers you get very little control over the box. A control panel which determines what you can and cannot do is it. However, to be fair: there is nothing wrong with shared hosting. Most of the websites are shared so despite their limitations, they work and work very well for most people.

Stepping up to a server such as a virtual dedicated or dedicated server which gives you root control is usually not cost-effective for personal or family use.

And as someone else pointed out, you would want to go Windows only if you're going to program in .ASP otherwise I recommend Linux too.

So, I would say stay with your own server if you can host it and keep your box online 24/7. If not, then by all means consider a web hosting provider.

[brad211987]

Thanks everyone for the replies. I think I'll probably stick to hosting the family business site myself, because I control the computers and handle backups etc... and it lets me dedicate whatever resources I want to it. I'm hoping to get into some small freelance web design using the family one to help start a portfolio, so I'll probably use a hosting service for any other sites from now on. The ad that I saw was at godaddy.com, this is where I bought the domain name for the site as well.

Thanks again, this gives me a lot more to consider and think about, so I'll be in much better position to explain it to prospects as well.