hosting - worst case scenario what can happen?

[Makaveli2007]

I heard dreamhost was a good hosting provider for people like myself (beginners).

However ive heard i should to SMALL hosting companies...

now im wondering: whats the worst thing that could happen? Can I just save all my data to my harddrive (i bought another one, a portable one, too) and in case the hosting company turns out to be extremely bad could i simply switch to another host without having any problems (other than blowing around 96 euros for 1 year of hosting)? I mean any big problems?

a good registrar (or multiple ones) and DNS seem to be the only things, that can cause HUGE problems if you dont have them..? or are there like really bad problems that could happen if u choose the wrong host, too other than blowing the money?

Any suggestions other than dreamhost?

[Corey Bryant]

Just make sure you have all your files backed up to your computer - which most people do. If you use a database, back that up as well. Most hosting companies host your site - backups can be extra or to restore the site can be extra.

Usually it is better to use aa registrar, like Directi / Godaddy so you have control completely on your DNS.

TechEvolution is a hosting company that I would recommend

-Corey

[Matt Probert]

Over at Usenet, alt.www.webmaster, we hear numerous stories about what happens when a small host goes bust. Typically, the customer finds that their web site and email are unavailable, and they cannot contact the hosting company.

So, always keep a complete copy of your site and data locally ( a backup if you like), and have a contingency plan.

Use a separate company for DNS, then at least you can switch hosts and update your DNS records to point to the new computer, should the worse happen.

My advice is always to avoid small resellers, and go for established, larger companies. It costs more, but in business reliability is important.

Matt

[Makaveli2007]

yes yes I know i should keep hosting and registrar aside and also dns + registrar (havent read up on that yet and some ppl told me I didnt have to do that really..from SEO circles which is what I want to do mostly, but as im an overly cautious person Ill probably take extra DNS anyways ;)).

My question was just that..well..can anything REALLY bad happen to me with a host? As they dont have control over my domain name or DNS (if i choose them seperate) and I plan on keeping a copy on my harddrive and on my portable hard drive anyways, the worst thing that can really happen to me if I choose the wrong host is, that I have to change hosting companies because they're down all the time or because of a dispute or whatever is possible...

but no matter what I cant have anything totally bad happening to me with a hosting company if I choose them to do nothing but host my sites? (whereas registrar or DNS problem could really mess me up...)

Is that right?

How do you guys like DreamHost?

[simey]

As far as worst case scenarios. I've read of sites being hacked due to bad/inept hosts, or being flagged as spam sites. (even though they didn't send any spam).

Just stuff I've read on forums, etc., not my own experience.

[piatkow]

In the innocent days when my site was hosted by my ISP their hosting servers just went down for a month once. I uploaded to a new location within hours but having an #*$!.isp.com sub domain created problems.

Now I keep email and hosting totally separate from my ISP although I have broken my own rules in using the same company to host both name and site.