HostGator Windows Basic Dedicated Server Hosting Review

HostGator.com offers four different options when it comes to Windows dedicated servers. The HostGator Windows Basic plan is their entry level, fully managed Windows server. Any ASP version can be installed at no additional cost and includes the Plesk 8 control panel. Typically, all servers are setup within a day of the order being placed.

The Windows Basic plan offers exactly what it implies – the basics. It is considered to be the best deal at a monthly cost of $174. Windows Basic includes a Pentium 4 2.4-gigahertz processor, free setup, and is run from Host Gator’s Dallas, Texas datacenter.

So what else are you getting for this price? Well, the memory storage allows for 1,024 gigabytes and there is a 80 gigabyte hard drive, which is not bad for the least expensive package. What sets Windows Basic apart from the rest is its IP address account- it has five and the other plans include 10. Microsoft Expression Web comes standard, and there’s no need for a contract. If you aren’t completely satisfied with your dedicated Windows server, there is a 45-day money-back guarantee, and also a 99.9 percent uptime guarantee.

Windows Basic also offers the capability for hosting unlimited domains, subdomains, MySQL and MsSQL databases, along with FTP accounts. Not to mention the preinstalled streaming video and music, scheduled tasks, ASP.net 1.1, 2.0, 3.0 and 3.5. Email tools include, among others, SMTP, IMAP, mailing lists and groups, auto responders, spam filtering and email alias.

The Plesk control panel gives efficiency to customers, and e-commerce options like private SSL support and instant osCommerce also are built to impress. Web and FTP Statistics add even more to this plan, with AWStats and Webalizer included.

The HostGator Windows Basic dedicated server plan may be their least expensive, but it’s a well-rounded plan that delivers excellent value, good performance, and around the clock server management.