Web Hosting suggestions?

[i an not a nerd]

Hey all,

I'm looking to find a host for a website (hopefully gonna be a medium traffic site).

Any suggestions for webhosting services?

Also, is hosting a website on one of my computers possible?

Thanks,

MikeB

[deddard]

Hi
I can't give you advice on any US/Canada hosts, but I would advise against hosting on your own PC.
Whilst it is possible to do so (your ISP may not like it) it requires a lot more effort on your part.
Managing a web-host yourself means keeping a close eye on security more than anything. A web- host should always be in a DMZ, and most home-routers don't really allow for this.
You'd need to ensure that only http (port 80) is allowable, and pin the security down with nails, as there are plenty of bots out there waiting to find a vulnerable host.

If you do go for it (someone may come along and give you some other advice) then do make sure it is on a dedicated PC in a DMZ, and is locked down tight.

[i an not a nerd]

Hmm, so do web hosts protect the server for you?

But ya, I talked to my ISP and they tried to sell me a 120$ a month connection...

Anyways, thanks for the advice so far.

MikeB

[jlreich]

I agree it isn't worth hosting you own website. In addition to what Deddard said about security, web hosts have redundancy built in. When you do it yourself, if your server breaks down, that's it, you site is inaccessible until you fix it. And you may not even know it's down for who knows how long. :eek:

I have been using Netfirms (http://www.netfirms.com/web-hosting/)for the last year or so and am quite happy. I have the advantage plan and it is plenty for me. Only thing to keep in mind is to get the best price you have to pay for a year in advance. This actually works really good for me, but may not for everyone.

[i an not a nerd]

Well, I guess paying for web host it is!

Netfirms look nice. I was also thinking of 1 & 1 Internet.

I hope to use this website for a business that I have (well, its more of me selling stuff to my friends, but I hope to expand). Unfortunately I don't have any website coding experience. Is it possible to have premade websites? I plan to do the majority of business in-store, but would like a place so people can see whats available and/or shop.

If admins don't like me asking this, please tell me.

Thanks,

Mike Ball

[deddard]

I'm in the UK and use 1&1.
I've had my stuff with them for a while, and the only drawback is their lack of upgradability to existing users when new packages come out.

When I got my hosting package (business) it offered less features than if I were to purchase it today, and 1&1 don't automatically upgrade you to the new standards.
The only way to do it is to downgrade (which will still give me the same level of service now!) and then upgrade again.

Apart from that, they're ok. They have an easy way to configure your sites, including the ability to just log on and delete folders etc that you no longer need.

As for designing websites, I build a few for other people, and did my own.
If I had to do it with html coding I'd probably be still working on it.

No-one in their right minds does html coding except where absolutely necessary. Everyone uses a package such as Dreamweaver, or in my case, Netobject Fusion (you get a copy with 1&1, or version 8 can be picked up on the front of magazines)
All these programs are just like dtp packages - you don't really need to know any code in order to use them, and Fusion has a built in ftp publisher.
It's a bit like word processing. We all use Word or some other WYSIWIG word processor, but some of us started on command-line stuff, where we had to input the formatting commands as we went along.

No-one wants to go back to that, so why do the same with Web Site Design?

[i an not a nerd]

Well, I will probably want to upgrade in a year or so, I'll try Netfirms first. They have a cheaper package... So ya, thanks!