What questions should I ask?

[JoAnn Amerson]

Happy 4th!

I am seriously considering switching web hosts. I inherited the one my
organization uses. He never returns emails and rarely returns phone calls in
a timely fashion. I'm still waiting for a return call from about a month
ago. Time for him to go!

We are looking at a new host. The price is right, he's giving us the space
we need, and promises much better tech support. What questions whould I ask
of them to make sure my site will work properly? I use FP 2002 and have
asked if he supports the FP2002 server extensions. I'd love to have some
sort of way of knowing how people got to our site. I know there are ways to
do it but the host must be doing "something". I don't know what that
something is. (Shoot - there's a lot I don't know but I want to learn.)

Anyone out there on this hot Friday willing to teach me the questions? I
parrot quite well - and will learn how to interpret the answers.

 

[Steve Easton]

1. Does your prospective hosting service
provide domain registration services?
2. Do they update the DNS ( domain name servers )
for you or provide an on-line interface so you can do it yourself.
( DNS is how computers find a web site. You type in
www.mydomain.com in your address bar and click Go.
The computer then is directed to a DNS which converts
www.mydomain.com to a numerical Internet Protocol or IP
address such as http://123.456.789.012 or http://123.456.789.012~username
if it is a shared IP )
3. Do they have an interface / control panel so you can
manage your web / view your web statistics on your own.??

Check some hosting companies and check out the tools they
have available.

My favorite is www.123ehost.com
FP extensions and all the bells and whistles you
need.
Apache servers running Linux just so you know though.
General server information
cPanel Build 7.1.0-EDGE #16
Operating system Linux
Apache version 1.3.27 (Unix)
PERL version 5.006001
PHP version 4.3.1
MySQL version 4.0.13

 

[Steve Easton]

Answers in line

1. Our domain name is good until 2006. I used DomainPeople.com.

2. I really don't understand this question/answer.

If you move your site to a different host, the Domain Name Servers
need to updated so that they point to your new "location" aka IP address.
Example.
www.95isalive.com is the domain. The name servers convert it to:
http://216.74.96.158~alive

You will have to transfer your domain registration to your new host,
and then "register" your domain with a new primary and secondary
"Domain Name Server." After your domain is re-registered, it takes
48 hours to fully propagate through out the DNS system.

Your new host should have the capability to do this for you, or
provide you with an interface so you can do it. You have to "point"
the Name servers to your new IP address

3. That's the thing I want so that I can get an idea of how people are
finding us, right?

Yes, people "find" your domain via the Domain Name Servers. Each
hosting company uses their own DNS

 

[E. T. Culling]

I happen to use three different very local ISPs (Central Washington
state)... so I can walk in their front door! They all are a local phone call
and the best recognizes my voice when I call. Very nice!
Eleanor

 

[JoAnn Amerson]

POP3 accounts are email accounts, right? such as
(e-mail address removed)? I'd like that.

What's an email alias?

I need to learn more, obviously, because I've *heard* of ASP, SQL, etc but I
don't know anything about them. If I wanted a form on my site, don't they
need ASP?

Autoforwarding? Autoresponding? - how could I use these?

I never thought about asking them how often they back up! See - that's why I
ask here. I know it's not sqecifically a FP question but since that's what I
use.........

Nice to know there are others online rather than watching fireworks.

 

[Vocátional & Technicál Edu®]

You don't like reading FP books?

POP3 accounts are email accounts, right? such as
(e-mail address removed)? I'd like that.

What's an email alias?

I need to learn more, obviously, because I've *heard* of ASP, SQL, etc but I
don't know anything about them. If I wanted a form on my site, don't they
need ASP?

Autoforwarding? Autoresponding? - how could I use these?

I never thought about asking them how often they back up! See - that's why I
ask here. I know it's not sqecifically a FP question but since that's what I
use.........

Nice to know there are others online rather than watching fireworks.

 

[JoAnn Amerson]

I asked my future web host about backing up. They back up daily. As for a
fee, if it's their fault, not charge. If it's my fault, $75 an hour. Is that
reasonable?