Basic Webhosting questions.

[Bertrum]

Hi! I'm strongly considering starting my first website and using Web Hosting UK as host. This will be the first time I've ever hosted my own site, so forgive me if my questions are pretty basic!

First up, will I need to buy a third party program for uploading files to the server (eg CuteFTP or similar) or can it be done easily from the cPanel?

Secondly, pretty much all the stuff I'll be doing will be via WordPress. At the moment I'm using my laptop as a 'server' to host a local version of my WP blog (using XAMPP). Will I still be able to use Fantastico to get WordPress on the 'live' server, and then just 'drop' my local WordPress folder and all its contents into my server space? Or will I have to fiddle about - I originally set up the installation locally using phpMyAdmin to create the MySQL db.

And finally, as it will be a new blog - actually it will eventually be several blogs and static article sites - the visitor numbers will have to build up from zero. Would the most basic package be okay, until things pick up?

Thanks in advance for your help. I have some other questions regarding domain names, so I'll post them to that forum rather than here.

[James]

Hello Bertrum,

Welcome to WebHosting UK community.

Originally Posted by Bertrum

First up, will I need to buy a third party program for uploading files to the server (eg CuteFTP or similar) or can it be done easily from the cPanel?

In cPanel through File Manager you can upload the web pages but we recommend our clients to use the third party program like WSFTP or CuteFTP for uploading the web pages. You can use the trial version of this softwares.

Originally Posted by Bertrum

Secondly, pretty much all the stuff I'll be doing will be via WordPress. At the moment I'm using my laptop as a 'server' to host a local version of my WP blog (using XAMPP). Will I still be able to use Fantastico to get WordPress on the 'live' server, and then just 'drop' my local WordPress folder and all its contents into my server space? Or will I have to fiddle about - I originally set up the installation locally using phpMyAdmin to create the MySQL db.

You can use Fantastico to install the WordPress blog. Once the blog is installed after that you can replace the Wordpress folder created by Fantastico with your local wordpress folder.

Originally Posted by Bertrum

And finally, as it will be a new blog - actually it will eventually be several blogs and static article sites - the visitor numbers will have to build up from zero. Would the most basic package be okay, until things pick up?

You can start with the Basic or Premium web hosting plan.

Let me know if you have any further questions.

[MrTWS]

Originally Posted by Bertrum

will I need to buy a third party program for uploading files to the server (eg CuteFTP or similar) or can it be done easily from the cPanel?

Just to say you do not need to invest in an FTP program at all - the best free alternative which works equally as well is Filezilla and it won't cost you a penny FileZilla - The free FTP solution

[jon123]

Originally Posted by MrTWS

Just to say you do not need to invest in an FTP program at all - the best free alternative which works equally as well is Filezilla and it won't cost you a penny FileZilla - The free FTP solution

I totally agree, better than all of the paid ones i've tried and as MrTWS said, FREE

[Bertrum]

Thanks for the helpful replies, guys! I was just investigating free FTP software, and FileZilla came up there as well - good to know some of you would recommend that one. The other was SmartFTP, and there was some confusion about whether it's free or not (according to Wiki it is now sold rather than given away).

I may as well put my domain name questions here, and keep them all in the same thread.

I notice that GoDaddy have a proxy service to keep personal details of domain name registrants private (doubles the price of course). So I just wondered whether the availability of personal info via a whois search is a big concern to many people as a general rule, or whether it's nothing to be worried about.

The other thing is a question about legality of domain names. Obviously, I'm not looking to cash in on something like 'koca-kola' as I'd get sued probably. But if I choose a domain name, and somebody crops up later, what is the situation - and indeed what is my responsibility in order to protect both Webhosting UK and myself? The name I have in mind is not registered as a Ltd company with Companies House. Is that all I should be concerned about as a UK resident, or could I be hauled off to a court in Washington, for example?

[MrTWS]

Bertrum - Filezilla is free whereas SmartFTP is not

You can choose to keep your domain name registration information secret (at double the cost on WHUK too) but then that depends on whether you need to. It's not always a big issue, but then it may depend on what type of site you are running if you don't want stalkers LOL

As for domain names if someone has not registered it, then all is fair in love and war or whatever they say - and as long as you are not trying to imitate another site, or using their graphics, or implying that you own the rights on Koca-Kola, but just use a non-descript name, then you should be okay

Mind you - Washington may be a different thing

[jon123]

umm, i've not come across this issue tbh, i use 123 reg and can always register a domain as a private individual at NO extra cost! (if that is what you are refering too). None of my details are shown on a "whois" search.
I don';t understand the double cost mentioned .....can you explain?

[Bertrum]

Thanks for the replies again!

MrTWS - I was almost about to push the buy button on HostGator, and decided to look into registering a domain with them to keep hosting and DN registration in one place. Their terms said any conflict or legal probs (aka a challenge by somebody wanting the domain, and thinking they have a legal right to it somehow) would be under US legal jurisdiction, and would be heard somewhere in Washington. I decided to look for a UK host instead, so I don't end up getting bundled onto a flight to Washington or something!

Jon - I didn't look deep enough on HostGator, but for domain names on GoDaddy they charge $10 for a dotcom, plus an extra $9 on top if you want it done as a private registration. From what MrTWS said, Webhosting UK also charge an extra on top fee. I'm pondering whether there is a serious privacy issue, and therefore whether to pay the extra - or indeed (thanks to you!) whether I should get hosting at Webhosting UK but DN-registration with 123reg. I'll look into that option before signing up for hosting.

[Bertrum]

Okay, Jon. I just checked 123-reg.co.uk. If that's the right site, they offer dotcom at £10 and Domain Privacy at £5 on top.

Maybe we are talking about slightly different things, but you might want to check that your details are not public if you want them private, just in case. You might have got a deal, or they might have introduced the fee since you last registered perhaps.

[James]

We do provide Domain registration as well as Domain ID protect service. We charge £7 per year for .com domain registration and an additional £7 per year for Domain ID protect. If you wish to shield your personal information listed in the WhoIs record from spam, then along with the domain registration you should opt for Domain ID protect feature as well.

[Bertrum]

Originally Posted by James

We do provide Domain registration as well as Domain ID protect service. We charge £7 per year for .com domain registration and an additional £7 per year for Domain ID protect. If you wish to shield your personal information listed in the WhoIs record from spam, then along with the domain registration you should opt for Domain ID protect feature as well.

Thanks James - £14 seems to be about standard across the board for proxy domain registration. That's almost certainly what I'll opt for this time, to keep the spammers, scammers and whatever else at bay for a while.

I presume there is an option on the online order form for Domain ID Protect.

Thanks again to all who have taken the trouble to reply to my queries. I aim to be 'on board' by the end of the week - after I've contacted the affiliate who pointed me here.

[James]

Originally Posted by Bertrum

I presume there is an option on the online order form for Domain ID Protect.

Indeed, during sign up you just need to select the "ID Protection" option.

Let me know if you have any further questions.

[jon123]

Maybe it just refers to .com tlds?

I have just bought another domain and is too early to do a whois lookup but i'm betting it will be the same as below

So wondering if it is just .com.......anyone?
Whois Record

Domain name:
westdorset.org.uk

Registrant:
none

Registrant type:
UK Individual

Registrant's address:
The registrant is a non-trading individual who has opted to have their
address omitted from the WHOIS service.

Registrar:
GX Networks Ltd t/a 123-Reg.co.uk [Tag = 123-REG]
URL: 123-reg | Domain names | Domain name registration

Relevant dates:
Registered on: 08-Feb-2006
Renewal date: 08-Feb-2010
Last updated: 17-May-2008

Registration status:
Registered until renewal date.

Name servers:
ns5.raynersolutions.co.uk
ns6.raynersolutions.co.uk

[Bertrum]

Jon, you're right. It is free for co.uk domains with 123-reg.

I'll probably still use com and pay for my first (and primary) domain, as if I took the co.uk, I'd want the com as well. I think it is hard to get a successful site using a UK domain if the .com also exists (and is held by someone else).

But I'd eventually want anything upto a dozen sites or more possibly, and doubling the cost everytime might become prohibitive - so addon domains will probably be uk ones for me.

Does Webhosting UK do cheaper 'ID protect' for multiple domain names or a flat £7 for every one?

[MrTWS]

Hey Bertrum - if I can say this without it sounding bad to other webhosting companies, personally I would stick with a choice of 2 companies within the UK - one is Webhosting UK and the other is a great company too

If you are unsure about which web hosting company to try, my best advice is to type something like this into Google:

name of hosting company+problems+issues

You will be surprised that you can learn a lot from other peoples reviews, rather than say going to some so-called web site review page, as in my opinion, these can be biased sometimes

Hope that helps