I need a host that can host a MS SQL Server database of about 50 MB. It is a very important website, so we are looking for 99.9%+ uptime. We have a sizable budget, and just need a good place to host. Any reccomendations?

- James

Hi Jason,

For what its worth, I have been using Pacific Online in Vancouver now for about a year and a half. I have referred my own clients to them and they've gotten I think about 6 new accounts as a result of my referrals. Small company.. it seems only about 4 or 5 people. Good support, never takes long to get anything done. Usually measured in half hours.

They're pretty good, and reasonably priced. An SQL server plan will cost you about $50 a month. Their url is www.paconline.net. Note the dot net.

I don't get referral fees, and I am not involved with them in any way other than as a customer. But I spent a lot of time (like 100 hours) looking around for hosts when when my last company evaporated overnight. They were the best of the lot for me at the time, and I guess since I've kept on with them now for 18 months, they mustn't be too bad.

Best of luck

Frank

Thanks Frank, I'll look into it. :)

- James

Check e-synaptix.com too. I have had two accounts with them for about 2 years now. The owner is very good, he even addressed a support issue from the golf course once.

www.e-synaptix.com

Sectorlink is another reasonably stable company (99.5% uptime) and they do offer SQL Server 2K plans at a wide range of prices. The one thing I don't like about their SQL Server stuff (and they're not the only one that does this) is that they don't let you use certain extended stored procedures (such as xp_sendmail), depending on the plan you choose. So if there's anything specific you need to use to develop your site, ask them first (and any other host you're interested in) before you hook up with them.

www.sectorlink.com

As far as 99.9%+ uptime...quite frankly, that's a little bit extreme unless you go dedicated. 99.9% x 720 hours month (30 day month) = 719.28 hours per month=43.2 minutes downtime. If a host has to install a patch or a critical update or routine maintenance or something of that nature more than twice per month (which is at least partly dependent on Microsoft and not the host) then they can't meet that time deadline.

My own suggestion, in order for everyone here to make a more accurate recommendation, is to look at what you'll need besides the SQL Server and its space (number of email accounts, bandwidth, space for the rest of your site, etc.). That way, all of us in here can give you a better recommendation than we can based on just the SQL Server information.

off-topic, but couldnt help but notice your sig.. msn gaming zone rocks :D