Host Recommendations

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jmumby

141 posts

Master Geek

#80468 31-Mar-2011 13:42

Hi all,

Can anyone recommend a host. My current one is pretty dire, taking 2-3 working days to reply to tickets. I need a static ip and, something unique - Port 9018 opened and forwarded to 80.

Cheers

Zeon

3916 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#453811 31-Mar-2011 13:56

When you say host, what exactly do you mean? Like shared web hosting or dedicated server host or what?

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redjet

299 posts

Ultimate Geek

#453818 31-Mar-2011 14:23

I highly recommend HostGator as their support response times are insanely fast!

You probably will be after one of their shared plans - HostGator Shared Plans.

I'm also on their affiliate program so you can use the coupon code REDJETGATOR25 and you'll get a 25% discount.

Red Jet Web Services
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timmmay

20581 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#453821 31-Mar-2011 14:28

I second hostgator.

marpada

476 posts

Ultimate Geek

#453822 31-Mar-2011 14:29

I don't think a shared server provider will be happy to open a port for you, so probably you'll need a VPS or dedicated server. VPS providers won't manage the server for you unless you pay for the administration service, which is not cheap.

redjet

299 posts

Ultimate Geek

#453836 31-Mar-2011 15:28

marpada: I don't think a shared server provider will be happy to open a port for you, so probably you'll need a VPS or dedicated server. VPS providers won't manage the server for you unless you pay for the administration service, which is not cheap.

I've seen someone request a port to be opened in the HostGator shared hosting support forums, am not sure how they do this in a shared environment but it may be possible. jmumby, I'd recommend you emailing the HostGator sales team and ask them if they do in fact can do this in a shared hosting environment. You can contact them at sales@hostgator.com

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Adappted

121 posts

Master Geek

#453839 31-Mar-2011 15:31

pretty happy with my dedicated at wiredtree.com , I have couple smart machines at Joyent cloud as well that have been great, they start at $125US a month. Just remember when it comes to hosting you get what you pay for.

mattwnz

20164 posts

Uber Geek

#453842 31-Mar-2011 15:35

Just remember that if you chose a USA provider, that some ISPs in NZ, such as Telecom, will cache international web content. I have had this issue in the past when changes I made to a site didn't appear for telecom users, until they manually cleared the cache for me. Also some search engines may identify the website as not being from NZ, due to being on a foreign IP.

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jmumby

141 posts

Master Geek

#453908 31-Mar-2011 19:02

Zeon: When you say host, what exactly do you mean? Like shared web hosting or dedicated server host or what?

Well it's a bit of an ask I know, but intially shared hosting as I have at the moment with a static IP. If I could get my host to foward port 9018 (stupid china toy requirment) to port 80 then I would be sorted. I can't be botherd even asking as I am sick off waiting days for a response, when I already know the answer.

mattwnz

20164 posts

Uber Geek

#453918 31-Mar-2011 19:29

jmumby:
Zeon: When you say host, what exactly do you mean? Like shared web hosting or dedicated server host or what?

Well it's a bit of an ask I know, but intially shared hosting as I have at the moment with a static IP. If I could get my host to foward port 9018 (stupid china toy requirment) to port 80 then I would be sorted. I can't be botherd even asking as I am sick off waiting days for a response, when I already know the answer.

Who's the host?

redjet

299 posts

Ultimate Geek

#453942 31-Mar-2011 21:09

mattwnz: Just remember that if you chose a USA provider, that some ISPs in NZ, such as Telecom, will cache international web content. I have had this issue in the past when changes I made to a site didn't appear for telecom users, until they manually cleared the cache for me. Also some search engines may identify the website as not being from NZ, due to being on a foreign IP.

Am not familiar with the Telecom caching issue, but haven't seen any evidence that Google thinks sites are not local just because they are hosted overseas. We've built dozens of .co.nz websites that are hosted in the US and it's had no impact on their Google page rank when searching for local NZ businesses. Am not sure if other search providers do this however.

Red Jet Web Services
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Zeon

3916 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#453944 31-Mar-2011 21:11

jmumby:
Zeon: When you say host, what exactly do you mean? Like shared web hosting or dedicated server host or what?

Well it's a bit of an ask I know, but intially shared hosting as I have at the moment with a static IP. If I could get my host to foward port 9018 (stupid china toy requirment) to port 80 then I would be sorted. I can't be botherd even asking as I am sick off waiting days for a response, when I already know the answer.

While its technically very simple for a shared web host to listen on a non standard port, operationally they are unlikely to offer it due to lack of control panel support and thus more difficult to maintain. Your best bet would be to find a local hosting prover who is quite flexible (ask Nate on here) or look at a cheap VPS like those offered by Sitehost

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mattwnz

20164 posts

Uber Geek

#453950 31-Mar-2011 21:23

redjet:
mattwnz: Just remember that if you chose a USA provider, that some ISPs in NZ, such as Telecom, will cache international web content. I have had this issue in the past when changes I made to a site didn't appear for telecom users, until they manually cleared the cache for me. Also some search engines may identify the website as not being from NZ, due to being on a foreign IP.

Am not familiar with the Telecom caching issue, but haven't seen any evidence that Google thinks sites are not local just because they are hosted overseas. We've built dozens of .co.nz websites that are hosted in the US and it's had no impact on their Google page rank when searching for local NZ businesses. Am not sure if other search providers do this however.

With google you do have the option of setting the websites country using the webmaster development tools, I however don't know if there are such tools for other search engines like Bing or Yahoo. I have had issues with hosting in the US, and telecoms new cache farm caching content, but I don't know if any other ISPs do this.

redjet

299 posts

Ultimate Geek

#453964 31-Mar-2011 22:00

mattwnz:
With google you do have the option of setting the websites country using the webmaster development tools, I however don't know if there are such tools for other search engines like Bing or Yahoo. I have had issues with hosting in the US, and telecoms new cache farm caching content, but I don't know if any other ISPs do this.

Yes that's correct, if you submit a .co.nz domain to Google Webmaster Tools then it automatically set's the geotarget to New Zealand. I don't believe you can change this setting for the likes of .co.nz, .com.au, etc. Only .com, .net and .org can be modified to a specific target country.

Red Jet Web Services
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