What's In A Web Host?
By Blaine Fallis
2003-11-29
Reader Rating: 
Easy To Implement Applications
Most hosting companies give you a few basic applications in your CGI bin, such as form mail, and a guestbook, plus they'll give access to a control panel that gives you a way to add email addresses, change passwords, etc. There may be other applications too, but you'll find out quickly that you're on your own in most cases in getting any of these up and running. For many Web developers this is OK and even expected... they know how to tweak perl code or chmod a script and it's no big deal. But a good host helps. Friendlyweb.net for example, the host I manage, uses the Appies Web Site Manager. (See a demo: https://demo.friendlyweb.net:1025/ ) This I believe represents a major difference between us and most other Web hosts. We provide real, usable applications and even support them and make them easier to install (usually 1 or 2 clicks), and by leveraging the power of Open Source programs, and our own in-house tech support talent, we provide a combination of original scripts, and 3rd party programs, with a goal of making each one easier to use, and readily available. Plus, by having our servers managed by great tech support talent, we've already gone through the hassles to see if each 3rd party app works with our updated versions of Linux, Perl, Python, and MySQL, meaning the hosting customer can get right into focusing on the application and how to use it, and customize it.
Here are a list of Web site tools and applications we provide with our hosting accounts:
Ecommerce - We provide Appieshop, a no-brainer shopping cart application, which works well for stores with less than 500 items. We also include OSCommerce with our hosting plans for a more robust solution.
Calendars - this tool is customizable, and can be added to and edited by a non-tech person. This is great for musicians, churches, businesses, or any group of people that wants to provide accessible dates. Some nice extra touches... visitors can enter an email with a "remind me" message which will email a reminder back to them a specified amount of time before the event occurs.
MySQL-driven Prospect manager - manage a sales team with this app... with the database on the server anyone with internet access can log onto it and make updates
Site Map Creator - it's good to provide a site map, and this tool makes it easy to create a page that both your visitors, and search engines will appreciate
Photo gallery - this is a 3rd party open source app that just works!
phpBB Discussion Boards - This is a very popular 3rd party open souce app, and we make it easy to install and customize. McAfee is among the thousands of companies who use this internally or for tech support.
File manager -- allows you to easily upload files into the appropriate directory on your server, and/or copy, delete, or edit files. Using the file editor you can actually make changes to HTML pages using either a text-based or WYSIWYG view.
Email - We provide GNU Mailman, a Python Open Source program for people needing to run a listserv or run a newsletter, and we also make it very easy to create POP3s, lists, and autoresponders. Webmail also comes in handy on the road.
Domain Management - set up virtual folders and run multiple domain names all from one account. Not sure how? It's all spelled out in our easy online manual
FlashChat
Site Share - allows visitors to fill out a form and share your web site with others by entering an email address
Knowledge Base Manager - create a MySQL driven FAQ or Q&A without programming
Company Directory - upload pics, bios, and contact info for all your employees, or organization members
RealServer - stream audio or video files
Banner manager - run banner ads and track the results!
This is about all I could fit into my space here, but suffice it to say we've gone way beyond the extra mile in our efforts to make a difference in what we offer our hosting customers. Wherever you decide to host, it might behoove you to check out their applications, and to learn whether or not they support them well. Chances are you won't use all of them, but they can come in handy and it's good to have choices, and a set of tested tools all ready to go if you need them.
If you found this article interesting, you may want to read these as well:
» Add-On Domains, Parked Domains & Sub-Domains
» Web Hosts: Helping Us Navigate Through This Future Techno-World.
» Web Space or Bandwidth: Finding the Right Balance
» A Domain Name & Web Site - The Key To The Door.
» Web Hosting: To Switch or to Stay?
» How Multiple Server Hosting Impacts Your Website's Uptime
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