As an ASP.NET developer, choosing a web host to host your web application is sometimes as important, and as difficult, as choosing what web application you will create. Unless you’re working for a company that hosts it’s own web applications, you’ll need to search for a host to host your application. Selecting the right host for you is very important. Below are some things to look for when selecting your host.
Types of Hosting
There are a few different kinds of hosts. Some companies provide multiple offerings.
Shared Web Hosting
This type of hosting hosts many different web applications on the same web server. This is often the cheapest route to take and is great for a small or start-up application. However, if your application grows, you may notice performance degradation and you’ll want to move to another type of host. You almost always never have access to a Windows desktop: instead, everything is done through a control panel (more about this later).
Virtual Private Servers
This type of hosting hosts many virtual servers on a single server. You usually are the sole user of the virtual server, but you share the real server’s CPU with other virtual servers. This option gives you full control over the hosting environment as if it’s a real computer: you have remote access to the desktop, you can install additional software, etc.
Managed Dedicated Servers
This type of hosting gives you a dedicated computer for your use. You do not share the computer with anyone else. However, you do not need to manage the day-to-day administration of the computer like daily backups, etc. These sorts of things gets managed by the hosting company and is usually included in the hosting fee.
Dedicated Hosting
This type of hosting gives you 100% complete control over your computer. You can do whatever you want with it: but the hosting company won’t do anything for you except give you internet bandwidth.
Programming Features
Platforms
Some things to look for when selecting a host is what programming platforms do they support. Some do not support ASP.NET, and as an ASP.NET programmer, you’ll need this.
Versions
You’ll want to be careful about what versions of ASP.NET the hosts support. Some hosts only support ASP.NET 2.0. If your application uses Windows Communication Foundation or Workflow Foundation, you may be out of luck with a strictly-2.0 provider. You’ll want to find a host that supports ASP.NET 3.5.
Silverlight
Does your application use Silverlight? If so, make sure you can use that with your host.
Databases
Does your application require a SQL database? Most ASP.NET hosts provide Microsoft SQL Server to their clients. For some it’s included, and some it’s extra. Find out any extra costs you may need to fork over. Maybe your application can work with MySQL instead? If so, that’s often a cheaper alternative.
In short, collect the requirements for your application, and double check that your host supports all of the requirements.
Below is a list of some ASP.NET web hosts (in no particular order).
