Web Hosting Talk : Web Hosting Main Forums : Web Hosting : Need a host.

[John Hamilton]

Okay I am brand new to the idea of having a forum, I want one related to my wifes work. I think that I am going to use vBulletin but I do not know who would be a good host.

Here's what I do know, I have yet to purchase the domain name, it will be a very simple forum, and it would probably need to be a host that has the capability of expanding with growth.

Do you guys have any suggestions?

[Kalyse]

I remember when I had 3-4 hosters at one point, just to see which i prefered. Its not all to expensive.

[ldcdc]

I have yet to purchase the domain name

I recommend you use namecheap.com for that. Inexpensive and good service.

Do you guys have any suggestions?

I think you'd benefit from the hands on approach.

First determine your needs. If you're running a forum, chances are you won't be using much space, at least for quite a while. 1GB disk space should be plenty, and 1GB of space is easy to get at relatively low prices. Forums are CPU hungry, but since you've just starting, hosts are unlikely have a CPU overload caused by your forum. Once your forum starts to get close to having some 40-50 users online simultaneously, I would look for a more special hosting solution: semidedicated, or shared hosting from a host specialising in application hosting. Either way, the result is you have to pay more, for the benefit of having your site on a lightly loaded server, with little risk of having your site suspended for CPU abuse.

Now, about that hands on approach. Make yourself a list of hosts that fit your needs on paper. Use the advanced search feature of hosting directories (findmyhosting.com, hostsearch), the hosting offers forum that we have here at WHT, http://www.webhostingtalk.com/request.php, the hosts recommended in this thread. Any source is good at this point. Aim for 20 or so hosts on your list.

1. Then start looking for reviews on each host using http://www.webhostingtalk.com/search.php as suggested above by HostRefund. Take the unworthy hosts out of your list.

Now contact each host still standing and ask them a few presales questions. Note the time it takes to get a response (note that sales departments at some hosts work 9 to 5 monday to friday while support works 24/7), depth of the response and the attitude of the responder. Reply to their email with further questions.

If possible, also contact their support department (not sales) and test them out as well.

2. Repeat until you select the best 3-4 candidates. After this, follow your instinct. You always have the other hosts to turn to in case things get sour with the one you initially chose.

I remember when I had 3-4 hosters at one point, just to see which i prefered. Its not all to expensive.

Wise words! I've always felt that hosting is actually pretty cheap.

[bear]

Nice one, Dan. Most of that should be in the various hosting forums and stickied.