Web hosting : Choosing The Plan That’s Right For You
Web hosting planning must consider a few essential factors. Disk space, access to multiple programming languages, databases, SSL servers, FTP access, regular backup, guaranteed uptime, access to server configuration files, raw logs/statistics, and number of email boxes are among the first few elements.
The next thing to look at in web hosting is whether you need an NT or Unix-based host. This depends on what features you need. For example, if you are already using IIS, ASP, VBScript, Microsoft SQL Server, or Visual InterDev, and you don't have the time to learn Unix-based solutions, you should choose a Windows NT or Windows 2000-based host. Linux and FreeBSD-based operating systems and Apache Web servers are most common among web hosting companies because of their good track record of stability and performance. There is usually no need for the operating system of your computer to match that of your hosting provider’s.
Next, you should calculate how much disk space your site will need. Typically, a web hosting service should offer 50 MB of disk space will suffice for a vast majority of sites that don't have tons of graphics, sound and video clips or downloadable files. However, it is a good idea to leave you some room for growth.
Data transfer is the next calculation when selecting a web hosting service. You can estimate your data transfer requirements by looking at your site’s average page size (including graphics!) and multiplying it by the number of page views you expect to have in a month. For example you need 3 GB per month for an average page size of 50 KB, and around 2000 page views per day. In this particular case, we recommend getting a plan with 4 to 5 GB of data transfer limit per month – eliminating any worries about overstepping your account's limit (which may cause extra per GB transfer charges). For anything over 50 GB in transfer per month, you should look into getting a dedicated server.
For dynamic sites, you need to figure out the server-side languages. You don’t know how to program in these languages, but you should know which ones you'll need to use on your site. Some of these languages include Perl, PHP,VBScript, JScript, or PerlScript, ColdFusion, JSP, Tcl, Python, server JavaScript, Miva Empressa, and even compiled C/C++.
Finally, if your site stores dynamically accessible data (like user accounts, stock prices, maps), you'll need to set up an account with a database. NT-based plans offer Microsoft Access or Microsoft SQL Server while Unix-based plans support mSQL, MySQL, or PostgreSQL. MS SQL Server is much more powerful than Access for NT, while MySql and PostgreSQL are more powerful than mSQL in Unix environment.
Lastly, make sure the web hosting company offers 24/7/365 technical support by phone and email. Try their phone lines and make sure you talk to a human being and not to a machine before signing up.
Feel free to contact us with any questions and we will be happy to help.