[1imran]

I am planning on expanding on web hosting by specializing on hosting plans on the needs of web designers.

I would like to be able to meet your requirements and provide web hosting to this community. I want to offer features that would be valuable to as many of you as possible.

Here is a list of features that I am contemplating Other then price, uptime, and quick support ticket response, what other features would you look for the most in a web host:

- Ability to install more one-click applications....more then currently offered by fantastico.
- Free membership to website or CMS template website of your choice (up to a certain amount) with annual plans?
- Low cost no-frills reseller plans - to make management of domains easier than add-on domains
- Low cost domains - $6.95, Low cost SSL - $13.95
- Ability to offer end user support to your clients - Responding to support tickets from your clients (related to web hosting)
- Install opensource scripts on your domains (via support ticket) that are not available using oneclick installation
- Free hosting packages with limited specs for new designers...

[andyf]

*** Free hosting packages with limited specs for new designers... As a web host i will not offer such free stuffs.

Most important is reliability and instant technical support !!!

[Larixk]

support for php5 or RoR

[andyf]

Originally Posted by Larixk

support for php5 or RoR

Most host support PHP 5.x and Ruby on rails not a major issue.

[Coops]

Love and understanding.

[freelancr]

Originally Posted by andyf

Most host support PHP 5.x and Ruby on rails not a major issue.

I agree with PHP5, though there are some prats still on PHP4, but not many support RoR and should be considering its free and very popular.

[LogicWeb]

We offer PHP 5 and Ruby Rails as of early last year. A lot of more technical clients use these two since they either do their own scripting or know how to operate 3rd party scripts.

I think the main reason why many still use php 4 is because they are using outdated scripts that have not been upgraded by the creators or have no technical inclination in these things. We offer php 4 for such people since a lot of people still use php 4, not knowing it is going out the bin soon.

To the OP, this "Install opensource scripts for you" is a bad idea if you plan on doing this for free. Reason being is you will get abused (literally) for more free support on 3rd party scripts that can easily be poorly coded (and some clients do not care to believe this). Another issue is you will be asked for constant free support on these when you know its not a server side issue but an internal configuration error for example. Its not worth taking the risk and responsiblity. You will be overwhelmed and unable to provide support for other clients, unless you intend on hiring people to provide free support on free scripts.

Its one thing to give some tips and advice to the client on such scripts, its another beast to take on the entire responsiblity of doing the work for them. I'm sure your motive is to go the extra mile, but you can easily be worn out in your shoes in such a way like this. This is speaking from 5 years of hosting experience

Free advice never hurts, so I figured I'd let you know.

[1imran]

Great point about being responsible for scripts that are poorly coded, or fixing configuration errors - all of which have nothing to do with server issues. It will be a burden on support if such service is provided free of charge.

[wheedwacker]

Have support for PHP4 and 5. Like GoDaddy, if you change something in the .htaccess file, it runs the different version.

[iblastoff]

reliability. i doubt anyone here gives a crap about one-click install scripts.

is RoR actually growing? everyone talks about how "beautiful" the code is but all i've read on the subject is that its horribly slow and the scalability is extremely poor compared to php.