Performance Questions to Ask Hosting Providers: Web Server Configuration

Hosting a web application can be annoying and time consuming. There is the cost of the hardware. There is the time configuring, administering, and patching the operating system, web server, and other software. There is the security risk of exposing a machine onto the Internet. So it’s no surprise that many people and companies use a 3rd party hosting provider to host their web application and manage the infrastructure. Choosing a hosting provider should not be made lightly. You no longer have full control over the machine running your web application. For those interested in creating high performance web applications you must ensure that you don’t give up control over the features that you need to make your web application run as fast as possible.

This is the first in a series articles of performance questions you should ask a hosting provider.

Don't get burned when choosing a hosting provider! I speak from experience.

Hosting Provider: But we don't meter our bandwidth! Why do you want HTTP compression?

Billy: I know that, but compression will make my site load significantly faster

Hosting Provider: Sorry, we don't offer access to those modules.

Billy: What is your name? I want to tell the people in billing who is responsible for me canceling my account with you.