Being a total newbie trying to host my first site I would like to know what I should look in while selecting the best host. Let me give some details. I live in India. The site I made is a general one. Includes ringtone lyrics, guitar tabs, joks trivia, news ticker, games etc. first of all can anyone tell me how to host chat and message board on a site. Do I need sql for it? If yes what do I need it for? I am also trying to give email option…from big mailbox (if any suggestions about that).This is quite important, what is thing with mp3s can I post them on my site or not. I see lot of other site doing it????????? (Any suggestion would be welcomed) thank u

Welcome to WHT!

Yes, usually you do need something like MySQL to run a good message board (I recommend phpBB 2, which is a good free message board similar to this one).

About chat rooms, most hosts don't like hosting custom java chat rooms because they use up quite a bit of system resources. So unless you want your own dedicated server, I would recommend either using a third party site for your chat, or watching out for hosts which already include this feature (many do).

I think that as long as you stay away from hosts offering unlimited disk bandwidth or disk space, and do a search on them here before signing up, you should be relatively safe. :)

Hi,

I think all you ask is ok for the average host. You need to be careful you aren't breaking any copyright laws when using mp3s on your site, though.

Most message boards (forums) need a MySQL backend and can be set up through a host's control panel. Alot of good forums are free aswell. Most hosts have banned boards such as UBB, Yabb and Ikonboard as they are just too resource intensive and can slow down a server. Again, check a host's AUP for that.

Good thing to do is look for a host's own forums, where users and staff often interact. Ask questions of the users, ask of their experiences, what they can do, what they they can't etc.