Hosting Solutions
First Decide: Operating System Choices
LAMP (Linux, Apache, MySQL, and PHP)
These are the most common servers available and tend to be slightly less expensive than the Windows alternatives. Linux is the operating system - it can run on PCs or UNIX platforms. Apache is the Web Server software. MySQL is the database software. PHP is a programming language - one of the easiest to learn. This is a relatively simple system to set up on your own Windows PC - only in this case it would be called "WAMP" rather than LAMP. And of course on a Mac this is called MAMP. Setting up your own PC as a web-server has the advantage that you can do all your own testing before you upload to the production server.
Windows
Windows servers provide IIS as the webserver and usually Microsoft's SQL Server as the database software. Programming languages supported would include ASP and/or .NET languages from Microsoft. ASP is fairly easy to learn but the .NET framework is quite intimidating for novices.
Other Differentiators
Overselling - most hosting companies oversell. This can mean that you get several years of good value, but that may erode as they begin to take on more customers than they really can handle. Some sites guarantee they don't oversell. Look for these if you want a long-term solution.
Reliability - obviously you need a site that is up most of the time (sites require occasional maintence or upgrade time during a given year). This can be determined by reviews of hosting sites on the web (see below under Reviews for some popular review sites).
Service - this is a little more difficult to determine before you sign up, but you probably want a site that is supported by English speakers that you can understand. Technical problems are difficult enough without language barriers. More importantly you want a site that has decent documentation and that answers your emails or calls promptly.
Tools - A site should provide good tools for you to maintain your email addresses, files, and databases associated with your site. Site statistics tools and functional add-ons are also valuable. CPanel is provided by many of the more capable hosting companies. Fantastico is usually available as part of CPanel and provides automated installing of many popular tools. This can be a real time-saver. Fantastico differs slightly from provider to provider in terms of what products it supports and the revision levels of those products.
- CPanel - a demo
- Fantastico - a look inside
Price - this is IMHO the least important of these parameters at the level of the individual web developer. Even the most professional hosting companies provide hosting plans starting at around $100 per year including the domain registration. Usually you can run several (or even unlimited) domains from a single account - so buddy up with a friend you trust if you need to save money.
Resellers - If you plan to develop sites for others and host them, you may want to go with sites that specialize in reselling. Although you can host multiple sites on your personal account, you would not be able to allow the client to modify their own content as giving them access to their files would give them access to yours. Reselling solves this problem by offering each sub-account its own passworded access allowing you to give access to your client without risking your own files. Some resellers offer separate CPanel and Fantastico to the sub-accounts as well so your clients would be able to use these services.
Some Alternatives
OpenAccess - local - this is the "other side" of our own hosting company for this class. We will be using this for our team project site this term. They provide both CPanel and Fantastico. Their service is good in my limited experience.
Nationally Top-rated choices
ICDSoft, LiquidWeb, MediaLayer, Myriad, Steadfast, HostGator - all linux
CartikaHosting - windows and Linux
Other Choices
CanvasDreams - interesting as it's local (Portland, OR) and powered by sustainable energy. I don't know anything else.
DreamHost - locally extremely well-liked, their up-time appears to be going down.
GoDaddy - Popular
Dotster - Popular
Bluehost - Popular
Reviews - choose for yourself
Remember to check the dates on all reviews - a site might have been great three years ago but has lost its edge.