EASYCGI (Bring your own Everything)
Written: Jan 14 '04
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Pros: Runs ALL/MOST? types of Active Server Pages and databases
Cons: Nothing pre-installed
The Bottom Line: Web Hosting plain and simple
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| jckatz's Full Review: Easy CGI |
My dad is getting closer to retirement and wanted to pursue his hobby. He replaced his darkroom with a digital photo studio. He purchased a show tent and got excepted to three juried art shows. He also wanted to show his work on a web site.
It was around this point I bit off more than I could chew. I wanted to create an active webpage that would show the image with a frame (the frame would change based on which frame the buyer selected and the mats could also change color). I have seen something like it at http://www.allposters.com so I new it could be done.
I then went to Barnes and Nobles (in Springfield). The last time I purchased a computer book I was THE New York Barnes and Nobles Computer Store. The Barnes and Nobles in New York City are each dedicated to a subject (there is a computer store, a fashion art store, a business store, etc). I was building an Access Database and had a choice of around 20 books to read through before making my purchase. In Springfield I had 2 books to choose from. I read and read and found something that looked like I could make it do what I wanted. It was called ASP.NET
OK I started building the page. I found a host, it was a free host! If you wanted a domain name or to have any real bandwidth you had to pay but for the building process it was free.
I never did get the SHOW FRAME page to work but I learned a very valuable lesson. ASP (Active Server Pages) and ASP.NET (Microsoft’s ASP) are not the same thing and I was writing in ASP.NET. I needed to find a new HOST that has ASP.NET pages.
As you would expect a host that has ASP.NET (Microsoft) was more pricey than a host that only carried ASP (open source). But I found EASYCGI.
TOLL-FREE NUMBER
I never sign up for a new host with out very calling, I don’t like E-mail. Talking to a real person tells me more about the service I will get than an E-mail followed up by a form letter.
I called them explained my needs and they seemed perfect. Affordable ($9.95 monthly) I switch the yearly $7.96 after I decided I would keep them.
Here is a complete list of what they offer:
cgi-bin with Perl 5.6x
PHP 4.3.1 (phpinfo)
Active Server Pages (ASP)
ASP.NET
server side includes
ColdFusion
Frontpage 2002 server extentions
Unlimited FrontPage Subwebs
Microsoft Index Server
Persits AspUpload 3.0
Persits AspEmail 4.5
Persits AspJpeg 1.2
ServerObjects Asp HTTP 3.5
They also have POP E-mail and web based E-mail (up to 10 sub accounts)
FTP access and web based FTP access.
Free access to Shares Secure SSL servers
You also get 5GB of file transfers a month (may someday we have to upgrade)
And 100 MEGS of disk storage.
SETUP
They do not give any sub-domains. This means you can’t have jmkphotography.easycgi.com (you have to provide your own Domain Name. IE www.mkphotography.net This does delay the set-up process, you have to wait until they either import your domain or a new one is created. I created a new domain so it took about 24 hours.
To get your files onto the server you can either use their web based FTP (very useful for setting access). Or you can use ANY standard FTP server. Your ftp account is FTP.yourdomain.com you can have up to 5 different FTP users.
Same thing for mail you can access your e-mail with a standard POP e-mail client mail.yourdomain.com (or web access) mail.yourdomain.com (also).
What is missing
The good news is they have an 800 number (but don’t be logged in you will never find it). The bad news is their help files and helpless.
This is a truly barebones service. They host your web site and you provide everything you need including your own skills. The good news is if you can’t (WHEN you can’t) find the answers using their help files they answer the e-mails very fast, and take care of any problem you might have.
Some servers have shopping carts pre-installed. You don’t have to use them but once again they don’t have anything extra. This is fine, I found a shopping cart I liked and am happy to bring my own.
They also don’t have any web tracking software pre-installed. I have tried to add my own scripts but have not had any luck. To be honest I haven’t work too hard because at this point I am the only one that goes there.
The Low Down
If you are hosting a web site that requires ACTIVE SERVER PAGES, and want to BRING your own programs then this is the HOST for you. The prices seem very good considering all the PROGRAMS they do handle… HECK I can not think of anything that they don’t handle.
Yes this site does have a limited help file, but they have a GREAT customer support to make up it.
Recommended:
Yes
Monthly fees (US$): $7.96 or $9.99 with out a yearly contract
Platform used: Windows NT
Hosted on Secure Server: Yes
Database used: MS-SQL
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Epinions.com ID:
jckatz
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 - Top 1000 |
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Member: Joe Katz
Location: chicago
Reviews written: 153
Trusted by: 73 members
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