9 Things to Know Before Selecting Your Host

1. Understand the Distinctions Between Shared, Collocated, Unmanaged Dedicated & Managed Dedicated Hosting So You Choose The One That Is Right For Your Business.
   It is crucial to understand the difference between the types of hosting offered. As the hosting industry has matured, hosting offers have split into a couple of distinct categories, each with its own strengths and weaknesses.
   
   Shared hosting (sometimes called virtual hosting), means that you are sharing one server with a number of other clients of that company. The host manages the server almost completely (though you maintain your site and your account). They can afford to charge you little since many clients are paying for use of the server. However, the resources of that server are being used by companies other than yours. That means heavy traffic to one of the other sites on the server can really hammer the performance of your site. Also, you are typically not able to install special software programs on these types of machines, because the host will need to keep a stable environment for all of the clients using the server.
   
   Collocated hosting means that you purchase a server from a hardware vendor, like Dell or HP for example, and you supply this server to the host. The host will then plug your server into its network and its redundant power systems. The host is responsible for making sure its network is available, and you are responsible for all support and maintenance of your server.
   
   Unmanaged dedicated hosting is very similar to collocation, except that you lease a server from a host and do not actually own it yourself. Some very limited support (typically Web-based only) is included, but the level of support varies widely from unmanaged dedicated host to unmanaged dedicated host. This type of server can be had for around $99/month. Support levels are typically only provided in general terms. Ask the host to go into specifics about what support they will provide -- will they apply security patches to your server? -- before signing up. This service is typically good for gaming servers (like Doom or Counterstrike servers) or hobbyist servers, but not for serious businesses that need responsive, expert-level service.
   
   Managed dedicated hosting means leasing a server from a host and having that company provide a robust level of support and maintenance on the server that is backed by quality guarantees. This maintenance typically includes that services such as server uptime monitoring, a hardware warranty, security patch updates and more. Be sure to make sure your managed dedicated host is specific about its managed services included (see INetU's Innovative Support™ page) so that you can be sure they are not disguising an unmanaged dedicated offering as a managed dedicated server. This has been known to happen unfortunately, which is why it is important to do your homework and ask the right questions (see below for specific examples).
   
   
2. Does Your Potential Host's Network Have Blackholed IPs?
   Many hosts care little about who is actually hosting on their networks, so long as the clients pay their bill. That means many hosters will allow porn sites, SPAMMERS and servers that create security issues on their network for the sake of the dollar. Even if you are to place ethical issues aside, this does have a negative impact on customers in general, however, when a network gets blackholed for spamming, for example. Getting blackholed means that other networks will refuse e-mail originated from IPs that are blacklisted. Some hosts have a number of entire class C (up to 256 IPs) networks blackholed and redistribute these tainted IPs to new clients. That means if your business relies on legitimate double opt-in e-mail marketing to drive sales, being on such a network can severely cut response to your campaign because your e-mail may never get to its destination.
   
   Check with any hosts you are considering to see if their networks are blackholed. Also, here is a link to a third party source that tracks blackholed networks and lists them: The Spamhaus SBL ISP List
   
   
3. Don't Confuse Size With Stability
   Just because a web hosting company is big, does not mean it is stable and secure. In fact, many of the biggest filed for bankruptcy protection or were saved by being sold to some other company, in some cases causing uncomfortable transitions in service for their clients.
   
   How do you protect yourself? Ask some key questions:
   • How long has the host been in business?
   • Is current ownership the same as always?
   • Are they profitable and cash flow positive from operation-generated revenue?
   
   
   
4. Don't Make Price Your Only Priority
   The old saying "you get what you pay for" applies to most things in life, and hosting is certainly one of those things. When you over-prioritize price, you run the risk of ending up with a host that will provide you with a connection to the Internet and little else in terms of support (and even that connection may be running at maximum capacity or have uptime issues).
   
   
5. Make Sure Your Host Has Fully Redundant Data Centers
   When dealing with smaller vendors, make sure that they have their own data centers and that those data centers are fully redundant in terms of power and connectivity. Here are a few questions to ask:
   • How many lines do they have coming into the facility?
   • What is the average utilization of their connections?
     (No matter how fast the connection, if it is running at maximum capacity it will be slow.)
   • Do they have redundant power to the servers?
   • Do they have a generator on-site?
   • How often do they test their generator?
   • What sort of security measures do they have in place for the network?
   • What physical security do they have?
   • What type of fire suppression systems do they have in place?
   
   
   
6. What Percentage of Their Support Staff Are Actual Experienced Systems Administrators?
   When you call in for technical support, it can be a frustrating experience to be stuck talking with a non-technical "customer service" representative when you really need to talk to a systems administrator who can resolve your issues. Find out the structure of their support department, how quickly you can get to an actual systems administrator when you need to, and which systems administrators can help you when you need help.
   
   
7. Are They Flexible?
   We understand how important servers are to our clients and their businesses. In our free support, we provide so much more than most hosting companies will ever touch without charging, and we'll even go farther.
   
   
8. What Do Their Clients Say About Them?
   Can your prospective host provide you with success stories for clients with similar configurations to yours? Are they able to provide references from clients who can tell you about their experience using that company?
   
   
9. How Far Will Their Support Go Without Extra Charges?
   INetU clearly outlines for you the vast amount of support we include free with our services on our Innovative Support™ page. Make sure any host you consider provides you with a similar comprehensive list so that you can have an understanding of what is supported, what is supported at a fee, and what is not supported at all. Many hosts will try to hide a sub-standard level of free support behind non-specific statements of high quality support, so make them get specific to win your business.
   
   

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