We hosting questions

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greengeek

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#73055 8-Dec-2010 09:05

Forgive me if this post is in the wrong forum - I just could not find any forum that was already covering this
topic.

I am trying to find a webhost that offers a range of services that allow me to grow a website from a basic
"ground zero" stage right through to an advanced website off into the future when business grows.

I want to start with registering a domain name, and having that name hosted as a single webpage.
Basically the webpage would be nothing more than an image listing contact details and a brief list of the
services I am offering. There would be no email interface or email storage required.

I would continue to handle the email via a paid email host that I have been happy with for some years.

As business grows, I would transfer the email hosting to the webhost, and add a "storefront" so customers
could purchase my products and services online.

I have not found a webhost that is interested in offering this service. I would have expected it to be
common for customers to want a very basic webpage as a starting point, and add services later.

Has anyone else been through this process and got a webhost recommendation? thanks

magu

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#414453 8-Dec-2010 09:33

I recommend Squarespace (www.squarespace.com) to start with. Quite easy to get up and running, and they also do e-commerce (small volume, though).

I don't think they do email, however, so I suggest moving to something like Google Apps.

"Roads? Where we're going, we don't need roads." - Doc Emmet Brown

michaelmurfy

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#414458 8-Dec-2010 09:43

I would recommend getting a VPS (Virtual Private Server) - that way you start off with your own server and can increase your specs of that server as demand grows. It's a heap better than Shared Hosting which often is overselled, plus with a VPS you can control what is running on the server etc.

If you are after NZ Hosting we might have what you are after, Go take a look at http://www.unleash.co.nz/virtual-servers/ and check out our OpenVZ plans, I would recommend starting off at a VPS 64 or a VPS 128 and moving up from there as needed, if you need to go with a dedicated server(s) in future we can also move you off the VPS platform onto a Dedicated Server.

I find this is how most companies start off, that way they can evaluate their needs and have a easy upgrade path.

For email, if you have a VPS you have the option of just hosting it yourself or going to the likes of Google Apps, it's totally up to you.

Michael Murphy | https://murfy.nz
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cyberhub

224 posts

Master Geek

#414480 8-Dec-2010 10:16

Hi GreenGeek
I think what you are saying is that you would like a basic and webhosting at the start, the ability to host your domain name as well but have the capability to expand with that host as your requirements do.

I would say that most web hosting companies would do that for you.

Orcon, Maxnet even Telecom business Hub would do that as well. Getting good advice and service is another thing.

As a shameless plug CyberHubHost provides these services that you are requiring (had to balance it out with some other options). Our HostCheep webhosting plan starts out at $2.95/month which would be fine for your static HTML image you want but as your requirements grow, you can move to our bigger plans.

We can help you with setting up your emails Pop, Exchange Online or Google Apps.

Then when you are huge we can help with moving you onto your very own dedicated server.

If this is too much of shameless plug moderators feel free to edit my post :)

CyberHub - Hosting Made Simple

lchiu7

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#414482 8-Dec-2010 10:18

A friend of mine was in a similar position - that is wanting a small site and then growing it when the need arose.

I chose www.sitevalley.com and started off with a shared service. I was able to install the Silverstripe CMS on it and get it all going. Of course being a shared service it was subject to the vagaries of other users on the box but the sysops seemed to keep that in check. Plus it cost only US$2.50/month with free setup and no traffic charges with 1G of server space.

Later on I moved the site to a VPS host at US$10/month which gave 20G of drive space, 100GB of monthly traffic and 256MB memory on the server. The migration was done by sitevalley and worked okay for the most part apart from some strange behaviour of Silverstripe running on Centos.

Just another data point.

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greengeek

19 posts

Geek

#417240 14-Dec-2010 20:17

Hi guys, thanks for the suggestions. Some good ideas here.

Much appreciated :-)

DonGould

3892 posts

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#417255 14-Dec-2010 20:56

More shameless plug - $90+GST/year for hosting. We do managed control panel which lets you install your choice of a few content management systems, including Joomla and word press.

Email with heavy spam control is included and you can set up as many email names as you want.

We do nightly backups of email, database and your web content.

In my view a VPS is over kill for your requirements and also you'd need to manage it.

Anyway, that gives you a good balance of ideas and costs I think. If you have any more specific questions fire way, I'm sure there are plenty off others who are always interested in this stuff.

D

Promote New Zealand - Get yourself a .kiwi.nz domain name!!!

Check out mine - i.am.a.can.do.kiwi.nz - don@i.am.a.can.do.kiwi.nz