| looking for a host, it will be useful to obtain as much | | | | you get 50 unique visitors or more than 500 visitors |
| information as possible about the web hosting | | | | per day. Whatever the case may be, you can view |
| company itself and the services they offer. These | | | | the report using Statistics Application that run in the |
| pre-sales questions are a way to check several things | | | | server backend. A popular web statistic software is |
| about the web hosting company. You can obtain | | | | Webalizer. |
| detailed information about the services they offer - | | | | · PHP & Mysql Support - PHP is a |
| the web hosting plans they have, the features | | | | scripting language that is especially suited for Web |
| included there, etc. | | | | development and can be embedded into HTML. PHP |
| These days hosting plans on the web are getting | | | | is mainly focused on server-side scripting, so you can |
| very competitive and features of each plan are | | | | do anything any other CGI program can do, such as |
| comparatively the same among web hosting | | | | collect form data, generate dynamic page content, or |
| providers. Whether novice or expert, you can find | | | | send and receive cookies. MySQL is a true multi-user, |
| some useful information in this article to learn about | | | | multi-threaded SQL database server. MySQL is fast |
| some of the considerations to look at when you | | | | and flexible enough to allow you to store logs and |
| choose a web hosting service. | | | | pictures in it. Its main goals are speed, robustness, |
| In this article I will not talk about things like space | | | | and ease of use.All the Linux Plans support PHP |
| ,traffic and prices since there are plenty of related | | | | & Mysql. Make sure you get this free of charge |
| articles nowadays rolling around the net. My goal will | | | | when you buy the hosting plan. Few hosting |
| be to clarify some of the most important features | | | | providers offer good of MySQL Database Support |
| you have to look for when choosing your web | | | | & PhpMyAdmin. |
| hosting provider. | | | | · Webmail & SMTP - A web based email |
| The following are 10 basic features that can be | | | | program. Most web hosting companies do provide |
| found in a Unix/Linux hosting plans that every serious | | | | webmail access to their customers. Often it comes |
| hosting provider should offer you. | | | | with addressbook, rich text editor, spelling checker, |
| · Control Panel - This is where you manage | | | | and all the features of any other email program |
| your hosting account. In the context of web hosting | | | | offers. Email becomes key part in your life once you |
| it is an on-line application that give us the user ability | | | | launch the website. Check if the hosts provide with |
| to control many aspects of his web hosting account | | | | Webmail to check your mails thru a web based |
| including, but not limited to: creating mailboxes, setup | | | | interface such as Squirrelmail or Horde. Checking email |
| email forwarding, uploading and editing files, creating | | | | will be faster if you download the mails thru email |
| sub domains, park additional domains, automated | | | | clients such as Eudora or Outlook Express. Only if |
| installing of ready to use scripts and programs, | | | | SMTP or IMAP support is enabled you can use this |
| managing databases, setup shopping carts. You need | | | | option. All our recommended hosts has this feature. |
| to check what exactly is included in a given control | | | | · SPAM Filter - No email user is free from a |
| panel with the web hosting company you have | | | | spam attack. It is the Email equivalent of junk mail. It |
| chosen to go with.Some hosts use a third party | | | | is becoming one of the biggest problems in the |
| control panel like cPanel or Plesk. Others use an | | | | Internet today.Hence you need to have spam filters |
| inhouse developed control panel.The moment you | | | | installed on the server where your website resides. |
| signup for a hosting package, you must be provided | | | | · HTTPS (SSL) access to your hosting |
| with a CP to manage your webspace. | | | | account. SSL is used for secure communication |
| · POP3 email accounts & aliases - is an | | | | between the user browser and the server. The |
| example POP3 email. POP3 is an electronic mail | | | | information is encrypted and secure. SSL is usually |
| protocol used to retrieve messages stored on an | | | | used for eCommerce sites and sites that require |
| Internet/intranet e-mail server. Whenever a client | | | | submission of other sensible information like |
| wants to check for messages it connects to its | | | | usernames and passwords. To have an SSL on your |
| Internet Service Provider's e-mail server and uses | | | | site you can use the shared SSL certificate provided |
| POP3 to login to its mailbox and download its | | | | by your hosting company or you can purchase an |
| messages. | | | | SSL certificate for your site and ask the host to |
| · FTP Accounts & Virtual FTP - This is | | | | install it. |
| where you upload your files, delete them, update | | | | · Shell (telnet or SSH) access to your |
| them. This again comes along with the CP. Make sure | | | | account. SSH is used for secure access to your |
| you have handful of FTP sub-accounts also to | | | | account. SSH is usually offered on Unix hosting plans. |
| provide your clients/users password protected | | | | You can zip, unzip files, change permissions of files, |
| directories. This is very much useful wherein your | | | | run certain programs on the server. |
| clients / users can use the FTP to upload /download | | | | · Sub-domains for creating sub-sections to |
| files from particular password protected folder of | | | | your site without having to use directories in URLs |
| your website. | | | | · Shopping Cart - A shopping cart is a piece |
| · Backup - Most of the Hosts take | | | | of software that acts as an online store's catalog and |
| Automated Backups. But users do not take much | | | | ordering process. |
| care on this while choosing the hosting plan. This | | | | These are the most common features of a good |
| feature is as essential as any other in this list. | | | | web hosting plan. A reputable web hosting provider |
| · Web Statistics - Analysis is of your website | | | | should offer you at least these ones in his hosting |
| visitors plays a important role in the success of your | | | | plans.There are some more additions you can get |
| website. Say, your website has been launched and | | | | from a good provider. |