Hello, I have experience of over 4 years in website development and have a portfolio of 215 sites, out of which 181 are on permanent support.
I had an issue with my own hosting and although I used Hostinger for myself and clients, I got tired of constantly paying money to the host. While I have some basic knowledge about configuring things like PHP, MySQL and Apache on a separate machine, I need something more serious.
Here is a rough list of what I'm looking for in a hosting service:
- Ability to configure custom domain email
- Direct DNS from domain to host
- Ability to create subdomains
- Ability to connect to MySQL databases
- Personal accounts for clients to access their files and check email
If anyone can offer any useful information or assistance, I'm willing to pay for it. Thank you in advance!
Is there anything else specific you're looking for in a hosting service?
Don't forget that you'll also have to pay for your server/servers.
One option is to find a reputable host and opt for a reseller package, which tends to be more cost-effective and requires less technical know-how.
Alternatively, if you want to set up your own server, here are two options:
- Use a web server and a free panel like Vesta CP to set up the farm yourself
- Purchase a server and a paid panel (which can be complicated), but usually comes with automated deployment for the entire system.
It's important to carefully consider all the options and choose the one that best fits your needs and budget. Additionally, it's always a good idea to have some technical expertise or support on hand to ensure everything runs smoothly.
Before hosting a website, it's important to decide where you'll post mail and DNS. There are two options available- you can either opt for third-party providers like Yandex which offer free mail services and DNS management or host everything on your own server. While using third-party providers offers less hassle with settings and reduces the load on the server, hosting everything on your server allows you to be a full-fledged provider.
To manage hosting, you will need a panel- there are both free and paid ones available like ISPmanager, Plesk and cPanel. During installation, panels automatically install and configure most of the necessary services and add-ons. It is necessary to calculate the number of resources needed for the server before choosing a dedicated or virtual web server.
To manage clients, service packages, and payments, you will also need a billing panel like BILLmanager or WHMCS which can be integrated into your site separately. It is better to use a separate server for this, but it's not mandatory.
Here are some important points to keep in mind when setting up a server:
- Use a firewall to block all non-public access like ssh, proxmox control panel and phpmyadmin. Don't be afraid of not getting access in emergency situations- it's better to allow only trusted IP addresses and VPN servers with static external addresses to connect.
- Configure monitoring for critical events such as the status of the raid, backups and ssh connections to servers. Notifications should be set only for important things and recurring notifications can be used for non-critical events that you may forget to fix.
- To speed up the work of sites, configure a local version of the webpagetest service in a separate virtual machine to objectively assess the site's speed without external network delays.
- When updating the system on a virtual machine, take a snapshot of it first. If everything is okay after installation, don't forget to remove it. This simple rule can help a lot in case of emergency.
- Always update the system manually rather than through automation tools like ansible. If there is no complete duplication of functionality with automatic switching to a working service, it's better to manually control the installation of updates. It's not uncommon for an update to break something- an example being elk stack or bitrixenv. If the update went without errors, consider it luck!
I'm happy using QHoster.com (https://qhoster.com/) hosting service. Their techs are very helpful with setting up web sites and uploading files to their servers. QWINTER PROMO for 2023 - Promo code: QWINTERVPS-20 (This promotion code will work until 25th of February, 2023).
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Seriously, i've tried many web hosts and so far, these ones have been the BEST!
In addition to the features you mentioned, some other factors you might want to consider are:
- Pricing: Compare the pricing plans and see if they fit within your budget.
- Scalability: Check if the hosting service can accommodate future growth and handle increased traffic.
- Security: Look for hosting services that provide strong security measures to protect your websites and data.
- Support: Consider the level of customer support offered by the hosting service, such as 24/7 availability and response time.
- Performance: Look for a hosting service that offers reliable and fast server performance, as this can affect the loading speed and overall user experience of your websites.
- Backup and Restore: Check if the hosting service provides regular backups of your data and offers easy restoration options in case of any unforeseen incidents or data loss.
- Control Panel: Consider the user-friendliness and features of the hosting provider's control panel. A well-designed control panel can make it easier for you to manage your websites and hosting settings.
- Uptime Guarantee: Find out if the hosting service offers an uptime guarantee, ensuring that your websites will be available to visitors most of the time.
- Bandwidth and Storage: Assess your bandwidth and storage requirements and ensure that the hosting service can meet your needs without any limitations or additional charges.
- SSL Certificates: If you require secure connections for your websites (HTTPS), check if the hosting service offers free or affordable SSL certificates.
- CDN Integration: Content Delivery Network (CDN) integration can help improve the speed and performance of your websites, especially for users located in different geographical regions. Check if the hosting service offers easy integration with popular CDN providers.
- Developer-Friendly Features: If you require advanced development tools or frameworks, such as SSH access, Git integration, or support for specific programming languages, ensure that the hosting service provides these features.
- Scalability Options: If you anticipate potential growth or fluctuations in traffic, consider if the hosting service offers flexible scalability options, such as easy upgrades/downgrades of resources or the ability to add more servers.
- E-commerce Support: If you plan to run an online store or require e-commerce functionality, check if the hosting service supports popular e-commerce platforms or provides features like SSL support, secure payment gateways, and easy integration with shopping carts.
- Server Location: Depending on your target audience, it may be beneficial to choose a hosting service with server locations closer to them. This can help reduce latency and improve the overall experience for your website visitors.
- Reputation and Customer Reviews: Research the reputation of the hosting service by reading customer reviews and testimonials. Look for experiences from users with similar needs and requirements to yours.
- Reliability and Stability: Look for a hosting provider that has a reputation for stability and reliable service. This includes considering factors like server uptime, performance consistency, and the reliability of their infrastructure.
- Customer Support: Check the level of customer support offered by the hosting service. Look for options like 24/7 support, multiple communication channels (such as live chat, email, or phone), and knowledgeable support staff who can help resolve any issues or answer your questions promptly.
- Ease of Use: Consider the user-friendliness of the hosting service's interface and control panel. A well-designed and intuitive interface can greatly simplify website management tasks.
- Add-Ons and Extras: Some hosting providers offer additional features and services like website builders, automatic backups, caching tools, security enhancements, and more. Think about whether these extras would be useful for you and if they align with your requirements.
- Data Center Locations: If your target audience is geographically diverse, consider a hosting service that has multiple data center locations around the world. This can help improve website performance and load times for visitors from different regions.
- Terms and Conditions: Take the time to review the hosting service's terms and conditions, including their acceptable use policy, refund policy, and any contractual obligations. Make sure they align with your needs and expectations.