SA Developer .NET

Hi,

Just curious if anybody knows of a web host that offers application hosting as well. What I mean is I want to run my website on a server, and have a windows application (that does background functionality like processing data etc.) running on the same server as well. Is there a host in SA that does something like that?

Thanks... 

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Hi Heat,

My company used to use WebAfrica's hosting solutions in the past. We had our own server, that hosted all our websites, even the D.B driven ones. We had direct RDP access to the server, so we could do what we wanted, WebAfrica made sure regular backups of the server were taken, updates installed, etc. If I remember correctly we loaded up our own SQL Server version because if they have to do it, (i.e. carry licencing costs), they charge you extra per month. Another good place to look at is Absol (http://www.absol.co.za) and GamCo (http://www.gam.co.za/)

Is this what you're talking about?

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The Question is the Answer, and the Answer is the Question!

Unfortunately most web hosting companies don't offer such functionality. However I believe VoxRox makes it cheaper through their virtualised servers (http://www.voxel.net/voxel_what_voxrox.php).

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horatio:

Hi Heat,

My company used to use WebAfrica's hosting solutions in the past. We had our own server, that hosted all our websites, even the D.B driven ones. We had direct RDP access to the server, so we could do what we wanted, WebAfrica made sure regular backups of the server were taken, updates installed, etc. If I remember correctly we loaded up our own SQL Server version because if they have to do it, (i.e. carry licencing costs), they charge you extra per month. Another good place to look at is Absol (http://www.absol.co.za) and GamCo (http://www.gam.co.za/)

Is this what you're talking about?

Yip, that's exactly what I was talking about... I was however hoping I wouldn't have to pay that much, I just want a little space (like 1Gig), but it seems I have no choice...

CraigN:

Unfortunately most web hosting companies don't offer such functionality. However I believe VoxRox makes it cheaper through their virtualised servers (http://www.voxel.net/voxel_what_voxrox.php). 

Yeah, but those prices look roundabout the same as other prices I've seen... Just curious though, do you think there would be a market for this? Because since it seems I have no choice in renting a whole server, perhaps I can resell some space to try and cover some of the costs and offer application hosting as part of the package... all .Net though...

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"I would love to change the world, but they won't give me the source code"
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Heat_Rash:

Hi,

Just curious if anybody knows of a web host that offers application hosting as well. What I mean is I want to run my website on a server, and have a windows application (that does background functionality like processing data etc.) running on the same server as well. Is there a host in SA that does something like that?

Thanks... 

What about doing the processing from your web site?  Then you could have a client call web services to provide the schedule.

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Unscrambling Eggs: Decompiling ASP.NET

ProfK:

What about doing the processing from your web site?  Then you could have a client call web services to provide the schedule.

I need to be able to cater for future dated events, like say someone put in an event that needs to occur two months from now, on that day I'll need to process that record... I think I'm going to go with webafrica, thanks for the help ppls...  

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"I would love to change the world, but they won't give me the source code"
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Pleasure.

 

Just be sure to make it clear to them to not install updates to .NET or SQL or anything else, unless they ask you. They screwed up our one server royally once when they installed .NET 3.0 on our .NET 2.0 server.

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The Question is the Answer, and the Answer is the Question!

There are some hacks (patterns) for doing background processing using ASP.NET.  It basically involves using cache expiry to kick off batch processing.  Basically, on your home page, masterpage or anywhere else for that matter, add an item to the cache with an absolute expiry set (say 01:00 am) and but your batch processing code on the CacheItemRemovedCallback delegate.  Voila.  Cheap batch processing.

Many years ago a local web host called Altonet (www.altonet.co.za) would do this exact thing for just a little bit extra each month (Like R20 to R50). Not sure if they are still doing it or would still. Maybe worth a look?

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Robert MacLean
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Delphiza:

There are some hacks (patterns) for doing background processing using ASP.NET.  It basically involves using cache expiry to kick off batch processing.  Basically, on your home page, masterpage or anywhere else for that matter, add an item to the cache with an absolute expiry set (say 01:00 am) and but your batch processing code on the CacheItemRemovedCallback delegate.  Voila.  Cheap batch processing.

I'm going to have to remember to try this one day. Nice tip!

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rmaclean:

Many years ago a local web host called Altonet (www.altonet.co.za) would do this exact thing for just a little bit extra each month (Like R20 to R50). Not sure if they are still doing it or would still. Maybe worth a look?

I've checked out their website and it doesn't look like it from there. Either way I've actually decide to change my business plan and go a whole different route, so I don't need this anymore.

Delphiza:

There are some hacks (patterns) for doing background processing using ASP.NET.  It basically involves using cache expiry to kick off batch processing.  Basically, on your home page, masterpage or anywhere else for that matter, add an item to the cache with an absolute expiry set (say 01:00 am) and but your batch processing code on the CacheItemRemovedCallback delegate.  Voila.  Cheap batch processing.

Good tip and a definite nice to know... however this will obviously only work if you know there are never any IIS resets or other events happening that destroy your cache, correct?

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"I would love to change the world, but they won't give me the source code"
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While not a perfect solution and outright dissuaded by some hosting companies, it is possible to run a simple scheduled process from within Application state....

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