Custom Web Applications? Check Your Host First

Monday, May 12th, 2008

I’ve gone through experiences recently with certain web hosts that reminded me that making assumptions when it comes to host+software compatibility is a big, big mistake.

What had happened was that I had read the software requirements before purchasing a custom web applications (think something along the lines of a forum, or newsletter software) and knew that the host met these requirements. Little did I know that the hosting company had some settings turned off and on in the background that could affect the software I just paid $200+ for.

With a few carefully placed questions (in writing), you can save yourself a lot of time and energy. You’d also have a string of communications that could help you get your money back in the event that it turned out the host lied about their capabilities.

What To Ask The Software Developer

Will this run on a default installation of Apache/PHP/IIS/ASP/ASP.NET etc.?
Which hosting provider do you recommend for your software?
Does the host require 3rd party software to be installed on the server box itself? This will affect you if you’re using a shared hosting package instead of a dedicated server.

What To Ask The Host

Have you altered the server variables that would in any way require work-arounds on the part of the developer?
Are you running something other than a Linux or Windows environment? Something like a hybrid?
Have you had any customers mention that they’ve wanted to install the XXXXXXXX software package?
What versions of ASP.NET/PHP/etc. do you have installed?
Have default installations/configurations been altered? (Eg. Have the trust levels for ASP.NET been adjusted?)

Hope that helps.