Could anyone give me information on how to go about becoming a Web Host. What is the best route? If I decide to purchase a server, where do I start in getting it connected to the web? Most importantly, what's the cheapest and simplest way for an ameture like myself to get started? Any help or insight would be appreciated. Please send emails to cliff76@netzero.net. Thanx in advance!

Hi Craig

The best way to start (if you don't have allot of $$$ to invest) is to resell, look for some reselling plans and your own DNS servers, then when you get a big enought customer base you can look for a server of your own

I hope this helped

Carlos,

Could you enlighten me on these terms? What is reselling? Where's a good place to look for DNSs? As you can see I am very ameture at this but with the right guidance I believe I could do well. Thanx for your help.

Craig, reselling works like this, instead of you going out and build your own network (or leas it) you can sign up for a resale account with another host, they would charge you allot less for each account you sell (there is the profit), and set you up with a DNS server dns.yoursomain.com so pepole don't know you are reselling for them, plus they also provide you with some support in case one of your customers have a question, and you don't know the answer (well, most of the times they do)

I would suggest that you go to http://www.recellar.com or http://www.resellerinfo.com. Both sites have information on how to become a reseller.

Thank you everyone for the info,

Still I have questions. Maybe I should start by describing my intrests. I am a software developer interested in starting a business selling my software/ideas to small businesses. I wish to find a host that I can run server side applications (like ASPs, JSPs, or servlets).

When I first started looking I considered only free IPPs(Internet Presence Providers). These didn't lend themselves to server side applications. This is when I came up with the idea of becoming a web host. I thought it would be relatively simple. I started asking around for info on how to setup my home PC as a webserver. I then learned that doing this effectively meant setting up high-speed lines to my machine and having my machine properly configured to handle multiple users concurrently. This would ultimately cost money. So in the interim, I am now looking for a happy medium.

I'm in search of a way to do my own developing and have it hosted on someone else's machine while I sell my applications as a package to small companies. I want start my development with simple database applications that can be used to track info over the web. This leads me to another question. Are there hosts out there that will allow me to build database applications on there machines? I've just recently found a host that will allow me a personal CGI bin. Am I even going about this the right way? Is this the right forum to ask these types of questions? I'm so new to this that I don't even know where to start. Thanx once again for all of your help and rapid replies.

Hello, Craig

I wish to find a host that I can run server side applications (like ASPs, JSPs, or servlets).

Most NT servers' hosts support ASP. It's up to you start searching for the one that meets your needs:
http://www.webhostdir.com/
http://www.hostindex.com/
http://www.hostinvestigator.com/

I should warn you that some of the biggest hosting companies, specially those who have banner ads running on those directories, usually have the worst reviews from customers...
For that reason, you should also visit:
http://www.recellar.com/ (check out the Reviews session)
HostInvestigator also have customer reviews.


I'm in search of a way to do my own developing and have it hosted on someone else's machine while I sell my applications as a package to small companies.

Have you considered an affiliate/referral program?? If you want to resell, I think there will be a lot to learn, as you are completely new to webhosting..!
Also, supporting your clients would have to be your priority, and not developing/selling your applications.. - if it is not, you may need a person to support your customers. (Maybe you could partner with someone that have the necessary skills??..)

I want start my development with simple database applications that can be used to track info over the web. This leads me to another question. Are there hosts out there that will allow me to build database applications on there machines? I've just recently found a host that will allow me a personal CGI bin.

Your personal CGI-BIN? It would be hard to find one that DOESN'T offer that!! And database support is also easy to find, specially if you want to develop *simple* applications..
Note: You could have a personal webserver on your home computer just to develop the application (most of the hosts wouldn't like you to test applications on their servers..) and then send it to their servers when it's ready..

Am I even going about this the right way? Is this the right forum to ask these types of questions? I'm so new to this that I don't even know where to start.

If you want my advice, you should search for a referral program, where all you'll have to do is suggest a good company to your customers.. The difficult part is that you would have to be shure that you are referring them to a good company.... you should only begin with something like that if you have someone that you trust indicating you the right company (someone that have a website with them..).

This way, your 'job' would be to indicate to your customers a company that is trustfull and that supports the applications you'll develop for them..

I dont know if that's what you are looking for (I think some of the things I said were already told before), and sorry for any spelling mistakes as I'm not a native english speaker.. anyway, I hope I've helped you..

If you are looking for JSP or servlet hosting then check out, http://hosting.webpipe.net/ They have excellent support and decent pricing.