Web Hosting

Web Hosting Solution Helps Businesses Grow

2009-12-12T00:33:00.000-08:00

Autor: fiskur
You can have the greatest store on the planet offering the best products for the best prices, but if no one travels down the road on which your store is located, your business will fail due to lack of customers. The same holds true with an internet business. Regardless of the quality of your site, you will need aweb hosting solution to get you noticed on the information highway.

Numerous websites are built from the ground up and those new to the internet often forget a few basics such as the importance of meta tags and their relevance to the page on which they are attached. Manyweb hosting solution companies will advise that the tags, which are hidden from view but imbedded in the page`s code, are the first glimpse a search engine has as to the relevance of your site to the information requested in a search.

There a couple of important considerations to keep in mind when searching for a hosting company offering web hosting solutions for you or your business. The amount of space provided for your site and the amount of bandwidth available for your visitors. It may be better to have more available than you plan to use to keep your site up and running and for any additional adjustments you make in the future.

Dedicated Servers Reduce Down Time

If the web hosting solution provider you chose continues to have a lot of down time, you might consider switching to one that offers dedicated servers. That is one who sets aside whatever size storage server you contract for strictly for you. This also prevents what is known as crossover with other sites that may be on the same server as yours.

Additionally, dedicated servers also offer the web hosting solution of potential viruses from getting into your files from another site. Since yours will be isolated into its own dedicated memory, nothing can get in unless you put it there. You can either contract for them with a good web hosting company, or buy your own and set them up in your place of business.

Most web hosting solution services offer help in website design and other services that go along with it, such as form building, shopping carts and others and will often give you a good price on the hosting plan if you also purchase the other services being offered. Whatever your choice of services, carefully research all web hosting company plans before making a long-term commitment.

How To Get Root Access Through Your Web Hosting Company

2009-12-12T00:31:00.000-08:00

Autor: teahupoo
Website masters have a ton of responsibility to maintain their website and the subsequent links to it. Primarily, they have to figure it if they prefer to have access to all of the websites on their company server or if they prefer not to. When a webmaster has root access, he can virtually control anything stored on his server. This means he can access security information, user groups, and any file on the server. One might wonder why a webmaster wouldn't want this access. Read on for the benefits and drawbacks to having root access.

When a webmaster opts to use a virtual private server hosting service, he's choosing the less expensive option. He doesn't have the hassle of maintaining a server at his home or having to access a remote server from his computer. Additionally, his site is much more protected from the threat of hackers, and the server owners will make the server more reliable. Additionally, virtual private hosting services come with easy to use browsers.

So who really needs this kind of control though? Who should have access to everything on a server? Those who have this access must know how to maintain their website. You should understand basic software apps in addition to browsers. And if you want root access, you should have a successful business that sees plenty of hits on a daily basis or a business site that has several employees working on it.

As stated above, the virtual private hosting plans are less expensive, but they still cost a bundle. A webmaster will pay around $100 to $150 a month for such a service. Additionally, he'll pay a given fee to purchase the web hosting plan and root access to the server. Sure, if you shop around at given times you might be able to find a deal, but the webmaster should still prepare himself for the intial start up cost.

Root access does have major benefits. It allows the webmaster to do his job when his site receives plenty of hits daily. He can install the necessary software or upgrade the site easily or install necessary patches. He can move mailboxes or change links as well. Basically, the webmaster can personalize the site to meet his client's needs.

Virtual private servers also allow the webmaster to use whatever software he needs. The server does not require a specific software, thus allowing the customer to save money in the end. You ultimately have unlimited data transfer, several mailboxes, a ton of storage, and a variety of other services for the minimal cost that you pay compared to purchasing your own server.

Ultimately your decision to utilize root access is up to you, the webmaster. Consider all of the benefits and drawbacks before you fully commit to this change, because in the end, it truly is a commitment on your part.

What is the Difference Between Unix and Windows Web Hosting?

2009-12-08T22:57:00.000-08:00

Autor: shf1551
So you're finally ready to publish your finished website and you're searching through the myriad of web hosting plans and providers. You may have noticed that most hosting companies use Linux or Unix operating systems on their web servers. Microsoft Windows is less commonly offered as a choice. So what's the difference?

Most people are familiar with Microsoft Windows having used it at home, work, or at school. It is very easy to use for novices and it doesn't require command-line knowledge. In Windows Home and advanced Server editions, you can simply point and click your way to a different folder using your mouse.Unix and Linux are open-source - meaning that the operating system is free and the source code is well documented and easily distributed. There are no major differences between Unix and Linux. Unix is much older and cannot run on x86-based personal computers (like the one you're using now). In contrast, Linux can run on both high-powered servers and x86-based computers.

Linux is available in many flavors, though most hosting companies use Red Hat Linux, or Mandrake Linux, which are proven workhorses able to handle hundreds of websites and millions of hits per day. FreeBSD and OpenBSD are versions ofUnix which are also available. While ease-of-use is very important for a home or work computer, it is generally not a big issue when working with a web server. After all, you are doing most of your website design offline on your own computer. Unless you have very advanced programming or operating system-specific modules, you will not notice the difference between Windows andUnix servers.

Both Linux/Unix and Windows can handle high traffic websites and add-ons such as chat rooms, email and website statistics with ease. The biggest differences are price and software compatibility. Because Windows must be purchased and licenses renewed continuously, Windows hostingplans are usually more expensive than Unix-based plans. Also Unix-based plans often come with free email, databases (MySQL), statistic, and community programs. While Windows plans come with Microsoft software (MS SQL, for example) that must be purchased by the hosting company.

Both Linux and Windows platforms can run popular programming languages such as php, perl, or java. If your website uses active server pages, then it will be less risky hosting it on a Windows server. Well it still may function on aUnix server, there may be small glitches that are not immediately apparent. Similarly, if you are using with Microsoft SQL databases, these databases will be supported by most Windowsplans. However, Linux or Unix plans often include MySQL which would require that your databases be converted to this format in order to function properly. If you are currently using any Microsoft programming (especially active server pages) or third-party applications (MS SQL 2000), you may want to play it safe and choose a Windows hosting plan.

From the average web designer's standpoint, there isn't much difference between hosting on Linux/Unix or Windows web servers. However, before signing up for a hosting plan, ensure that all facets of your site's design, programming, databases and the like will work with that plan. If you are unsure, ask the company's sales or technical staff before you commit.

Some Things to Consider When Choosing an Affordable Hosting Reseller

2009-12-08T22:56:00.000-08:00

Autor: gisbert
It's a given that if you're looking for a web space reseller, you'll look for an affordable hosting reseller. Practicality takes priority in every purchase, and no matter what you intend to do with your web space, or the features that come with the web space you get, cost is the first thing that you should take into consideration. Refer to the following checklist when shopping around for cheap web space:

1. How much are you ready to spend? Owning your own web space has pretty much become a fixture in the reality of modern enterprise, and if you're planning to get a host for business purposes, you'd better be ready to shell out the kind of money that will buy you the features and the quality of service that you need. A truly noteworthyaffordable hosting reseller will be able to help you maximize your spending capacity.

2. What are your immediate needs? Can you cut down on a few features that may seem "cool" at the onset, but you won't really need? Browsing around mailing lists, message boards, and other online forums, you may find recommendations for features that are classified as "must-haves," but really isn't a must-have for you at all.

One example of this is multiple domain hosting. Multiple domain hosting is the capability to host and distribute a limited (or unlimited, depending on the kind of hosting package that you get) number of domains in a single web space - for example, you can have both mywebspace.org and mysecondwebspace.net in just one web account! Some resellers offer that, and it's good for people who want to maintain multiple sites, or become resellers as well.

But if you only plan to have one small website, which uses only one domain, you can significantly streamline your spendings if you seek out a reseller that doesn't offermultiple domain hosting. If you only want to host a personal web space, you may even do away with domain hosting altogether, and settle for a VERY cheap reseller who'll just let you "park" in his or her domain with only a subdomain or subfolder to your name!

3. Are there any good promos going around? Now this is something you'll have to keep your eyes out for. New reseller outfits often drive down their prices as part of a "promo" package, in order to attract new customers. A discounted shiny new one-year package, or an "early adopter" advantage, is always easy on the wallet. Some people even move from reseller to reseller as soon as the next big promo comes along - until they finally decide upon anaffordable hosting reseller to stick with for the long haul.

USA Reseller Web Hosting: The Practical Choice

2009-12-08T22:55:00.000-08:00

Autor: gisbert
When you're looking for web hosting space on a budget, reseller hosting is the way to go. And as with any service, you can expect the best from people who operate within the proximity. If you're based in the USA, a good USAreseller web hosting outfit should be able to help you with your every need.

How is USA reseller web hosting the practical choice for someone living in the USA? There are a number of reasons. For one thing, USA-based service providers are more aware of the true value of a dollar than anyone. A USA-based reseller is more familiar with the competition and what it takes to get ahead - what services to provide that will get the attention of more customers, and exactly how to target customers in order to gain maximum visibility for its best ad pitches.

And of course, "the best ad pitches" mean promos, discounts and other customer-friendly features. Just because something is US-based, it isn't automatically unfriendly with customers. In order to get ahead in the market a service provider needs to be able to attract customers, and smart marketers know that the way to do that is to offer eye-catching promos - whether continuous or for a limited time only.

For that is exactly what a reseller outfit is - a marketing arm. To be more specific, it's a marketing arm for a webhost. There are many methods of reselling, but among the most popular is that a reseller buys a huge chunk of web space from an existing host, then allocates smaller chunks of web space to users who are willing to pay. Sometimes, resellers pretend to be web hosts in order to seem more "legit," but this isn't exactly out of line, or even illegal - quite a few web hosts offer large spaces that are ideal for reselling. Some of them offer "brandable" reseller accounts so that all the services have the reseller's name on them, and there is almost nothing left to tie the customer back to the original web host.

This works to the web host's advantage because if a host primarily caters to resellers, there is no need to market its services to individual buyers. And resellers always need - and pay for - large amounts of space. If you don't have the kind of money that resellers have, or the features that they need, you should look into purchasing space from a USAreseller web hosting.

UK Reseller Web Hosting: Trust Matters

2009-12-08T22:53:00.000-08:00

Autor: gisbert
People who live in the UK will want UK-based services. At the very least, customers know that people in the UK are intimately aware of the need to provide good service at budget rates. And UK-based customers will want savings even on their web space needs, so that individuals interested in putting up UKreseller web hosting services will not set a foot into the reseller space market and find it dry.

There is one thing that makes a UK reseller web hosting outfit ideal for UK-based customers, and that is trust. People trust the people in their neighborhood to be most aware of the things they need. They also take comfort in the fact that the people they would want to contact in case of emergency is just a few toll-free numbers away.

Reselling web space is a diversified iundustry. There are many ways to go about it. One of them is by entering into a contract with a large web host to market its services for a commission of all sales made. This pretty much makes customers hands-off for the reseller, because after transactions have been made, the reseller basically turns over all customers into the care of the "parent" web host.

But there is another instance of web space reselling which puts much more work onto the shoulders of the reseller, although it could also potentially bring in much more profit: the reseller buys a large amount of web space from the original host, and then "re-sells" smaller portions of it to interested buyers. The cost of buying the web space is shouldered by the reseller, but if many customers come to avail of the smaller web space allocations, the reseller may potentially incur a profit that greatly exceeds the investment.

One catch in this setup, though, is that it is assumed that the reseller is also in charge of holding up the customer support end. In many cases, the reseller poses as a web host, with its own name and services (such as FTP hosts) that carry its labels and URLs. This is not illegal, especially since some web hosts make it a point to sell "brandable" reseller web accounts for people who are interested specifically in selling their services uniquely.

So if you're in the UK and you're thinking of getting reseller web hosting - or if you're thinking of putting up a reseller outfit for UK clients - UK reseller web hosting is the way to go. Nothing gains and keeps the trust of customers better than being physically present to be aware of their most pressing needs.

How To Choose The Right Company To Provide Multiple Domain Web Hosting

2009-12-03T02:36:00.000-08:00

Autor: teahupoo
If you're looking to establish more than one domain on the internet, you should looking into multiple domain hosting plans. Multiple domain web hosting allows you to run more than one domain from a single account. Before this service became available, you had to have a different account for each domain you wanted to run. Such a set-up was rather inconvenient and downright ineffective. It made it hard to keep track of multiple web sites and increased the likelihood of one of your web sites going down. Now there are countless companies offering plans geared specifically towards clients who want to manage more than one domain from just one account.

Why would you want to have multiple domains? Let's say you want a main page to provide information about your business. Then you might want a separate domain for, say, forums for users to discuss your products and so you can share information with them. You may also want to set up chat rooms, which could be on another domain. Multipledomain hosting gives you room to grow. Also, if you want to have domains which are completely unrelated, but you still want to manage them all together, then you'll want a multiple domain plan.

When looking for a web hosting service that offers multiple domain accounts, there are a few things to consider. First you need to check out their disk storage plans. Obviously you pay more for more storage space. You don't want to buy too big of a plan but you also don't want to shortchange yourself. You'll need a lot of storage space if you intend to build a large site and provide large files to your visitors such as audio, high resolution images, and video. Remember to get what you need, while also giving yourself room to grow.

You also need to take a look at the plan's data transfer rate and bandwidth. Again, if you plan on offering music and video, you want to make sure that the files are transferred smoothly and at an acceptable speed. Music and video require steady and reliable data transfer and plenty of bandwidth. You do not what your visitors viewing or listening to choppy files. It is important that you come up with an estimate of how much traffic you anticipate on your site and how much data will be transferred. If your bandwidth is low then high speed won't mean much because you'll quickly exceed your limits and your site will be shut down.

Another thing to consider is how many email accounts you will need. You'll probably want to have separate email accounts for customer service, employees, order inquiries, web master, etc. As always, you should have more accounts available then you need so there is room to grow. Email accounts are an absolute necessity for a web-based business. Even if you're not on the web you should have an email address. In many sectors, emails has surpassed the phone as the most important means of contact.

As with a single domain hosting plan, you should look at the company's control panel. This is all the more important when you're operating more than one domain. You should be able to easily access information for all your sites.

The fees for multiple server web hosting plans vary by plan, company, and features offered. There may be monthly fees, a yearly contract, etc. Shop around and choose the service which best suits your needs. Don't forget to ask other people, too. Word of mouth is often the best way to find who's reliable and who's not.

Some Tips On How To Understand Dedicated Web Hosting

2009-12-03T02:34:00.000-08:00

Autor: teahupoo
When it comes to making a decision regarding the purchase of dedicated web hosting services, you may want to take a look at some of the available options on the market. There are plenty of factors to keep in mind, as well as selections to choose from, making this task all the more difficult. Consumers will also have to pay attention to the costs of dealing with various companies. This could be the deciding factor in regards to webmasters maintaining a small to midrange website. Getting all of the facts is the best way to make the decision that is most beneficial for your personal situation.

The Cost

There are two ways to establish a relationship with a dedicated web hosting company. While some consumers prefer their own, others choose to rent. Monthly costs tend to range from $200.00 to $400.00 for these types of services. Also, don't forget there is a connection fee attached to initial costs, which could be anywhere from $30.00 to more than $100.00. A small or midsize business must attract a reasonable amount of clients to keep a balance in these costs.

Knowing the Terms

When choosing a server for your website, you will encounter a variety of terms to consider. For example, there is a difference between dedicated hosting and a dedicated server. Hosting refers to the provided service, while the server is the equipment actually needed to handle high volumes of Internet traffic. Keep in mind that many dedicated hosting options can be less expensive than shared hosting companies, which handles many different websites on the same server.

Renting a Dedicated Hosting Server

The rental of a dedicated hosting server allows you to maintain the control of the entire server and software because there aren't any other websites attached to it. This is expressed through the term, root access, which means you receive complete access to all of the server files and directories. Some of the luxuries you will enjoy include downloading new patches and software, as well as altering security options. Some companies allow limited access to the system, which can be overcome by simply purchasing the rights to additional access points of the server. When dedicated servers are not situated onsite, a data center located elsewhere will provide your connection.

Operating System Compatibilities

Knowing the type of operating system that the hosting company provides is an important factor. Some companies only support Windows or Linux operating systems. This is something to keep in mind because it also affects how much knowledge is requiring when it comes to supporting scripts, codes and software issues. Also, not all dedicated servers are the same. They vary in connectivity; you will want to find one that offers better connection, which is sometimes achieved through multiple providers.

Other factors to take into consideration include whether or not the dedicated server features anti hacking capabilities or allows Internet Relay Chat usage. In some cases, large bandwidth capacity is needed for sites containing adult content. Mostdedicated web hosting selections do not offer this. These are all things to consider when making your decision.

Let's Take a Look At the Advantages

There are numerous benefits when using a dedicated server. For starters, console access is made easier. This comes in handy if for any reason you are unable to gain access through normal scripts. In cases of a system crash, you may gain access through a console. The most reliable hosting server companies also offer continuous back up of your files. This helps to avoid reconfiguration of your files.

All in all, deciding to use a dedicated server, you have to possess some sort of knowledge in a wide range of software selections. Monetary gains, as well as a large amount of Internet traffic are also necessary to reap the benefits of a dedicated server. If you lack any of the above, you may want to consider a shared web hosting plan until you fulfill the desirable qualifications. It's all about making the best decisions for your website.

cPanel Reseller Hosting: Popular and Practical

2009-12-03T02:32:00.000-08:00

Autor: gisbert
People who are new to reselling or buying web space may find themselves asking: Why is cPanel reseller hosting so popular? There's got to be a reason why of all the web management programs in the market, cPanel is the one that has managed to gain the most coverage. It may as well have its own fan club among dedicated cPanel enthusiasts!

As a matter of fact, a person who's new to the concept of buying and selling web space may think there's only one kind of web hosting reseller available - the cPanel reseller hosting account. That's how popular cPanel hosting has become over time. This is not to say that cPanel has cornered a monopoly, certainly nothing that extreme! But when you buy a small amount of web space for the first time, chances are you'll end up with a cPanel account; that is how popular it is.

This just means more web hosts install cPanel by choice. As website management software, cPanel is certainly quite versatile, able to operate smoothly with a variety of features. Over time many features have been added to the basic cPanel bundle... and more and more features are still being added. The development of this program has proven to be continuous: a plus when you consider the dynamic nature of web programming. The latest build of cPanel can be expected to comply with the most up-to-date standards of excellence in the web hosting industry.

This software is proprietary, which means it requires licensing before it can be used. But you only need to pay once for a cPanel license per server, which makes it a truly economical choice for many web hosts. The program was originally intended to be used by web hosts, so if an individual - or a reseller - would like to purchase a license, there are no provisions in the pricing for personal use. However, charities and educational institutions may formally write the creators of the software at cpanel.net, requesting for a free license.

If you're the kind of person who automatically shies away from what's "in" or "hot," thinking it's overrated, you may be missing out on a lot by not givingcPanel reseller hosting a go. There's a "people's choice" award for various things for a reason, and that's because the choice of the masses deserves acclaim. Given the status of cPanel as a "people's choice awardee," it would be a great place to start your research.

How The Structure And Design Of Your Website Determines What Web Host You Should Use

2009-12-03T02:27:00.000-08:00

Autor: teahupoo
When you are choosing a web host for your web page, the first thing you need to consider is the design of your site. Is your spot on the web going to be a personal page where you put up pictures to share with your family? Or is it going to be the web presence of your business, which you want to be as professional as possible?

Or perhaps it will be the e-meeting place for a quilting club? These are all possibilities, and each will inform which host you should go with. If, for instance, you want a simple website to communicate personal thoughts, perhaps a service such as GeoCities or livjournal would suffice. But these two options lack the professional police that you would want if you were putting your company's information onthe web , even if that company is small. Remember that professionalism is as much an attitude as it is a market share. Web hosting such as GeoCities can be characterized as free, and plastered over with mandatory advertisements that pay money tothe web hosts.

Business websites tend to be more demanding than personal websites. So if you are going to set up a business site, consider what you need. If you are going to sell merchandise, you will have to set up a secure socket layer (SSL) to transmit sensitive information, such as credit numbers and addresses. You will likely need to find a host that supports database management, which will allow the use of such protocols as ASP.NET, Java, and PHP. A web hosts that doesn't provide these things is insufficient for a business site.

You should also think about how much space you will need on the web, because every host offers a different amount. If you are going to upload a lot of media, you will likely need more space, for instance, than you would if you are just going to have a text-based web journal. As a rule of thumb, you will need at minimum 50MB of space for twenty web pages. As bells and whistles, and flash videos, are added on, that number increases. Plan accordingly.

And finally, here is a rubric to consider. Websites material can be broken down into three general categories, basic, database driven, and multimedia. All websites contain basic features, HTML coding and other structural tidbits, whether the site was uploaded ten years ago or is featured on YouTube.

Database driven material is material that is managed by PHP, Java, and similar protocols. This is a bit more demanding in terms of hard drive space than basic. Multimedia material is all that glitters and blinks onthe web , and it is the most space demanding of all three. If your site needs a lot of multimedia items, then make sure that you find a host that can store them.

Creating "Sub-Resellers" With WHM Reseller Hosting

2009-12-01T20:42:00.000-08:00

Autor: gisbert
Smart resellers know how to make the most of their web space, and to sell it in a way that attracts all kinds of people who may be interested. If you are a reseller, you will want to attract "sub-resellers," and you can do this if you have sufficient command over the features that come with WHM reseller hosting.

WHM reseller hosting is a kind of hosting account that can only be purchased by resellers directly from a web host. WHM stands for "web host management," which in itself should describe its purpose. It is installed in a web host, usually along with cPanel, which is a web panel software which is actually another bestseller of the company that created WHM: cPanel.net.

While it makes sense for a reseller to target only a specific sector - individual users who want to make personal websites, or small business entrepreneurs who want to put up small online stores - a service provider who aspires to become truly successful would know that branching out is essential to the growth of a business. And to branch out efficiently, one needs to be able to market one's services efficiently. After all reseller vendors are, first and foremost, marketers ofweb space that they do not personally own - therefore markting skills are paramount.

But on top of being marketing professionals, resellers are often service providers, too. Smart resellers take it upon themselves to handle the customer relations end of the web host distribution business, and take care of their customers' needs. Now - in case a customer wants to be able to "resell"web space at a truly optimum cost, a reseller should be able to acknowledge this as an open market, because there is a wealth of customers out there who want to be able to earn from their purchased web spaces at all, by any way possible!

And above all else, a reseller should not view these "sub-resellers" as competition. Sub-resellers serve to address the needs of other interested web space buyers, while shouldering the cost of maintaining the web space they redistribute! Quite like the reseller does, they sell web space at a profit, while shouldering the agreed-upon retail cost of the web space they already enjoy.

At any rate, "sub-resellers" are not competition to legitimate reseller vendors on the strictest sense. WHM reseller hosting is only available to first-level resellers... which means "sub-resellers" will have to create user accounts only through the cPanel. WHM allows first-level reseller vendors to create user accounts for sub-resellers, and sub-resellers can only make user accounts for other people who need to "squat" in their web space. Further sub-levels of user accounts may not be generated.

Some Of The Most Important Issues You Need To Consider When Choosing A Web Host Company

2009-12-01T20:41:00.000-08:00

Autor: teahupoo
The vast array of new web hosting services on the market today can be more than a little overwhelming. There are thousands of web hosting services from which to choose. Because of all the choices, it has become increasingly difficult for the beginner to decide what web host will serve them best. Choosing your e-commerce hosting service basically comes down to the features the company offers and their customer service, which, especially for people new to setting up web sites and blogs, is extremely important. This article endeavors to cover some of the important issues you need to be aware of when choosing a web host.

First, a caveat regarding free web hosting: you may be tempted by free web hosting but these services offer very little in the way of features and almost nonexistent customer support. Good customer support cannot be stressed enough when you're starting out in e-commerce. You will have problems and you'll need a real live person who can help you. Cut-rate and cheap web hosting services aren't much better. If you want to be successful you'll avoid these kinds of web hosting services. Diving into e-commerce requires enough effort as it is; you don't want added hassles from your service provider. If you're serious about e-commerce on the Web, you need to start off with the right tools. The company you choose to provide your web hosting is one of these tools, and it can be the difference between failure and success.

Again, your web host's customer support can make all the difference in the world. Quality customer service can make or break you. It's what separates a good host from a bad host. One of the things you should look for in a hosting company is if it providescustomer support 24 hour, 7 day a week availability with a toll-free number. You have to be able to get help whenever you need it. If you have just a few simple questions, the answers should be easily locatable on the web host's site. If time isn't of the essence, then you should be able to emailcustomer support and receive a response within a day, if not hours. If you have more involved questions, there should be a toll-free number and friendly informative staff available at all times. Many hosts offer online support in the form of instant messaging. Being able to "chat" with a customer service representative is an excellent feature.

The next thing you need to determine is how much disk storage and bandwidth you'll need for your online enterprise. If it's a relatively simple affair then you should select a relatively small plan. Someone who just wants to put up an informative page about their business won't need as much from their host as someone who intends to supply images, video, and audio. As always, it's important to decide what you need and then base your decisions on that.

Remember, you'll also want to give yourself room to grow. Read the company's user terms and policies. If you're contracted to stick with a certain plan for a certain amount of time, make sure that it gives you room to expand your site. Maybe your site will be more successful than you planned. How bad would it be if your site starting getting tons of visitors but you had a cheap plan, with little storage and bandwidth, and then your host shut it down for exceeding its limits? If you're not sure what you'll need, start out with the low-level plan from a good company, but don't sign on for a year or two at once. Stick with monthly plans or make sure you can change yours at any time so you can adjust to unforeseen popularity.

Along with the amount of disk storage and bandwidth, make sure you check your hosts data transfer rate and uptime. It won't do you much good if you choose a service with slow speeds and frequent crashes. Reliability and speed are of the utmost importance when doing business on the internet. It'd be like if you had a great store but the power kept going out and you closed randomly.

Another feature to look at is the control panel offered by the company. The control panel allows you to manage your web site and keep track of activity. It allows you to check your bandwidth and disk storage. It also lets you see what your customers are doing. The control panel should be intuitive and informative. It should provide more information than the novice knows what to do with so it can grow with you, but it should be easy to interface with at the same time.

The web hosting company you choose should be well-established, have the right hardware, and it should provide the appropriate tools for their clients. Research the issues and avoid second-rate web operations. Once you get past the initial bump in the learning curve, you'll find that doing business on the web can be easy and extremely profitable.

Why The Availabilty Of Multiple SQL Databases Can Influence Your Choice Of Web Hosts

2009-12-01T20:40:00.000-08:00

Autor: teahupoo
SQL or Structured Query Language is the building blocks for larger and more complicated development of databases. Sometimes referred to as MySQL, this unique language was founded by Michael "Monty" Widenius, Allan Larsson and David Axmark.

A database is the basic foundation of the Information Technology world. Every single communication, innovation and information is soft stored globally through numerous databases, which are reliable and dedicated. Adatabase is ideal when it is reliable, affordable and steady in customer support. The use of SQL allows the user to opt for a host who has the technical expertise to match your needs. A normal ISP vendor may not be able to tackle large database or storage requirement.

The ideal web host should have a fast user-access speed, bandwidth and up-time. Getting a SQL server may enhance these features but it requires immense care to always remain within a specified budget. To ultimately make profit in your line of business you cannot continue to spend without planning your budget carefully.

It is imperative to clarify at the outset who is going to be responsible for creating the web database. Then there is also the critical matter of copying and storing the files from the web development to live SQL Server. Also have it clarified what are the various options and methods of the web hosts find out the ways to connect to your SQL server. It can either be through Query Analysis or the Enterprise Manager.

Backups and storage facilities are very important. Most users in IT are into mission critical work with strict delivery deadlines. It is advisable to do a thorough research before choosing a host. SQL has completely revolutionized the way data storage is handled and maintained with secure and accessible data anytime, anywhere.

Calculate the disk space you require immediately and make provisions of extra for future usage and business expansion. These will help you plan ahead with your budget and the work in hand. Even if you are tempted to choose just the basic due to cost constraints you must keep in mind that work simply increase before you even realize. Planning ahead for contingencies is a good business move.

For choosing the best option in a web host and SQL server, you need to be very clear on the bandwidth that you will be getting. Though most web hosts would launch a marketing spiel of the unlimited factor many a times users have ended up realizing that they have paid good money for a finite limit. If there are any extra charges involved in the kind of usage that you require, clarify them clearly before you sign on the dotted line for a long time contract. Especially if your work involves large databases and SQL features then the normal ISP offers might not suit your purpose. You would surely need a socialized host who understands technology and shares the clients' mindset of good service and dedication.

Some Of The Factors To Consider When Choosing The Best Web Host For Your Website

2009-12-01T20:39:00.000-08:00

Autor: teahupoo
Choosing the right Web Host for your Personal Website is important for your future business. This is why you need to do a lot or research and comparative study before opting for a web host.

Some very important criteria for choosing a web host include the facilities of data storage and the data transfer. The kind of business you are in would define your requirements. Simple content and static designs require less space than the dynamic flash oriented sites.

If your site has backend or ASP then you would need higher bandwidth to support these activities. Bandwidth allows data to be transferred in a specified time and quality. The higher the bandwidth, the better the transfer capabilities of your site. You need a very professional web host server to handle your needs who will not only be required to provide excellent service and maintenance but also guide you on the necessary upgrades for you r future expansion.

You can get a fair idea of of the various web hosting facilities from the free ISPs like GeoCities, Homestead, ICQ, IVillage, Cybercities, Gurlpages, Tripod among others. Service varies from one host to the other. This is why you need to do a thorough research before choosing a host. Do not be pressurized into taking a more expensive offer if your needs are simple and basic just because the web hosting company wants to make better profits. You need more than a seller in this case. An ideal web host is one who will constantly monitor your business needs and advise accordingly as to which plan should suit you best.

Opt for a free web hosting option if you want to test waters first. If free web hosting does not provide you with the necessary features you require then you can opt for the basic options where you have no enhanced features but your initial work will get done. There is absolutely no point in spending a large amount on hosting if you cannot make proper utilization of the data transfer or storage scope.

If you want your website to be a success then make sure that the content is lucid and precise. People have zero patience for online reading. The idea of what you are all about should be immediate and effective. This would go a long way to increase traffic on your site and get more specific inquiries or leads, which could be successfully converted into closed sales.

Once you have the right web host for your personal website you will be ready to fill your site with all the most important information about you, your business, or your family. Fill your website with whatever information you want the world to have.

Ways to Save on UK Reseller Web Hosting

2009-12-01T20:37:00.000-08:00

Autor: gisbert
Reseller hosting is a big deal in today's web service market. It remaind lucrative precisely because it drives down the cost of web space and bandwidth for individual buyers. But what about the reseller - how are costs driven down for the "middleman" that goes between a web host and its prospective customers? If you plan to put up a UKreseller web hosting outfit, you need to know what features to include in order to make your company more competitive.

Competitiveness is not achieved simply by minimizing on manpower. It's true: sometimes a reseller outfit can be managed by just one person, making it a veritable "one-man show" - but in general good service cannot be provided by one man alone. Moreover, the ability to grow and expand as a UKreseller web hosting service may in fact be directly proportional to the number of people you get to work on your system. The more capable support technicians and sales agents you get, the better you will be able to maintain smooth relations with your customers.

What, then, would most people do to drive down manpower costs? The answer is simple: they outsource. Now this may be an unpopular idea depending on where you live, but that doesn't change the fact that even owners of small and medium businesses can avail of the benefits of outsourcing their service tasks - otherwise known as "back-office" work - to lower-cost locations. Reliable English-speaking service technicians in India, Russia and Eastern Europe, for example, would be able to help yousave on the cost of recruiting UK-based phone or mail-in agents.

However, even if you do save on service costs, you will be putting in a considerable amount of another asset into the endeavor of outsourcing: patience and time. Just because you have found a reliable outfit overseas, it's not a given that you should sit back and let them do all the work for you! You need to be vigilant, to stay on top of all matters and to respond to all queries on the highest managerial level.

Signing up for services from countries offer more than one way to save on the costs of reseller hosting. You can also save on operational costs by getting a reseller account from a web host based in a lower-cost location. A popular server based in Ukraine, for example, would be no less or more reliable than a popular server based in the UK, if the support technicians have good credentials and an impressive track record. A UKreseller web hosting outfit need not stick to UK prices - it can make the most out of the global market!

WHM Reseller Hosting: Smart and Popular

2009-12-01T20:36:00.000-08:00

Autor: gisbert
The most well-known tools of the trade are usually popular for a reason: it's because they address the needs of professionals across a broad spectrum. This is why when you hear someone recommend a particular software, you know this software is worth trying out. For resellers, the buzz around town is "WHM reseller hosting." And for a good reason!

WHM reseller hosting offers a more simplified way of managing different hosting accounts. WHM, or Web Hosting Manager, is a tool that usually comes bundled in with cPanel, a popular hosting web panel. cPanel is a proprietary program developed and distributed by cPanel.net, which also designed and continually develops WHM.

If you were a webmaster before you gained an interest in breaking into the reseller business, you may have heard of cPanel before WHM. The popularity of the cPanel web panel simply cannot be denied: many web hosts choose to make cPanel available to all their resellers and end users because of the software's many virtues. Ease of use is perhaps the biggest reason why this particular web panel software is so popular, but security and user-friendliness are others.

And because WHM comes bundled up with the cPanel program, WHM also becomes a popular choice by association. Just as cPanel is easy to use for resellers and end users alike, when they have to change the settings of the web space that has been assigned to them, WHM proves to be easy to use in managing user accounts. WHM is only available to resellers; if you have purchased web space that comes with a WHM functionality, chances are you have purchased areseller hosting account.

Other web panels come with their own versions of user management software. WHM is unique to cPanel. You can expect the same security and ease of use from WHM as you can from cPanel, which is to say a lot of it! Security cannot be underplayed when you're selling web space. If you wish for people to appreciate the features you have installed into yourreseller accounts, one of the things you have to emphasize in your marketing pitches is security.

Choosing a WHM reseller hosting account would make it much easier for you as the vendor to market your web space primarily on the "ease of use" platform. If you should happen to be areseller who wants to market for other resellers - and this could happen, because the need for smaller and cheaper web space just doesn't end! - make sure that you are also able to furnish your sub-resellers with WHM functionalities.

ResellersPanel Debuts API and Launches a Hosting Plan Creator

2009-12-01T20:31:00.000-08:00

Autor: RossTodoroff
UK host ResellersPanel (www.resellerspanel.com) announces the introduction of API (Application Programming Interface) software, which allows a 100% customization of customers' websites, to its hosting platform. Some of the functionalities of ResellersPanel API version 1.0 include domain name availability checker, username availability checker, domain name and web hosting account registration, and web hosting plan selection. The API, which returns results in plain text and XML format, can be accessed via an authorized IP address through a secure SSL connection using a MD5 encrypted password (IPs are added via the ResellersPanel Control Panel).

Beside the API, ResellersPanel has also launched Liquid Plan Builder - a web hosting tool, which allows the resellers to create their own hosting plans and then resell them. It is now available in the Free Reseller Program's Control Panel and is fully compatible with all the website templates currently supported by ResellersPanel. Each web hosting plan must include the following components: Disk space, Traffic, Hosted domains and E-mail boxes. They must have values different from 0. The Liquid Plan Builder-created hosting plans can be offered via the API.

Nick Blaskov, CFO of ResellersPanel, said that by using the API software to create accounts for their customers, the resellers gain the opportunity to have a billing gateway of their own, thus keeping a direct connection with the customers, and that the Liquid Plan Builder gives the resellers an unprecedented opportunity to create unlimited unique hosting plans, consistent with the goals of their marketing campaigns, and offer them directly on their online stores - something, which makes the Liquid Plan Builder an indivisible part of ResellersPanel's fully automated reseller solution - the Free Reseller Program.

Things You Need To Know Upfront When Looking For A Web Hosting Company

2009-11-28T22:03:00.001-08:00

Autor: teahupoo
The many advancements that have been made in technology make it possible for you to access all kinds of information that you may need. Webhosting companies make it possible for people to get their information on the internet for other people to access. If you are looking for a webhosting company there are some things you will want to keep in mind. You will want to make sure you pick the company that best suits your needs.

The first thing you will want to consider is cost. How much are you planning on spending to get what you want. There are many companies out there, and the cost can vary from company to company. If you set a limit to your spending make sure you stick with it. If you find a company that has what you need, but costs more than you want to spend you may want to check around with other companies.

Cost and quality go hand in hand. The price you are willing to pay will affect the quality that you will get. You will want to check around to make sure you get the best quality you can for the amount of money you can spend. Do make sure you check into the quality to make sure that you will not be disappointed later on. Also, just because it costs less now, does not mean you will not end up spending more in the long run.

Spending more money in the long run may come into play when you think about what is offered. If the company adds extra costs along the way, you will end up spending just as much, if not more than if you had just gone with the better company in the first place. Not every company offers the same things with their initial package, so make sure you check into this, and see if there will be any extra costs or fees.

Features is another thing you will want to consider. You will want to make sure that everything you will need is available, or can be added if needed. If you are not able to do exactly what you want to do, this can be frustrating. Some companies offer one e-mail address, while another may offer ten. Some will allow unlimited forwarding, while others may have extra fees or costs.

Make sure you check out all your options before you make your decision. This is a big decision and you want to make sure you are getting exactly what you want, and for a reasonable price. Investing a little time in research will pay off in the long run. Your time investment will guarantee you get what you want.

Some Of The Benefits Of Shared Webhosting

2009-11-28T22:03:00.000-08:00

Autor: teahupoo
The benefits of shared webhosting can be very useful, especially for someone just getting started. Many individuals or small to medium size businesses choose to do this since it is cheaper than getting a connection to the internet for their web site all on their own. Web hosts provide the customer with the means to get the internet requirements they need in an affordable way. This is a great way for smaller businesses or individuals to save money, but still get exactly what they need.

The shared cost of the internet connection helps these businesses or individuals as well as the companies. The basic fee is a low monthly fee. This fee is cheap enough for you to afford, while still allowing you with the services you need to keep your website running smoothly. Another benefit is the powerful server that you will now have access to. Without the proper server and proper connection you will have a hard time keeping your website up and running.

Another advantage is that you do not have to be a professional webmaster to do this. This shared web hosting allows those who are not as technically advanced a reliable web presence. This is very important if you want to make sure you web site gets seen. If nobody know about your site it will be hard to get anybody to visit it. The shared web hosting also insures that you will have connectivity and uptime.

You will also get at least one e-mail address, and a domain name. You need both of these if plan on making your business a success. An e-mail address allows you to send information back and forth quickly. This is very important in a business.

You will also enjoy the convenience of shared webhosting. It is easy to set up and activate your services. You can do this right from home. Being able to do things from home always make it easier. This will only take a little bit of time, and will be available for you to use within a few minutes of signing up.

For those of you are may need help from time to time there is always support available. This is music to some ears. If you run into any trouble you can call them up and they will help you with whatever you need.

These are a few of the benefits that you may find once you start using a shared web host. If you are looking for a way to lessen your web hosting costs, you may want to look into a the shared web hosting. This is a great way to save money and still get all the benefits that you need for yourself, of your business.

An Introduction To Web Hosting Affiliate Programs

2009-11-28T22:01:00.000-08:00

Autor: dcassidy
The Internet or World Wide Web is one giant interwoven collection of websites. These websites are hosted on servers on computers round the globe, using their hosting capabilities to display each website's files that contain text, HTML, XML, PHP and / or some other source code, images, graphics, audio and video files and more. And those who offer hosting solutions generally offer a variety of business opportunities with plenty of money-making potential like web hosting affiliate programs and business hosting.

Web Hosting Affiliate Program

When a hosting provider sets up a web hosting affiliate program, those who sell the hosting to others through their affiliate link can earn a profit for their sales effort, generally a monthly fee, based upon the percentage of the sale.

For example, you can host your website with a affiliate hosting company and once you sign up, you are able to participate in their affiliate program. Add an affiliate link, a link to the site with your affiliate code embedded in it, so that any sales ring up under your own account ID. Once sales occur, you receive residual income for each month your referral remains a regular paying customer.

Set up your own website about the importance of web hosting and how to go about it, then promote it using your affiliate links in everything. Then you'll have a small business with yourweb hosting affiliate program, earning you extra dollars every month.

Business Web Hosting

There is more than one type of hosting out there. You can get small 1-page sites and web hosting packages for sites growing up like individual sites, medium-sized and large-sized sites, business web hosting with all the bells and whistles - and about any type of hosting in between. Usually difference in web hosting packages involves the main features like the disk space, bandwidth and monthly price you pay. But equally important to many are the number of domains you can host, sub domains, FTP accounts you can have, whether or not Fantastico modules are present offering a lot of extra tools and scripts for web builders (like Help Desks, Content Management solutions and much more).

In order to choose the best business hosting package for your needs, start by asking for hosting referrals form fellow business associates. Then compare what each has to offer, comparing offerings to what your own business hosting needs are. Then allow some room to grow and choose accordingly, selecting a plan that fits your budget and offers plenty of support

How to Make a Painless Move to a New Web Host

2009-11-25T03:31:00.000-08:00

Autor: kevin03
There are two things that can go seriously wrong when you move to a new web hosting provider. Follow this simple guide to doing it all without too many dramas.

A normal move to a new hosting provider can mean huge losses to your business if things aren't done correctly. Specifically:

1. Your new web site doesn't "behave" the way it should.

2. Your email goes "missing" for several days

Setting Up The New Server

Setting up the new server correctly easily solves the first problem.

Set up the new server with your existing/main domain name details (but do not change the DNS settings - yet).

Once the server is set up, you can then park another/spare domain name at the same server.

For example, most servers with cPanel allow you to easily park one - or more - domains on top of an existing one. If you don't happen to have a spare/unused domain nameyou can use for this purpose, it won't cost much to register a new .com just for this purpose.

Now, make sure that the DNS information for the parked domain at your domain name registry points to the new server.

Once you can see your web site under the parrkeddomainname.com address in your web browser, fully test it to make sure all the interactive routines - i.e. search routines, contact forms, forums, feeds, etc., work as they should.

Once you are 100% certain that it works properly, and you've got your email sorted out (see next bit) then you can organize to have the DNS for your main domain name changed to point to the new server.

Big Tip: Make a small change to the new home page so you can easily tell which site (old or new) you are looking at in your web browser. When you can see the change, it means your DNS has been updated.

Don't Lose Any Email

The problem with a DNS change is that it can take some time to go through - up to 72 hours or even longer for it to propagate across the whole Internet.

During that time, some of your customers will be seeing the old version of your site, and if they send you email, it can be delivered to the old server.

And you might not be able to check it because your ISP has updated the DNS and you can only see the new server.

At The Old Server, simply set up a forward or redirection to send all your mail to your existing ISP email account, or perhaps even a new Hotmail type address.

For the final time, in Outlook (or whatever email client you use) click on Send/Receive to get any mail that might be waiting on the old server. After this new email (to your old server) will come in through your ISP email box.

Next, set up your email accounts At The New Server. You should also set up redirects here to send any mail it receives to your ISP address. That way, if you're unlucky and your DNS takes forever to propagate, you will still get your new email.

Finally, when you are all ready to go, lodge the DNS change with your domain name registrar to point your main domain to the new server.

While The DNS Is Updating

If everything's been set up correctly, then while the DNS is updating, several things will happen:

1. Any email being sent to the old server will be redirected to your ISP email address.

2. Any email that's sent to the new server is also being redirected to your ISP address, so you won't lose any email during this period.

3. Your email client should keep checking the old server until the DNS change goes through. When that happens, it will most likely display an "unable to connect" error message.

4. Now, check to make sure you can see your new server in your web browser.

5. If you can, then change your email settings to the new server settings and check it works both sending and receiving.

6. Now remove the redirections from the new server.

Finally, in about another week or so, contact your OLD hosting provider and Close Your Account. It's an important step, but so many people forget to do it, until they get re-billed for another month (and lot's of luck trying to get a refund).

Webhosting Tips - Picking A Good Web Hosting Company

2009-11-25T03:29:00.001-08:00

Autor: pinotedesco
Picking a good web hosting company is important to keeping your website open and your costs down.

There are many to choose from, as well as different pricing plans to look over. Depending on the amount of sites that you intend on building, you may want to consider a larger web space in the long run.

You should start with the smallest web space that you can get to test the waters, just incase niche website Internet marketing does not work out for you. You may want to add on later, so make sure that your provider offers that option.

You will want to choose a provider that has a reliable service. If your site is down or takes to long to open up when visitors are trying to get in, it may lead them to click out of your site and move on to the next one. They will also more than likely not visit in the future since they will remember their bad experience.

For this reason, it is probably best to stick with a well known company who you can check reliable references on.

Like anything larger companies have a reputation to uphold, so therefore they have more too loose and generally the bigger the better when it comes to web hosting companies as you will want the support asap shoudl you need it. With smaler companies web hosting support is sometimes lacking or delayed.

There are many small hosting providers that offer space for as low as $.50 to $1 per month, however, you never know what you will be getting and many of them want you to pay for at least a years worth in advance.

You will also want one that has the most affordable hosting. If you can create your own small site or have one made for you, then you will probably be able to find space for as low as $3 to $4 per month.

However, if you need to choose a company that offers a What You See Is What You Get (WYSIWYG) website builder, then you will probably end up paying $10 to $15 per month for the smallest amount of space.

But if this is the only way that you can build a site, then it is necessary.

Some web hosting providers may also offer a deal on a yearly URL or other products when you make a web hosting purchase.

Ultimately, whatever web hosting provider you choose will depend on your individual needs and what you can afford.

Hopefully you will be able to snap up a well known provider at a low price who will allow you to upgrade your service as needed.

Virtual Web Servers: Perfect For Mid-Sized Web Hosting Needs

2009-11-25T03:29:00.000-08:00

Autor: adrianadams
The internet has exploded over the last ten years with many people doing more and more tasks online everyday. As the internet continues to grow, the amount of space available for web sites to expand will shrink. Another very important fact that needs to be considered when creating a web site is how you are going to host the web site.

Large companies can afford to have a dedicated web server or servers, but smaller companies and individuals usually can not afford to have a dedicated server for their web site. For these individuals there are a few alternatives available. They can either use aweb hosting service to host their web sites, or they can use a virtual web server to host their web site. Both of these alternatives have strengths and weaknesses.

A web hosting plan usually allows you to upload your web files to their server and then they configure everything so that anyone on the internet can access it. These plans are usually fairly inexpensive, but they are also limited in the amount of options that you can configure on your own.

However since the configuration of these plans are very easy, you do not need to have a large internal I.T. department to implement your plans.Web hosting plans are also a very good fit for your web site if you do not need to have access to a database.

Virtual web servers are a great way to maximize the use of a single server to service many web sites across several domains. The virtual web server uses one server and one operating system to host many different web sites. The difference between virtual web servers and hosting plans is that you have access to mail, FTP, and all of the configuration files on the virtual server.

This gives you quite a bit more control over all of the functions that a normal web server would allow you to do. However you need to know more about configuring a web site if you use avirtual web server. The best thing about a virtual web server is that you have much more control and the ability to do many different things that you can not do with a web hosting plan.

Usually it takes a person with quite a bit of experience to be able to successfully setup, maintain, and configure a web server. The problem with this is that there are not enough of these experienced people to prepare a web server for all of the individualweb sites on the internet today.

One way to help fix this problem is to use virtual web servers. A virtual web server allows one very experienced person to setup a single server that will be able to host many different web sites across many domains. This also allows different web sites to be configured individually and be able to use more resources than they would be able to use if they were not hosted on a virtual web server.

Since each web site can be fully configured, you will have quite a bit of control over all of the different features of your web site.

A virtual web server allows each web site to have its email, FTP access, and many other configuration files to be configured exactly the way you want them to be. Also avirtual web server allows access to different types of databases which can make your web site more dynamic.

Many virtual web server plans allow unlimited email addresses and built-in spam filters and virus protection. They also allow unlimited anonymous and non-anonymous FTP sites, so that you can offer file upload and downloads to your clients.

However the best feature of a virtual web server is that you have complete control over how your web site is configured to run, so you can do almost anything that you want to do. You do not have to be an expert, because many of these services offer a management tool, so that you can do all of the configurations without knowing exactly how to do it by hand.

What is Dedicated Website Hosting?

2009-11-25T03:27:00.000-08:00

Autor: shf1551
Dedicated website hosting exists when a company hosts only your website on a single computer (server). Most web hosting is shared, with hundreds of websites residing on a single computer.

The advantage of a dedicated server is obvious. If only your site is hosted, you will have all of the computer's resources dedicated to running your site. It will run faster and will likely be running in a more secure environment. With dedicated hosting you will have:

* A massive amount of storage space for your website
* High bandwidth for millions of hits per day
* A high level of technical support
* The ability to install your own proprietary or specialized software
* Complete control over the server configuration
* A high level of security necessary for large ecommerce sites

The total storage space needed must also include the size of your database(s), email boxes, statistics logs and anything else that you have on the server. For example, an article directory created using php, may need its own server if it has more than 50,000 articles. Ifyour site will host high quality images or photos, this will also quickly accumulate storage space. Plan for at least a year in advance before you decide on a hosting solution.

If your site is small, but extremely popular, it may receive thousands of visitors a day. If they are each downloading 500KB or more, the total bandwidth quickly adds up.

For instance, a celebrity fan site with desktop wallpapers and short mp3 sound bites could have 5,000 visitors a day. If each visitor downloads 2 (100KB) wallpapers and one (200KB) sound clip, that totals 400KB. Then you must add all the pages and thumbnails that the viewer sees but doesn't download (another 200KB). If you multiply this average (600KB) x 5,000 visitors, you get 3,000,000KB or 3GB. That adds up to 90GB of traffic a month!

Another thing to consider is the complexity of the site. If it interacts with several databases and contains several scripting languages, you may require more technical support than the average site owner. It is much easier to have special scripts and security features installed on adedicated server , than it is on a shared one. Needless to say, you will have complete control over what programs reside on your server, and what extra security features you have in place.

However, dedicated website hosting is much more expensive than basic hosting and you may have to spend a lot of money for technicians to install and configure your software. If you think you may require a dedicated solution, it is imperative that you research your hosting provider thoroughly before committing. The number of customers, experience in the industry, quality of their data center and quality of their computer hardware and software are just some of the things to consider.

What To Look For In A Web Host

2009-11-24T02:55:00.000-08:00

Autor: artgenie
Are you looking to build yourself a website? Trying to give yourself a presence on the internet? Then you would definitely be needing a web host to host your site on.

First thing to think about though when looking for a web host is the sort of website you are thinking of creating. Is it going to be a just a personal site about yourself and your CV, Is it going to be a family site with lots of family pictures? Thinking of setting up a busy forum about your favourite hobby, or a game server to play your favourite games online with friends or are you even contemplating having multiple sites? All this questions would have to be answered before you embark on your search for a suitable host.

One thing you would notice straight away is most hosts have plans providing you with gigabytes of space and bandwidth. This could lead you to believeyour site would take that much space which could then lead you into comparing hosts by comparing the amount of space made available to you going for the company that offers the largest space. (I have seen a company offering 100Gigabyte of space once).

The truth is most websites don't even use anywhere close to that amount of space. Majority of sites don't even use up to 1Gb of space. The average website on the internet today uses less than 50MB of space (yes you read that correctly 50MB). Even an album based website for example a family website with family pictures would still use less than 500MB of space. But don't take my word for it, If you can, build your website offline first of all using a site building software such as dreamweaver or nVU, exactly how you want it to be online with all the images and you would discover how very little space it uses up. It is therefore possible to have several websites on just 500MB of online space.

So I here you ask, why do hosting companies offer as much as 5-100Gb of space in their plans? Well the truth is because they all want to appear competitive.
They know your site wouldn't use that much space and they know you most likely don't know that, so they try and prey on the natural human trait known as GREED. Out of greed, people would always want to get the most of something they can even though they wouldn't use all of it. I have even seen some companies offering Unlimited disk space which is just laughable.

So do these companies have so much space to offer everyone? As you guessed it, the answer is no. What happens is they oversell! Because they know you most likely wouldn't use anywhere near your allocated space, they oversell to make as much money from you as they can before you finally transfer to someone else.
And if a client comes along with an extremely heavy website and does use even 75% of the space allocated to him, he would most likely get kicked off by the host provider with the reason that he's using too many server resources.

Another trick of the trade is the amount of sites you can have on your accounts also known as 'add-on domains' on your account. One could assume that if you cannot fill 5Gb with a single website, then maybe perhaps you could fill it with several websites. Well these 'overselling' companies have thought about this too and what they do is limit the amount of websites you can have per account. So on say a 5Gb account, you may only be allowed to have 2 websites or add-on domains.

Bandwidth is another thing to look out for. But like disk space, you usually don't use close to what is being offered, and this is also grossly oversold. Bandwidth is basically the amount of data that is transferred from and to your hosting account everymonth. Technically you can work out the amount of bandwidth you are going to need by using this formula:

[Average size of your webpages + any graphics used] x [The number of visitors you expect each day x Number of pages each visitor would view] x [30 days] = Total Bandwidth for the month.

For example for a 30 page website averaging 8kb per page, and 50kb worth of images on each page. If you get 50 visitors a day viewing an average of 4 pages each, the total bandwidth for the month would be [8 KB + 50 KB] * [50 visitors * 4 pages] * [30 days in a month] = 348,000 KB. Therefore this site would use a bandwidth of approximately 348Mb per month which is well within limitations of any hosting company.

Therefore what should you look for when choosing a hosting company?
The most important thing to look at is the server specs the company uses, and just as important the support they provide to their clients. By seeing how much effort a company has put into to develop their support department would tell you the sort of experience you would have with them. Is their support just an email address? If so then you probably wouln't want to be with them. Does their support have a knowledge base? Ready made questions and answers, video tutorials to show you visually how to solve the most common problems? An email ticketing system so if you do email them, responses can be tracked? Live chat so a quick question can be answered instantly? A good host that is not just worried about their profits would invest the time and energy into making all these available for their current and potential clients.

So when next you are out shopping for a webhost, don't just look at the amount of space and bandwidth you get, also look at the support available to you if a problem arises as it almost always does.