• Welcome to Web Hosting Community Forum for Webmasters - Web hosting Forum.
 

Recommended Providers

Fully Managed WordPress Hosting
lc_banner_leadgen_3
Fully Managed WordPress Hosting

WordPress Theme

Divi WordPress Theme
WPZOOM

Forum Membership

Forum Membership

Setting Up Your Own Hosting Company

Started by Tech, August 30, 2007, 01:56:20 AM

Tech

There are four things to consider for starting a own hosting:
1) Hardware and software tools.
2) Hosting a server.
3) Bandwidth Transfer.
4) Mail Server.

Familiarity with the latest Hardware, software and platforms:

It is very important to be familiar with the hardware and software that needs to be installed on the servers. For example IIS when using Windows 2003 server is something we will need to be very familiar with, if we are going to be hosting sites on a Windows Server. In terms of Linux, this is a bit more complicated. A strong command and knowledge of SSH (Secure Shell Security) is needed. Then a strong background in Telnet Commands, then the knowledge in Networks and Security side such as routing, Firewall(IPS, IDS), Antivirus.

Software:

Web server: IIS for windows 2003, Apache for Linux. Database: MSSQL server for win 2003, MYSQL for Linux. Control panel software – It is very necessary to administrating their hosting space such as Cpanel, plesk, Ensim which offers a program called Web Host Manager. Billing Software - It's very necessary to have billing software installed on our web hosting website so that our clients may place their order and renew it on time. Some of the popular billing scripts are Accounts, Modernbill, Clientexec, Whmautopilot, etc. Payment gateway - Accepting online payments is must for any hosting company. we should signup for an merchant account so that you accept online payments. Some of the popular payments gateways are 2checkout, Ccavenue, Authorise.net, Worldpay etc

Purchasing of Servers (collocation) / leasing of Servers (dedicated)

Office / Data Center Space

after purchase of servers, we'll need office space or a Data Center to house these servers. If we choose in our office space, need to feed separate 100Mbps Bandwidth from High Bandwidth Providers. Some companies that offer bandwidth are: Verio.com, Cogentco.com and Twtelecom.com for cheaper bandwidth you can use. Otherwise we have to host our server in Data Centers. Data Centers are also offering two types of service,

1) Colocation is used to mean the provision of space for a customer's telecommunications or computer equipment at the service provider's premises. For example, a Web site owner could place the site's own computer servers on the premises of the Internet service provider (ISP). Or an ISP could place its network routers on the premises of the company offering switching services with other ISPs. Businesses often colocate their equipment with a service provider in order to take advantage of higher bandwidth availability and backup power.

2) Dedicated Server, offerings from companies such as Eservers.biz, Rackspace.com, Cyberworldservers.com just to name a few. Each of those companies will allow you to lease a server on their connection, set a specified amount of bandwidth, and allow you to host your client's websites on the server you lease from them.

Note:
Running from Home: Although we'll have more control over our servers, keeping them in our garage is really NOT recommended, unless we can ensure, among other things: uninterrupted power; climate control; security; and decent network connection.

Colocation: Your hardware is kept in a data center where you have 24/7 physical access and the data center merely provides electric and fast connection to the internet. Advantages are very flexible; you can build your own servers and determine how network is set up; easy set-up of a private network or a firewall; offers you free reign over hardware configuration and Disadvantages are expensive; you're responsible for your own hardware (repairs and replacements)

Dedicated: if we rent: The data server owns the hardware and rents it to us. Advantages are they're responsible for the hardware, software, security issues; faster repair times in case of hardware problem. Disadvantages are must depend on Web Host Provider; If Data Transfer Allowance is exceeded, a financial Penalty is assessed.

Bandwidth Transfer:
Bandwidth is the amount of data transfer that you are allowed to have for a hosting package. For example, Size of web Page: 48 KB Number of users who viewed the web page: 100 per day Total amount of data transferred: 48KB * 100 = 4800 KB per day Total amount of bandwidth required: 4800KB * 30 = 144000KB (144 MB) per month Bandwidth is the term that is used to denote the amount of data that has been transferred from your web space. The amount of bandwidth that you require while choosing a host depends on two factors: > The size of your site. > The popularity of your site. For our hosing we have to prefer Limited Bandwidth like 10-100 GB (metered) first and the go for Unlimited (Unmetered). Email system: Thing to consider in mail server
1) Perfect mail setup with virus filtering and spam protection.
2) Linux Mail server: Unlimited Mailboxes and Unlimited inbox Storage, Integrated anti-virus, anti-spam and firewall, Life time license free software.
3) Windows server: MS Exchange server / 3rd party Email systems – have to purchase a license, separate anti-virus, anti-spam and firewall.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lakshm ... Thangavelu

Akshay_M

Setting up your own web hosting company involves several steps, from infrastructure planning to marketing. Here's an overview of the process:

Research and Planning:

Understand the web hosting market, your target audience, and competition.
Decide on the types of hosting services you want to offer (shared, VPS, dedicated, cloud, etc.).
Determine your pricing structure and business model.
Legal and Business Setup:

Register your business, choose a suitable business structure (sole proprietorship, LLC, etc.), and obtain any necessary licenses.
Consider legal agreements, such as terms of service and privacy policies.
Infrastructure and Technology:

Choose reliable data centers or server providers for hosting infrastructure.
Decide on the type of server hardware and software (cPanel, Plesk, custom control panel).
Set up server monitoring and security measures to protect customer data.
Website and Branding:

Create a professional website with detailed information about your hosting plans, features, and pricing.
Develop a strong brand identity, including a logo and design elements.
Billing and Payment:

Set up a billing system to manage customer accounts, invoices, and payments.
Integrate payment gateways to accept payments from customers.
Customer Support:

Provide excellent customer support through various channels (email, live chat, phone).
Create a knowledge base or help center to assist customers with common issues.
Automation and Control Panels:

Integrate automation tools to streamline account setup, management, and billing.
Choose a control panel (cPanel, Plesk, etc.) for customers to manage their hosting accounts.
Security and Backups:

Implement robust security measures, including firewalls, intrusion detection, and SSL certificates.
Set up regular backups of customer data to ensure data recovery in case of emergencies.
Marketing and Sales:

Develop a marketing strategy to attract customers. This might include SEO, content marketing, social media, and advertising.
Offer promotions or discounts to attract initial customers.
Consider offering value-added services such as website building or domain registration.
Scaling and Growth:

As your customer base grows, ensure that your infrastructure can handle increased demand.
Continuously monitor and optimize server performance.
Consider expanding your service offerings or entering new markets.
Compliance and Security:

Stay compliant with data protection and privacy regulations, such as GDPR.
Keep your hosting environment secure with regular updates and security audits.
Remember that starting a web hosting company requires a significant investment in terms of time, resources, and technical expertise. You should have a strong understanding of server administration, security, and customer support to provide a reliable service. Consider seeking advice from professionals in the industry or partnering with experts if needed.