Need help choosing a plan

[godbois]

I'm looking for a host for a couple of pet / pro bono projects for friends and family. I'll have several domains.

I think the baby plan is best for me. I don't need a toll-free number, SSL or an anonymous FTP. If I do, I suppose I can always upgrade.

My questions:

• What advantages do I get with the dedicated IP offered in the business plan? Is it really needed for a couple of small scale projects?
• Since I have unlimited domains, will I be able to slice up my baby or business account per domain? My projects involve a couple of different people and are unrelated. I'd rather not have my aunt be able to access my best friend's guitar blog by accident. Or will I need a reseller account? I don't really care about custom branding with my name or making money selling web space.
• How does this work? I intend to purchase several domains and use them with my Hostgator account. Do I just purchase them with a registrar like GoDaddy and direct them here? I've read that the first domain name transfer is free, but what about number two and number three?
  
  

Thanks.

[mrintech]

Originally Posted by godbois

My questions:

• What advantages do I get with the dedicated IP offered in the business plan? Is it really needed for a couple of small scale projects?
• Since I have unlimited domains, will I be able to slice up my baby or business account per domain? My projects involve a couple of different people and are unrelated. I'd rather not have my aunt be able to access my best friend's guitar blog by accident. Or will I need a reseller account? I don't really care about custom branding with my name or making money selling web space.
• How does this work? I intend to purchase several domains and use them with my Hostgator account. Do I just purchase them with a registrar like GoDaddy and direct them here? I've read that the first domain name transfer is free, but what about number two and number three

1. Dedicated IP Address will separate your site from other Websites which are using the same IP Address on the shared server - May be good for SEO

Also dedicated IP Address is useful if you want to install SSL Certificate on your Primary Domain

2. You cannot slice different cPanel Account in Baby and Business Plan. You'll get only 1 cPanel Account where you can add Unlimited Number of Domains

If you want to create different cPanel Accounts, you need a Reseller Plan

3. You can register your Domain from GoDaddy or any other registrar. Just enter the Nameserver Address (like NSxxxx.hostgator.com and NSxxxy.hostgator.com) in the Domain Setup/Nameserver Page, your domain will start pointing to HG Server after Propagation

HostGator will move your Primary Domain for free (more information here and here). Regarding other Domains the best way is to contact HG: http://www.hostgator.com/contact.shtml

[EarlyOut]

Originally Posted by godbois

How does this work? I intend to purchase several domains and use them with my Hostgator account. Do I just purchase them with a registrar like GoDaddy and direct them here? I've read that the first domain name transfer is free, but what about number two and number three?

You can register your domains anywhere, including Hostgator. You just point the nameservers to your Hostgator hosting account. It's not necessary to transfer the domain registrations themselves to Hostgator.

If you actually do want to transfer a domain registered elsewhere, the first one is free.

Registration of a domain and hosting of a domain are two separate, essentially unrelated things.

[gwyneth]

Originally Posted by EarlyOut

If you actually do want to transfer a domain registered elsewhere, the first one is free.

???

I could be wrong, but thought the "first one" referred to sites hosted elsewhere. Transferring the registration doesn't usually cost (except for normal annual registration fees).

But if the OP hasn't registered any domains yet, it's a moot point--there's nothing to transfer.

godbois, lots of people do use different companies for registering and for hosting.

[EarlyOut]

Originally Posted by gwyneth

I could be wrong, but thought the "first one" referred to sites hosted elsewhere. Transferring the registration doesn't usually cost (except for normal annual registration fees).

Why yes, you are wrong! Read the link: https://secure.hostgator.com/freedomaintransfer.php

The "free" part of it is a one-year renewal of the registration. For any other transfer, the transfer itself is free, but you have to renew for a year when you do the transfer.

It applies only to a new HG account, and only to the primary domain, apparently.