Getting started
Welcome to HostRight
Understand what HostRight provides, which applications you can host, and where HostRight's responsibility ends and yours begins
HostRight is a managed hosting platform for websites and web applications. It gives you the tools needed to publish a project without having to configure, secure, and maintain a server yourself.
You can host a traditional website, deploy an application written in PHP, Node.js, or Python, or install a supported application from the control panel. HostRight also provides the related services your project needs, such as domains, SSL certificates, databases, email accounts, scheduled tasks, and backups.
What is included
A HostRight hosting account includes a control panel where you can manage your websites and the services connected to them.
The exact limits depend on your hosting plan, but the platform can provide:
- Website and application hosting
- PHP, Node.js, and Python runtimes
- Domain and subdomain management
- DNS record management
- Free SSL certificates
- MariaDB databases
- Email accounts and webmail
- Scheduled tasks
- File management
- SFTP and SSH access, where available
- Application and website logs
- Account backups
- One-click application installation
You do not need to install a web server, configure the operating system, or maintain the hosting control panel. HostRight manages these parts of the platform.
Your plan sets limits for resources such as storage, domains, databases, email accounts, CPU, and memory. Applications must stay within those limits.
Supported application types
HostRight supports several ways to publish a website or application.
Static websites
You can host websites made from HTML, CSS, JavaScript, images, and other static files. These also include web apps built with React.JS/Vue.JS/Svelete in SPA mode.
Static hosting is suitable for:
- Landing pages
- Documentation websites
- Personal websites
- Portfolios
- Frontend applications that do not require a server process
- Dashboards
You can upload the files through the control panel or connect using FTP/SFTP. For this you will need to publish the html pages, JS and CSS files into a preconfigured folder connected to a domain, which can be done as part of the CI flow as well. For more detailed guide check the static pages web hosting guide
PHP applications
HostRight supports standard PHP websites and applications. All latest major versions of PHP are supported.
Common examples include:
- Custom PHP websites
- Laravel applications
- WordPress
- WooCommerce
- Content management systems
- PHP-based business applications
You can select a supported PHP version, manage PHP settings, install dependencies with Composer, and connect the application to a database.
Some applications may require specific PHP extensions or configuration values. Check the application requirements before deployment. For more detailed guide check the php app hosting guide
Node.js applications
You can deploy Node.js websites, APIs, and server-rendered applications that work with the supported Node.js hosting environment.
Common examples include:
- Express applications
- Next JS application
- Nuxt JS application
- Svelte Kit applications
- Fastify applications
- MERN Stack*
- Other Server-rendered JavaScript applications
- Backend services with a web interface
Your application must use the port and startup method provided by the hosting platform. You should not hard-code a public port or attempt to bind directly to ports 80 or 443.
For MERN stack; mongodb is not included within HostRight; the correct way to host a MERN stack app will be using mongodb atlas cloud for mongodb and for express using node js and react can be deployed via static file hosting if you are using SPA build; if not then we can use node js app for server rendered app (Next JS, Tanstack Start, etc) as well.
Applications that require unrestricted background processes, custom network ports, Docker, or root access may need a VPS instead. For more detailed guide check the node js app hosting guide
Python applications
HostRight supports Python web applications that can run through the available Python application interface.
Common examples include:
- Django applications
- Flask applications
- Bottle applications
- FastAPI *
- Python APIs
- Custom WSGI applications
You can create a virtual environment, install packages from a requirements file, configure environment variables, and connect the application to a database.
Hostright currently supports WSGI based deployments only. For ASGI servers like one built with fastapi; a adapter needs to be used, for which please check the documentation for Python.
For more detailed guide check the python app hosting guide
One-click applications
The application installer lets you deploy supported software without uploading and configuring every file manually.
Depending on availability, the catalog may include:
- Content management systems
- Online stores
- Forums
- Analytics tools
- File management applications
- Business and collaboration software
The installer handles the initial application files and database configuration. You remain responsible for the application's content, settings, users, plugins, themes, and updates. For more detailed guide check the one click app hosting guide
Applications that may require a VPS
Managed shared hosting works well for many websites and web applications, but it does not provide unrestricted access to the underlying server.
A VPS may be a better fit when an application requires:
- Root or administrator access
- Docker or another container runtime
- Custom operating system packages
- A custom web server configuration
- Private network services
- Unrestricted listening ports
- Long-running background daemons
- Dedicated CPU or memory
- Kernel-level configuration
- Full control over database services
- Software that is not supported by the hosting environment
Check the application's installation requirements before choosing a hosting plan.
Managed hosting compared with a VPS
Both managed hosting and a VPS can run websites, but they give you different levels of access and responsibility.
| Area | HostRight managed hosting | VPS |
|---|---|---|
| Initial server setup | HostRight prepares the hosting environment | You configure the server |
| Operating system | Managed by HostRight | Managed by you |
| Web server | Configured and maintained by HostRight | Installed and configured by you |
| Security updates | Applied to the hosting platform by HostRight | Applied by you |
| Control panel | Included | Optional and usually installed separately |
| Root access | Not provided | Usually provided |
| Application deployment | You deploy through the supported tools | You choose and configure the deployment method |
| Runtime configuration | Available within supported settings | Fully configurable |
| Resource isolation | Controlled by your hosting plan | Controlled by the VPS size and configuration |
| Server monitoring | HostRight monitors the hosting platform | You monitor the server |
| Backups | Provided according to the HostRight backup policy | You configure and maintain them |
| Flexibility | Limited to supported features | Broad system-level control |
| Administration work | Low | Moderate to high |
Managed hosting is intended for customers who want to publish a website or application without becoming the server administrator.
A VPS gives you more control, but that control comes with more work. You are responsible for securing the server, installing software, configuring the firewall, maintaining backups, monitoring resource usage, and responding to system failures.
Note: "Managed hosting" refers to the hosting platform. It does not mean HostRight manages your application code, content, plugins, dependencies, or business data.
What HostRight manages
HostRight manages the infrastructure and shared services used to run your hosting account.
This includes:
- The underlying hosting servers
- The server operating system
- Core web and application services
- The hosting control panel
- Supported runtime installations
- Platform-level security updates
- Network connectivity for the hosting service
- Resource limits and account isolation
- SSL certificate tools
- DNS hosting tools
- Database and email services
- Platform logs
- Backup systems covered by the backup policy
HostRight also investigates problems with the hosting platform itself. Examples include a control panel that cannot be reached, a supported runtime that fails across multiple accounts, or a platform service that is unavailable.
What you manage
You are responsible for the website or application you place on HostRight.
This includes:
- Your application source code
- Application configuration
- Environment variables and secrets
- Framework and package dependencies
- Database schemas and application data
- Website content
- User accounts within your application
- WordPress plugins and themes
- CMS and application updates
- Domain registration and renewal
- DNS records managed outside HostRight
- Email account passwords
- Testing application changes
- Reviewing application logs
- Removing unused files and data
- Keeping your own copy of critical information
You are also responsible for confirming that your application is compatible with the runtime versions and features available on your plan.
HostRight does not automatically update custom applications, repair application code, resolve programming errors, or test changes made by you or another developer.
Shared responsibilities
Some areas require action from both HostRight and the customer.
Website security
HostRight secures and maintains the hosting platform. You must secure your application.
You should:
- Keep frameworks and dependencies updated
- Install security updates for your CMS
- Remove unused plugins and themes
- Protect account passwords
- Store secrets outside public files
- Review unexpected application changes
- Restrict access to administration pages
A secure server cannot protect an application that contains vulnerable code or exposed credentials.
SSL certificates
HostRight provides tools for issuing and renewing SSL certificates. Your domain must point to the correct HostRight server before a certificate can be issued.
You are responsible for:
- Connecting the correct domain
- Keeping the domain registration active
- Configuring external DNS correctly
- Updating application URLs to use HTTPS
- Fixing mixed content within the website
Backups
HostRight creates backups according to the backup policy for your service.
You should still keep an independent copy of important files, databases, and business data. A hosting backup should not be the only copy of information that cannot be replaced.
Backup availability, frequency, retention, and restore options depend on the applicable service policy.
Performance
HostRight maintains the performance of the hosting platform and applies the resource limits assigned to your plan.
You are responsible for the performance of your application code, database queries, plugins, themes, images, and scheduled tasks.
A slow application may need code changes, caching, database optimization, or a larger hosting plan.
Before you publish a project
Confirm the following before deploying an application:
- The application supports one of the available runtimes.
- Its required runtime version is available.
- It does not require root access or Docker.
- Its storage and resource needs fit within your plan.
- Its required database type is supported.
- It can run through the hosting platform's application interface.
- You have a copy of the application files and database.
- You know which environment variables and secrets it requires.
Applications with unusual server requirements should be reviewed before deployment.