I am a web designer first, and hosting provider second. I basically provide hosting services for all the websites I design, as well as hosting services for other website designers.

Up until now, I've been jumping from one shared hosting provider to another, as each one seems to be lacking SOMEthing... Why is it so difficult to find the perfect hosting company at a low price? (or did I just answer my own question!)

I think I need a dedicated server, but don't know much about it. I've done some reading, but thought I'd look here for suggestions.

Here's what I need: FrontPage 2000 extensions, Active Server Pages, MS Access database support, SSL. I design all my websites with FP2000. I may get into Flash at some point, so that's good to have as well.

Q: If I have several websites sharing the same IP address, does that mean only one of them can be accessed at one time? If not, why bother having more than 1 IP address on a server (my apologies for such basic questions).

Q: What's a good rule of thumb in terms of websites per IP address?

Q: How many websites (just basic ones) should I have before switching to a dedicated server?

Q: Who's got the best deal in terms of low cost dedicated NT servers with the goodies I listed above, and the ability for me to add an unlimited number of domain names? IP addresses? Or is there a limit?

Many thanks in advance!

Rob.

You can have as many domains sharing the same IP as your server can handle (although I wouldn't put more than 250 domains on a server*). That's if you use a standard linux box, I wouldn't recommend it on a cobalt.

Also, you can access as many sites as you want at the same time.

If you have more than 20 domains and are pulling in a new client or two each week, it's time to get yourself a dedicated server.



*If only I could stick to that policy.

Do a seach on this forum for NT servers.

Come to mention it, do people still use NT servers?

Isn't Windows 2000 the latest craze?


I'd love to recommend you to the NOC where I have my servers, but I might get kicked up the !$$ by C or BC.

It sounds like you not are prepared for managing a dedicated server, much less one running Windows. I know of small hosting companies running Windows servers who do a poor job of it because of insufficient knowledge about the intricacies of Windows. You aren't even at their low level.

You're not ready to administer a Linux server either, or you wouldn't have asked the questions you did. I'm not saying this to offend, but to give you a realistic appraisal. I favor honesty over coddling possibly fragile egos.

Even with server control panels, you still need to understand certain things about how the server works. Front Page can shield you from learning HTML and how web pages work, and the same principle just won't work at the server level.

You would be better served finding a proper host that has a satisfactory reseller program.

You and I are in the same boat. I design first and host second. If you want a good inexpensive reseller program check out web2010.com. I have been with them a year and the service and price is very good. There new reseller program makes them completely transparent, DNS masking and custom client control panel. Its pretty slick. Does anyone what control panel they are running?

The only hitch is that they primarily run Unix. You can get NT server at a discount under the reseller plan.

I am still looking to get a dedicated for inhouse projects. My client accounts are going to stay with web2010 so I don't have worry about the server going down, security or daily backups.

The dedicated I'm looking at is the RAQ3 from 4webspace.com. There is a lot of info here if you search for '4webspace' or 'tera-byte'

Good Luck,
Bubba

Windows 2000 would be fine. I just think I'd have better luck with a Microsoft platform given that all my websites are created using Microsoft technologies, and require ASP and MS Access support.

I basically don't want to have to wait for someone else to setup my domain names, I want to be able to do it myself. What's the danger in having more than 250 domains on a given server?

Thanks for the responses.

What's the danger in having more than 250 domains on a given server?

That's just a guide line.

To sum it all up. Not always the case, but often...

Server overloads --> Server crashes --> Server scr*wed

You lucky if it just needs a reboot but often it requires more than just that.

You are going to pay your butt off if you don't know how to manage a server. If you do find one that does include server managing, you still going to pay your butt off.


How much do you plan to spend on a server and how much are you going to charge your clients?