Hosting Configuration

With the name in hand, the site designed and the files created, you have to have some place to "host" all this information and serve it up to consumers as they come looking for and interacting with it. You need a web host that can handle the size of your files, the demand for downloads, transfers, email, security and alike. On top of that, the server must be "up" virtually 100% of the time, the power must stay on continuously, and the size of the pipe connecting to the web backbone (megabits per second of information exchange) should be significant to avoid bottlenecks and slow pages. Here are the typical elements* we use in our hosting solution:

 
 
 
Disk Storage  
thousands of pages and graphics
 
300-900 MB
Bandwidth  
huge amount of data transfer
 
6-10 GB/mo
Connectivity  
super high-speed connection 145 million bps
 
OC-3
Control Panel  
customer management of key site elements possible
 
Yes
Web Stats  
activity report on site traffic and visitors
 
Yes
Point Other Domains  
potential to add other domain names to the site
 
Yes
NT, IIS, or UNIX Hosting  
the common webserver platforms
 
Yes
Search Engine Resources  
a complete library of search engine tips, secrets and links
 
Yes
 
 
E-mail POP 3  
number of site email addresses to hold email messages
 
10-25
E-mail Forwarding  
redirection of site email to another email address
 
Unlimited
E-Mail Autoresponders  
automatic notification of email receipt
 
Unlimited
Web-based Email  
allows web browser to read your site email
 
Yes
 
 
ODBC Connectivity  
database access standard for different database types
 
Yes
MS Access Database  
microsoft's popular small business database
 
Yes
MS SQL Database  
micrsoft's dtatbase for large enterprises
 
Yes
SSL Security Certificate  
provides for data encryption and data integrity
 
Yes
Merchant Sales Reports  
view individual sales orders and monthly summaries
 
Yes
 
 
Tech Support  
access to techical help for site issues
 
Yes
Nightly Data Backups  
automatic backups of site data
 
Yes
UPS Power Backup  
redundant uninterrupted power supply
 
Yes
Ecommerce Tools  
shopping carts & access to credit card processing
 
Yes
* prices vary depending on combination of elements, for example: SQL database increases price