Advice on Domains and Webhosting?

**Centurion** · Centurion, June 24th, 2009 08:13 AM

I am going to build a site in ASP.NET using SQL Server 2008 and will use AJAX and will be using Visual Studio 2008, Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop and possibly DreamWeaver CS4.

My question is once i have made the site, do i just purchase a domain?

Does the domain get assigned to my home IP address?

Do i need 'web hosting'? as well as a Domain name??

Feedback is greatly appreciated!

**richyrich** · richyrich, June 24th, 2009 08:53 AM

If you want the site to be public then you need to host it somewhere.

When you buy a domain name, most domain name sellers provide DNS (Domain Name Server) management. These DNSs propogate throughout the internet telling other DNSs where to locate information on your domain name.

Your DNS management will then tell the server where to direct requests based on the type. For example you would have an entry for a www request that would point to your web server. You would also have an @ entry for your mail server that may point to a different server hosting your email service. Basically requests to a domain name are resolved to an IP address that can handle that request. A domain name (www.domain.com, for example) is obviously much easier for people to remember than an IP address (10.167.253.89, for example)

You could, in theory, host the website yourself, but in reality the speed of broadband / cable connections is not sufficient to handle the requests. Hence why you'd normally purchase hosting through a provider whose servers are located in data centres that have much faster connections with huge levels of bandwidth.

Hope that helps.

**Centurion** · Centurion, June 24th, 2009 09:24 AM

Originally Posted by richyrich

If you want the site to be public then you need to host it somewhere.

When you buy a domain name, most domain name sellers provide DNS (Domain Name Server) management. These DNSs propogate throughout the internet telling other DNSs where to locate information on your domain name.

Your DNS management will then tell the server where to direct requests based on the type. For example you would have an entry for a www request that would point to your web server. You would also have an @ entry for your mail server that may point to a different server hosting your email service. Basically requests to a domain name are resolved to an IP address that can handle that request. A domain name (www.domain.com, for example) is obviously much easier for people to remember than an IP address (10.167.253.89, for example)

You could, in theory, host the website yourself, but in reality the speed of broadband / cable connections is not sufficient to handle the requests. Hence why you'd normally purchase hosting through a provider whose servers are located in data centres that have much faster connections with huge levels of bandwidth.

Hope that helps.

Thanks it does help alot!

So for my project i need to purchase a Domain name, and a hosting solution?

it is going to take a good 8 months to finish my site, i am going to start it soon! I am thinking of going for a Windows based soluttion with SQL Server? or should i learn MySql and PHP ?

**richyrich** · richyrich, June 24th, 2009 09:35 AM

To make your project public, you would need a domain name and hosting. Just make sure the hosting you purchase supports the code you decide to use.

The choice of code is really up to each individual....I just happened to start in ASP and then moved onto .NET as I found it easier to understand than PHP.

But then I guess other developers would say that PHP is much easier...

PHP has the advantage of being Open Source and I guess that's the reason many developers go down that route.

In terms of the db solution, you can use whichever you prefer. They're not mutually exclusive by code. You can use MySQL with ASP, ASP.NET, PHP etc. It tends to be that ASP / .NET is developed with MSSQL and PHP with MySQL. I believe each is optimised to work with the specific code, but you can mix and match.

I use MySQL with both ASP and .NET apps.

**Centurion** · Centurion, June 24th, 2009 09:49 AM

Originally Posted by richyrich

To make your project public, you would need a domain name and hosting. Just make sure the hosting you purchase supports the code you decide to use.

The choice of code is really up to each individual....I just happened to start in ASP and then moved onto .NET as I found it easier to understand than PHP.

But then I guess other developers would say that PHP is much easier...

PHP has the advantage of being Open Source and I guess that's the reason many developers go down that route.

In terms of the db solution, you can use whichever you prefer. They're not mutually exclusive by code. You can use MySQL with ASP, ASP.NET, PHP etc. It tends to be that ASP / .NET is developed with MSSQL and PHP with MySQL. I believe each is optimised to work with the specific code, but you can mix and match.

I use MySQL with both ASP and .NET apps.

I see MANY hosting / Domain services on the Internet! So of which look like they wont be in business for long! And it scares me, as they could take your money and they end up bust!.

is there any domain/hosting solution that you can suggest? I am from the UK. But maybe a company in the states that deals with world wide solutions?

thanks

**richyrich** · richyrich, June 24th, 2009 10:06 AM

I'm always reluctant to suggest / recommend companies as most developers think the host they use is the best...

Having said that, I am also based in the UK and use a company called Fast2Host....I have been with them for a about 4-5 years now and have found them extremely helpful...It seems nothing is too much trouble for the guys there...I believe they are a reasonably small outfit in terms of employees, but they normally respond to a support ticket within 15 minutes...Usually it's a lot quicker than that.

They will provide help in all areas and they seem to be genuinely knowledgeable about servers, networking, hosting etc...Ie they're not one of these companies that rely on a customer interface to change settings and can go direct onto the servers to sort out any issues.

I can't comment on their financial position, but they have certainly been around for 4-5 years and seem to always be reinvesting in the hardware, software and packages available. I have seen numerous developments and expansion of services since I've been with them.

I do everything on my hosting with them. I have a reseller package, virtual server and purchase all my domains through them.

You should consider where the majority of users that use your application will be based. If they will be in the US, it may make sense to have a host in the US as the response times for US users would be much quicker.

If you want to use them:-
http://www.fast2host.com/client/aff.php?aff=008 this link will include my affiliate code for which I would receive a commission if you signed up to anything
Shared hosting - reseller hosting Windows or Linux - Fast2host use this link if you'd prefer not to use the affiliate one.

Hope that helps.

**Wolffy** · Wolffy, June 24th, 2009 10:59 AM

Just to toss in my $0.02 worth as well. Since you are going to be using Server2008 and .NET, be careful when shopping for a host. Many may not provide support for MSSQL and .NET, those that do may charge extra for it, and quite a few do not support .NET 3.5 or Server 2008 yet. Many of the low cost providers offer a Linux soultion, a Window Server host will, again, probably cost more (after all Linux is free, WinServer costs big bucks)

You probably can not support the web site without a hosting solution as many broadband providers will not allow it because of bandwidth and the fact that your upload rate is way slower than your download rate.

**richyrich** · richyrich, June 24th, 2009 11:10 AM

Originally Posted by Wolffy

Just to toss in my $0.02 worth as well. Since you are going to be using Server2008 and .NET, be careful when shopping for a host. Many may not provide support for MSSQL and .NET, those that do may charge extra for it, and quite a few do not support .NET 3.5 or Server 2008 yet. Many of the low cost providers offer a Linux soultion, a Window Server host will, again, probably cost more (after all Linux is free, WinServer costs big bucks)

You probably can not support the web site without a hosting solution as many broadband providers will not allow it because of bandwidth and the fact that your upload rate is way slower than your download rate.

Yep, spot on Wolffy...

Choosing a host can still be a bit hit and miss....I've heard some pretty bad stories even about the big hosts, the likes of 1&1....

**mehere** · mehere, June 24th, 2009 11:31 AM

have a look at 10 Critical Tips on Finding a Web Host. just got this link today from a class i'm taking.

**Centurion** · Centurion, October 28th, 2009 07:57 PM

Originally Posted by richyrich

I'm always reluctant to suggest / recommend companies as most developers think the host they use is the best...

Having said that, I am also based in the UK and use a company called Fast2Host....I have been with them for a about 4-5 years now and have found them extremely helpful...It seems nothing is too much trouble for the guys there...I believe they are a reasonably small outfit in terms of employees, but they normally respond to a support ticket within 15 minutes...Usually it's a lot quicker than that.

They will provide help in all areas and they seem to be genuinely knowledgeable about servers, networking, hosting etc...Ie they're not one of these companies that rely on a customer interface to change settings and can go direct onto the servers to sort out any issues.

I can't comment on their financial position, but they have certainly been around for 4-5 years and seem to always be reinvesting in the hardware, software and packages available. I have seen numerous developments and expansion of services since I've been with them.

I do everything on my hosting with them. I have a reseller package, virtual server and purchase all my domains through them.

You should consider where the majority of users that use your application will be based. If they will be in the US, it may make sense to have a host in the US as the response times for US users would be much quicker.

If you want to use them:-
http://www.fast2host.com/client/aff.php?aff=008 this link will include my affiliate code for which I would receive a commission if you signed up to anything
Shared hosting - reseller hosting Windows or Linux - Fast2host use this link if you'd prefer not to use the affiliate one.

Hope that helps.

Hi Rich,

Company looks solid, think i might take the plunge!!

will there servers work with this:

Code:

set conn=Server.CreateObject("ADODB.Connection")
conn.ConnectionString="Provider=Microsoft.Jet.OLEDB.4.0"
conn.open server.mappath("data\database.mdb")

as i know MS has removed jet as MS ACCESS is history!!

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