If you’re a web developer, you might look for a web host who can supply the widest assortment of frameworks, languages, and scripting options possible. If you specialize in software development, you may look for hosting that offers that specialty on a server designed to uphold that development. For instance, Ruby on Rails folks will gravitate to hosts that provide support while ASP.NET developers will want Windows servers.
To help developers find the right hosting service for your passion(s), we searched for some of the most diverse and specialized hosts among the bunch here at the Web Hosting Database. What we came up with may surprise you: some of the names are obscure, the companies may be small, and the prices may be lower than you expected. Of course, if you want to pull the dedicated server option, the prices listed below won’t compare.
LayeredTechnologies
This company offers both Virtual and Dedicated infrastructures with the ability for developers to experiment and experience spikes in traffic with little to no downtime thanks to grid hosting. Their top-tier data centers are the cornerstones of their worldwide hosting capabilities, with unparalleled security, network availability, capacity, processing power, and operations management are all at your command.
LayeredTech’s scalable infrastructure powers millions of sites (such as N-Tara, Tom Green, NeXplore, Sparq Training, and WordPress) and internet-enabled applications including eCommerce, software as a service (SaaS), content distribution, and more. With LayeredTechnologies, it’s a fair “ask and you probably will receive” environment.
AISO
Here is a fairly mainstream Web host provider that offers Linux, Windows, and FreeBSD on colocated, dedicated, green, and reseller server options. AISO (Affordable Internet Services Online, Inc.) offers ASP, CGI, ColdFusion, Drupal, Perl, PHP, SSI, and Zend in addition to offering Access, MySQL, and SQL database support depending upon your server choice.
AISO also provides backup servers and power supplies and they run redundant monitoring servers that monitor each piece of equipment in the network. Their support is 24/7 through a variety of contact options. They also monitor server resources, so users can become more aware of their impact on the environment. If you plan to ramp your usage up ( such as CPU time, memory usage, and network resources), you may pay for an upgrade to a dedicated server option.
NetFirms
This company offers web hosting in a new integrated Windows/Linux platform known as NetFirms MultiPlatform. Developers can rest assured that no matter which language or scripting option they choose to develop apps, NetFirms can provide the format. ASP, PHP, Python, Ruby on Rails, and SSI are served up on clustered, dedicated, shared or secure SSL servers.
Additionally, NetFirms has started a new green program called “NetFirms Green”. This philosophy includes resource consumption reduction in every aspect of the business.
Apollo Hosting
Apollo’s “Total Solutions Hosting” plan provides you with all the tools any developer would need to create a powerful presence on the internet. Look for choice among Linux, Windows, and Unix servers along with ASP, CGI, ColdFusion, Perl, PHP, Ruby on Rails, SSI, WAP, WSDL, MySQL, and SQL capabilities.
Four Tier 1 Backbone connections & custom-built servers designed for a 24×7 web serving environment ensure a fast, reliable, 99.9% server uptime. Plus, this small company offers 24/7 support. They do not outsource, and they are proud members of the Better Business Bureau Online with strategic alliances with industry leaders such as Microsoft, RedHat Linux, MIVA Small Business, SWSoft, Yahoo Search Marketing, Cisco, and Genuity.
Crucial Paradigm
This host is well worth the considering: all accounts are hosted on servers running RedHat Linux or FreeBSD and installed with a minimum of 1024MB of ram and 7200 RPM drives. Crucial Paradigm’s newest servers feature Dual Opteron 64Bit processors, Dual Xeon 2.8Ghz processors with 73GB 10K RPM Ultra 320 SCSI drives, and up to 4GB of RAM. Plus, they provide WAP developers with something to sing about along with Apache, CGI, Drupal, Perl, PHP, Ruby on Rails, SSI, WML Script, and Zend.
Their hosting solutions range from basic web hosting to reseller hosting, virtual dedicated servers, dedicated servers, and “High Traffic Clusters”.
GoDaddy
While GoDaddy has become a mainstream host for many users, many web developers have become addicted to the possibilities offered by GoDaddy’s range of developmental opportunities. Some developers have gone so far as to develop get-arounds for some of GoDaddy’s limitations.
Why GoDaddy? Because they offer everything from AJAX and ASP to Python and Ruby on Rails. Additionally, the developer can look at dedicated hosting rather than shared options if they want some territory to experiment further. The plus for all GoDaddy clients is that this host is inexpensive, and they offer features like a 99.9% network uptime commitment, 24/7 support, and free access to their exclusive GoDaddy Hosting Connection (their hottest hosting applications and utilities).
HostGator
HostGator provides shared, reseller, and dedicated hosting solutions, and it is one of the world’s top ten largest web hosting companies with more than 1,300,000 hosted domains. Their services are designed for both beginners and professionals. For the pros, HostGator offers CGI, Perl, PHP, Python, Ruby on Rails, SSI, cron jobs, SSH, MySQL, and SSL secure servers. Additionally, they use Linux, so Open Source fanatics can bask in the glory as they module and widget their way to freedom.
Their reseller plans are attractive, even for developers, as HostGator allows resellers to keep 100% of the money collected. Every web hosting plan at HostGator comes with a 99.9% uptime guarantee and 24/7 support.
MediaCatch
For those developers who want additional security and control not available from shared hosting, MediaCatch offers fully customized dedicated servers that are developed based on customers’ specific requirements. For similar power and control at a much lower cost, MediaCatch provides Virtual Private Servers (VPS) with root access, two dedicated IP addresses, and the ability to resell.
They provide access to ASP, CGI, ColdFusion, Drupal, Perl, PHP, Ruby on Rails, SSI on Windows, and Linux servers and a 99% uptime guarantee with fast connections and monthly backups. Support is 24/7, and there is a 30-day 100% money-back guarantee for all shared, reseller, and VPS plans.
Hagen Hosting
If you want a secure environment to build AJAX apps, then take a look a Hagen Hosting. Outside of AJAX, they offer CGI, Perl, PHP, Python, Ruby on Rails, XML, SSI, and much more on secure SSL Linux dedicated servers.
Hagen offers these services and a support-driven atmosphere through a public knowledge base which contains online technical information for common web hosting support questions in addition to an online FAQ for answering basic questions. Customers may also submit technical support and other questions through the Personal Control Panel. It’s a community atmosphere there, something that many developers can appreciate.
M6.net
This one is for all SOAP developers out there, but don’t think that this is all that M6.net offers. You can find applications for ADO, AJAX, ASP, Perl, PHP, Python, SSI, VBScript, WAP, WML Script, WSDL, Zend, Access, MySQL, and SQL on Windows hosting in four available plans plus a reseller package.
Customers can mix and match any one or more of M6.net’s technologies, languages, and scripts to their own specifications. M6 offers 24/7 phone support, toll-free in the United States, and email support. The Network is Cisco Certified, and servers are monitored 24/7/365.
