If you sign up for an affordable web hosting package, you might think that because there is a lot of software included in the hosting plan that you are getting a great deal, but this is not always the case. Sometimes hosting companies pad their all-in-one plans with free General Public License software or promotional software to make up for what you really need for your site. Especially if you are new to hosting, it’s good to have some knowledge of what kind of software you need to look for when you sign up for an affordable web hosting package. Here are some general software terms to become familiar with before you commit to a hosting plan.
- Operating System: Most web hosting companies use a Linux operating system because it is the least expensive GPL software for them to purchase and the most stable when it comes to providing you with uptime. It is the also most compatible when it comes to installing software. However, it is actually the way a hosting company sets up its operating system and the way they update it that determines whether your version of a third party software program or scripting language will work or not. That is why it is better to go with a company that may be more expensive if they provide more useful software in their hosting package. This is because pre-installed software will work better with their operating system than whatever you install yourself.
The other common operating system is IIS (Internet Information Server) which was created by Microsoft for a Windows hosting environment and is necessary if you want to use licensed Microsoft software like FrontPage, ASP, and ASP.NET. It costs more than Linux hosting, but you need it to run these programs the right way. Be careful with Linux based hosting that promises the same results with program extensions.
- Web Site Management: These are the general software features that you should look for to manage your site. This usually includes a free site builder, FTP accounts, and a file manager. You should also look for an administrative panel like cPanel. This is the main interface that you will use in order to access the software and scripting programs on your website. CPanel is the best control panel because it is icon based and easy to use for beginners. Also, look for Cron or Cron Jobs. This is the program that will schedule updates and other tasks for you automatically. Here is the place to look for POP3 email accounts and Spam filtering as well.
- Databases: The most common database that will come in your affordable web hosting package will be MySQL. Make sure that you look for at least 10 available databases, however, because you will need them as your site grows. Also, make sure that you have PHP (not just phpMyAdmin) along with it, because later on, you will want to use these two together. Other data bases include PostgreSQL, MS SQL, and MS Access, which can be used with a Windows hosting environment.
- Software and Scripts: Low cost web hosting packages should also come with CGI-BIN, PHP 5, Perl 5, Fantastico, Python, Java, Ruby on Rails, etc. These are the basis building blocks for any website if you want to move beyond your free site builder. If the list of features just says ‘support’ for these programs, that only means that if you find these programs and install them, they should work. However, it is still better to get a web hosting package that actually has these already included, even if it costs more.
- Shopping Carts: What shopping cart you use really depends on your preference, but every hosting package should have at least one. The most common are OS commerce shopping cart, Agora shopping cart, and ZenCart. If you are planning heavy ecommerce, look for an SSL secure site and some kind of encryption software. You will probably have to purchase the SSL certificate separately, but sometimes it is included.
- Add-ons and Applications: Most cheap hosting packages have these, but some have more than others, depending on how much they need to pad their list of features. Getting carried away with this kind of software is like getting excited when your new car comes with cup holders. Look here for guest books, message forums, blogs and online chat programs. This kind of software will include Drupal, Moodle, Nucleus, Geeklog, Serendipity, WordPress, Coppermine, Joomla, Mambo, PostNuke, etc., etc. A lot of this software is free, so don’t let it sway your decision when you are looking for a decent hosting company.
These are the main kinds of software to look for when you sign up for any affordable web hosting account. The best thing to do before you sign up for any web hosting account is to come up with a plan for what you want your web site to accomplish and then find the software that you need to do it. Always ask a lot of questions from the customer sales rep before you give them your credit card number. They will be more responsive to your questions at this time than after you sign up. If something doesn’t sound right, or you don’t get the information that you need, call back. The sales department of any hosting company is usually large and it might take a few times before you get someone who knows their hosting programs and can help you buy an affordable web hosting package with the right software.
