What's in a Web Host? What does a good Web hosting company look like?

What's in a Web Host?

What does a good Web hosting company look like?

part 1 --> part 2 --> part 3

Blaine Fallis, Managing Director - FriendlyWeb.net
Founder: Friendly Web Design

As I mentioned earlier, a good Web host exhibits teamwork, helpful support, reliable (newish) hardware in a solid Internet Data Center (IDC), great planning, financial stability, and easy to implement applications.

Shared Hosting

Let's start with this concept: if you share a server with perhaps between 150 and 400 other Web sites, then you are in essence all citizens of the same abode, not unlike apartment dwellers or hotel patrons. If the company responsible for the server has promised unlimited bandwidth and emails, what type of clients do you think that will attract? And won't those same clients be on YOUR server effecting YOUR Web site's performance? Wouldn't it make more sense to be a good citizen of the server yourself, and to trust that the company maintaining the server and providing support expects the same from all people on the server? The result is better performance for all concerned, and a better Web host.

Unlimited Promises

Doesn't it just feel better knowing that even though your site will only use 8 or 12 or 15 email addresses, 100 MB of storage, and will use maybe .5 GIGs of data transfer a month, that you could receive unlimited amounts of these things if you wanted? (Although storage is generally not part of the unlimited promise strategy, because obviously hard drives are finite.) The truth is that such things are not unlimited, and your Web host is fibbing to you in order to get your business. What's more important is that these companies have gotten you to focus on the less important issues (the extras package) rather than the much more important core services: customer support, and reliability. Not to mention, your relationship with this new online partner is beginning with a half truth. Bandwidth is not free, and if you use enough of it, you will become more than a blip on the host's radar screen. The Terms of Service language will be used to justify pulling your site off of the "unlimited server."

Terms Of Service

Usually the TOS statements are used by hosts to safeguard their servers from abusive clients - clients who distribute illegal or unseemly content in large quantities. As a customer, though, assuming you're not an abuser of Web servers, you should be more concerned with the terms of "customer" service - that is, how well does the company standing behind the hosting package you're purchasing serve the customer? This is not an exact science, but buyer beware and use your instincts. Not all hosting companies were created equal. Look for clues... an easy to find FAQ, a toll free number, online chat, and especially support services. Most hosting companies that have real tech support specialists will offer their expert services in more ways than just supporting hosting. Look for ancillary services being offered by the company such as script modification, programming, site move services, web design, and training. Talented tech support people make a hosting company sing and are the jamba juice behind the scenes. A company that sells you space and then forgets you is a company ill-equipped to handle your Web site in times of crisis, and makes an unsuitable long-term partner in your online business.

Financial Stability

The proliferation of internet control panels such as C Panel and Plesk have made entry into the "hosting business" relatively easy. One doesn't even need their own server... they just need some virtual space on someone else's server and they can call themselves a hosting company, and further divide that space up and sell it to others, such as yourself. I'm not dead set against such hosting solutions for certain applications. Perhaps you're doing a family Web site or a charity site for free and need to keep costs to a minimum... these one-man shows can sometimes be cheaper and save you money. However, for business applications, I think it's prudent to do a little research on the company behind the hosting package you're about to buy. Running a hosting company long-term requires investments in up-to-date servers, software, and the tech support to keep a server current with the latest versions of Perl, PHP, and Linux (and/or Coldfusion, Windows Server) that are necessary. A company living on a borrowed slice of someone else's solution may dwindle and fade before too long, but a quality hosting company that keeps current and uses competent tech support, while being finacially secure, is the kind of solution you need long term.

part 3 --> Easy to implement applications...


A Train Domains Friendlyweb.net Hosting Lynda.com Flashkit Hot Scripts <MAP NAME="boxmap-p8"> <AREA SHAPE="RECT" COORDS="14, 200, 103, 207" HREF="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm/privacy-policy.html?o=1" ><AREA COORDS="1,-1,10001,9999" HREF="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/redirect-home/modernjazz-20" > </MAP><img src="http://rcm-images.amazon.com/images/G/01/rcm/120x240.gif" width="120" height="240" border="0" usemap="#boxmap-p8" alt="Shop at Amazon.com">	Home \| Web Design \| Graphic Design \| Web Hosting 2-Tier Affiliate Program \| Web Templates \| More Articles What's in a Web Host? What does a good Web hosting company look like? part 1 --> part 2 --> part 3 Blaine Fallis, Managing Director - FriendlyWeb.net Founder: Friendly Web Design As I mentioned earlier, a good Web host exhibits teamwork, helpful support, reliable (newish) hardware in a solid Internet Data Center (IDC), great planning, financial stability, and easy to implement applications. Shared Hosting Let's start with this concept: if you share a server with perhaps between 150 and 400 other Web sites, then you are in essence all citizens of the same abode, not unlike apartment dwellers or hotel patrons. If the company responsible for the server has promised unlimited bandwidth and emails, what type of clients do you think that will attract? And won't those same clients be on YOUR server effecting YOUR Web site's performance? Wouldn't it make more sense to be a good citizen of the server yourself, and to trust that the company maintaining the server and providing support expects the same from all people on the server? The result is better performance for all concerned, and a better Web host. Unlimited Promises Doesn't it just feel better knowing that even though your site will only use 8 or 12 or 15 email addresses, 100 MB of storage, and will use maybe .5 GIGs of data transfer a month, that you could receive unlimited amounts of these things if you wanted? (Although storage is generally not part of the unlimited promise strategy, because obviously hard drives are finite.) The truth is that such things are not unlimited, and your Web host is fibbing to you in order to get your business. What's more important is that these companies have gotten you to focus on the less important issues (the extras package) rather than the much more important core services: customer support, and reliability. Not to mention, your relationship with this new online partner is beginning with a half truth. Bandwidth is not free, and if you use enough of it, you will become more than a blip on the host's radar screen. The Terms of Service language will be used to justify pulling your site off of the "unlimited server." Terms Of Service Usually the TOS statements are used by hosts to safeguard their servers from abusive clients - clients who distribute illegal or unseemly content in large quantities. As a customer, though, assuming you're not an abuser of Web servers, you should be more concerned with the terms of "customer" service - that is, how well does the company standing behind the hosting package you're purchasing serve the customer? This is not an exact science, but buyer beware and use your instincts. Not all hosting companies were created equal. Look for clues... an easy to find FAQ, a toll free number, online chat, and especially support services. Most hosting companies that have real tech support specialists will offer their expert services in more ways than just supporting hosting. Look for ancillary services being offered by the company such as script modification, programming, site move services, web design, and training. Talented tech support people make a hosting company sing and are the jamba juice behind the scenes. A company that sells you space and then forgets you is a company ill-equipped to handle your Web site in times of crisis, and makes an unsuitable long-term partner in your online business. Financial Stability The proliferation of internet control panels such as C Panel and Plesk have made entry into the "hosting business" relatively easy. One doesn't even need their own server... they just need some virtual space on someone else's server and they can call themselves a hosting company, and further divide that space up and sell it to others, such as yourself. I'm not dead set against such hosting solutions for certain applications. Perhaps you're doing a family Web site or a charity site for free and need to keep costs to a minimum... these one-man shows can sometimes be cheaper and save you money. However, for business applications, I think it's prudent to do a little research on the company behind the hosting package you're about to buy. Running a hosting company long-term requires investments in up-to-date servers, software, and the tech support to keep a server current with the latest versions of Perl, PHP, and Linux (and/or Coldfusion, Windows Server) that are necessary. A company living on a borrowed slice of someone else's solution may dwindle and fade before too long, but a quality hosting company that keeps current and uses competent tech support, while being finacially secure, is the kind of solution you need long term. part 3 --> Easy to implement applications... See also: Host Select Info	"If you're going to lead by example there has to be an element of calculated risk. You've got to challenge ideas and stir the pot by taking action." Chris Pirillo, LockerGnome <MAP NAME="boxmap-p8"><AREA SHAPE="RECT" COORDS="14, 200, 103, 207" HREF="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm/privacy-policy.html?o=1" ><AREA COORDS="0,0,10000,10000" HREF="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/redirect-home/modernjazz-20" ></MAP><img src="http://rcm-images.amazon.com/images/G/01/rcm/120x240.gif" width="120" height="240" border="0" usemap="#boxmap-p8" alt="Shop at Amazon.com"> <MAP NAME="boxmap-p11"><AREA SHAPE="RECT" COORDS="13, 588, 102, 600" HREF="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm/privacy-policy.html?o=1" ><AREA COORDS="0,0,10000,10000" HREF="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/redirect-home/modernjazz-20" ></MAP><img src="http://rcm-images.amazon.com/images/G/01/rcm/120x600.gif" width="120" height="600" border="0" usemap="#boxmap-p11" alt="Shop at Amazon.com">
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