Web Hosting: HawkHost

Back in January when I posted that I’d switched web hosts, I didn’t name the new host. I wanted to be with them at least a month to see how things went. The answer is: great!

Shopping for a web host can be a daunting experience; there are so many of them. What I’m most interested in is uptime, performance, support, and the available tools (like cPanel and script installers). Just about everybody out there claims 99.9% uptime, great performance, great support, and great tools. Searching on potential hosts usually yields a mix of glowing reviews and disgruntled customers. The ratio between the two can tell you something about a host, but like many things on the internet, you have to take reviews with a grain of salt. One pissed off customer can wreak havoc and shout down positive voices, and some hosts offer incentives for reviews. Chances are those reviews will be good.

My current web host is a company called HawkHost. I found HawkHost through a post’s signature in a forum for webmasters. Funnily enough, I’d already settled on another host and had decided to do one more search before opening an account. That’s when I came across HawkHost. I visited the HawkHost site, did the usual searches, and couldn’t find a negative word about them. Not one word. So I went with them.

My experience at HawkHost has been great. I haven’t had to contact support since I first joined. Uptime and performance seem fine. It has cPanel and provides an easy way to install the usual software (scripts, blogs, content managers, etc.). Communication is great. Their blog is updated regularly, they’re on twitter, and they have forums you can subscribe to so that you’re informed in advance of any scheduled maintenance. The blog in particular is a great source of information, since they often post technical details for those who are so inclined.

Communication is key. Most people are reasonable. Mistakes do happen. Murphy’s Law does rear its ugly head on occasion. Problems can take a while to fix. As long as folks are kept in the loop, their satisfaction level will remain high. I left my last host because I had a problem and had no idea if or when it would be fixed. The host kept me in the dark, even when I asked. That came across as a lack of interest in both my problem and my business. Sure, some people are never happy and throw tantrums no matter how well they’re being treated, but most people just want to know that the host is working on a solution to their problem (or a general server problem).

The day before I cancelled my account with my former host, they finally fixed my problem. They had to bring down the server and rebuild Apache to do it. One of the things that bothered me about their initial response to my support ticket was their apparent lack of concern. Yes, my sites were up and I could access them, but logging was busted. My problem was a “canary in the mine” sort of thing, a hint that not all was well with the server. A diligent host would have looked into it in a more timely fashion.

Speaking of Apache, HawkHost doesn’t use it. It uses LiteSpeed, a drop-in replacement for Apache. Just a point for the techies out there.

So if you’re looking for a web host, consider HawkHost, or their new division, FrogHost. So far, I’m happy with HawkHost.

One piece of advice for anyone who’s about to set up a website for the first time: don’t buy domains from the same place you’ll host them. I know most hosts offer deals on domains when you buy hosting, but it’s better to keep your domains somewhere else. If you’re not doing that, it probably won’t matter, but there have been cases in which web hosts have held domains hostage when someone wants to change hosts, or when there’s some type of disagreement going on between the client and the host. It’s good practice to buy your domains from one company and to host them with another.