1. Server Hardware : Many webhosting providers take low-end consumer desktop computers, install a server operating system, and sell these systems to less-informed clients as “servers”. These consumer-grade systems simply aren’t up to the job. the standard is using only business-grade, server-class hardware from different manufacturers including Supermicro, Compaq and Dell, redundant power supplies, high-end SCSI disks with RAID options, multiple network cards, extra cooling, and tape backup drives. These options allow for reliability, uptime, and confidence.
2. Network Hardware : We have seen providers using home-office routers, switches, and hubs that can be bought at Best Buy or Circuit City for the majority of their network. This equipment limits performance, manageability, redundancy, and is generally of a lower build quality. the right choice is entire network backbone-composed of high-end routers and switches from Cisco. standard network is fully switched and redundant to provide for connectivity that is free of collisions and packet loss. Dual power supplies in our equipment keep our network up and running in case of hardware failure.
3. Network Connection : Many hosting providers advertise that they have OC-12s and OC-48s. Don’t buy it. How many $19.95/mo hosts could really afford $100,000-300,000/mo in network connectivity? Simple answer: probably none. They’re just inflating themselves to hide their shortcomings.
4. Bandwidth Quality :Can increase web hosting rating There’s a new bandwidth provider offering bandwidth at a price less than 10% of what other providers are charging, but there’s a catch – low network and peering quality. That means you have to settle for slow transfer speeds, packet loss, and unreliability. The bandwidth shoud have very high quality peering arrangements, ensuring that your data gets from point A to point B without jumping all over the country before it finds a peering point. You do get what you pay for.
5. Invisible Data Centers : Many mom-and-pop hosting providers operate out of a larger provider’s data center. This is perfectly acceptable, but the practice of calling such a data center one’s own should raise eyebrows. If a hosting provider is deceitful about whose data center their servers are located in, can you trust them about anything else they say? web hosting directory is vital element.
6. Monthly Data Transfer Charges : There has been a trend to charge “only $0.10 per megabyte!” or a similar dollar amount. What many people don’t realize until it’s too late is that $0.10/MB is $100/GB. A $800 surprise bill would put a dent in many peoples’ budgets. Other providers may charge by blocks of transfer. For example, if you are alotted 10 GB/mo and use 15 GB/mo, you could be charged for a 25 GB block.
7. Bandwidth Rate Limiting : Most server activity is between 9am and 7pm while people are at work or school. After hours, usage dips until the morning. Some providers rate-limit so you can only use x amount of bandwidth. For example, 40 GB/mo at some providers means that your connection is rate-limited to 0.125 Mbps, or roughly 10% of a cable modem. Not very fair, is it?
8. 24/7 Support : Providers who advertise 24/7 support are probably betting that nobody will bother to contact them at 3am. Other providers define 24/7 support as an email address with an autoresponder.