Once a website is finished and ready for viewing, the next question many people have is, "Where do I put it?"

There is no *one* correct answer to this question - the 'perfect' solution depends on your needs, budget and preferences.  Some customers use free webspace that their Internet Service Provider offers.  Some choose to pay monthly fees to rent space on a virtual internet server.  And, some clients buy and maintain their own internet server.  There are numerous options.

Regardless of your choice, you need to take two things into consideration:

• Your website must be accessible 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.  It must be located on a computer that is constantly connected to the internet.
• Your website must be located on a secure, monitored computer system that is capable of handling internet traffic.  The computer must have a fast connection, and adequate hardware and software that has been designed specifically for internet use.

Placing a website on a regular desktop system isn't advisable in most cases - the connection may not be fast enough, and the software may not be adequate.  If you do not have a continuous connection, your website would not be accessible to the general public if you're not connected.  Although some people do have the capability and resources to run their own 'desktop server', they are the exception, not the rule.

Purchasing a server for private use could be somewhat cost-prohibitive for small to medium-sized businesses.  A 'bare-bones' server may be aquired for less than $1000.00, but the cost of software, ongoing technical support and a high-speed connection could increase operating costs exponentially.  Although many people believe that having a constant DSL connection is sufficient, that is normally not the case, unless there is a low amount of traffic.  Cable access is also not recommended because it is shared, and the data flow is not always constant - if many people are logged into the cable connection, the speed for each user will decrease; your customers would have to wait much longer to download a normal page.  The rule of thumb is that you would need a T1 connection, or higher, to run your own server.  The 'HowStuffWorks' website has a good primer on high-speed connections.  And, as the article points out, leasing a T1 line could cost $1000.00 per month, or more (also, please keep in mind that those figures are quoted in $US!)  You would need to administer your own server, monitor it constantly (in the event a problem should arise), address security issues, and perform regular backups.

Server co-location is another option.  This means that you purchase the server and pay for any equipment upgrades, but you lease space at a datacenter, and store the server there, utilizing their resources.  Depending on the datacenter, they may or may not administer the server (e.g. install software or hardware upgrades).  They will provide the high-speed connection, and they will also monitor your server, to ensure that it does not 'go down', or lose connectivity.  Most also provide backup services (e.g. They will back up the contents of your server - in the event of a server 'crash', your data would be restored from a backup).  In addition to the initial cost to purchase the server, you would pay an additional cost per month for the co-location service; on average, the monthly co-location fees range from $100 for a minimum package, to several hundred dollars for a higher-end package.

Many Internet Service Providers (ISPs) offer web space with their dial-up, cable or DSL connectivity accounts - you may automatically get a certain portion of space included in the cost of your access account.  Typically, they would provide several MB of space, as well as a number of email addresses.  For many small businesses or individuals, this is the perfect solution, since there is no additional cost.  The downside to this is that you would lose that space if you change ISPs, you may not be able to use your own domain name, or the ISP may not give you the options you need (for example, many do not offer a private CGI directory, or MySQL databases).  For those who only need a basic three-page site and a handful of email addresses, these 'extra' options may not be required, and the basic, 'free' space is all you may need.

Some people choose 'free' hosting, through any one of the many free webspace providers (e.g. Geocities, Tripod, Angelfire, etc.).  The limitations for this option would be the same as indicated above, with an additional factor - most free webspace providers pay for their services by forcing advertising banners or pop-up ads to appear when any website is accessed.  Unfortunately, these unwanted ads are necessary on the webspace provider's behalf, since they must pay for their own services somehow.  Most people find them annoying, and if you have a business website, they detract from the overall professional appearance of the site.  And, if your site suddenly becomes very popular, you might exceed your data transfer usage (usually measured in gigabytes, or GB), and the free provider would 'disable' your site until the following month, usually with no advance warning.  There is nothing more unprofessional than having a customer log into a business site, only to find out that it's 'temporarily down' for excessive use of resources!

Many businesses and individuals find 'virtual hosting' to be their most cost-effective option.  In a nutshell, virtual hosting entails renting a portion of space on a server that is shared between many businesses or individuals.  This server is owned by a company who specializes in this area; they will provide the equipment, software, technical support and high-speed connection, and you pay a mere fraction of the cost.  You would be able to use your own domain name, and you would get the options you need.  Monthly virtual hosting costs vary - a small hosting package, for a basic site could cost less than $20 per month, whereas a higher-end package (for very large, interactive sites), could cost over $100 per month.  You would be responsible for uploading and updating your site, and the hosting company would take care of the rest.

NBSL offers customized virtual hosting packages, starting at $17.95 per month.  We would be happy to discuss our hosting packages and options with you.  In the event that you do not choose to host your site with us, we will still help you find a 'home' for your website - we are here to answer your questions, and to help you find the right solution to fit your needs - this consultation service is provided free of charge; our responsibility does not end upon the completion of your site.

For more information on hosting options and services, please contact us!.

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