Computer and Web Design Resources

An updated version of this article can be found on my blog.

How to Select a Web Host

If you are unsure of what web hosting is, please review this short article from WebServices.com.

The first thing that you need to do when you're ready to purchase hosting is determine your hosting needs. Here are some questions you should research:

Does the potential host charge a setup fee? Many hosts do not charge anything to setup your account.

Can you sign up for services on a month to month basis or do you need to sign up for an entire year? You may get a better deal if you sign up for a long term (discounted monthly rate), but you are also stuck paying the host for that contract period if you are unhappy.

How much space will your pages and images require? Be sure to select a host that offers enough server space (typically in megabytes) so your site can grow. You don't want to have to constantly delete pages/images in order to be able to add new content.

You need to calculate how much traffic/bandwidth usage you expect to have to your site. Some hosts charge a lot if you exceed your transfer limit. Be sure to read the "fine print" on your hosting plan. Even if you don't expect a lot of traffic keep in mind that images on a page use more bandwidth than plain HTML pages. Special Note: Be sure that you're not stealing other people's bandwidth.

What kind of technical support does the host offer? They should be available by phone & e-mail 24/7. Read the hosts support pages; are they comprehensive and easy to understand? Do they provide setup help to new users? If you call them on the phone, do they sound friendly and helpful or bored and annoyed?

FTP should be offered. You do not want to have to use a control panel (web interface to upload files)

What kind of scripting will your site need now and in the future? Do you want to add database interactivity in the future? PHP/MySQL and/or ASP should be a part of the package. CGI should be available. If you plan to use FrontPage then FrontPage Server Extensions should be installed and supported. Is SSI offered? Does the host have a plan that would allow you to implement e-commerce?

What kind of statistical information does the host provide? You will want to track your site usage, make sure that the host offers comprehensive traffic reports.

Does the host have a reseller plan (this is a sample site only)? You may want to offer hosting to your clients when you get your business off the ground, check to see if your host has a reseller plan.

How is domain name registration handled? Do you have to register your domain name with the host? How much does it cost to register your domain name. Is there a cost for transferring your domain from another host? Can your register your domain with a service like GoDaddy and have the name transferred for free or do you have to pay a fee?

How many mailboxes does the host offer, is there POP3 access or is the e-mail forwarded?

When you are compiling this information, be sure to plan for future growth. Some hosts offers different hosting packages, be sure that the host that you select has other plans available if your needs change.

Ask friends and colleagues what hosting provider they use and if they are happy with the service.

Read Web Hosting 101 from C|Net. It offers an excellent introductory article on finding the right host. There's even a quiz for you to take! Hosting Help has a lot of resources for people looking to find a web host.

Once you have a list of potential hosts, use Google or another search engine to search for those hosts. Read what other people have to say about the host's support, down time, etc. Read forums like Web Hosting Talk to find out more information about the hosts.

I would also like to recommend f2o.org for paid hosting. f2o.org offers hosting plans that range from $7.00-9.00 per month and they support the following technologies: CGI, PERL, PHP, MySQL, Coldfusion, ASP, and Python. f2o.org has been kind enough to provide free hosting to the students in my web development program. We have received excellent service and their servers have been extremely reliable. Here is a little more information about f2o.org.

f2o.org is a user-centric organization, providing an assortment of web services to its members. We offer free subdomain hosting, complete domain name hosting services, and several other database, reporting, and data storage options.

f2o.org is dedicated to providing an ad-free learning environment so developers have a place to experiment with different programming environments, learn new technologies and expand their skills. Our goal is to promote and foster a community that is supported by fellow developers who are commited to giving something back to the community in the interest of providing a friendly and unique experience for their peers. f2o.org is about giving the Internet community the "Freedom to Operate"!

Registering Your Domain Name

Some hosts will handle the Domain Name Registration, but at a cost. Many times when a host registers your domain name it's more expensive. You might want to check into services like GoDaddy for inexpensive Domain Name Registration (use the search box on GoDaddy's home page to see if your desired domain name is available). Find out if your host will transfer your domain and if there is a cost.

Articles/Reviews

Finding the perfect host requires a lot of research. Use the articles below to help you find your host.

Read What is Web Hosting before you begin your search. This article will give you a lot of general information that you should know before you start your search.

Web Hosting 101 from C|Net also offers an excellent introductory article on finding the right host. There's even a quiz for you to take!

Glossary of Web Hosting Terms - It's a good idea to familiarize yourself with the terms used by hosting companies before you begin your search.

Web Hosting Magazine has a ton of information on finding the right host. I really recommend that you spend a lot of time at this site. There are even reviews on the hosting review sites.

Upperhost - Top 10 Web Hosting Site Reviews

Cheap-Web-Hosting-Review - Lots of articles on finding a host that suits your needs.

Web Hosting Ratings is a site that offers ratings and comparisons to find the right web host http://www.webhostingratings.com/

Here is a really good article from C|Net on finding a web host
http://builder.com/Servers/WebHosting/

Another site from C|Net http://webhostlist.internetlist.com/

The top 25 from C|Net
http://webhostlist.internetlist.com/screens/toplists/top5.asp

C|Net's Web Hosting List
http://www.cnet.com/internet/0-3799.html?tag=dir

Find the Best Host for Your Needs from Cheap Web Hosting Review

After you find a host that you think you may want to sign up with, you may want to check Web Hosting News to make sure they aren't being acquired by another company, etc.

You may also want to read the complaints and kudos from other web masters on hosting companies.

Misc. Domain Resources

FindWebSpace - Web hosting reviews, articles, information for people who are looking for their first host, etc.

Tophosts.com - Search their web host database, review their monthly Top 25 ranked hosts, and access their extensive webmaster resources. http://www.tophosts.com/

HostReview.com helps you find Web Hosting Providers quickly and easily. Search according to the specific hosting options you require. http://www.hostreview.com/

Here is a host index site (web host search tool) http://www.hostindex.com/

This site allows you to search for a host by price range http://www.hostsearch.com/

Web Hosting Mall also allows you to search for an affordable host. It also allows you to select the features that you want to search for.

ISP/Hosting Reviews (This service allows you to submit your own review of your ISP/Host.) http://www.worldwidewait.com/hosting.html

How to Choose a Web Hosting Service (ISP) for your Business Web Pages http://www.wilsonweb.com/articles/webhost.htm

A list of free domain hosts (These hosts require that you place ads on your sites and you are responsible for the domain name registration costs.) http://freesitex.com/domain.html

A guide to free internet services http://free-internet-free-web.com/

TheReCellar - A resource for web host resellers http://www.recellar.com/

Other Notes:

On February 12, 2003 I visited HostCentric and an applet window popped up and Tim was right there to answer any questions that I may have had about their service.

If you're still looking for more resources or these become out of date (which happens), just do a search for "web hosting" +review on http://www.google.com.

Domain Name Registration Services

GoDaddy (I register my domains via this service)	NetNation
Register.com	Network Solutions

Other Domain Services

DHS.org - Free Domain Services
DNSCentral - Domain & Forwarding

If you live in the San Francisco Bay Area and you're interested in learning more about web design and development, graphics, or computers in general, consider taking classes at the Contra Costa ROP Technology Center. We offer affordable computer training in a variety of subjects. Visit our web site for more information.

Stop by my Amazon Store for gifts for the web developer.