Tips on searching for a good webhosting

Are you searching for a new web hosting service for your website ? well if you are searching for a new host i can give you some tips on searching a good webhosting but instead of reseller webhosting / dedicated webhosting, i'm going to put a tips on what to look on a shared webhosting. Although im not really an expert at this but i can give you several tips on what to look into getting yourself a new webhosting account other than looking at their prices, storage space, and bandwidth (since it’s a standard there’s no need for me to put it here)

The first thing to do is looking for a webhosting using a search engine but dont forget to check them out first if they're using a setup fee or not, because it's best for you to choose hosting which give you free setup (it doesn't make any sense to pay for a setup fee) and don't forget to check them too if they support month to month payment or not. And after found the webhosting company you want to be with. Try to get more info or review about their company first, like searching on your favorite search engine using these keywords :

• Webhosting Company Name Review
• Webhosting Company Name Sucks or any other similar insulting words like that

The second keyword is the most important because if there’s someone dissatisfied with their webhosting service. They’ll write it somewhere on their page (of course after they change their webhost first). But don’t always trust that too especially if those words found on some untrusted webhosting review site that everyone can post comment without getting moderated first, because some company play dirty tricks like that.

The second thing to do is check what server software they’re using before applying with them. And this is really important because several webserver software has some important security issue with them, so before applying it might be best to ask them first or check it by yourself. And if you’re going to use your website as a forum, ask them first what forum software is allowed (because some webhosting service can't accept some forum software that might cause their server got hacked)

The third thing to do is check what application module installed on their server, for example if you’re using Microsoft Frontpage to publish your website or manage your website. Then you’ll need to ask them if the Frontpage Extension is supported on their server or not. Also if you’re using Perl, try checking what perl modules installed on their server too. As for the PHP, i'm sure that every webhosting already support this, and most of the website on the internet use this. You’ll need to ask them first if you can override the php configuration file by yourself, for example overriding the php configuration in the php.ini file or .htaccess. And this is the most important thing, if they don't allow you to override it, forget about them. Since this is related to security issue this is the most important thing to do. And don't forget to check what php version they’re using (most of them still using 4) because some php script can only works at php4 so don’t forget to check this too

Another example if you’re going to use your webhosting space to blogs using blogging software, try asking them first if you can use the mod_rewrite function. Because most blogging software require this, although it’s not necessary but if you want your url looks nice. You’ll need a mod_rewrite enabled webhosting. If you don't understand what i'm talking about, here’s an example :

For example your url looks like somesite.com/index.php?p=blablabla … it doesn't looks nice isn't it ? beside it's not a search engine friendly url … and with a mod_rewrite you can make that ugly url into somesite.com/somepage/ which is more search engine friendly … but in the end it’s your decision whether you want to use pretty url or not.

Another thing to ask to your host, try asking your host whether they have modsecurity enabled on their server or not because modsecurity can cause some problem with some php scripts. Although it does it’s job to provide defense against several web attacks but in some case it may break your php or another script (but if it's for me i prefer to have a modsecurity based hosting)

The fourth thing to do is check if the webhosting company using CPanel based control panel equipped with Fantastico or they use their own control panel. But most of big company webhosting service like Yahoo! , GoDaddy, etc use their own control panel. Although they’re giving a one click based installation for most popular php script like forum software, blogging software, etc. So it doesn't matter which one you choose.

The fifth thing to do is check their server uptime status, and this is very important because you don't want your site always down everytime visitors access your site. You can do this easily by using Siteuptime beside it's free. Actually if you want to do this step then you’ll have to wait for several days, or you can try asking at some webhosting forums if you don't have time to do this step.

The sixth thing to do is check whether they have been doing the webhosting business for a long time or just a newcomer, although this is not important if you choose a big hosting company, but for a small company you should do some research first. Because you don't want your site completely gone from the internet, right ? you can do this easily by using WHOIS tool provided from several webhosting company if they has it, or try searching for whois keyword using your favorite search engine

And that’s the end of it. As a side note, i'm currently hosted by Hostgator and is quite satisfied with their service, although i can't give any comments about their technical support because i never ask for technical support since i'm signup with them one week ago. But one thing for sure Hostgator is using modsecurity just as first defense, and i don't have any problems with it untill now and hopefully i can be with this host for a long time.

Related Links :

• Bluehost Webhosting
• Anhost Webhosting
• Hostgator Webhosting