Must support Visual Studio .Net 2010, (.Net 4.5)

SQL Server Mgmt Studio 2008 or 2012

Yaf.Net forum support

Monthly billing or Annual Billing

Unlimited websites

24/7 Customer Service and tech support

I currently use Arvixe, but am VERY dissatisfied with them right now because ever since their database and email migration in April, I have been having NOTHING but trouble with them! I need a hosting company that meets all of the above requirements at a LOW cost, I'm on a budget since my websites are completely non-profit! TIA!

I've used Host Mantis before, cheap (with discounts $26 p/Year, £15 p/Year)..I'm not sure if they run .NET4.5, I know for sure they have ASP.NET 4.0.30319.33440.

24/7 support via a ticket system only.

The only downside when I have used them (something with Arvixe has) is no remote connection to the DB's via SSMS, instead you have to go through the ASP.NET Enterprise Manager

I of course meant they need to offer support of all of the listed software, not that I want them to supply the software :!:

I will check them out. As long as I can get connected to the database using SQL Server Management systems 2008 or 2010 (which I DO have both installed on my own computer) I am fine with that. Thanks!

Any other suggestions? I am really in need of a GOOD, INEXPENSIVE hosting service and there are so many that i't hard to decide without some kind of reference.

I have several websites up and running with them now. PackersHome.com and PackerPeople.com are both YAF. You can see the speeds if you'd like.

I had Arvixe before. Not a good experience. They put so many websites on one server and when you have an issue, if it is happening when you finally reach a tech, then they point the finger at you and your software. Which if you've been doing this web thing for good portion of two decades that can really tick you off!

Also, you can try these folks out for 60 days for FREE. That's how they lured me in.

http://www.smarterasp.net/hosting_plans 

This host allows remove connection via SQL Management Studio. 1and1.com for example, does not.

I think tried my sites on Host Mantis and couldn't because they have a database size requirement. I could be wrong or that could be changed. I just know I tried them and had to cancel quickly.

Hmm, it might have been this as my reason for cancelling Host Mantis...

Q: Do you allow remote MySQL/MSSQL database access?

A: No, remote database access on our shared/reseller plans is not supported.

A: No, remote database access on our shared/reseller plans is not supported.

Yep..thats the only thing I have ever been able to fault them with!

But i end up paying $26 for the year on the expert plan I could cope.

Its a lack of convenience really

jj72uk, yeah, I just got a response back from them on not allowing remote access to my database. How DO you manage your database then? I actually think that for me, with the website and forums being private and non-profit, it is really important to be able to access my database. So it looks like they are a no-go, even though the very low cost is VERY tempting...

Thanks again Zero - I think you are my hero! 😉

Zip up your root directory. Download it.

Backup your database. Download it.

Create your new website virtual entries, or whatever they are called.

Upload both zip files to the new host.

Create your databases.

Restore your backup to new databases and users.

Update your connection strings with the new information.

... blah blah.

you get the idea... it be easy peazy!!! actually i probably enjoy it too much and thats why I've host hopped so many times lol

You get this lovely (!) thing:

Oh well, I just heard back from smarterasp.net and they do everything I want - of course there is a fee involved if I have them do all the work, but since Zero says "...it be easy peazy!!" I'm taking his word for it and signing up with smarterasp.net (As soon as i download and upgrade my local yaf forum to make sure it works on my end!) But I have 5 days left before I have to either pay for another sucky month at Arvixe or move to a new hosting service!

Thanks again to both of you, your help and recommendations are appreciated! 🙂

I love the control panel smarterasp uses. One thing I use often is upload zip files, and unzip them. Several hosts I used wouldn't allow unzipping, or didn't provide the feature.

Thanks again Zero (my hero! ) :wink:

Hi Coleen,

I use asphostportal.com for my asp.net project now. I havent experienced with serious problem with them. Their price is good and they also update the lates asp.net version. I can recommend this provider. Previously I use DASP, but they are quite expensive for me.

As I know Arvixe is good hosting provider, many people recommend this provider. About Smarterasp, I havent tried them before, I see they are new hosting provider. I'm not interested to find free hosting, but I would prefer the provider that offer reliable service and I find this service on asphostportal. :)

It's probably best to disclose your direct affiliation with a hosting service you are endorsing. ;-)

As for Arvixe, I think they are pretty solid when it comes to Linux/php hosting, but they are not solid with ASP.NET hosting. I don't know if it is a memory management issue or failure to allocate resources with their machines or what the deal is, but it was not a consistent process for me the two or three times I tried them.