Web hosting from High Desert Internet

Web hosting is the computer that holds your website and sends it to visitors. Hosting is one of the services High Desert lists beside internet access. This page says what the company states about it and what to ask before you move a site.

What does the company say about its hosting?

The company describes IPv6 web hosting solutions, with a choice of Windows or Linux so a customer can pick the flavor of server that suits the site. It says it keeps the service quick by not congesting servers with 300 or more sites each. Those are its words, and no other figures are published, so we state none. The glossary entries on web hosting and IPv6 explain the terms.

Windows or Linux: which do I need?

It depends on how the site was built. Many small business sites, including WordPress, run well on Linux. Sites built with Microsoft tools, like ASP.NET, need Windows. If you are not sure, ask whoever built the site, or ask us and describe what you have. The guide on website hosting basics for a Nevada business explains the difference in plain words.

What should I ask before I move a site?

Ask about price, how many sites or email accounts an account includes, how backups work, how to get a certificate for https, how support is handled and what happens if you leave. Nothing about these is published, so get the answers in writing by emailing info@hdiss.net. Read moving a website to a new host for the steps and SSL certificates in plain words for the padlock.

What does the service agreement say?

It notes that a customer's site may share a server with the sites of other customers, and that shared use can affect speed of access and the number of visitors at once. It says the customer's site is maintained on a server the company deems adequate. It also says the company does not provide security systems or firewalls for a customer's website, so keeping the site's own software updated is the owner's job. See the service agreement.

Do I need High Desert internet to host with it?

Ask. The company lists hosting and email beside its internet service, and whether hosting is open to new customers on its own is something to confirm with the office. We do not guess. Call 775-575-9593, 9 to 5 every day, or write info@hdiss.net.

What will I need for the site itself?

A domain name you control, the site's files and a way to copy them, and the current email setup if your mail uses the same domain. Read DNS records for your domain before changing anything, because a wrong record can stop email as well as the site. For the domain itself, see domain registration.

What about accessibility and safety?

A site that everyone can use is a better site, and it is easier to keep that way from the start. Website accessibility basics is a short checklist. For safety, remember that scam emails often pretend to be from a hosting company; see spotting phishing from your provider.

How do I keep my site safe?

Keep the site's software and plugins up to date, use strong and different passwords, switch on two-step verification where it is offered and keep a copy of the site somewhere else. Two-step verification and back up family photos and files show the habits in plain words.

What about email on my own domain?

A site and its mail are separate services that share a domain. Ask whether mail on your domain is part of the hosting, and read email on your own domain. Our own customer mailboxes are described on the email page.

Can I try a site before I commit?

Ask. A trial or a test site is not described in anything the company publishes, so we make no promise. A good way to test any host is to move a small, low-stakes site first, watch it for a few weeks and only then move the main one.

Is this the right choice for an online shop?

Possibly, but that is a conversation, not something we can promise from a page. An online store has payment, security and backup needs of its own. Ask what the hosting includes, and compare it with what your shop software recommends.