Multimedia features can be quite unique when it comes to web hosting. There are some very important factors that go into the creation and web hosting of a multimedia site.The factors that play an integral role in the web hosting of a multimedia site are:

* Space ? Most multimedia sites have music and video archives that browsers can go through. So an estimate of the library space needs to be made in the initial stages, and there should be an extra 30% disk space that will allow for expansion.
* Bandwidth ? Streaming videos and music require a lot of bandwidth, and an average multimedia site can easily be above 1 Mb file size.
* CPU/ RAM Usage ? This is extremely necessary for a multimedia web hosting service. A server will have only a particular processing and RAM power, and a lot more people get suspended for over-usage of CPU/ RAM.
* Technical Support ? For the successful web hosting of a multimedia site, a fast and efficient technical support team is needed to resolve the frequent troubles that will come up.

You are right. In any case if you want to start your own web site you'd better have low end VPS. In any case that would be better then so called media hosting.

Check out peer1 as well... They are specialised in multimedia hosting...

Some web hosts allow yo get started with shared web hosting account designed for those web application. I believe that is reasonable. In any way you will be able to upgrate your plan once you want it.

In any way you will be able to upgrate your plan once you want it.

Not correct: as soon as your web hosting provider want you to upgrade

Yeah, that's right. Starting your venture with VPS would be better, you will be able to host your multimedia applications and softwares, and as VPS doesn't share the resources it will provide you high-performance and high availability as well. For a beginner dedicated hosting will be much costly.

Originally Posted by Bennie

Yeah, that's right. Starting your venture with VPS would be better, you will be able to host your multimedia applications and softwares, and as VPS doesn't share the resources it will provide you high-performance and high availability as well. For a beginner dedicated hosting will be much costly.

Not necessarily - when you are first starting out not only will a shared hosting plan that supports your multimedia application(s) suit your needs fine but it will be more cost-effective

and as VPS doesn't share the resources it will provide you high-performance and high availability as well.

The no sharing of resources is a double edged sword. It means that others' usage won't bother your VPS, but it also means that high traffic may bring your VPS down. After all, a VPS is just a small part of a full server.

The no sharing of resources is a double edged sword. It means that others' usage won't bother your VPS, but it also means that high traffic may bring your VPS down. After all, a VPS is just a small part of a full server.

Indeed. But that is like dedicated server and you are allowed to do what you need within it.

CPU/ RAM Usage ? This is extremely necessary for a multimedia web hosting service. A server will have only a particular processing and RAM power, and a lot more people get suspended for over-usage of CPU/ RAM.

I would highlight that if I were the author. That is very very important for media sites.

Its ideal to go with shared hosting, if you are new in this field.It is worth to use, when your needs arise then shift it with dedicated server.

You have to take care that, with a VPS you have guaranteed CPU and RAM, some "cheap" Providers are not offering this.

You have to take care that, with a VPS you have guaranteed CPU and RAM, some "cheap" Providers are not offering this.

Low end VPS costs as rule $20-25 per month. You are right. However I have seen some web hosting companies provide low end VPS for very low price and I do not think that is good quality there.

Originally Posted by WebhostGIANT-Rob

Low end VPS costs as rule $20-25 per month. You are right. However I have seen some web hosting companies provide low end VPS for very low price and I do not think that is good quality there.

Agreed. I'd be very weary of VPS providers that offer plans for less than $20/month - they tend to have very sketchy service

Very good points indeed but I'd love to emphasize point #3!

RAM! You want a good amount of it to keep things stable which is probably one of the single most important things! You want things to run smooth.

That is why I always recommend at least 1 GB of RAM. My host has 1 GB standard on like all VPS packages! If you look at all of the good hosts, they will have 1 GB standard.

Well I was in a similar situation for a while.. I finally decided to go with Amazon's S3 service.. and I don't regret it haha.. There are a couple other large CDN networks, but Amazon is dirt cheap and so far extremely reliable.

I have over 1 million files (photo's and mp3s) hosting on S3, using four different sub domains (CNAME in DNS records) and it's flawless.. took my bandwidth issues down to nothing lol.

Over time, if you're site traffic is growing this is an awesome option... Just my opinion, but if you don't mind going CDN and you want a bit more reliability and support check out RackSpace Cloud Files.. I've used that with a client of mine it's very nice too.

I finally decided to go with Amazon's S3 service..

You know I have seen a lot of users chose them only