Web Design, Internet and Computer Security Resources
|
|
|
Selecting a Web Host
|
|
|
|
In order to be a part of the World Wide Web, your website files need to be placed on a web server. Although it is possible to set up your own server, this is not advisable.
Although you may be able to upload your files immediately to the server of the web host you choose, the domain name transferring process can take a few days. In order to minimize the effects of such delays affecting your site’s launch with your new provider, it is best to set up your hosting service prior to the intended launch or transfer date for your site. This allows your site to be thoroughly tested in the real world environment of your particular server.
Some web development firms offer web-hosting services. While some companies actually do have their own servers, the majority do not. Do not be lulled into a false sense of security by anyone who says they can provide you with hosting services if it is not their primary business. It is not difficult to set up a computer with a DSL or cable modem, connect it to the web, and call it a server. These ground-level providers typically do not offer the speed your site deserves or the redundancy necessary to cover server crashes, power outages, and other potentialities. You want (and deserve) to have your site hosted by a firm that specializes in website hosting only. They’ll have flocks of techies to handle problems as they arise.
Likewise, it is not always a good idea to have your Internet Service Provider (ISP) host your site. Most people are familiar with the ins and outs of dealing with ISPs. While some are better than others, ISPs focus themselves on providing access to the Internet (as they should). It is hard for them to do a good job at that and give you the quality service you deserve. As hosts, most tend to offer only bare-bones features. We recommend that you deal directly with a company whose sole purpose is to babysit your server and keep it happy. (When the need arises, we’ll be happy to handle any communications with the hosting provider.)
That being said, here are the main considerations for your web-hosting provider search:
Price is important, but it is not the most important thing. We have listed it first because it is foremost in the minds of many potential site owners. You shouldn’t focus on the preliminary costs for putting your initial site on the web. All things being equal, price will be the determining factor, but rarely are all things equal.
Hosting services can be found starting at as little as five dollars a month. Then pricing can range up through hundreds and into thousands of dollars monthly. The majority of small business sites can be set up with shared hosting for a few hundred dollars a year. In fact, our favorite hosting company costs only $19.95 per month.
The cost to start up your website will vary. Initially your costs involve acquiring a domain name, and any setup fees that your web host may charge. Many hosts offer their services on a month-to-month basis. Many also offer a discount of up to ten percent if you pay for one year of hosting in advance. All of these fees can be paid by credit card.
Each provider has its own agreement terms. Check on the length of contract required. Be sure that you can switch to another provider at any time if you so decide. If you are not happy with a key element of your site, and your host cannot satisfy your needs, you need to be able to go elsewhere for the services you require.
Many web hosts have trial periods, during which you can cancel with your money back if you are not satisfied. If this is not an option, agree only to a short-term contract (three months or less) to be sure the web host meets your needs before you commit long-term. Beware that some of the "satisfaction guaranteed or your money back" hosts do not refund your setup fees.
Having your domain name registered through your provider can present problems too. If you do this, make sure you have it in writing that you control your domain name so you can take it with you when you leave.
Consider what the providers charge when your site grows larger and starts attracting hundreds, thousands and even more visitors each month. Most hosting services offer a variety of packages based on the hard disk space required and the monthly volume of data transfer. In this context, the Web pages and images viewed by visitors translate into data they download to their systems. Your host will charge you according to these two variables and will add incremental charges if you exceed preset limits. These days there is no reason to use a web host that charges access, bandwidth or hit fees (at least until you're getting 50,000 visitors a day). The best companies offer unlimited bandwidth with standard hosting packages.
What kind of guarantee does your host offer in terms of keeping your site online? Look for offerings such as daily backups, redundant servers, firewalls, and uninterruptible power supplies like generators and so on. In addition, consider people factors like facility security and 24/7/365 onsite technical support staffing.
Downtime can be a factor with any server. If you have any experience with computers, you know that the facts of life in the real world also apply to computers. Even the biggest websites are not immune to downtime and problems. Even the Internet giant Yahoo has been down for four hours when its top-of-the-line hosting provider in California was affected by a power outage.
Unlimited, free, and responsive customer support (primarily 24/7 toll-free technical support), should be one of your main concerns. Your host’s tech support team can be your greatest ally in the Internet world. Regardless of price, all hosts have different support policies and procedures. Many have extensive frequently-asked-questions (F.A.Q.) sections on their website that they expect you to peruse before calling for support.
If something doesn’t seem right with your site, or something actually goes wrong; whom can you call? And when? Think how long you could live with any particular problem with your site before you could talk to your host (i.e., non-functioning forms, slow-loading pages, and so on). With a good web host you shouldn't have many problems, but when difficulties arise you will want a live human to speak with on the phone. (Once again, when the need arises, we’ll be happy to handle any communications with your hosting provider.) Insist on unlimited customer support via both email and telephone.... One day you'll be glad you did!
How fast can users access all the pages on your site? If you provide downloads, how fast can they be downloaded? Attempt to visit sites hosted by the provider you are considering to see how fast they are. Don't forget to try this at the peak times of the day.
Will you be using shared hosting, or require a dedicated server? (Most sites are on shared servers.) Some hosting companies host hundreds of sites on one server. Others set reasonable limits. If you are on a server along with an extremely busy site, your site delivery characteristics could suffer. Find out how many sites your potential host puts on its servers. It may actually be better for you to have your site hosted with only a hundred others on a server with a T3 connection, than to be sharing a server with a faster OC-3 connection with hundreds of other busy sites.
Many factors can affect speed. Look for quality hardware and redundant T3 connections to the “backbone” of the Internet. (Backbone refers to the major transmission lines for Internet traffic.) The speed at which your web pages load is directly proportional to your income, and there's no such thing as a server that's too fast. Our preferred host uses redundant OC-48 connections.
The transmission speeds of the various types of transmission lines are as follows: 56K line - 56Kbps (thousand bits per second) 1-channel ISDN - 64Kbps 2-channel ISDN - 128Kpbs T1 - 1.5444Mbps (million bits per second) T3 - 44.73Mbps OC-3 - 155.52Mbps OC-12 - 622.08Mbps OC-28 - 1.244 Gbps or 1244.16 Mbps OC-36 - 1.866 Gbps or 1866.24 Mbps OC-48 - 2.488 Gbps or 2488.32 Mbps
Look for a bare minimum of OC-3 connections. We recommend that you pass on a web host with slower connections, especially if you expect to grow or have surges of activity after advertising campaigns or a favorable mention in a national publication.
Your web host should offer full email services, including POP mailboxes, unlimited email aliases, and unlimited auto-responders. (Auto-responders should be unlimited in number and size.) You should not have to pay extra for these features. How many of each you'll need depends on your individual situation. Look for a host that provides a minimum of at least a few of each.
Many web hosts also offer mailing list software. This comes in handy when you want to start your own newsletter.
Consider support for any database or multimedia components your site may require (i.e. RealAudio/Video). Do you need password-protected directories? How about e-commerce software?
Look for unrestricted Common Gateway Interface (CGI) bin access. The majority of web hosting companies provide basic CGI scripts for you. These scripts handle operations like forms, counters, and password protection. You will probably need to use CGI scripts at one time or another, so be sure that you have your own CGI bin directory, as well as the ability to upload any scripts you want. Don't use a web host that limits you to the scripts they decide you can use. It is best for you to be able to add your own CGI scripts that are customized for your site needs.
In order to best analyze your web site traffic, make sure you have unrestricted access to your raw server logs. These logs are the history of every transaction on your site. These logs contain valuable information on traffic, page views, referring sites, keywords, time spent at your site by visitors and how they navigated it. Knowing what is happening on your site is a key to its success.
Secure servers allow you to transmit pages in an encrypted format. If you plan on selling anything directly from your web site, your site will require secure server capabilities. Look for a hosting provider with low or no additional setup fees, and a low or no monthly fee for Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) connections. This is necessary if you plan on asking for detailed personal data or credit card information.
Although some hosts offer to secure your domain name for you, it is highly advisable to do it yourself. If you do not already own your domain name, do yourself a favor and read our in-depth coverage of this topic in our Domain Name Tips section. |
|
The
Setup Time Factor
Home Services Portfolio Resources Contact Us Site Map
Arizona Web Group P.O. Box 27543 Tempe, AZ 85285-7543 Ph. 480.730.1578 Fax 877.661.4339
Copyright© 2001-2008 Arizona Web Group - All rights reserved
