How to Choose a
Web Host
Choosing a host for your web-site is no small decision.
Once committed to one, it will become very difficult to move your
business elsewhere – not to mention the damage that can be done to
your business if you make the wrong choice. This makes it very
important to “get it right the first time”. Find out as much as
you can about your prospective host before making any decisions.
When evaluating your host, you will obviously be considering
price. But price is, of course, not the only important factor. You
will also need to take into consideration
the speed and reliability of the servers and hardware,
the features the host offers and whether these mesh with your own
requirements, and, of course,
the quality of their support services.
Let’s look at each of these in turn:
1. Speed and Reliability of the Servers and Hardware
The speed and reliability of your host’s servers will depend on
several factors, including the quality of their connection to the
internet, bandwidth, and the availability of back-up systems in
case things go wrong. Here’s a checklist of points to consider
when checking out your prospective host’s servers and hardware:
A T3 Connection (or better), close to a primary internet backbone.
A T3 connection is approx 30 times as fast as a T1 connection.
Smaller hosting providers – for example, the proverbial "garage
operations" --- will often use T1 connections, with no backup at
all. They may be very cheap – but, be careful here, you can get
what you pay for!
Effective Bandwidth Management
In addition to having a fast connection to the internet, your host
should be able to manage how its available bandwidth is used . As
a guide, it should typically not be using more than 50 percent of
its bandwidth.
Backup Systems
If there is a systems, network or power failure, the last thing
you want is to lose your data or to have your web-site go down for
a long period. Good hosts will have back up systems in place to
guard against this.
Look for a host who can provide:
Regular, daily back up of your data
Backup power supplies
Look for an uninterruptible power supply system (often referred to
as "UPS") - a back up power generator available in case of
emergencies.
Redundancy
Do they have more than one connection to the internet, in case one
of their connections goes down.
An “Uptime” Guarantee
These typically state "We guarantee 99% (or 99.5%) uptime".
Here’s a sample of the kind of information that the web host
should be supplying - this one taken from the web-host Interliant
( http://webhosting.interliant.com ) :
"Our Internet connectivity is supplied by three separate diverse
backbone providers: UUNET, SAAVIS and Goodnet. If one of these
lines goes down, traffic is automatically routed through the lines
that are still online. Our data center is supplied by multiple
redundant power sources - centralized automatic UPS system with a
battery-powered backup system. The batteries are also connected to
three diesel power generators in the event of a power outage to
the building."
2. Features
As well as checking out the reliability of the servers and
hardware you will also need to evaluate and compare the features
provided by your host.
A full range of hosting features can be viewed on Webhostdir.com’s
“advanced search”, which compares hosting providers on both price
and features. This is an excellent facility for comparing features
when choosing a host - but to make the best use of it, you will
need first to prepare a list of features you require.
Here’s a checklist of things to consider:
Shared or Dedicated Server?
Depending on your requirements, you may be better off with a
dedicated server than a shared server. Dedicated servers are
typically used in cases where there is a high level of traffic,
there is a strong need for security, or the user wishes to run
their own customised software and applications rather than the
standard ones supplied by the host.
For more information on available dedicated server providers,
check out Webhostdir’s “dedicated server” search page.
Compatibility with Existing Software and Skills
Is your host’s server, software and support services compatible
will the skills and software that you (or your design team) are
using? If, for instance, you are used to working in a Unix
environment, then it probably makes little sense to choose an NT
host.
Flexibility and Room for Growth
You do not need a database solution now, perhaps, but you may need
one in the future. Similarly, a shared hosting arrangement may be
fine for you now, but what if your traffic levels explode, and you
need one in a years’ time? It is much easier to remain with one
host than to change. So, when choosing a host, keep in mind your
possible future needs, and whether the host will be able to
accommodate them.
3. Support and Service
Once you have checked out the reliability of the servers and
hardware, and located a host that provides the features you want,
the final task is to evaluate the quality of their support
services.
Most hosts now promise 24/7 support as a standard feature -- but,
do they really live up to that promise? It will be a good idea to
find out before committing to them! Here’s a checklist of things
to consider before making that all-important decision
Quality of existing customers
What is the quality and calibre of the sites currently served by
this host? If they generally host high-calibre commercial clients,
then, if you are running a commercial web-site, they may be a
better bet for you than if they mainly host, for instance, or
small businesses with 2 or 3 page static web-sites. (There may, of
course, be cost trade-off here.)
Opinions of existing customers
A host may boast of its popularity, the fact that it hosts lots of
web-sites. However, the most “popular” are not necessarily the
best -- they may just be the ones with the largest advertising
budget!
Indeed “popularity” can be a double-edged sword -- support
resources may more thinly spread, and bandwidth may be squeezed as
a result of the numbers hosted.
So don’t go on numbers alone. Get in touch with some of the host's
existing (or past) customers, and ask them what they really think
of the service and reliability of their host.
Stability
The last thing you want is for your host to go out of business. So
try to get some idea of how stable they are. Number of years in
business is sometimes (not always, of course) a good indicator.
Support and Responsiveness
Try asking the support staff a few technical questions of the type
you anticipate you will be asking when you host with them. Then
monitor how quickly and efficiently they respond.
Article url:
http://www.webhostdir.com/articles/showarticle.asp?id=1139
www.webhostdir.com - Web Host Directory is a resource offering a
community in which users can appraise, compare and choose hosting
products. Our aim is to help consumers make informed choices
through reviews, forums, articles, awards and guides.
web hosting tutorials
Who is the best
web hosting company?
The best web hosting company is the one who can offer all the
services you need in order to operate a successful website. If you
require special services, such as an SSL certificate or dedicated
IP, you'd obviously want a host who was capable of filling that
need. Because each customer's needs are different, there are a
variety of hosts to choose from. When looking for a reliable
hosting plan, do the following:
Check to make sure the host has all the software you require
installed on the server. If not, inquire as to whether the host
would be willing to install additional modules or software for
you.
Ask the host in question which bandwidth providers they use and
also for their current uptime.
Check to see whether your host offers an uptime guarantee.
If prompt support is important to you, inquire as to the average
response time of trouble tickets.
Should I go with a big or small hosting company?
It depends. A big hosting company will typically have more money
to spend on better connections, hardware, etc. but a small hosting
company may be able to offer faster and more personal service.
While having a lot of clients is normally an indication that a
host is doing a good job, small companies with a small number of
clients is not necessarily a bad thing either. Fewer clients could
mean less websites on a server which usually equates to better
performance.
How can I research a web hosting company’s reputation?
You can take several steps on your own to investigate the
reputation, reliability, and current popular opinion of a web
host. Here are a few suggestions:
Visit web hosting
directories such as HostSearch.com and RateMyHost.com, where
current user's of the host in question are free to rate their
current host.
Join a forum like WebHostingTalk.com and participate in
discussions about hosting, search for your host, and ask current
users if they have an opinion about the host you're researching.
Gather 'uptime' information about your host to see how reliable
they've been over the past year. Netcraft.com will show you your
host's downtime, as well as what software each server is running,
and how they compare to other hosts in the same market.
Ask your potential host to supply uptime records for the last year
and explain any episodes of extended downtime.
If the host has a support forum, browse through the current
listings and watch for consumer complaints, slow responses from
the host, and unhappy customers.
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