Common Web Hosting FAQs


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Q. Why is Windows Server better than Unix/Apache for FrontPage 2003 sites?
A. ** IMPORTANT ** All FrontPage 2003 Functions Do Not Work on Unix/Apache
Microsoft has continued to make investments in FrontPage 2003 to enhance the overall customer experience, based on customer feedback and the changing role of server extensions in our overall product offerings. As we examined our options, it became clear that the best solution was to create a new and radically more powerful server story—Windows SharePoint™ Services—and eliminate the need for server extensions beginning with FrontPage 2003. Today, the optimal combination for FrontPage is to use FrontPage 2003 in combination with Windows SharePoint Services. This allows you to access the entire set of new functionality in FrontPage 2003, along with improvement to the way you did things in FrontPage 2002 and other previous versions of FrontPage. For more information about these changes, see FrontPage server configuration options and features.


Q. What is web hosting?
A. A web hosting company, such as FWHN, sells server space and web services to companies and individuals who wish to present a web or e-commerce presence but do not wish to maintain their own servers. Cost structures are determined by the amount and complexity of services offered such as SQL databases, shopping carts, web storage space and email accounts. A domain name is associated with the web site located on one of the web hosting company's web servers. Then, anyone in the world can type the domain name into a web browser (i.e. MS Internet Explorer, Netscape) to view the contents of that web site. For more details, read our 7 Steps to a Web Site.


Q. Is your free 30 day hosting trial really free?
A.Yes. If you cancel before the 30 day trial ends, you will not be charged any hosting fees - not even a hosting setup fee. You only pay for any other services you may have ordered, such as, but not limited to, domain name registration, SSL certificate and shopping cart software. See the hosting plans that have the free trial.


Q. What makes you different from other Web hosting companies including the mega providers?
A. The biggest difference, which blows our customers away the first time they call, is that they get an actual person on the phone. You won’t find a web host with better service. Emails are responded to within hours, not days. We have a friendly, highly qualified staff. Give us a try. We promise you won’t be disappointed. Our growing list of very satisfied customers is your best evidence. Our most effective advertising is word of mouth by our happy customers. We appreciate you spreading the word!


Q. Are you really FrontPage experts?
A. Absolutely.  We’ve been hosting and designing FrontPage sites since 1997. We’ve designed and hosted hundreds of FrontPage sites. In fact, 98% of our clients are FrontPage sites. We have worked closely with Microsoft on every release of FrontPage and have even given them feedback on improvements our clients and we would like to see. We are a Microsoft Certified Solution Provider (MCSP) and Registered Web Presence Provider (WPP) for FrontPage. We have Microsoft Certified Professionals (MCP) and Microsoft Certified Systems Engineers (MCSE) on staff ready to help you with any FrontPage, Webserver, Mailserver, Database or network issues.


Q. How long does it take to get a site set up?
A. If you place your order before 2 pm (CST, M-F, excluding holidays) your site will be set up the same day for publishing, if it doesn't require complex configurations. Domain name transfers and registrations vary (more info).
Complex configurations will take additional time, such as, but not limited to, Web hosting plans utilizing MS SQL Server (approx. 48 hour turnaround), Streaming Media (up to 7 days) and List Server. Other products and services that take additional time include MOSS, Dedicated Servers, SSL certificates and SEO Audit— these may take up to a week or two for complete setup and configuration.


Q. Can you publish my site for me because I have a slow Internet connection?
A. Yes. You can send us your Web site on a CD-R and we can publish it for $75.00 (certain limitations apply). We do not accept other types of media, such as floppy disks.


Q. How do I pay for your hosting service?
A. We prefer credit card or direct debit card because these billing systems are automated and keep costs down. We pass the savings on to you. Paying by corporate check is possible BUT if the check arrives 1 day after your renewal date, the site will be shut down and you will be charged a reactivation fee to restart the site. An invoice is generated and mailed 30 days prior to your renewal date.


Q. How do I renew my hosting when my 12 or 24 month plan ends?
A.Your hosting will automatically be renewed and charged to your charge card. When you no longer want us to host your site, you will need to contact us.


Q. What is an IP address?
A. The Internet Protocol (IP) address is a numeric address, such as 123.231.32.2, that the domain name server translates into a domain name. An IP address can be compared to a street address for your domain name. After you place your order you will be emailed a dedicated IP address.


Q. How can I get more people to visit my site?
A. List your web site in all traditional advertising and communication vehicles. That is, business cards, letterhead, print advertising, bulk mailings, print advertising, promotions, etc…  It is also important to get listed and stay listed in the search engines since 90% of all people start their Web searches from a directory such as Yahoo, AOL or MSN.


Q. How do I get listed on search engines?
A. You can manually add your web site to all the search engines. Be aware that every time a competitor adds their site, your site is bumped down one place.Traffic to your site drops significantly once you are bumped off the first or second page of listings. It is also important for you to understand that it often takes the search engines months to visit all the sites submitted and add them to their directories.

If you don’t want to manually submit and resubmit your site, you can use our various Traffic Boost services to get you listed in the search engines and keep you listed.


Q.Can I have access to my raw log files?
A. Yes, by default they are placed in your W3SVC folder.


Q. Can I have my email forwarded to my MSN, AOL, etc… account?
A. Yes, this is simply a matter of a forward or redirect.


Q. I have AOL, I am trying to check my email and the password is rejected.
A. Leave your AOL connection live, open up Internet Explorer or Netscape and access it that way.


Q. Do you offer access to a cgi-bin?
A. Yes, however most of our clients don't need access to the cgi-bin.  Cgi-bin functions are built-in to FrontPage. No need to worry about it but here's more information on it... CGI (common gateway interface) scripts, which are typically written in the Perl language, is a legacy technology dating back to the beginnings of the Internet and Web. It is inefficient and is easier to break. It can also be difficult to work with for the less experienced Web developer.

For example, there is a special method to ftp CGI scripts, you need to run chmod on scripts, you must know if the server is using sendmail or SMTP, you must know the path for the sendmail or SMTP, you must know the location of Perl on the server and so on.

We recommend the use of Microsoft Active Server Pages (ASP), which is a server-side scripting environment that you can use to create and run dynamic, interactive Web server applications. With ASP, you can combine HTML pages, script commands, and COM components to create interactive Web pages or powerful Web-based applications, which are easy to develop and modify. ASP runs smoothly on Web servers running Microsoft Windows operating systems, such as those at FWHN, and runs faster than CGI.


Q. How many webpages or hits will my hosting plan accommodate?
A. Let's assume your sites' average webpage size is 100k (your mileage may vary). Let's assume your hosting plan has 10 MB of disk space and 2 GB of transfer. To compute # of webpages - divide disk space by average webpage size. 10,000,000 (10MB) divided by 100,000 (100k) equals 100 pages. To compute # of hits - divide transfer by average webpage size. 2,000,000,000 (2 GB) divided by 100,000 (100k) equals 20,000 hits.


Q. Why does my webmail timeout?
A.Webmail will timeout after 20 minutes of being connected. This is typical amongst numerous webmail solutions provided by other hosts and Internet Service Providers. The reason is that a connection uses up resources that could be better utilized if no one is checking mail. If you are composing a long email it is recommended to write it within a text editor and then copy/paste that into an email within webmail. Webmail is great for use when you are away from your home or office computer, however it is recommended that you use an email client program (i.e. Eudora, Outlook, Pegasus) to compose and send your emails.

This allows essentially unlimited storage of emails on your computer compared to a typical 10MB limit on the mail server through webmail. If you have opened any attachments through webmail, and your connection has timed out, your attachments will appear to have become corrupted, but it is just that you have lost the connection to the attachment and you can no longer view it.

It is best to save any trusted attachments to your computer and then view them from your computer instead of through webmail. Important: hackers and viruses are known to use email attachments to gain access and infect your computer.


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