Q about Web Hosting

[Aziz]

Haven't posted in a while, but of course I always come back when in need! So I'm considering registering a domain name, and possibly some web hosting. What's a good site to register my domain name and website?

Thanks guys.

[md]

I use mydomain.com to manage my domain registrations and host things on A Small Orange. Best service I've ever had with any company; the average turn around time for any problems I've had has been < 5 minutes.

[Aziz]

Nice, thanks. I'll look into it.

[Amailer]

www.dreamhost.com it provides 1 free domain (registered with them and all), pretty good, I use it.

[Tony]

I've also been registering my domains through http://www.mydomain.com/ -- haven't had any problems.

I've got a shared server account with TextDrive, though their servers occasionally go down due to someone configuring something wrong. So I've just been hosting here with compsci.ca's dedicated server

[PaulButler]

I've done a bit of freelance programming, and often installing my work is part of the deal. I've become familiar with a few different webhosts this way.

Here is my take on a few of them:

- NetFirms is pretty crappy if you know what you are doing, although they are pretty good at the basics. I think they are Canadian, or at least they used to be.

- cPanel is powerful, and not aweful in itself, but I find that as a rule of thumb, hosts that use cPanel tend to suck, so avoid cPanel hosts.

- You can get cheap VPS from vpslink.com or redwooddigital.com. VPS is cool because you can do a lot more with it if you are technically inclined.

- Dreamhost is my favorite host overall. They give you a free domain, and pretty much every aspect of the hosting is unlimited. They are cheap as well. You can get your first year for a little more than $20 including a domain, if you use a coupon (if you need a coupon code PM me, but I won't post it because that would feel spammy. Basically, the coupon creator can choose to give up their entire commission to the buyer, which is what I have done.)

[rdrake]

Don't forget you can also use this site's Dreamhost coupons.

[Tony]

Oh, and make sure you get shell access to your account. It makes server-side stuff so much more easier.

If a host is doing something along the lines of limiting the number of your databases or subdomains or what not, telling you to upgrade to their more expensive package -- that screams cheap. It doesn't cost anything extra to have 4 database namespaces instead of 2 in the same disk space. It's a sign that they are trying to squeeze extra money out of you, so you should stay away from such hosts.

[Aziz]

I was thinking using mydomain.com and A Small Orange, but I'm also considering dreamhost. I've heard good and bad, so I'll have to look into it more.

[rdrake]

ASO doesn't restrict the number of subdomains nor databases you may have. The only real restriction that they have that I hate is that you only get one shell account. If this is an issue, ASO is not for you.

[Aziz]

I don't think it's going to be an issue

[aspire]

Hey. Well these are the services I use. They have amazing services etc. I love them.

Hosting Services
fuze9.com
trexhost.com

Domain Name Registration
namecheap.com - for dot com registration its only 9.95 a year. Its a fair deal. Transferring is free also I think.

Good Luck!

[Aziz]

mydomain.com - $7.61 for a year.
asmallorange.com - $25/yr hosting.

bitch what.

[Mazer]

There tends to be a correlation between cost and quality of service.

I wouldn't know much of either as I've never gotten around to getting a host, but I've heard good things about nearlyfreespeech.net. You're only charged for the space/bandwidth you use so unless you have a thing for pissing people off or trying to get on digg you can run the site on pocket change. Good for portfolios (unless you're an animator and sending links out to every studio you can find).

[Aziz]

that's sounds like a good idea. perhaps ill look into that once my membership @ asmallorange ends. i only get 75megs and 3gigs bandwidth, but for $25/yr, and i won't use too much of either.