WEB-230 Implementing Web Servers

Web Hosting Exercise

As individuals, research the service offerings of a major Web Hosting Service and report to the class your findings. You are looking for a hosting company with 24/7 customer service and features that are compatible with your business needs.

Your considerations should include, but not be limited to:

Platform
Web Service Software
Server-side Technology
Database
Disk Space
Bandwidth/Month
Control Panel
Email Accounts
Mailing List Software
Ecommerce/Shopping Cart
SSL (Secure Server)
Site Statistics
Redundant Connectivity
Security - Data Center (Example: CrystalTech)
24/7 Customer Service - both 800 and Email
Customer Service Tracking System

Smoke Grinders, Inc.

You have just been hired as webmaster for Smoke Grinders, Inc., a company that manufactures and sells specialty products directly to customers. Smoke Grinders wants to start promoting it's products on the Web and will eventually plans to sell online.

It will be your job to work with the marketing department to design and deploy the new Website. From an IT perspective, you'll basically be a "one-man band" with very little technical support.

After much thought and planning, you have determined that the site will consist of approximately 50 pages and will be database-driven.

After much thought, you have decide to use the following type of hosting, platform, Web server, database, and server-side technology.

	Technology Package
	A	B	C	D	E
Platform	Unix	Linux	Windows	Windows	MAC
Web Server	Apache	Apache	IIS 6 or 7	IIS 6 or 7	Apache or WebSTAR
Database	MySql 5.0	MySql 5.0	MySQL or SQL Server	MySQL or SQL Server	Filemaker Pro
Server-side Technologies	PHP	PHP	ASP/ASP.net	Coldfusion	PHP

Requirements

Find a Web host that will be able to meet Smoke Grinders requirements. Be sure the hosting service can support your database and server-side technology. Also take into account other factors such as:

Internet Connectivity - does the hosting service have redundant connections so that if one backbone fails your site will still work?
Control Panel - does the service provide a robust control panel or other interface that will make it easy for you to manage your Web site?
Technical Support - does the hosting company offer technical support and is it readily available?
Ability to Upgrade - can you upgrade your hosting package to handle increased traffic, more Web pages, a Microsoft SQL Server database?
Backups and Security - how often does the service backup data and how do they handle security?
Cost - Is the price of the service competitive?

After considering these factors, summarize your findings and create a PowerPoint presentation for class containing at least ten (10) slides seven (7) of which contain significant content.

the name of the hosting service
the URL of the package
the technology package you were assigned
how the hosting service fulfills your requirements. Be sure to discuss each of your considerations (see the list above)
the cost of the hosting service
your major reason(s) for choosing this service

Final Instructions

Send me an electronic copy of your work

Be sure to include your the names of each of your team members

Be sure to send a cc of the submittal to yourself. If you don't receive your copy then I probably will not receive a copy either.

Finally, be sure to save your work in case it becomes lost or is corrupted during transmission. If there is a problem, I will request a copy of your backup.

Grading Criteria

Selection of an appropriate hosting package that meets your Technology Package
The completeness of your research and presentation
The quality of your presentation

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