Host Providers

Looking for a Host Provider? This section should provide some basic questions you should ask while you are searching for or considering a host provider. Look to see what their services include and know what capabilities you will have available for your web site.

I highly recommend using a virtual server rather then acquiring web space through you ISP (local internet service provider). It's a much better option to not have to compete with the bandwidth used by servers who are also processing mail and providing dialup access. Carefully read the Terms of Service

You can very easily register your own domain name with Internic by filling out an online form. Also visit this site for any and all information regarding domain name changes, registration, how-to instructions, and more.

• What type of web server are you running? (Apache is known as the best!)
  Be sure to check our Specific Servers & Security reference links.
• What Operating System are you running? (I recommend UNIX and discourage WinNT)
• Do you run your own server or are you a reseller?
• How much space do you provide?
• Do you host domain names? (Read Warning regarding domain name registration)
• FTP Access?
• Telnet Access?
• How often are your server backed up?
• Do you supply online STATS?
• Do you allow CGI? (see below for additional questions)
• Can I use .htaccess?
• Can I use SSI ? (server side includes)
• Do you provide a counter?
• Do you provide a secure server? (online ordering, etc.)
• What online services are available for maintaining my account? (email address change, password, space usage, etc.)
• Frontpage Extensions? (I don't recommend - uses non-standard extensions)
• Do you provide tutorials for using your services?
• Do you have newsgroups or BBS forums to chat with other users regarding services or support issues?
• Do you offer newsgroups?
• What type of pages do you host on your servers? (business, personal, or both)
• Do you allow Sponsorship banner advertising?
• Do you have a directory listing for your members?

Getting started using CGI or CGI scripts requires knowing how you can utilize this language with your current host provider. Below you will find some basic questions to ask your host provider. Don't wait until you need this information only to find out what you want to do is not available. Hopefully these answers are provided when you sign up with a provider or available on their web site. If not you will need to ask the server administrator for this information. This list should help you get started :)

• What type of web server are you running? (Apache is known as the best!)
• What operating system are your running?
• What version of Perl does your server have installed?
• What is the location of Perl5? (i.e. #!usr/local/bin/perl or #!usr/bin/perl)
• What is the location of Perl4?
• What is my Base Directory? (/usr/www/htdocs/my_site)
• What is the URL to your directory? (http://www.yoururl)
• Sendmail location?
• Date Location?
• Path to CGI-BIN directory?
• Are you able to run cgi from any directory?
• Can cgi scripts be named .cgi & .pl?
• Command to use server counter?
• Do you allow Cron jobs?
• Do you support Unix file locking?
• What cgi modules do you support?
• How can I access my error log?
• Do you provide access to a secure server?
• How do I access the secure server?
• Do you provide support for CGI?
• Where is the support located? (i.e. in newsgroups, web page, etc.)

You can obtain a copy of this script from: http://www.getscript.com or you can find several version from http://www.scriptsearch.com.

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