Bebotips

When choosing a web hosting service for the first time or changing to a different provider, there are many things to consider, e.g. website functionality, reliable advertising or online comments. 

Generally, web hosting services providers offer large hard disk space, bandwidth, and e-mail inbox. They also sell themselves as the best and the fastest, offering redundant connections and huge data centers, and of course the best possible service. 

Once you have hired the web hosting service, the problems are just about to start… The server is not as fast as you expected, there are too many restrictions to upload files due to security policies, the scripts (in PHP, Perl, ASP, Cold Fusion, JSP or other) show errors, and so on… Then, you start contacting the provider’s support staff, and most of the time the answers you will get are not accurate, only simple prestablished answers, inefficient… Or even worse, the provider says it is your company that has a problem, not them. 

We constantly receive complaints from our clients stating that the scripts generated by Forms to Go or Mediata Survey have problems and their web hosting provider says the script is not working properly. When we find out the cause of the problem, it is usually the same: several filters and restrictions set on the web host servers as security measures. 

In most cases, these filters or restrictions do not make the server safer but prevent the web host from having to deal with regular software updates on the server. 

The main restrictions we have encountered with some web hosting providers include, for example, that the scripts cannot send e-mails because it is “dangerous” , it could generate a lot of spam. Another example is that the script cannot access a file in the hard disk of the server. Access is limited to prevent from compromising sensitive files from other users or of the operative system. 

Nowadays, a web server can be set up to allow running all its features in a shared environment without any trouble. This is possible by applying audit processes that can quickly establish if a website in a shared web host server is causing any damage, is using all the system resources or if it is attempting a forbidden action such as reading others’ files. 

So, how do we find the best web hosting service… One that would allow me doing whatever I want, e.g. install scripts, forums, help desk systems, blogs, etc…. All this without dealing with restrictions or imposed rules, most of them ridiculous! 

Here are some suggestions: 

- Free web hosting services: These providers generally have many limitations and they do not allow installing or running external programs and/or scripts, but only the ones provided by them. 

- Cheaper but more restricted: The more a web server limits its features, the more websites it can host simultaneously. And this reduces the costs too. Make sure an affordable web hosting provider offers all the functionality you need. 

- Larger but more standarized: Large web hosting companies are forced to depersonalize the technical support they offer and restrict the options. Even when they achieve to provide a good service, they are not the best option for unexperienced users. 

- Visit the support section of the web hosting provideer: Take a look at this section… How much information do they offer? Is this information clear? Do they offer a telephone number? If yes, call them and ask questions, such as: “Can I host a forum software in the website?” When you finish talking to them, think about how long did you have to wait to be served, whether they were polite to you, and if they put you on hold for a long time. 

- Register the domain on your own: Many providers offer to register your domain free of charge when you hire their web hosting services. It may come up this is just a trick, because if you ever decide to change of web hosting provider, transferring the domain might take a few days, specially if the technical support staff is not quick enough. We recommend you register the domain on your own with any of the registrars available. 

If you have any suggestion about hiring a web hosting provider, please do not hesitate to let us know.