Hosting Questions

sigmafloyd

I've been learning PHP after coming from ASP.NET over the past few weeks. I have PHP 5 and PEAR installed on my machine and have been learning with PHP5 materials. My question is what do I need in a web hosting service to maintain this?

It seems like most hosting services are still on PHP 4. Also, are things like PEAR and SMARTY something that the host has to provide installed on the server - I'm not really sure how that works. Any help or a point in the right direction is appreciated, thanks.

-Floyd

Kudose

A lot of hosts are still weary of PHP5, atleast until more stable releases are made. Hosts tend to upgrade PHP in packs, as in they all do it near the same time.

PEAR and SMARTY would need to be offered via the host. Most hosts support PEAR, although I am not sure about SMARTY. Generally speaking, when you are looking for a host that offers a lot of specific extensions, you'll be looking at yourself (dedicated server). Although I could be proven wrong on that last sentence, I'd like to see evidence.

If you ask the host, a lot of time they will divuldge what extensions they allow.

id10t

Go for a host that offers root access on a UML instance or the equivalent...

travelbuff

It should not be hard to find someone running PHP5 and SMARTY. PEAR you can do yourself via FTP. Go to www.webhostingtalk.com and ask for suggestions in the webhosting forum, you will get tons of PM offers.

pohopo

I had a lot of trouble finding a reliable host that has PHP5 installed. They either say they will have it soon or they will upgrade as soon as it is stable. I upgraded to PHP5 on my own computer and I did have one site not work. I was able to fix the site, but it required coding changes. So I am guessing it would be hard for a host to upgrade to 5 and then expect everyone on that server to change their code.

jayant

installing smarty/pear is not a problem. you can easily install it for your use on any host that doesn't have it by default.

you can install php5 locally as keep learning on it. you don't need a webhosting for it.

if you really wish to host your cool php5 script/application online, finding a host should not be a problem.