Hi All,

I am developing a searchable directory of web hosting companies, not unlike what is already offered by many of the web hosting directories. I feel that many such databases allow searching on features that are either too ubiquitous, obscure, or irrelevant to really provide a valuable search. For example, many web hosting directories allow the user to select "Site statistics," "CGI access", and "Catch-all email boxes," features I would guess are so standard as to be irrelevant search criteria. Other features such as "C/C++," "postgreSQL," "mSQL," and "JDBC" are so specialized and/or obscure that I believe they are also worth leaving out of a web hosting company search. Finally, features like "Custom Error (404) Pages," "Unlimited Email Aliases," and "Domain Parking," while not necessarily ubiquitous, are not features that will make or break a prospective customer's decision.

The input I would love from this board is what 20 to 30 feature offerings would make the searching of a database of web hosting companies most useful and relevant. ASP, PHP, Cold Fusion, and FrontPage are great examples. Being able to search by these criteria would be of great value since those prospective customers that need those features probably absolutely require them, whereas those customers that don't will definitely not select them.

Below I've prepared a list, in particular order, of what I think are the best 20 to 30 search feature criteria. Keep in mind that this list is for shared hosting and does not discriminate between NT, UNIX, or other platforms. I will be posting a similar list in the Dedicated, Reseller, and Colocation boards for those respective categories. Please add or remove from the list where you disagree:

- Active Server Pages (ASP)
- Preinstalled ASP Components
- Support for Custom ASP Components
- ChiliSoft ASP
- Cold Fusion
- PHP
- Java Server Pages (JSP)
- Java Servlets
- Frontpage
- Server Side Includes
- 24-hour Support
- Toll-free Phone Support
- SQL Server
- mySQL
- MS Access
- Subdomain capabilities
- SSH
- Web-base administrative control panel
- Shared SSL
- Mailing List capabilities
- Web-based email
- Adult material allowed
- Reseller plans available
- Dedicated server options available
- Colocation options available
- Shopping Cart Software
- Store Builder
- Money Back Guarantee
- Telnet access


Thank you for considering the list and providing your input.

Regards,

Sammy

I think it would be useful to add criteria for control panels. What control panel (s) does the host support. CPanel, Plesk, H-Sphere, Ensim, custom, etc...

Patrick

Don't forget VirtualCP and HostGUI, both of which will be released shortly. :)