How and where to get a website hosted?
Depending on the programming technology used in your web application, you need to select an ISP (Internet Service Provider) with either windows NT/200x based server or LINUX based server. There are also servers with other OS (operating systems). But windows and Linux are largely preferred unless there is specific application or importance.
PHP-MySQL works with both windows and Linux servers. But Linux servers should be preferred while hosting web applications with PHP-MySQL technology.
ASP/ASP.Net web applications works with windows NT/200x based servers. (Do check for dot net installation while selecting windows based servers)
Basic factors that you need to consider while hosting your site are:
a. Disk space (50-100 mb should be enough most requirements)
b. Database - database and database space depending on your requirement.
c. Traffic/Bandwidth - 2 gb - 5 gb traffic should be enough for a website which is getting about 5000-10000 page views every day.
For large applications you may need some thing called as dedicated hosting where the whole server is dedicated to your website itself. This is contrary to shared hosting where a server is shared among several websites / web applications.
These days, shared hosting packages come as premium hosting and bulk hosting packages.
Bulk hosting packages are normally cheap as a single server is shared by 1000-1500 websites. Performance will be poor and support may also be poor. Security may also be compromised to cut costs.
Premium hosting packages are a bit on costlier side but should perform well in all respects.
Always confirm that the servers are dual processor type with SCSI hard drives. Servers should be load balanced and located in leading server farms.
Preferably choose a static IP setup for your website instead of dynamic IP. (Dynamic IP is one, which is shared among several websites and static IP is dedicated to only your website/websites). I have discussed the reasoning for this in the SEO section.
You can signup with http://www.whois.sc to find some useful information about a server like the server location, number of sites hosted, whois information etc.
Use the following links to view some benchmarks/reviews of hosting services.
1. http://www.web-hosting-reviews.org
2. http://www.windowshostlist.com
3. http://www.webhostmagazine.com
4. http://www.webhostingunleashed.com
5. http://www.findmyhost.com
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