if your dynamic websites was created using the ASP.NET language you will require ASP web hosting. ASP web hosting should ideally be based on the Microsoft Windows Server operating system (Windows 2003 Server) which ASP.NET was designed to run on.

Most ASP web hosting providers will provide you with a control panel to fully manage your ASP web hosting, running on Windows servers. Popular Windows based control panels at the moment are Parallels Plesk control panel and Helm which both allow you to manage all aspects of your ASP.NET based web applications.

Both Control Panels also provided you with access to the installed of Microsoft SQL Server, ensuring full integration between your ASP.NET applications and MS-SQL. From the online control panel you will be able to create and delete your remotely hosted databases, create users, set passwords and define permissions and security settings.

Like standard web hosting your host will provide you with FTP access to your ASP Web Hosting account to allow you to upload your web data. Popular software such as the Microsoft Visual Web Developer have a built FTP in upload function, whereby you enter your FTP settings and upload.

Also its possible to upload files using the Control Panel’s built in File Manager, which has an “Explorer” like interface allowing your browse, drag and drop files from your desktop to server. Virtually every web hosting package allows access via FTP (File Transfer Protocol) to allow files to be uploaded to their public web space with ease. Alternatively you can use a free FTP client, such as Filezilla.

If your scripts were developed in a Microsoft environment you may find it more reliable and less frustrating to host them on Microsoft servers as there are a few subtle differences between Linux and Windows hosts (such as file and case sensitivity). ASP and ASP.NET should really only run on Microsoft Windows Server operating systems. Some hosts do offer “ASP Hosting” running on Linux servers, using using the Sun Chilisoft ASP Environment.

ASP hosting was originally a “niche market” with relatively few specialists, but has increased in popularity, partly due to ready developed packages and greater awareness and competition . Backwards compatibility was maintained by Microsoft, so older asp applications should work on servers running the newer scripting environment.

You should really only need a Windows based ASP web hosting package if your scripts or applications deman ASP and ASP.NET. If your web site is mainly static html files, or utilises open source scripting languages such as PHP, Perl or Python then standard Linux shared hosting package should suffice.

Some people, simply choose Windows Web Hosting because thats what their desktop PC runs. The choice of your home PC operating system has no bearing on your choice of Linux our Windows Hosting, unless you are using your own PC to develop Windows applications. If all your web site requires is static html pages, then you would be wasting money on an ASP Web Hosting package.

Application service providers (commonly referred to as ASP’s) have quickly sprouted onto the web hosting scene in effort to provide businesses with new and innovative services. The term ASP should not be confused with Microsoft Corporations software application. Is a business that provides computer-based services to customers over a network.

The number of applications provided through the ASP model is growing. Accordingly, there is a growing business of companies developing software for that marketplace. What sorts of applications are being developed? As remotely-hosted applications can provide cost-effective access for businesses to unique software, many of the applications are designed to be of occasional use in terms of use. Others are geared towards using group connectivity provided by through the Internet to provide an application that is flexible.

There are a number of technical and business issues currently addressed by ASP’s to develop and enhance system applications. And a lot of companies creating software dedicated to various business functions as financial management, materials management, human resources and e-commerce transaction services. There’s a great number of solutions provided through this model.

This kind of services give some business the chance to reduce costs an increase efficiencies. In this way, they have access to software focused on the company needs. So, they can focus on their core operations. An they can achieve that without paying high ammounts of money. Furthermore, they are developing new software that can provide business solutions to operating issues not previously addressed through PC-based software. ASP’s also remove many of the technical administrative and maintenance issues associated with software by providing real-time upgrades, remote hosting, remote dial in customer support and overall software management.

Web hosting companies are involved in the development of applications - however, many of the hosting companies serve to provide network management and serve the application remotely to users. In providing ASP-related services, these companies are essentially AIP’s (application infrastructure providers.) For mainframe web hosting applications, application service providers are pioneering a new way to host and maintain business applications.

The need for ASP’s has evolved from the increasing costs of specialized software that have far exceeded the price range of small to medium sized businesses. As well, the growing complexities of software have led to huge costs in distributing the software to end-users. Through ASP’s, the complexities and costs of such software can be cut down. In addition, the issues of upgrading have been eliminated from the end-firm by placing the onus on the ASP to maintain up-to-date services, 24 x 7 technical support, physical and electronic security and in-built support for business continuity and flexible working.

Before you do anything regarding your website hosting, be it for Seattle or any other city, you need to consider a few important factors. Can you think of what might happen to major companies and corporations if they invested in a poor host? Their profits and business would go down the tubes.

Someone, somewhere in the world is awake, and that means they are looking to purchase something. Is your webhost giving you the peace of mind you need? Does your host give you the assurance that your site will run night and day?

Did you know that most of the features in your webhosting plan, you will not use? Don’t base your webhost provider on extra goodies and gadgets. Look for the essentials that you will be using.

You main concern is obviously the benefit to cost ratio. You certainly don’t want to pay any more than $14 dollars a month. Even $12 a month is plenty for the average site. Also look for “unlimited domains” if possible.

Now that you know what price to look out for, and the fact that you should be expand and host multiple sites, what else is there? The storage factor is also a critical component.

There are even some companies that give you over 500GB of storage. I can’t think of what you would have on your server that would run over that, unless you have quite a bit of video on your website.

Don’t skimp on your bandwidth either. This component of webhosting is arguably one of the main priorities. The more bandwidth you have, the more visitors your website can handle each month.

If you had 500GB of bandwidth or more, your site would be able to get millions upon millions of visits each month.

Now all that’s left is whether to choose a Windows server or a Linux Server. Linux is great and it makes no difference really, unless you need to run ASP files. Windows is the best choice for that.

So where does that leave you? Unless you need a dedicated server, Linux is probably your best bet.