I'm currently on the search for some webspace and a domain as I'm fed up of Lycos and their annoying adverts.

I have three sites that I want to bring together under one domain using subdomains. I think I'll need AT LEAST 500mb:
Starstruk (http://www.starstruk.tk) isn't even 50mb yet, and is basicallly my homepage but I use it to store images on that I want to post on forums etc. Concert Pictures (http://www.concertpix.tk) is about 100mb already and will get bigger, but quite slowly. And Westlife Online (http://www.wlonline.tk) is no bigger than 50mb but is no longer updated. However, this fansite I'm developing will hopefully be around some time, so I'm not sure how much that is going to take. Therefore, after adding it up and giving some leeway, I think at least 500mb should do it...

So basically, I'm looking for some advice and suggestions. I have looked at previous topics in here, and looked at a few hosting sites already.

Some one on a forum has offered me the space for £6 and the domain for £5 - they say they bought all the space from a reseller but I'm not sure how it's all going to work and if it'd be safe.

By the way, I don't want to be paying too much, as nobody does....

http://www.catalyst2.com/services/hosting/linux/index.asp

One of the best providers in the UK, I know the admin and owner very well.

Very reliable and the service is second to none.

Joel

34sp.com are quite good too.

For storing pictures etc have you thought about using something like photobucket? Especially if it's just for posting on forums, it's ideal and you don't have to worry about the disk space or bandwidth.

ive used web-mania.com for the past 2 years. £23 a year for 500mb and 6gb a month.

had about 2 hours down time in total

Have a look at us a www.glasstop.net

or send me an e-mail about what your after, Have had quite a bit of intrest from Sheffield people

Steven Battams
www.glasstop.net

I use GoDaddy for my hosting and domain name.

For about £5 a month I get 2Gig space and 100gig/month bandwidth which is huge. Also unlimited Access, 10 MySQL and 1 MSSql DB.

Downside is they are based in the states so support could be an issue if you need it.

Thanks a lot for your replies - there's a couple I'm considering.

One other question - is it better to go for Linux hosting over Windows?

Originally posted by gemma86
Thanks a lot for your replies - there's a couple I'm considering.

One other question - is it better to go for Linux hosting over Windows?

Depends what your hosting, for PHP/MySQL stuff linux, for ASP ASP.NET and MsSQL Windows. If its just plain old html, I'd go Linux, its much more reliable, and configurable.

Joel

On what http://www.catalyst2.com/services/hosting/linux/power.asp does this mean?
Domains Hosted 1
Domain Aliases Extra

And also, do you know how much downtime there has been on that website?

It means you can host one domain on that account, domain aliases are multiple domains pointing to the same site.

There has been very little downtime with Catalyst2, they are very reliable, and the admins are very quick to sort out any niggles before they become problems. All the machines are ultra reliable, and they have multiple peered connections so you wont loose connectivity. I know the owner (Paul) and Rob, one of the admins personally, and they are sound guys. They host a couple of high profile websites (I'm not allowed to name names unfortunatly).

Joel

Hmm, it's a toss up between that one and web-mania...

It's hard picking one since there's so many out there...

Thanks for all your advice! It's very much appreciated.

Gemma- If you want a reliable domain host, use a company that has a datacentre and 24/7 tech support..not "I know the admin and he's OK"...try fasthosts - been around years and hosting 1/2m domains. Control panel is second to none, and stats package cannot be beaten. They also have the flexibility to ad pretty much any feature imaginable to the package, so you dont have to go through the hell of transferring when you realise your host doesnt support a particular script or function you want..

Originally posted by TheManWhoCan
Gemma- If you want a reliable domain host, use a company that has a datacentre and 24/7 tech support..not "I know the admin and he's OK"...try fasthosts - been around years and hosting 1/2m domains. Control panel is second to none, and stats package cannot be beaten. They also have the flexibility to ad pretty much any feature imaginable to the package, so you dont have to go through the hell of transferring when you realise your host doesnt support a particular script or function you want..
Thanks. I know what you mean about the "I know the admin" thing - I was going on the price and they seemed pretty reasonable... I'll have a look at Fast Hosts too.
Thanks for the advice.

Originally posted by TheManWhoCan
Control panel is second to none, and stats package cannot be beaten.

The FastHosts Cp is garbage. Very limited (it was written many moons ago).

Go for a host that uses cPanel Helm or Plesk:thumbsup:

Originally posted by TheManWhoCan
Gemma- If you want a reliable domain host, use a company that has a datacentre and 24/7 tech support..not "I know the admin and he's OK"...try fasthosts - been around years and hosting 1/2m domains. Control panel is second to none, and stats package cannot be beaten. They also have the flexibility to ad pretty much any feature imaginable to the package, so you dont have to go through the hell of transferring when you realise your host doesnt support a particular script or function you want..

Cat2 are hosted in Telehouse Docklands, the same place where fasthosts have some of there equipment. Catalyst 2 has been around 5 1/2 years. They dont tend to have random unexplainable outages like fashosts, things dissapearing so you phone them and they deny any knowlage, and then all of a sudden it starts working again.

Catalyst2 use cPanel, on of THE best control panels you can get. And there are a selection of stats packages, rather than just one :thumbsup:

http://cpaneldemo.cpanel.net:2082/ for a demo of the control panel. User and password are both cpdemo

Joel

Steady on there fella - we're only giving advice here?

The world is full of people who offer discount hosting run by their mates, and is its never - repeat never - worth saving the extra few quid for. Surely you agree with that ?

FYI The Fasthosts Datacentre is near Gloucester.

Also, your CP link doesnt work, but it doesnt really matter, the point is about having a decent CP, which you have made.

But I dont understand why the hell you would want a choice of different stats packages? The FH one covers every conceivable angle, in any date range, and is all exportable to print or email. I use this for around 40 domains and actually cannot think of any other posibble report I would want from it...

Originally posted by TheManWhoCan
Steady on there fella - we're only giving advice here?

The world is full of people who offer discount hosting run by their mates, and is its never - repeat never - worth saving the extra few quid for. Surely you agree with that ?

FYI The Fasthosts Datacentre is near Gloucester.

Also, your CP link doesnt work, but it doesnt really matter, the point is about having a decent CP, which you have made.

But I dont understand why the hell you would want a choice of different stats packages? The FH one covers every conceivable angle, in any date range, and is all exportable to print or email. I use this for around 40 domains and actually cannot think of any other posibble report I would want from it...

I quite agree, but "run by my mates" yes, but thats only a turn of fate that i know them, no discount, no mates rates, I just reccomened them because i know they are rock solid.

The main FH is near Gloucester, I was just pointing out they have equipment in TH, same as catalyst2. With the stats packages, Its nice to have choice, in all essence. There are a lot of small Ltd hosting companies such as Catalyst2 that can compete with the big boys.

Also, check out www.hosting-unlimited.net Reasonable packages on there :)

Joel

Thanks for all your advice.
I'm now decently hosted and everything is finally up and running in one place!

Try 1and1.
I have had no problems.

Kev

Originally posted by chuckie
Try 1and1.
I have had no problems.

Kev
But I've had problems with them before so I was reluctant to go back. Thanks though, I'm all sorted now anyway