Anyone heard of Page-zone as a Host?

[Tim]

Been looking for a Host for a few days. This one has cheap rates/unlimited
MySql and PHP and FrontPage 2002 extensions.. ( Linux/apache based I think)
Seems "to good to be true" which always makes me worry :-}
www.Page-zone.com
Tried some general searches but little in the way of reviews available, but
what is seems ok. Any one here know of them?

Lastly, a lot of hosts have a line about "enabling the FrontPage extensions
may limit th4e functionality of the other options available via your control
panel and use of theses may cause the extensions to break"...or similar.
Now I do understand the extensions - I think . What options could the host
be offering that could corrupt the extensions? Assuming I use Http to
transfer files in . Activating bulletin board PHP? uploading PHP files? Use
of subdomains? Use of CGI scripts in general? Anyone know?
Thanks
Tim

 

[Jim Buyens]

Almost anything that can update files or change
permissions in your Web can also break the server
extensions. This is just as true on a Windows platform as
it is on Linux.

My question would be, "How much do you really need PHP
and MySql?" If ASP/ASP.NET or Access/SQL Server would
work as well, why not go with a Windows-based host?

Jim Buyens
Microsoft FrontPage MVP
http://www.interlacken.com
Author of:
*----------------------------------------------------
|\---------------------------------------------------
|| Microsoft Office FrontPage 2003 Inside Out
||---------------------------------------------------
|| Web Database Development Step by Step .NET Edition
|| Microsoft FrontPage Version 2002 Inside Out
|| Faster Smarter Beginning Programming
|| (All from Microsoft Press)
|/---------------------------------------------------
*----------------------------------------------------

 

[Tim]

Jim,
Thanks for your reply, your points are well taken.... but as far as my
research goes, win based hosting seems more expensive at the least....and
there are often added costs for database add ons. I plan a simple
non-commercial site with a host that I can experiment/learn with/on.

I also find that PHP seems rather simple to learn - have to admit I haven't
tried ASP yet....

As you say "Almost anything that can update files or change permissions
in your Web can also break the server extensions. This is just as true on a
Windows platform as it is on Linux." ...would this not also apply to
ASP/ASP.net?

I guess that what I should really be asking is:-

Do many of the group integrate PHP/MySql with their FrontPage sites and - if
so what problems/advice?

Thanks to all

Tim

 

[Jimmy]

Been looking for a Host for a few days. This one has cheap rates/unlimited
MySql and PHP and FrontPage 2002 extensions.. ( Linux/apache based I think)
Seems "to good to be true" which always makes me worry :-}
www.Page-zone.com

Page Zone is too good to be true. That is, they are very good and
very cheap. They are incredibly reliable and everything works, all
the time. The only downside is that they do not provide much in the
way of phone support or hand holding. Their "support desk" will get
you an email response within 24 hours. So, they are for folks that
know what they are doing and who don't mind going through the
FAQ's, tutorials, etc.

Lastly, a lot of hosts have a line about "enabling the FrontPage extensions
may limit th4e functionality of the other options available via your control
panel and use of theses may cause the extensions to break"...or similar.
Now I do understand the extensions - I think . What options could the host
be offering that could corrupt the extensions? Assuming I use Http to
transfer files in . Activating bulletin board PHP? uploading PHP files? Use
of subdomains? Use of CGI scripts in general? Anyone know?
Thanks

That's a disclaimer to cover them. The bottom line is that unless you
are very good, you should do all your updating through Front Page.
Import to your local web, publish to get it out there at your web
site.

 

[Guest]

Try 1and1.com. Its offering a 3 year freebie until Jan 22.

 

[Tim]

Thanks Jimmy

Comments appreciated. Any comment on the PHP vs. ASP integration?

Tim

 

[Tim]

True wp but only if you are in USA or Canada AND they do a telephone check
to ensure! :-(
Thanks anyway

Tim

 

[Thomas A. Rowe]

Basically, you can do many of the functions with PHP as you can do with ASP,
however, since ASP is a MS technology, you will find that FP will work with
it directly, where as with PHP, you need a FP Add-in, but you still may have
issues when working with databases, as FP is not going to connect to them
via PHP, so you would have to manually code your connections, etc.

--

==============================================
Thomas A. Rowe (Microsoft MVP - FrontPage)
WEBMASTER Resources(tm)

FrontPage Resources, Forums, WebCircle,
MS KB Quick Links, etc.
==============================================

 

[Tim]

Thanks Thomas,
you mentioned an add in?
Could you elaborate / point me in that direction please.
Thanks
Tim

 

[Thomas A. Rowe]

I only works with Windows IIS host and ASP.

I really don't know much about the PHP add-in, but references have been
posted here regarding it, check the http://www.microsoft.com/frontpage then
downloads for it.

--

==============================================
Thomas A. Rowe (Microsoft MVP - FrontPage)
WEBMASTER Resources(tm)

FrontPage Resources, Forums, WebCircle,
MS KB Quick Links, etc.
==============================================

 

[Kevin Spencer]

Hi Tim,

As you say "Almost anything that can update files or change permissions
in your Web can also break the server extensions. This is just as true on a
Windows platform as it is on Linux." ...would this not also apply to
ASP/ASP.net?

ASP uses VBScript, and runs under the Anonymous Internet User account, which
means that it can't do anything that would break server extensions on a
FrontPage web site. In order for ASP to do anything like that, you would
need to use a COM component.

ASP.Net is an entirely different animal altogether. It provides "real world"
programming power to the web developer, and can do anything, depending upon
what User account it runs under, and what permissions that account has. It
can be set up to run under ANY user account.

--
HTH,
Kevin Spencer
..Net Developer
Microsoft MVP
Big things are made up
of lots of little things.

 

[Theresa Bennett]

Tim, most hosts do charge extra for SQL databases. FrontPage (as an HTML
tool) works equally as well on either platform. I doubt if many in this
group work much with UNIX/MySQL--being a MS newgroup and FrontPage being a
MS product.

HTH
--
Theresa Bennett
http://webworksite.com
"The worksite for designers and developers."
Send FREE Holiday Be-cards.

===================================================

 

[Kevin Spencer]

MySQL is not Unix-specific, and can run on Windows. In addition, it is free.
And it can be connected to via ODBC, which means that it can be accessed
vbia ASP or ASP.Net.

--
HTH,
Kevin Spencer
..Net Developer
Microsoft MVP
Big things are made up
of lots of little things.

 

[Theresa Bennett]

PHP is not UNIX specific either. It can also be run on Windows and it's also
free.

HTH
--
Theresa Bennett
http://webworksite.com
"The worksite for designers and developers."
Send FREE Holiday Be-cards.

===================================================

 

[Jim Buyens]

Jim,
Thanks for your reply, your points are well taken.... but as far as my
research goes, win based hosting seems more expensive at the least....and
there are often added costs for database add ons. I plan a simple
non-commercial site with a host that I can experiment/learn with/on.

I also find that PHP seems rather simple to learn - have to admit I haven't
tried ASP yet....

As you say "Almost anything that can update files or change permissions
in your Web can also break the server extensions. This is just as true on a
Windows platform as it is on Linux." ...would this not also apply to
ASP/ASP.net?

Yes. I'm sure you could write ASP and ASP.NET pages that break the
server extensions. All you need to do is start deleting files that the
server extensions need to operate. Of course, you could do the same
thing with PHP, J2EE, Perl, ...

I guess that what I should really be asking is:-

Do many of the group integrate PHP/MySql with their FrontPage sites and - if
so what problems/advice?

I'm sure there are many people who do this, and with excellent
results. PHP/MySql has become an established platform.

Your original question, however, was about the following proviso:

"enabling the FrontPage extensions may limit the functionality
of the other options available via your control panel and use
of theses may cause the extensions to break"

This is a common sentiment among Linux/PHP/MsSql based hosts. They
view the FrontPage Server Extensions as a strange and troublesome
piece of software that a percentage of customers insist be present.
But if something doesn't work, oh well.

If you want to avoid this attitude, I suggest you find a host who
views Windows-based hosting as their bread and butter.

I'm sure there are Unix-based providers with excellent FrontPage
Server Extension support. I'm also sure there are Windows-based
providers with lousy Server Extension support. But your chances of
finding excellent FrontPage support are better with a Microsoft-based
provider.

Jim Buyens
Microsoft FrontPage MVP
http://www.interlacken.com
Author of:
*----------------------------------------------------
|\---------------------------------------------------
|| Microsoft Office FrontPage 2003 Inside Out
||---------------------------------------------------
|| Web Database Development Step by Step .NET Edition
|| Microsoft FrontPage Version 2002 Inside Out
|| Faster Smarter Beginning Programming
|| (All from Microsoft Press)
|/---------------------------------------------------
*----------------------------------------------------

 

[Guest]

Sorry, didn't know your location.
Anyway, there are ways to circumvent the requirement.
Use your imagination

 

[Jim Buyens]

Hi Tim,

ASP uses VBScript, and runs under the Anonymous Internet User account, which
means that it can't do anything that would break server extensions on a
FrontPage web site. In order for ASP to do anything like that, you would
need to use a COM component.

Au contraire, an ASP page can run under any account you like, as long
as an administrator is willing to configure it.

And even running under an anonymous account, and ASP page can delete,
update, or overwrite files that would grossly upset the server
extensions.

ASP.Net is an entirely different animal altogether. It provides "real world"
programming power to the web developer, and can do anything, depending upon
what User account it runs under, and what permissions that account has. It
can be set up to run under ANY user account.

Again, ASP can do almost anything to the local system, depending upon
what User account it runs under and what permissions that account has.

Ditto for PHP, if you install it on a Windows server.

But the original question was between half-hearted and full-hearted
support for the FrontPage Server Extensions, and not an issue of PHP
vs. ASP vs. ASP.NET.

Jim Buyens
Microsoft FrontPage MVP
http://www.interlacken.com
Author of:
*----------------------------------------------------
|\---------------------------------------------------
|| Microsoft Office FrontPage 2003 Inside Out
||---------------------------------------------------
|| Web Database Development Step by Step .NET Edition
|| Microsoft FrontPage Version 2002 Inside Out
|| Faster Smarter Beginning Programming
|| (All from Microsoft Press)
|/---------------------------------------------------
*----------------------------------------------------

 

[Kevin Spencer]

Hi Jim,

It is true that ASP can run under any account, and I misspoke on that point.
However, it is NOT true that even under the Anonymous account that ASP can
make any changes to the file system. At least by default. You have to
explicitly assign that permission to the Anonymous Internet User account for
each folder or file that you want it to be able to change.

As for the real comparison between what ASP and ASP.Net can do that might
harm server extensions, I was trying to make the point of the limitations of
VBScript vs. .Net. VBScript is very limited in what it can do by itself, and
COM objects are required to do the heavy lifting. .Net can do anything all
by itself.

Thanks for the clarification, Jim. Making me mind my p's and q's!

--
HTH,
Kevin Spencer
..Net Developer
Microsoft MVP
Big things are made up
of lots of little things.

 

[Thomas A. Rowe]

see below.

--

==============================================
Thomas A. Rowe (Microsoft MVP - FrontPage)
WEBMASTER Resources(tm)

FrontPage Resources, Forums, WebCircle,
MS KB Quick Links, etc.
==============================================

"Kevin Spencer" <[email protected]> wrote in message

Au contraire, an ASP page can run under any account you like, as long
as an administrator is willing to configure it.

And even running under an anonymous account, and ASP page can delete,
update, or overwrite files that would grossly upset the server
extensions.

Only if a host allows you to use the FileSystemObject without restricting it
use to specific folders within your web space.

 

[Tim]

And I just stand back in awe! I'm sure you are speaking English ( well the
American version ;-}) but I don't understand a word of it!
Some day.........
and I thought Cobol was unintelligible sheesh!
Thanks for all the comments team
Tim