Please read these FAQ's before going further. A lot of your questions may be answered here. However, if you need further help, CLICK HERE.
If you have a question or are not sure how to do something, most likely you will find the answer here or on one of the connecting pages. (Please see below for links to more detailed answers.)
If you don't find the answer to your question(s) in these pages, please email us and we will reply as quickly as possible.
In order to have a website on the vast, linked network of computers known as the Internet, a web site must reside on a host computer (World Wide Web server). Virtual Web Hosting gives your web site a home on our web servers and establishes your presence on the internet. Our servers are always on and connected to the Internet 24/7 and monitored so your site is always active.
A Virtual Domain means having your own domain (http://www.yourname.com) without having to install expensive server hardware and software. With a Virtual Domain, you utilize our server's storage space, however, you are still professionally represented via your own personal Internet web address domain name (www.yourname.com) and by your own personal e-mail address domain name (yourname@yourname.com).
Can I access my site with or without the 'www'?
With our services you can access your site with both (www.yourname.com) and without (yourname.com).
What steps do I need to take to set up an account?
Simply sign up with us by filling out our online order form. We will do the rest and you will receive an e-mail containing all the information you need to access your account.
Does it matter which Internet Service Provider I use (e.g. Comcast, AT&T, IBM.net, etc...)?
Any ISP is fine. As long as you have an Internet connection you will be able to access our servers to make updates to your site.
My ISP already gives me some web space, why do I need your services?
Your ISP will not give you your own domain, multiple custom e-mail accounts, or any of the other features we offer. Also, ISPs who offer web hosting have slow connections because of all of the dial-up users; we do not offer dial-up Internet access for this reason.
What is a URL?
It stands for "universal resource locator." This is the address typed in to view your web page on the Internet. For example, you would type in http://www.hotfrogwebsolutions.com to access our home page.
What is a domain name?
A domain name is a specific web site address that you choose and register with the official registrar of domain names, ending in .com, .edu, .gov, and a number of other extensions.
Do you host foreign domains?
Yes we host all types of domains foreign and domestic.
Do you host pornographic or hacker sites?
No.
Do you allow me to send mass unsolicited e-mail?
No. Note that sending out a newsletter that people sign up for is acceptable, but unsolicited spamming is not.
Do you provide support for my Internet access?
We provide technical suport for hosting issues and website issues only. We do not provide technical support for your connection to the Internet. Please talk to your ISP provider. However, please drop us any questions on our Contact page if you encounter any problem where you think our help is needed.
How can I make payments on my account?
We accept checks or money orders, and credit cards via PayPal; however we need to receive payment before we set up your account.
Accounts are paid in advance and must be current. Any account 10 days in arrears will be sent a reminder, and any account in arrears for 20 days will be suspended and will be assessed a $20 late fee.
A $30 fee will be charged for any insufficient funds check and the account will be immediately suspended until brought current. More than one occurrence of an insufficient funds check in a 6-month period may be cause for termination of the account.
When you say annually, do you mean pay you all the money up front, or pay monthly for one year?
You must pay the full year at once in order to receive the yearly discount.
Do you charge additional fees for using the mySQL database?
It's included for free.
Do you offer any type of discounts?
Yes, we offer discounts to schools and non-profit organizations. Call us for more information.
What is "site maintenance?"
Site maintenance is a fee-paid monthly service to keep your site updated with new content that you provide. Most good web sites have new content updated regularly to keep the site "dynamic." This is an optional service we provide for our customers. If you want to maintain your website yourself, you can do so.
How long does it take to get my account set up?
Most accounts are set up within 24 hours of payment. Once set up, an activation notice will be sent to you via e-mail which includes your username, password, IP address and getting started information.
How do I get a domain name?
You may use any registrar you chose; however, we can take care of it for you quickly and easily.
Do you support Macintosh systems?
Yes. You can use the Fetch program or our web-based file manager to transfer files from your MAC System to our system. You can also use Telnet and the POP e-mail programs like Eudora, Claris E-mail and Netscape Mail.
I prefer to use a Content Managment System. Do you support that?
Yes, we support all types of Content Management Systems such as Mambo or Joomla, and also, phpBB forums.
I want a blog. Do you do those?
Yes. Our staff can set up a blog in WordPress or any of a number of blog applications.
I need a shopping cart. Can you set one up for me?
Yes, absolutely. We can set you up with a PayPal shopping cart, a Zen Cart shopping site, or any other shopping cart program you prefer to use.
Are your servers connected 24 hours a day, 7 days a week? If not, when and why are they disconnected?
Barring unforeseen events beyond our control, our servers are connected and always monitored for maximum up-time.
What web server does your servers run? (Apache, Netscape, or...?)
Apache
What are your server types: NT? UNIX? Both? Other?
We offer both Linux and Windows servers.
What programs can be used to access e-mail?
All POP clients can be used - any program which downloads the files from our server onto your computer. You cannot use IMAP programs.
What is an e-mail alias and is it unlimited?
An e-mail alias means if you send mail to webmaster@yourname.com, that address is aliased to whomever needs to receive it. It can be one person or multiple people; however, you need it structured. It is unlimited; get as many as you need for no extra charge!
What do autoresponders do and are they included? How many?
An autoresponder is similar to an alias, but it also will send an automatic reply back to the sender. You can have an unlimited number of autoresponders for no additional cost.
Do you have a database system? Cold Fusion? mySQL? Other?
We use mySQL.
Do you have FTP and FTP Anonymous access?
Yes, we provide both FTP and FTP Anonymous access.
Do you have a limit on the FTP transfer?
No, there is no limit. You can update your pages an unlimited amount of times, at any time you wish. FTP updates do not count as bandwidth transfer.
Do you use SSL technology?
Yes, we use Apache-SSL (several times more secure than Netscape SSL).
What kind of support does Hot Frog offer?
We encourage our customers, whether they are hosting or design customers or both, to send us a support request e-mail via our Contact page. E-mail support is around-the-clock with technical emergencies addressed first and support issues handled in the order they are received.
