http://support.webhostingpad.com/index.php?_m=knowledgebase&_a=viewarticle&kbarticleid=30&nav=0,4

SSL certificates

SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) certificates are used to protect information from the user when it submits to the website and the data that comes from the web server. Protection is important for sites that accept credit card payments as well as other important info including passwords, logins, customer info, etc. SSL authenticates with third party that the site you are accessing is the right site (prevents possible phishing), and then encrypts the data. Online stores, banks must have dedicated SSL. This will help increase sales and the customer will be more confident when it he sees the seal and the https prefix in the address bar.

Before you publish you can see live preview of the site. This editor is RVSiteBuilder Lite and it is advanced online site builder. Demo is not available on webhostingpad.com but maybe elsewhere, google to find. It have never been easier to create a website in seconds.

Webhostingpad nameservers are:
ns1.webhostingpad.com
n2.webhostingpad.com

This nameservers should be added at your domain registrar in order your site to resolve to webhostingpad servers.

Nameservers

Nameservers use protocol that helps internet to works. They replace numbers (in this case IP addresses) with namespaces (domain names). The resolution begins when users types the web address (domain name) in the address bar of the browser and hits return (button enter or clicks go). The browser asks internet connection's configured nameserver for the location of the domain name (the IP address of the domain name). If that server currently does not hold a cache, it asks parent server for the location. If the parent server still does not have the IP address of the domain name, then a request is send to the root server which have all domain names and their corresponding authorative nameservers. Once the browsers knows which are the nameservers, it sends request for the IP address. Once it gets response it connects to that IP address and request the web page in question.

phpBB (short for PHP Bulletin Board) is a popular free forum software in PHP programming language licensed under GNU General Public License (GPL). For storage of settings, posts, users and other data it uses database system, several are supported including MySQL, PostgreSQL, Oracle, MS SQL and others. PHPBB competes with several paid (vbulletin) and sevaral free forum solutions (mybb, punbb, simplemachines and others). Have many features including subforums, users/usergroups with powerful permission system(admin, moderators), flood control, acls ( acess control lists), reports, avatars, visual confirmation (captcha, to prevent automatic user registration), categories and many other features. Template system(styles) is integrated and separates code from design. For developers there is a a extension system (modifications) for adding new features without altering core phpbb code. phpBB requires a Web server (preferably Apache Httpd) with PHP support, and some of the databases mentioned above. It runs best on the LAMP setup (Linux Apache MySQL PHP).

WebhostingPad phpBB Test

I tested phpBB on webhostingpad and it run without any problems. I installed with Fantastico one-click installer tool. From the tests I can recommend webhostingpad as a phpbb host.

File Transfer Protocol (FTP for short) is a protocol for transferring files and folders (though other commands are supported too) over TCP/IP (the Internet as we know it). FTP is a client-server protocol, and it requires software to be installed on both side of the hosts that want to exchange files. Popular FTP client is FileZilla, works on linux, windows and mac. With FileZilla you can also create new files and folders, download files, change permissions with files and folders and do many other things on the server. FTP is good for transferring large number of files, otherwise you should use cPanel File Manager for changing files or uploading small number of files.

WebhostingPad FTP

On web hosting pad FTP is supported. New (unlimited) accounts can be created via FTP manager cPanel tool and permissions can be setup for accounts (quota - how much megabytes can be transferred) - this is handy if you want to give access to colleagues or friends to some folders on your site. On my test with webhostingpad the speed was good.

The response time is also excellent with an average of 0.682 seconds.

This report shows that the uptime and response time have been excellent and this is good plus for Webhostingpad.

If you select one-year then you get $3.45 monthly price = 12*3.45 = $41.4 for one year, $82.8 for two years, $124.2 for three years and $165.6  for four years.

If you select two-year annual payment then the price is $2.95 monthly. and for two years you pay $70.8 (save $12).

For three year payment the price is $1.99 monthly and for three years payment that is $71.64 – 15 = $56.64 (save $67.56!)

So the best discount for you is on the 3 years plan with the coupon "15OFF" . I have tested it and it works, but you should here up and signup with web hosting pad, because the coupon may expire. This blog is hosted by webhostingpad and so far I have not had any problems whatsoever with them. The uptime is great and there are many features available.

cPanel

cPanel is the industry leader control panel for managing your web hosting needs. It offers many tools to manage almost anything you need for your website. Whether it is databases, configurations, FTP accounts, subdomains or addon domains, have its own ajax based file manager with ability to extract archives and many other tools. It is very simple and easy to use panel.

PHP,  MySQL

PHP and MySQL are the most popular web programming language and database system respectively. With these two you can create almost any type of website whether it is blog, forum, social network. Popular scripts like wordpress, drupal, joomla, phpbb are using php and mysql to create sites.

FTP

You can setup FTP accounts in cpanel and setup quotas (how much megabytes can be transferred - uploading/downloading) and permissions for files and folders.

Overall their hosting plan is really great at the price of only $1.99/monthly if payed annually. In my opinion this plan is best for personal sites/blogs.