Choosing a provider

Server version

Today, hosting services are mostly of the apache style on linux with php 5 and mysql 5, so everything’s fine with the version.

What basics should a hosting service offer?

For basic competences, with no direct link to WordPress:

• Access to an admin console, including phpmyadmin
• At least one mysql database, 5 bases allowing to test different cmss
• The possibility to create sub-domains of a domain, such as “Thisisatest.myblog.com”
• The possibility to host a few sites (with different domain names)
• The possibility to create synonymous domains (different domain names all aiming at the same site)
• At least 10 email addresses + a webmail, in order to check mail on the web
• Minimum disk space of 2 or 3 gigas
• Ftp access, if possible secured such as ftps
• Daily database backups
• Email support (ticket style)

What does WordPress require?

The subtleties peculiar to Wordpres are then¹ :

• For linux, preferably an apache web server.
• Apache’s mod_rewrite module must be installed. If it’s not activated, do so with the .htaccess file. It enables clean urls without ?p=, better for referencing purposes.
• Remote connections authorization (I think they mean “allow_url_fopen”, which allows, for example, to display rss feeds and can be changed in .htaccess).
• In my experience, a un memory_limit under 32 Mo can create problems.
• A 10-second max_execution_time should be enough.
• Put mod_security in stand-by in order to avoid mysterious bugs depending on the content you post. You can also modify this in .htaccess.
• Last, safe_mode should be on off otherwise wordpress gets mixed-up upon creating folders in upload.

Installing wordpress on your hosting service

Once you’ve found the right hosting service, check out the doc that explains how to install WordPress.

1. see http://codex.wordpress.org/User:Hakre/Technical_Installation [↩]

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