Finding a Web Hoster

[Bruce Maston]

It seems it is becoming harder and harder to find a (cheap) web hoster with a
shared server that will allow Access as the frontend with SQL Server as the
backend.

My app fills Access form fields with data retrieved from the database -- I
would think this is a fairly typical configuration.

But my recent host suddenly "migrated" me to a new server, the app crashed,
and I was told they "no longer allow remote connections."

I found what I thought was a replacement, asked specifically about Access as
the frontend, etc., but have just learned that you can only get to the server
as an administrator using SQL Management Studio.

The problem is that it is tedious to wade through each host's website to
figure out what they offer. Thus my question:

Is there a list of hosters that anyone knows of that supports what I'm
trying to do? Has this type of usage via an ODBC connection been deprecated?

 

[Tom van Stiphout]

On Mon, 1 Dec 2008 18:27:01 -0800, Bruce Maston

I've never heard of an ISP that supports that, except on a dedicated
machine (USD100+/mon).
Why not host it yourself?

-Tom.
Microsoft Access MVP

 

[Bruce Maston]

I did have my own server for a while (kinda neat), but I no longer can get
DSL that would provide a static IP address. My only connection to the
internet is through RoadRunner. The cable modem services such as RR randomly
change your IP address, and it would be necessary to change the VBA code for
the connection string on all machines whenever that happened.

There were practical problems with running my own server such as power
outages when I was not in the office to reboot, etc.

I've had this database hosted on a number of shared servers at about
$15/month over the past 8 years (most recently easycgi.com), and what happens
is that these hosters either go out of business or merge. (Whenever you get
the dreaded notification that a hoster is "partnering" to "improve service,"
it means they have sold their client list and are gone.)

It would not be cost effective to have a dedicated server at $100/month.

I understand the concept of asp pages, but I would need to re-write my
application. From your reply, it seems that the way I am using Access has
essentially been abandoned for all but the "big boys."

 

[George]

Check out J Street. http://www.jstreettech.com/cartgenie/pg_hosting.asp
The support hosting as you describe. SS BE with remote access via an Access
FE.

It's not cheap, but way less than $100 a month for a dedicated server.

 

[George]

For the sake of full disclosure, I should add that J Street is run by a
friend, Armen Stein, who is also an Access MVP.

 

[Bruce Maston]

Thank you for the input. I did stumble on another hoster yesterday
www.webhost4life.com at a reasonable price. But for anyone making inquiries,
it is essential to be *very* sure that the hoster understands what you want
to do. I contacted one site, and the sales person who answered did not
understand what 'frontend' meant.