Solutions for e-commerce

[sairam06]

Hi,

I am planning to start an e-commerce business. I am not sure where to start. I have lots of question. I appreciate if any one can help me. Thanks in advance.

1. What kind of server is best to host ecommerce business?
Linux? or Windows.NET 2003 Web server? Or Microsoft commerce server?
2. Whether Database and Web Server should reside on same server (or) for database one server and Web hosting another server?
3. Most likely I will make use of a web-hosting company to host? Given my situation what options I have?
4. How are other startup companies host their e-commerce business?
5. How many web hits a Pentium IV, 2Ghz system can support per minute?
6. Which is easy to implement? Linux/Php/MySQL (or) .NET 2003 and SQL Server (or) .NET 2003 and MySql?
7. What if my website receives lots of web-hits? If my Server can't respond immediately?
8. I am estimating that first 6 months I will not be making any money. I myself develop the application and site. So the only cost involved is cost for web-hosting company and advertisement cost. Is my assumptions are correct?

Thanks in advance.
:)

[klause]

1. What kind of server is best to host ecommerce business?
Linux? or Windows.NET 2003 Web server? Or Microsoft commerce server?

You have 2 choice, Linux or Windows 2003. (You will be more keen in windows 2003 if you wish to develop your application in ASP.net or ASP)

2. Whether Database and Web Server should reside on same server (or) for database one server and Web hosting another server?

In good practice, database server should be seperated from web server. However, if you don't have large number of hits, it's possible to run both on the same server.

3. Most likely I will make use of a web-hosting company to host? Given my situation what options I have?

You can either co-locate your server , buy a dedicated server or get a hosting account (do remember, getting a hosting account means you have to share your server with other customers)

p.s.: heh.. on a sidenote, I provide windows 2003 hosting(only company in singapore to offer windows 2003 hosting with HELM control panel now)

4. How are other startup companies host their e-commerce business?

Most start off by hosting with a hosting company, and when their site gets a lot of visitors or transactions, they can upgrade to a dedicated or co-locate their own server.

5. How many web hits a Pentium IV, 2Ghz system can support per minute?

Cannot comment on this. There's too many factor to consider, e.g. how efficient is your application, how many ppl is sharing your server, what's the bandwidth of the server, memory, etc etc. But a P IV 2.4Ghz is more than enuf to handle plenty of 'normal' transactions

6. Which is easy to implement? Linux/Php/MySQL (or) .NET 2003 and SQL Server (or) .NET 2003 and MySql?

MySQL is free, MSSQL is very very expensive(cost more than 6k).

I will prefer to use Windows 2003 Server + MySQL or Linux + MySQL.

7. What if my website receives lots of web-hits? If my Server can't respond immediately?

It boils down to how your program your application. If you program very efficiently with very good coding. You wont have any lost transaction. User will simply experience some delay in response. When your site starts to slow down, then it's time to upgrade.

8. I am estimating that first 6 months I will not be making any money. I myself develop the application and site. So the only cost involved is cost for web-hosting company and advertisement cost. Is my assumptions are correct?

Web-hosting / advert (hardware+Software licence if you choose co-locate).

Hope these helps :) Msg me or call me 94784518 if you wish to chat more or check to see if I got any offer to give you. :-)

MSN: shen.yizhe@yizhe.com
ICQ: 69480363

Regards
Yizhe

[icelava]

sairam06, I am sorry to say this but it is in your best interest to hire a skilled administrator to provide you with technical council. If you as a lead developer and architect cannot plot these figures then physical expertise is what you need.

[Sghost]

Hire a good of developers and get it done for you with your specifications.

[Del_CtrlnoAlt]

actually i have the same sets of questions as sairam...
i can get oscommerce to do the ecommerce shopping cart or just buy the ecube. total cost would be about 300-400 for 300-400mb of space from hosting.

but if i were to let some other developers do, it would cost about 800-900 depending. basically also using oscommerce since its open source so therefore free.


still thinking, should i do myself or not.

[Prince]

Me thinking of setting up e-commerce too .... got recommendation to use OScommerce because its free. And if you know how to implement/administer, why not DIY. Definitely save a lot from it.

Why do biz ? Reason is to earn $$ isnt it ? So why dwell into spending so much even before you earn ? <- Just my theory .... might not be applicable to everyone :)

[Marcus Lau]

Basically, setup OScommerce as your ecommerce platform. Till you save enough than purchase a commercial script since it comes with better support and other services.

[sairam06]

Thanks every one for your feedback. Let us keep the topic going. currently I have delayed the project for 3 months as I am planning to host this in ASP.NEt environment as I am familiar with ASP and VB. Currently I am in the process of learning .NET. Even though OSCommerce is available but my site require few customisation which are quite unique and different. I do not have the expertise in mySQL and php. So I thought I will start with what I know and familiar. once if I make $$ I can switch . But I am quite sure that my site will have lots of hits as my business model is very unique.

[userguy]

Yes. Agreed. You should start with something that you are familiar with before you implement a language foreign to you on your server and you do not know what can the language do and what kind of flaws/loopholes does it have. Anyway, an ASP.net e-commerce script that you might want to try is eShop-Server (http://www.eshop-server.com) which is free.

[icelava]

Originally posted by sairam06
I am familiar with ASP and VB. Currently I am in the process of learning .NET.Then you should be well aware that .NET is a radical departure from classic ASP and VB. It pays tremendously if you're well-versed with Object Oriented Programming and architecture.

Pre-built Commerce starter kit by the ASP.NET team to get you going
http://asp.net/CommerceStarterKit/