Curious Goerge or in this case TXSV would like to know What does it take to do Webhosting.

Do you need an static IP address or T1 line?

Do you need any special Hardware and software?

Long awaited question I been searching for answers to, would very much the assistance from all.

Thanks ever so much,
TXSV

To start, you need either:

A) Get a reseller account
B) Lease a dedicated server in a NOC
C) Buy a server and colocates it in a NOC

To start, i would recommend you getting a reseller account first. It will get you experimented with the industry, with support and it's not expensive.

I would not recommend you to start a company off a T-1 line as it will be cheaper and more reliable in a NOC (some has OC-3, OC-12, OC048 and even higher connections).

Those are assuming you want to start a company, unless just get a shared hosting account from one of the many hosts :)

study study study.

it is not easy to become web host. you need to expertise in OS platform in which you want to do hosting. (you may keep techs for that purpose). you may also need some staff to reply support and billing request. start as reseller and study web hosting industry and try to learn what things works and what not.

best of luck.



;)

I would start out as a reseller or get a dedicated server and sell space off of that. To build your own NOC it takes lots of time and money.

I would NOT start out with a dedicated server unless you know what you are doing with the operating system. You can get in over your head in a hurry if you arent up to date on the OS. I would definitely start as a reseller for a reputable company to get your feet wet....then learn what you can about the business before you dive into a dedicated or colocated server at a NOC somwhere!

The best would be to start out with a reseller plan and when you have more experience and customers, move to a dedicated server. We had a local company starting out with 2 backbone connections and a huge office about 6 months ago starting out as a dialup provider...now they closed down. :rolleyes:

Originally posted by TXSV
TXSV would like to know What does it take to do Webhosting.



1. Coffee
2. Lots of Pepsi
3. Jolt Cola
4. A REALLY COMFY chair

:D :D :D :D :D :stickout

I second that starting with the reselling plan will be the safest move. It will help you to gain the necessary experience and knowledge. Your assumptions (few mentioned below) will be more accurate.

1. Necessary cost required to open/manage a web hosting company
2. Sales/Income projection report.
3. Group to target and how to target.

…all the best :)

In addition to deciding the reseller/dedicated/colocation host decision, you will also need some back end infrastructure.

That is:

..a merchant account or fullfillment company to accept credit cards
..a business bank account
..a business phone (not strictly necessary but a good idea, 800# preferable)
..a business address - preferably not a PO box
..any local permits needed to run a business
..any necessary tax number/registrations required
..an accountant or good bookkeeper (even if only yourself and a good software package)
..a lawyer
..a computer to dedicate to business use - accounting, records keeping, web developement, site management etc (not strictly necessary but a good idea)

I will add something that I feel is key to nearly any business but has not been mentioned here. Customer communication skills. If you cannot be completely friendly even when the customer is wrong and telling you over and over how right they are, if you cannot be entirely personable even when everything around you is in shambles, and if you cannot say “please” and “thank you” or apologize for your own grievous errors, forget about it. Proper customer service is far more difficult than the technical aspects of a business and is the most important tool. You cannot avoid upset customers but you can generally ensure their happiness with your service if you can communicate.

Customer service is certainly key along with some technical knowledge. In addition to being friendly when the customer thinks they are right and they aren't, is the ability to recognize you might be wrong. We had a host that was totally clueless to the more technical side and we have some very technically astute personnel. In other words, if you don't know how to do something admit it don't try to bluff. Our IS guy always sees through the bluffing.

Keeping the lines of communications open so that when there is a problem on your end, you inform your customers and stick to the truth without covering up or denying the problems.
Also, have solid billing practices. Accounting is not an area where creativity is accepted.

You need very very thick skin. As a reseller you will have to deal with your servers screw ups and down time and at the same time assume responsibility for it when your clients calling you. Good luck.

Aloha

well as others have said start off with a reseller account this way you only need to be able to sell the space


Do you need an static IP address or T1 line?
you would need a static IP address actually more than one you might need a bunch if you were to offer secure server you would need 1 ip per secure server using a cert or if you wanted to offer anonymous ftp (spelling??) you would need the domain to have its own IP
you could do it off a t-1 if it is a few sites

Do you need any special Hardware and software?
You should have a batter backup and a generator to keep power going should your main power fail. Also you should have more than one provider of your bandwith if one compant goes down you will still have data going through.
depending on your servers and where you live to get parts etc... you should have spare parts incase of hardware failure etc....

Long awaited question I been searching for answers to, would very much the assistance from all.
for answers you will find some here also try
http://webcompare.internet.com/webbasics/index.html
http://webcompare.internet.com/
http://www.internet.com
http://webcompare.internet.com/resources.html

these are the same source diff starting points

there are many good places to fins info on the web.

you may want to play with a extra computer etc... at home to learn more about hostign etc...
but agian to start with get a reseller account and welcome to the never ending no sleep addiction of WHT

If you want to be a good host, do anything ***** DOESN'T do...

Examples:

*Actually keep web sites up 99.9% of the time
*Don't use retard techs that don't know how to turn on a computer
*Don't lie on your website or steal pictures
*Don't hide in a hole like Faulkner does at *****
*Respond to emails/tickets within 6 months :laugh:

And the list goes on...

The above advice is great! But my one piece of advice is stay here and read stuff. I have learned so much since joing WHT that it's not even funny...well it is :D :D