ColdFusion Hosting

CIT offers hosting for ColdFusion Web applications at the NIH Data Center. This service provides a production-quality environment for ColdFusion applications.

What is ColdFusion?

ColdFusion is a middle-tier server that operates in conjunction with a Web server. It processes pages written in the ColdFusion language, which consists of CFML (ColdFusion Markup Language) in addition to HTML. The ColdFusion tags perform database connectivity, conditional logic, and also integrate services such as SMTP email.

How does ColdFusion work?

When a Web user requests a ColdFusion page (its name ends in .cfm) by submitting a form or clicking a link, the user's browser sends a HTTP request to the Web server which then passes it to the ColdFusion server. ColdFusion reads the data from the client and processes the ColdFusion Markup Language (CFML) used in the page. Based on the CFML, the ColdFusion server executes the logic and interacts with the database(s) or other technologies requested. ColdFusion then generates a HTML page and returns it to the Web server that then passes the page back to the user's Web browser.

Why use ColdFusion?

• ColdFusion facilitates rapid development of applications through its intuitive tools and tag-based programming.
• ColdFusion applications scale well. The ColdFusion pages are automatically compiled and cached in memory so processing is very fast even under high loads.
• ColdFusion integrates Web pages with databases, email, and other Internet services.
• ColdFusion provides clean integration with network and Web server security.
  

You can develop your ColdFusion application locally and, when ready for production, move your code to a CIT ColdFusion server. You don’t have to worry about acquiring server hardware, upgrading the operating system, installing or configuring the ColdFusion server software, monitoring the security of the Web server, or maintaining network connectivity.  All this is taken care of by CIT staff.

The ColdFusion servers are housed in the NIH Data Center which provides a physically-secure environment, temperature and humidity controls, and an Uninterruptable Power Supply (UPS).

Standard ColdFusion Hosting Service

CIT’s Standard ColdFusion hosting service provides dependable and economical hosting for small-to-medium size applications. This service is appropriate for individuals or organizations that are exploring the advantages of ColdFusion applications, or who use ColdFusion as a quick way to provide dynamic Web applications for their labs or offices. The Standard service applications share a ColdFusion server, but can each have a unique “virtual” Web address.
 

Each application using CIT’s Standard ColdFusion service is provided with:

• up to 500 MB disk space
• 7 x 24 server monitoring
• access to a staging ColdFusion server for pre-production testing

Standard service cost is $200 per month—plus a onetime $200 setup fee.

Extended ColdFusion Hosting Services

If an application requires resources beyond those provided by the Standard ColdFusion hosting service, the service can be tailored to an organization’s requirements. These “Extended” ColdFusion hosting services include additional processing capability (even a dedicated server, if appropriate), more frequent reports, and security certificates. 

Extended service costs depend on the features selected. 
 

More information

The ColdFusion hosting staff will be glad to talk to you about your hosting needs or to answer any questions that you have. Please email us at Datacenter@list.nih.gov.