I've been creating Classic ASP based web sites that interact with Microsoft SQL databases since 1998 or so.  Before that, I created ISAPI based web applications using Delphi (and did System admin type stuff on Sun, HPUX, VAX, Windows, and NT).   Going on back in time, I was using Delphi for desktop based applications (and Paradox for the database).  I did some FORTRAN, Pascal, and Basica on my way back through history all the way to my TI-99 4A home computer (where I did some of my first "database" programming around 1985). 

I started wanting to explore the Microsoft .NET 2.0 framework.  I was looking for how I could use it in a repeatable fashion to create and manage Internet based applications in shared hosting plans at large hosting providers that have pretty standard packages.

I got a drawn in by the free ASP.NET 2.0 Beta account offered by DiscountASP.NET.  The investment was only $90 for a year of hosting, so I figured it would be worth trying out.

I signed up and started using the hosting late August 2005.

I've explored the DiscountASP.NET control panel and played with just about all the options there.

For an easy start, I installed and configured dasBlog. 

I've started to explore options for Data Storage.  I considered XML files.  I considered Microsoft SQL server.  I'm still in the process of considering Firebird.  I plan to write up more on my Data Storage decisions as they are made.