Do any web-hosts support Mod-Mono or allow custom apache Modules?

[stytagm]

Hi Guys,

I work using asp.net stuff, and at somepoint I want to tweak the homepage I put on my CV to actually use some aspx pages. Unfortunately most webhost's windows hosting is about 4 times the price of linux hosting. So...

Does anyone know of any webhosts that have mod_mono installed, or would allow me to install my own apache modules?

I only want to host a few tiny pages, so diskspace and bandwidth requirements will be trivial, so renting a whole server is way off the mark. And even a cheap windows host would irk my Hippy sensibilities (Just because I whore myself to Microsoft from 9 to 5 doesn't mean I can't listen to folk music and try to grow an organic beard in my own time - or to put it another way, I like open source).

I thought about hosting something at home over adsl, but I don't really want a computer on 24/7, and anyway upload speeds are still pants even on nice shiny zen adsl.

All tips very greatfully recieved.

[chrestomanci]

If you are a confident linux user, then why not host it yourself. All you need is a low end linux box, a broadband connection, a domain name, and some sort of DNS to link. (dyn-DNS perhaps).

I have been doing that for years, and I find it fairly painless. I have an ADSL subscription with a static IP so that part is easy. Domains are not very expensive, especially .co.UK ones, and the server setup part is just a matter of finding an old (Pentium-2 or better) PC that you don't mind leaving on 27-7. After that all you have to do is figure out how to setup apache, but from your post it sounds like you allready know that.

From my point of view, the benefits are that I have access to my own webmail, I have a subversion repository with files I can access anywhere, Photos, and unlimited storage space.

The downside is the limited upload, but so long as I don't try to share moves with 10,000 of my closest friends, there is no problem.

[herulach]

qiq, have php/perl/mysql installed, cant see you needing anything else, what modules are you thinking of?

[mmh]

www.zesthost.com - windows server 5 gig bandwidth, 1gig hdd space, £18 or thereabouts a year $30

im with them and recommend to everyone, as they are damn good, and u get alot for ur money, asp, .net, php, perl, mysql and more.

[awm]

If you host yourself be sure to read your contract first. Some ISPs (at least in the US) don't allow webhosting.

[stytagm]

Thanks for the replies guys, very quick

qiq, have php/perl/mysql installed, cant see you needing anything else, what modules are you thinking of?

Well, mod_mono. It means I can run ASP.Net pages (.aspx) on apache.

www.zesthost.com - windows server 5 gig bandwidth, 1gig hdd space, £18 or thereabouts a year $30

Sounds very tempting, but I'm a bit funny with credit cards, so only have Maestro, would I be able to pay for a USD product with a Uk Maestro card?

I thought about hosting something at home over adsl, but I don't really want a computer on 24/7

I did think about this, but I don't want the noise / electricity / firerisk of some ancient box running 24/7. Chrestomanci, you're very right, hosting things like an svn repository would be fun, but in truth I'd only ever use it when I'm at home, so there's little point.

[herulach]

Thanks for the replies guys, very quick
Well, mod_mono. It means I can run ASP.Net pages (.aspx) on apache.

In that case:
http://www.qiq.co.uk/technology1.php

...
PHP4 scripting language - Similar to ASP
Active Server Pages - Create dynamic content with ASP
Full CGI-BIN and CGI Support - Use Perl and CGI
...

[directhex]

ASP and ASP.NET are very different technologies

[Agent]

If its only a few tiny pages, why not just rewrite them in PHP ? - Its not going to make a difference to the end user, and you'll save yourself some cash.
If you dont know PHP, im sure it'll be easy with us helping you

[TheAnimus]

because php just isn't as good as .net framework.

you can actually use PHP on .net, with phlanger it runs faster than zend in my testing!

the $30 for the year seams quite good, i take it you don't need MS SQL or any form of proper database?

[stytagm]

If its only a few tiny pages, why not just rewrite them in PHP ? - Its not going to make a difference to the end user, and you'll save yourself some cash.
If you don't know PHP, im sure it'll be easy with us helping you

Like DirectHex and the Animus said (and I forgot to) ASP.Net is a completely different language to asp, for starters, it's not horrific! It's also what I use at work. ASP.net is also language independent, so I actually code in C#, but you can use VB.net, Managed C++, or even things like Python, but all using the ASP.Net syntax in your markup and .net libraries.

Unfortunately employers looking for .Net skills don't rate PHP among them, and the object of the exercise is for me to flex my .Net muscles for practice, and to show off a little bit (eventually anyway).

The only two options are windows hosting using IIS. Preferably on IIS6 (Windows 2003) as that's what I'm used to at work, or Mono (either mod_mono on Apache, or even XSP, a dedicated asp.net open source server). So far the cheap windows hosting from the states looks like the only viable option.

Sorry PHP advocates, maybe another time

[TheAnimus]

an example of how people consider PHP in the world, at an interview for an investment bank firm, i was asked about .net questions, i made a joke saying "oh i'd choose to do that in PHP" to buy for time, the two guys interviewing me both cracked up with lafter.

(i'd been talking about ways to make code more secure).

non windows fans, check mono.

windows fans, well your probably already loving it, full remote debugging from the IDE is so nice.