The Credit System

You will notice that the term "Free Web Hosting" is used on the site frequently but you will hardly ever see the term "free web space" on this site. This is because there is a difference between the two.

Free Web Hosting at AstaHost or Trap17 is the same kind of web hosting that is usually paid for. This means that you will have a complete and fully featured hosting account that will allow the use of any scripts you wish which means you'll have your own CGI-BIN, database creation and usage, multiple email accounts, multiple FTP accounts, multiple sub-domains, domain hosting, an IP address, and you will be the webmaster of your website. There will not be any advertising banners on your website unless you put them there.

Free web space on the otherhand is were someone else is using their website to provide their users with a place to store and display web pages and images. Sometimes these accounts come with an email address. Generally speaking, all file uploades are done via a web based file manager and your web pages are altered to display advertising banners and whatnot. Rarely will you ever be able to host any server side scripts such as php or perl on one of the websites.

If you are looking for the link to upload you files, then you have misunderstood how our hosting works.

Here is the system at our site:

1. Read the Terms Of Service, Acceptable Use Policy, Forum Introduction, and Forum Rules.
2. Post quality posts in the forums in whatever subject best suits you.
3. Earn hosting credits for posting quality topics where larger posts earn more credits than smaller posts.
4. Once you have enough hosting credits for the hosting package you desire, request Free Web Hosting.
5. Once your posts have been reviewed and your application approved, you will receive a full featured Internet Hosting Account for use as you see fit.
6. Build your website for commerce, hobby, or knowledge, it's your website, not ours, so have fun with it.
7. Continue to post in the forums to keep your hosting credits above 0.

It might be easier to think of AstaHost and Trap17 as a regular full featured Web Host where instead of your credit card being charged each month, you simply have to remain active in the forums. This is commercial quality web hosting free of charge, not a web space.

If you don't feel comfortable with the technical nature of the categories in the AstaHost forums, I would suggest using our sister site at Trap17 instead. Trap17 is less technically oriented and may be easier for you to post in. The hosting features are the same there.

I hope that this clears up some of the confussion about what service is actually being offer here.

Happy Webmastering,

vujsa