I'm new to asp.net and just finished writing my site. I just want to share my experience with you guys. I'm just a hobbyist trying to gain experience with asp.net, and I must say that I really like programming in asp.net, it is a great language to program
in (especially in c#), but the finding a cheap hosting solution is a nightmare. For example on my site I would like to run scheduled tasks, I gave up as almost no hosting company offers the support. Next I wanted to use URL rewriting, lo and behold I'm screwed
again, as you need to have direct access to IIS 6.0 to do some isapi mapping. Most of my site relies on using an open source url rewriter module, so I am now limited to hosts that run IIS 7.0, as it supports extensionless rewriting. I made the mistake of using
a SQL Server 2005 database, most of my site has stored procedures written in it, and I also use specific xml related features in SQL Server 2005 like query.modify, query.replace, etc... The vast majority of hosts out there charge double the price for a SQL
Server 2005 database with a lousy 300MB, even though it is more then I would use, it seems like a rip off.
The cheapest shared host that I could find that offers most of the above is $20 a month at discountasp.net... It just seems ridiculous to spend $20 a month for shared hosting, I think you could get a VPS on a PHP hosting site for that price and a lot more.
I'll probably end up going with them after I download windows 2008 server, so I can properly test out my site, since IIS 5.1 on WinXP doesn't cut it. I really hope asp.net shared hosting packages improve in the future, because at the moment they don't hold
a candle to PHP hosting packages. At least install useful third party components, no one needs 20 components to email, or stupid tree view components. If you don't know what components to add go copy a $3 a month PHP hosting package, they usually have everything
you need and more.
I totally agree with your comments. ASP.NET hosting sucks at best and has a long way to catch up. It seems like the hosters do not have a clue as to what is needed to host a real world SEO friendly site. I'm in the same boat as you are every host I talk to
has some or the other limitation. This is very bad for asp.net developers and Microsoft. With all the open source and freebies, Hobbiests will move to PHP/MySQL...Too bad!
I really wish we could sit down and discuss this, over Espresso maybe. [;)]
Personally...I value everything discountasp.net offers in their shared accounts.
Having created a lot of information services on SQL Server I don't see what the problem is with the default allotment.
As an example, the entire world's employee records for one large company is 30MB on SQL Server.
We could hash this out forever but spend some time with SQL Server optimization and you'll love it.
In all honesty I don't think it's reasonable to expect a host to offer dirt-cheap prices, would be suspicious at best if they did.
By the way, most of us pay more each month for Pizza, or Internet access. [;)]
> I'm just a hobbyist trying to gain experience with asp.net
> ... The vast majority of hosts out there charge double the price for a SQL Server 2005 database with a lousy 300MB
[:D] If you are just a hobbyist trying to gain experience you do not need more than 300 MB for SQL, do you? But if you need more, there are hosting providers that offer more at a fair price. For example, 1000 MB at $10/month at
www.dotnetpark.com
P.S. It is easy to offer cheap PHP/mySQL hosting. Web hosting provider can install free Linux, free mySQL, free PHP. Windows hosting provider must pay for Windows and for MS SQL. Also ASP.NET sites (and IIS pools) need more RAM.
...
If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breathe a word about your loss;
...
Keep in mind that you are always free to choose not to use ASP.NET. If costs are a major issue, then perhaps developing LAMP apps is the way to go. It works for hundreds of thousands of other developers, you might look into it.
Moreover, I'm using both PHP and ASP.NET. They are both good. And the price is never the reason to choose one of them.
By the way, Microsoft made FastCGI to make PHP running faster with IIS recently. So, Microsoft guys do think about PHP and want it to be good with Windows hosting.
...
If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breathe a word about your loss;
...
Like I said, I don't even need 300MB or 100MB, just a fraction of that, my gripe is the cost of that measly add on. Ten dollars extra for a measly 300MB SQL Server 2005 space, come on that is hard to justify; I'd be happier with a 20MB add-on for an extra
dollar a month. The other issue is with finding shared hosts with the combination (key word) of installed components required to run sites. For example how many hosts out there offer
- Windows Server 2008 (or IIS 6.0 with isapi rewrite)
- SQL Server 2005
- Scheduled tasks
- Database management system to restore and backup databases
- stats programs
I think the only one I could find was discountasp. If someone out there knows of a service offering those five things for less than $20 dollars a month please post a link to that hosting company. A dedicated IP address wold be nice, I have seen some hosts
offer that for an extra $15 a year. For PHP I would use a Linux server just because it is so much cheaper and you get so much more.
PS. I'm not targeting any specific hosting companies, they all fall under the sad state category.
dotnetpark.com offers this. Not Win2008, but IIS + ISAPI rewrite. MS SQL is included. Backup, restore, stats...
...
If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breathe a word about your loss;
...
Thanks, for the recommendations. After a week I now have a total of three hosts that meet my requirements. Slim pickings, but at least there are a few more options.
I'll save some other people some time and list them, I'm sure there are many more people out there looking for shared hosts that actually provide the basics. Now if I could get a bargain (under $10) a month, i'll be a happy camper.
Looks like you forgot to look at one more place ;-). But I will agree that Windows based hosting is a bit more expensive basically due to licensing costs. Windows Server + SQL Server do cost money to purchase and maintain where Linux / MySQL is absolutely
free....
gannina2
Member
10 Points
43 Posts
The sad state of shared hosting in asp.net
Mar 12, 2008 12:30 AM|LINK
I'm new to asp.net and just finished writing my site. I just want to share my experience with you guys. I'm just a hobbyist trying to gain experience with asp.net, and I must say that I really like programming in asp.net, it is a great language to program in (especially in c#), but the finding a cheap hosting solution is a nightmare. For example on my site I would like to run scheduled tasks, I gave up as almost no hosting company offers the support. Next I wanted to use URL rewriting, lo and behold I'm screwed again, as you need to have direct access to IIS 6.0 to do some isapi mapping. Most of my site relies on using an open source url rewriter module, so I am now limited to hosts that run IIS 7.0, as it supports extensionless rewriting. I made the mistake of using a SQL Server 2005 database, most of my site has stored procedures written in it, and I also use specific xml related features in SQL Server 2005 like query.modify, query.replace, etc... The vast majority of hosts out there charge double the price for a SQL Server 2005 database with a lousy 300MB, even though it is more then I would use, it seems like a rip off.
The cheapest shared host that I could find that offers most of the above is $20 a month at discountasp.net... It just seems ridiculous to spend $20 a month for shared hosting, I think you could get a VPS on a PHP hosting site for that price and a lot more. I'll probably end up going with them after I download windows 2008 server, so I can properly test out my site, since IIS 5.1 on WinXP doesn't cut it. I really hope asp.net shared hosting packages improve in the future, because at the moment they don't hold a candle to PHP hosting packages. At least install useful third party components, no one needs 20 components to email, or stupid tree view components. If you don't know what components to add go copy a $3 a month PHP hosting package, they usually have everything you need and more.
csgirish
Member
8 Points
7 Posts
Re: The sad state of shared hosting in asp.net
Mar 12, 2008 04:15 AM|LINK
wisecarver
Participant
1169 Points
375 Posts
Re: The sad state of shared hosting in asp.net
Mar 12, 2008 02:47 PM|LINK
I really wish we could sit down and discuss this, over Espresso maybe. [;)]
Personally...I value everything discountasp.net offers in their shared accounts.
Having created a lot of information services on SQL Server I don't see what the problem is with the default allotment.
As an example, the entire world's employee records for one large company is 30MB on SQL Server.
We could hash this out forever but spend some time with SQL Server optimization and you'll love it.
In all honesty I don't think it's reasonable to expect a host to offer dirt-cheap prices, would be suspicious at best if they did.
By the way, most of us pay more each month for Pizza, or Internet access. [;)]
Enroth
Member
729 Points
224 Posts
Re: The sad state of shared hosting in asp.net
Mar 12, 2008 03:26 PM|LINK
> I'm just a hobbyist trying to gain experience with asp.net
> ... The vast majority of hosts out there charge double the price for a SQL Server 2005 database with a lousy 300MB
[:D] If you are just a hobbyist trying to gain experience you do not need more than 300 MB for SQL, do you? But if you need more, there are hosting providers that offer more at a fair price. For example, 1000 MB at $10/month at www.dotnetpark.com
P.S. It is easy to offer cheap PHP/mySQL hosting. Web hosting provider can install free Linux, free mySQL, free PHP. Windows hosting provider must pay for Windows and for MS SQL. Also ASP.NET sites (and IIS pools) need more RAM.
If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breathe a word about your loss;
...
jeff@zina.co...
All-Star
87677 Points
11637 Posts
Moderator
Re: The sad state of shared hosting in asp.net
Mar 12, 2008 06:51 PM|LINK
Keep in mind that you are always free to choose not to use ASP.NET. If costs are a major issue, then perhaps developing LAMP apps is the way to go. It works for hundreds of thousands of other developers, you might look into it.
Jeff
Enroth
Member
729 Points
224 Posts
Re: The sad state of shared hosting in asp.net
Mar 12, 2008 07:01 PM|LINK
Moreover, I'm using both PHP and ASP.NET. They are both good. And the price is never the reason to choose one of them.
By the way, Microsoft made FastCGI to make PHP running faster with IIS recently. So, Microsoft guys do think about PHP and want it to be good with Windows hosting.
If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breathe a word about your loss;
...
gannina2
Member
10 Points
43 Posts
Re: The sad state of shared hosting in asp.net
Mar 12, 2008 08:14 PM|LINK
Like I said, I don't even need 300MB or 100MB, just a fraction of that, my gripe is the cost of that measly add on. Ten dollars extra for a measly 300MB SQL Server 2005 space, come on that is hard to justify; I'd be happier with a 20MB add-on for an extra dollar a month. The other issue is with finding shared hosts with the combination (key word) of installed components required to run sites. For example how many hosts out there offer
- Windows Server 2008 (or IIS 6.0 with isapi rewrite)
- SQL Server 2005
- Scheduled tasks
- Database management system to restore and backup databases
- stats programs
I think the only one I could find was discountasp. If someone out there knows of a service offering those five things for less than $20 dollars a month please post a link to that hosting company. A dedicated IP address wold be nice, I have seen some hosts offer that for an extra $15 a year. For PHP I would use a Linux server just because it is so much cheaper and you get so much more.
PS. I'm not targeting any specific hosting companies, they all fall under the sad state category.
Enroth
Member
729 Points
224 Posts
Re: The sad state of shared hosting in asp.net
Mar 12, 2008 08:31 PM|LINK
dotnetpark.com offers this. Not Win2008, but IIS + ISAPI rewrite. MS SQL is included. Backup, restore, stats...
If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breathe a word about your loss;
...
gannina2
Member
10 Points
43 Posts
Re: The sad state of shared hosting in asp.net
Mar 12, 2008 11:41 PM|LINK
Thanks, for the recommendations. After a week I now have a total of three hosts that meet my requirements. Slim pickings, but at least there are a few more options.
I'll save some other people some time and list them, I'm sure there are many more people out there looking for shared hosts that actually provide the basics. Now if I could get a bargain (under $10) a month, i'll be a happy camper.
discountasp
dotnetpark
GoDevs
MrRadic
Member
303 Points
142 Posts
Re: The sad state of shared hosting in asp.net
Mar 14, 2008 02:29 AM|LINK
Looks like you forgot to look at one more place ;-). But I will agree that Windows based hosting is a bit more expensive basically due to licensing costs. Windows Server + SQL Server do cost money to purchase and maintain where Linux / MySQL is absolutely free....