I am in the final stages of developing a web application, for which I am seeking a hosting provider. Here are some of the specs:

Requirements – web app
MS Windows (IIS)
Asp.net 3.5
Web application sends email (SMTP can be obtained elsewhere if not avail)
20gb storage- expandable (App stores image files for select users)
2-4gb RAM (app uses server-side asp.net (IIS) caching)

Requirements – database
SQL 2005
SQL Agent for schedule maintenance jobs
SQL email/notification services (SMTP can be obtained elsewhere if not avail, but the service must be available)
Enterprise Manager Access (via VPN is OK)
100mb+ storage

Requirements – Other
Phone number for 24x7 support. I hate sending emails and waiting for a reply, so reliable and responsive is important.
I am not sure if traffic or usage will warrant a dedicated server, or if a shared environment would suffice.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

Shared hosting is not usually the best environment for web apps. Yes a lot of times they can run but they usually require more resources than a simple website does. For this reason a VPS would be a for sure choice. I am not sure how big of an issue money is.

Shared hosting is not usually the best environment for web apps. Yes a lot of times they can run but they usually require more resources than a simple website does. For this reason a VPS would be a for sure choice. I am not sure how big of an issue money is.

Thanks for the VPS tip.

With respect to money: Although budget is always a concern, this is not a start-up or new venture. So I do not need the cheapest solution.

20gb storage- expandable (App stores image files for select users)
2-4gb RAM (app uses server-side asp.net (IIS) caching)


You will definitely need Windows VPS or a small dedicated server.
Shared hosting is not suitable for such resource requirements.
Try this link (http://www.webhostingtalk.com/hostquote.php?section=vps) to request quote for the best deal.

Definitely have a peek around the VPS Offers forum or the VPS Hosting forum. There'll be quite a few solid providers that can help you achieve what you're looking for. You're definitely looking at a mid-range to high end cluster system, especially if you're serving up online content via apps. I would seriously consider a clustered solution, that way the work is shared between two or more systems.

Good luck with your hosting search!