Web Hosting - My number 1 enemy

Very simple question for some of you I'm sure

[MrPresident19]

My website at this point is theory though very exciting don't get me wrong.

My question is the differences between having someone host your website or hosting the website on your own hardware and internet connection. This has been a road block for me for some time now as I try to form a foundation for which I can build my site on.

I admit this question is probably a trivial one; I am an I.T. technician for a wonderful company, For some reason though any decisions or thoughts on this subject completely evade me.

Any advice, recommendations, pointers, tricks of the trade, shortcuts, Warnings or otherwise useful information on the matter would be greatly respected. Once I am well on my way I believe I will have much to contribute.

Regards,
MrPres

[vincevincevince]

Don't use your own connection. Unless you are rich of course! Far better to have your own hardware in a data center which offers co-location; or even just rent a server in a data center.

I've been trying to learn to handle a linux dedicated server for hosting for years now. I still consider myself at the beginner stages, as my various posts here will verify.

[Marshall]

Hello MrPresident19 and welcome to WebmasterWorld.

There are so many variables involved in hosting your own site: connection lines, security attacks, software updates, and so on and so on, like VVV said, unless you are rich, it is not worth it.

Marshall

[SEOMike]

I'm not "rich" but I host 4 servers in my basement. I use dedicated business class cable for my internet connection. The servers have their own account and I don't use it for my home internet. My connection is good enough for the low traffic boxes.

Keep in mind that as Marshall said, there are MANY factors to consider. Since you asked for a "simple" answer, here ya go.

I have three big enemies:
1. consistent power
2. consistent internet service
3. when I go out of town, there's nobody to take care of them

Both services go for months without a problem, but then for a couple of months there will be periodical outages. I'm getting a natural gas powered generator installed to augment my UPS.

I like having control of the hardware of my boxes. Allows me to make sure everything works the way I want it to work, and that the hardware is cleaned regularly.

Unless you have a lot of experience as a server admin and some tolerance for outages, I'd let someone else mess with it.

Oh, and by the way, welcome to WebmasterWorld!

[edited by: SEOMike at 4:36 pm (utc) on Oct. 24, 2007]

[MrPresident19]

Time + Money = A = B =C
A = The things everyone lacks
B = I am no exception to the law of the world
C = Most likely the two largest Variables in my Website equation

Based on replies, the direction I’m aiming to now is a web hosting company; the companies I am most likely to use = [After a Google search of “web hosting” the page containing a list of companies is on the first “Sponsored Link”]

Some of these companies offer 300GB storage and 3,000GB monthly transfer

Are these Valid?

Regards,
MrPres

[quintox]

Get hosting from somewhere else, there are place where you can get great hosting for as low as $6/YEAR. (No kidding, I use one)

[Philosopher]

Also realize that with hosting, you get what you pay for.

There are LOTS of extremely cheap hosting plans (I use many), but I never use them for an important site.

Most of the really cheap plans pack you onto a server with thousands of other sites. You will also generally be sharing an IP with many of not all of those sites (nothing "wrong" with this but it does have it's potential drawbacks).

Obviously, the more sites you put in a server, the less responsive the server is. For your basic site, that's not an issue, but if your site is going to be in any way, resource intensive, you may get some response times you are unhappy with.