Choosing a web host for your ExpressionEngine site
Server requirements
Expression Engine has pretty standard LAMP stack server requirements. For the non-techie, LAMP is an acronym for Linux, Apache, MySQL, and PHP.
- Linux is the operating system
- Apache is the server software
- MySQL is the database
- PHP is the web application platform, or more narrowly, the programming language in which Expression Engine runs
Read the official Expression Engine server requirements.
Most web hosting companies that run Linux web servers will be able to handle Expression Engine. Before you choose a host…
A few things to avoid
- Don’t try to run Expression Engine on Windows. Yes, it’s possible, and masochists might even enjoy it. Still, Expression Engine is developed on and for the LAMP stack. If your IT person/department/clueless boss insists on using Windows, consider this analogy: if you buy a boutique auto like a Mercedes or Rolls Royce, when you need it repaired you take it to a mechanic who specializes in your make of auto, someone who knows its peculiarities. Yes, you could take your Mercedes to Bob’s Discount Auto Repair, but sooner or later, Bob will run in to a problem he can’t address because he’s really not that familiar with your car. The same thing applies to hosting Expression Engine. Just because you can make it run on Windows does not mean this is a good idea. And considering the low cost of hosting, do you really want to save US$20 per month in exchange for hours of Windows headaches?
- Don’t host at a super cheap host. 1&1, GoDaddy, and others like it offer very cheap hosting, but they often lack support for key server tools you will need to manage your Expression Engine installation. Your database access may be limited, and you may be without phone support.
Choosing a host
A few things to consider when choosing a host:
- Have the host you’re considering run the Expression Engine server wizard to confirm the host meets the software’s requirements.
- Consider the host’s reputation. How long have they been in business? How is support handled? Who are some satisfied clients they host?
- Pick a host and stick with it. In keeping with Convention Over Configuration, you’ll save time by choosing one host and familiarizing yourself with how it configures FTP, phpMyAdmin, and other tools.
- Think about how you’ll manage multiple clients, web sites, Expression Engine installations, and domains. Some hosts give you a master control panel like cPanel where you have access to all your accounts at once. Others require you to create a new account for each client.
A few hosts, considered
Since I like to follow my own advice, I tend to stick to the same host for all my Expression Engine installations—I don’t shop around much. That said, here are a few options:
Engine Hosting
[Edited 4/6/2009]
Affiliated with Ellis Lab, the makers of Expression Engine, Engine Hosting (EH) hosts Expression Engine sites starting at $10/month. Their control panel and tools are pretty minimal, and there is very little you can configure yourself on an account. That said, EH’s support for Expression Engine is excellent (they’ll even install it for you). They also offer a discount on Expression Engine when purchased at the same time as hosting. If you need great flexibility in configuring your web space, EH may not be the best choice. However, if you need basic hosting and don’t mind submitting tickets every so often, EH is great. Also note, they now offer a self-managed email system.
Media Temple
Media Temple (MT) offers hosting starting at $20 per month. In contrast to Engine Hosting, MT offers an advanced, full-featured control panel that allows you to configure a number of aspects of your account. MT has good support as well. One disadvantage to MT: they run PHP over CGI. This may mean nothing to you, unless you are trying to replace index.php in your URLs—this can be hard to do on MT’s servers.
Do you have a favorite host? Contact EE Developer and let us know. Send a mini-review if you like.
Update:
Site visitor and EE developer Paul Burton found Media Temple to be slow to update to PHP5, and was less than thrilled with their support. He recommended Fused Network, and has good results hosting ExpressionEngine sites there. As always, caveat emptor (buyer beware). Research your host carefully before choosing.
