Web Hosting Index

	How large will your web site be at the end of your contracted year and can the host provide this capacity.
1	How much trafffic do you predict your web site will have over a month. Ensure your requirements are not greater then what is termed the 'BandWidth'. This is the amount of and total size of the files looked at (and therefore downloaded from the host servers) by the user. Usually 1 GB/month is more than adequate for a small/medium sized enterprise. Some companies charge extra for additional transfer. So as your web site gets popular, so does the extras that come with the Web Hosting Packages.
2	Can the Web Host support the type of database you have or are contemplating using. This is a big consideration as the options are varied. The servers where your web site could reside maybe Unix or Windows, either one has different requirements and more suited to one type of database. For instance MS Access should be on Windows/NT Servers, whereas mySQL are more suited to SQL Unix systems. If your predeliction is Access and therefore Active Server Pages then the choose is limited to Windows/NT operating systems.
3	How many mail boxes are offered. It is not much good if you have only two mail options if you plan a shop or medium web site. The usual requirement is at least Webmaster, Support, Enquiry and Sales.
4	Can the Web Site grow with you. It is important that the Web Host provides a method (usually termed 'Control Panel') to enable management of mail, databases, permissions and analysis.
5	User tracking of web site vistors. This is a very important aspect of web site management whereby you can monitor and improve the web site according to the statistics provided by the hosting server. These are detailed logs of who, what, where, how and when visitors came to view your web site.
6	If databases are to be accessed from the site then the support given by the web hosting company should include easy management of DSN setting for adding and deleting databases on the hosting server.
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	Content of the web site
1	Ensure the Hosting company will host your web site. Most hosting companies are bound by the laws of the country where they reside which may legally or morally restrict the content they are willing to store on their servers.
2	Legality of content is not always clear. Some countries will determine the responsibility of content to be the owner or a combination of owner and Hosting company. Either way ensure that content is appropriate for the location of the data storage. Friends of mine have been prosecuted for allowing inappropriate published content from an automated submission without a review mechanism - the owner was not aware but in the eyes of the law they were responsible
3	Can you upload and maintain the web site contents. Are there any restrictions on the software the Hosting company uses or recommends. I have come across some hosts that recommend use of their own products and make it a little difficult to use any others. I can understand that if the software is specifically designed for their systems. Another thing to consider is if additional settings such as Frontpage extentions are required. These are necessary to enable certain features for FrontPage to work on the hosting servers.
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	Availablility of the web site
1	Are the servers online at all times. It is not much use if your web site is the greatest thing since sliced bread if it can't be seen by the rest of the world. You are essentially renting space on a large computer that is connected to the WWW 24 hours 7 days a week (24/7). Check to see how much of that time it is really connected. After all do you really know if it is a PC or a dedicated server you are using for WWW connection?
2	Recommendations are the best method of accessing if the web host is suitable. Most have customer feedback on the site. I have a tendency to trust those who have both possitive and negative comments. However, there are a few that are possitive all the way down the line. See - Host Index