The Principles Behind Web Hosting

Filed Under (Uncategorized) by on 15-10-2009

The web host, also known as an ISP (Internet Service Provider), lease out their servers for companies to rent. ISP’s give several services to companies like renting out hard disk space as well as maintaining the hardware and the like. Completed websites are uploaded into a server. The ISP in turn, are the ones who allow the users to view the pages through web addresses or domain names. As soon as a certain web address or domain name is typed by a user, that request is sent to the server to retrieve and send back to the user.

These web hosts use a software fondly called the server software. Currently, the most popular of these server softwares is the Apache software which has over 60% of the web hosts using it. This software is responsible for accessing the files and sending it back to the user upon request. It is also powerful enough to accommodate as much as a million requests a day with no problems.

It is very common for these web hosting companies to have a many as a hundred of these servers. When all of these servers are located in the same location, they are then collectively called a datacenter. This room or building where the servers are kept is where all the maintenance and support is given to these servers to ensure optimum running as well as less downtime

Web Hosting : Service Level Agreement

Filed Under (Uncategorized) by on 17-09-2009

The Overview

Of all the documents that you will be presented with when selecting a provider, the Service Level Agreement or SLA would most probably stand out as the most important piece of document to have and to study as well. The SLA represents the agreement between you and the provider regarding services.

Levels of Service Defined

The SLA will cover several items such as the services, the responsibilities, the priorities as well as the warranties and guarantees. Definitions may also vary between several points such as availability, serviceability, performance, operation or other attributes of the service.

The term used to refer to the services may either be “target” or “minimum.” The SLA basically gives you some form of leverage regarding the service that you receive from the provider. It also keeps you well informed of what deal you’re getting yourself into. Remember that the SLA is referring to what you are getting and not hot the service is provided by the provider.

The clauses of the SLA should have the following:

Specific area of service that will be rendered
Penalty when service fails
Options for support
Duties and responsibilities of client
Dispute resolution
Conditions for termination of service

The SLA and Its Guarantees

Guarantees differ from every provider. Each of them will give a certain level of guarantee to try to get you to avail of their program. The more common of the guarantees are the money back guarantee and the uptime guarantee. If the client and the provider have a dispute, the SLA will be used as a reference or guide to settle the problem in black and white.

Details of the SLA

When selecting a hosting provider, always make it a point to read through the SLA to keep you well informed on the services as well as your rights. Give special attention the the following when going through an SLA:

30 Day Money Back Guarantee – Are you really getting your money back on the 30th day or are there advance notices that you have to accomplish? Try to clarify this with the provider.

Uptime Guarantee – If there are non-compliance issues regarding the uptime services of your provider, you will find the process to follow right here. You will also find the things to expect regarding the uptime guarantee here.

Permitted Files – There are some files that may not be allowed by your provider for uploading. It may be allowed but on a more expensive plan. Make sure to clarify this.

Finally, other things that the SLA should also cover are the disk space and bandwidth services as well as the arrangement regarding the domain name.

The Basics of Enterprise Hosting

Filed Under (Uncategorized) by on 04-09-2009

There comes a time for some companies when their web hosting needs become too much for a server or two to handle. It becomes too complex that they would need to step up their service to enterprise-level hosting. Enterprise hosting is a high capacity solution that can provide the needs of a company with a complex requirement. This service is load-balanced and connected to large databases and is handled by multiple servers. It is backed by a security appliance and is usually developed by network architects or designers.

Below is a list of features that companies who need an enterprise-level hosting look for:

More hard drive space
More Bandwidth
Better Technical Support
Need for Advanced Features
Need for Extended Services

Web Space

If you are bent on getting an enterprise hosting package, you should get the best out of your investment. That said, make a list of your present space requirement and how much space you’ll be needing in the near future.

Bandwidth

Bandwidth plays a big part in the quality of exchange between your company and your clients. Getting an enterprise hosting package will make the bandwidth a non-issue. Make sure though, that when looking for an enterprise hosting provider, that they have at least a T-3 backbone connection. A connection like this may be able to pass data at speeds of up to 45Mbps. Also consider how much bandwidth is being used by the current demand in the system or simply the demand of the of the host provider’s customer. Ideally, bandwidth should not be less than 30% utilized during off-peak hours and not more than 70% at peak hours. Lastly, when selecting a provider, choose the one that is the closest to the internet backbone connection. The reason for this is that, the more ‘upstream’ connections a host provider has to the Internet backbone connection, the higher the risk of data loss and bandwidth loss for your website.

Technical Support

It is very important that you choose a provider who are reliable and have 24/7 support. After all, having a reliable tech support will play a major role in your site’s success.

Platform Support

The platform is made up of all the hardware running from internet connectors to the software that is bundled in the system and is simply known as the heart and soul of the web hosting service. Before finally deciding which provider you’re choosing, double check on their track records. See if they have a particular platform that they specialize in. Don’t hesitate to inquire about them from their customers and lastly, consider other technical information to determine the reliability of the platform of a particular provider.

Advanced Features and Add-ons

See if there are add-ons and value-added features provided in the package but remember to look ahead of these add-ons. Also check if they have extra service like developer training, consulting, access to development and design teams. There’s nothing like getting your money’s worth.

E-commerce Concerns

E-commerce software bundles are now incorporated by hosting providers into their packages. Some may offer just the basics while some may opt to offer the complete package. Before finally deciding on your provider, compare the packages that they have that is right for your requirements. Also make sure that they have SSL support.

What You Need to Know About PHP Hosting

Filed Under (Uncategorized) by on 17-07-2009

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PHP hosting is one of the types of hosting available to you, if you are looking for a hosting service. In this type of hosting, the PHP programming language is used. You will be able to find highly affordable hosting plans from many PHP hosts on the web. PHP is an acronym for Hypertext Preprocessor, although in the past it used to be known as Personal Home Page. The commands in PHP are written in HTML The execution of the PHP programming language is being carried out server side, and this programming language for web development is also of the open source type. Not only is PHP a highly valuable programming language for many web developers, it is also very dynamic, especially with its wide-range of applications.

Due to the compatibility of PHP with MySQL, this programming language is often a foremost choice for many web developers and programmers. MySQL is one of the most well-known online databases. It can automate sites easily, without much complex procedures. If you choose to get PHP hosting, you will be able to run it not only in Windows servers but in Unix servers as well. The fact that it can be run on both servers is a big part as to why hosting with PHP is being opted for by many website owners and web developers. Moreover, PHP is considered as an open source language in web development, making it one of the most widely-used programming languages available today.

Among the advantages of PHP hosting are speed and reliability. However, you need to find a good host for your PHP-run website. Since this type of hosting is efficient and reliable, it is often used for many dynamic websites, such as e-commerce sites. This programming language can also manage sophisticated and more advanced applications on the web since it is highly reliable.

Many programmers who are already adept at Perl and C programming languages can easily take on PHP. This is why most web hosting providers offer PHP hosting services, especially when it comes to hosting for e-commerce websites. In fact, many of those who are seeking out e-commerce hosting plans should check first if the hosting is executed through PHP. Hosting through PHP is well-suited with almost all of the databases in existence nowadays. Thus, there is no complexity involved when interfacing PHP with these databases. If you are planning to build a functional and dynamic e-commerce site, with database information fully supported by the hosting plan, you can go for PHP hosting services.

When it comes to finding a host for your website, not only should you consider the requirements of your online business. You have to look into the needs of your consumers as well. With the type of hosting provided by PHP, you can customize your site easily, so you can cater to the needs to your clients better. If you are looking for a reliable hosting type which is considered efficient and secure by website owners and programmers alike, you will do best with PHP hosting.

Web Hosting-The Difference between Shared, VPS, and Dedicated

Filed Under (Uncategorized) by on 01-07-2009

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Where you host your sites is important. You don’t want to be on a host that is too small for your needs, yet spending too much and getting a load of space, bandwidth and CPU that you don’t need.

Shared Hosting is the first hosting type we shall be reviewing today. This is the cheapest option and is great for small sites. You commonly get unlimited space and bandwidth or near to that at least. However you cannot host a site like YouTube on it as you are limited by CPU and RAM usage as well which will shut you off before you run out of the allotted space and bandwidth

As the name implies you ’share’ the server with other people, up to around 50 or 100 on a paid host, but if you are on a free host maybe 10,000 other sites. The main problem is all it takes is one person who may not know about memory limitations on shared hosting, who runs a memory intensive script and the whole server crashes, causing everyone’s site to be down.

Next is VPS hosting. This is better and thus more expensive than shared hosting, yet dedicated hosting is faster however dedicated hosting is far more expensive. VPS hosting starts at around $45 a month, which may seem a lot compared to shared hosting $5-10 a month.

You however can do what you want with it. Think of it one part of a computer. You have an eighth of the memory, CPU, hard drive and bandwidth. This allows you to use much more memory etc and the space is guaranteed space compared to shared hosting, where overselling is too common and if you use jut 10% of the space you get banned.

Finally we reach Dedicated hosting! This is where your sites and your sites only are hosted. You can do whatever you want on these as you have no limitations and if your site won’t go down from some idiot installing a memory intensive script such as a proxy or the rapid leech script (A script that downloads files from RapidShare to the server, and then provides a link to download from-this is how Rapidshare Premium link Generators Work).

This is only recommended for those that host very large files such as a flash arcade or a wallpaper site. This is very expensive and usually start at around $150 a month for the basic ones and around $300 a month for the expensive top of the range servers. You can do whatever you want with these servers, provided it is legal. You could run 10 or 20 proxies and nobody would shut your account down!

As you can see the difference between the plans are huge, however I personally advise everyone to go with shared hosting and work their way up. You shouldn’t pay for things you don’t need! Hosting is cheaper now than it has ever been and you can find loads of great hosts offering great priced shared hosting for around $5 a month easily.

Buying a Domain Name and Getting Web Hosting

Filed Under (Domain Name, Uncategorized, Web hosting) by on 14-06-2009

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You need to know that buying a domain name and getting the right web hosting are two different things. However both are important when it comes to providing visibility for your website on the Internet. In order that you will have a clearer idea on the differences between buying a domain name and getting a web host, it is important to discuss more on this matter.

Domain Name Buying

domain nameGetting a domain name is important, before you can start seeing your website on the Internet. Without a domain name, your website won’t be identifiable as unique on the web. A domain is a series of alphanumeric characters which corresponds to the computer network connection address. Simply put, it serves as the identity of the website on the Internet.

In order to have your own domain name, you need to register first of all, and to search for the right domain name resellers. Due to the fact that personal websites continue to emerge on the Internet, domain name resellers are also increasing in number. There are various packages available on the web, and this has made it all the more convenient to the clients. These resellers are typically accredited with the ICANN domain name registrar. Once they are accredited, they can already start selling domain names to clients.

Anyone can start a domain reseller business, but you are required first to locate a registrar that is accredited by the ICANN, from whom you can then obtain a reseller program. Through this, you will be able to access a specific interface as a user, and this is where you will provide domain names to clients, using the system of the registrar.

Through specific software provided to the resellers, you will be able to make available the necessary interface to your clients. Typically resellers are capable of obtaining discounts from the registrar, due to bulk transactions. This is how resellers are able to obtain profits.

Web Space Buying

serverYou can obtain web space through a web hosting service provider. These providers are able to provide a range of web hosting services at competitive prices. Whether you require a personal website, a company site, or an e-commerce website, the right hosting provider will provide you with the hosting services you need.

Web hosts are also known as web space providers. The services offered by web space providers may include the following: virtual dedicated hosting, dedicated hosting, free web hosting, shared hosting, reseller web hosting, managed hosting, collocation web hosting, clustered hosting, and grid hosting.

If you require more specialized services, you should go for web hosting providers which offer more than the basic services. Whether you need image hosting, one-click hosting, blog hosting or necessitate e-commerce tools like shopping cart, there are specific web space providers out there.

There are various considerations associated in choosing a web space provider. One of the factors is hosting uptime, which ensures the availability of the site on the Internet 24/7. Of course, you would want to get the best possible service out of the money you have spent, and this means keeping your website from experiencing crashes and downtime due to poor services.

Getting the Right Bandwidth from your Web Hosting Plan

Filed Under (Uncategorized) by on 14-06-2009

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cableWhen you are searching for the right web hosting providers, you need make careful consideration on the amount of bandwidth you are getting. However, how do you determine the right bandwidth amount for your site? 

The truth is that before you can really determine the bandwidth amount required by your site, you will need to have your site running on the web for some time. This is why choosing a web hosting package is often a problem for many clients, especially if they don’t known the bandwidth needs of their sites in the first place.  

Dissecting the Unlimited Band-“myth” 

First and foremost, you need to be quite cautious if you encounter a hosting company offering unlimited bandwidth or what is often referred to as monthly transfer.  

Since unlimited bandwidth actually does not exist, it will be futile to even try searching for unlimited bandwidth on the web. 

Broadband companies for example, cannot provide web connection which offers “unlimited megabytes per second.” In the same way, and especially since hosting companies normally don’t have their own access lines, unlimited bandwidth is often next to impossible.  

In any unlimited bandwidth plan, your website will most likely be disconnected from the Internet, and in the end, you won’t even be given the refund due to you. Some unreliable hosting companies might try to place the blame on you, stating that your site has done some violations.  

Therefore, if you encounter a website which is offering “unlimited bandwidth”, do not hesitate to make a background check on its Acceptable Use policies and its Terms of Service. More likely, you will be surprised as to the texts indicated on the disclaimer on “unlimited bandwidth”. 

Making Wise Choices 

When searching for the most suitable web host for the particular type of website you have, you should be committed in determining the usage of your site within the initial months of operation. Prior to choosing any hosting company, it will be helpful to check on the costs required for an update as well.  

These factors are among those which deserve looking into: 

  • Expected traffic by your website
  • Number of viewable web pages
  • Graphic and HTML file sizes

 

You will multiply the size of an HTML page in your site plus the collective size of images within a single page with the number of pages found in your site. Once you are able to derive the amount, you will then have to multiply it by the number of monthly visitors to your site.  

You have to understand however that this computation will not yield accurate results. The result will just be a rough estimation, given that images are often not reloaded each time a user visits the site.  

If your site contains large audio files, video files, as well as downloadable files, you will have to need more bandwidth. Full length presentations require the biggest bandwidth from your site.  

While getting a precise calculation is not a guarantee, this will nevertheless enable you to make preparations in getting the web hosting plan that works best for your site.

Free Web Hosting

Filed Under (Uncategorized) by on 11-05-2009

Free web hosting is a feasible option for those looking to cut down on their web hosting expenses. These free web hosting services allow you to procure an existence on the web and acquire a sub-domain. However, free web hosting services limits you from using certain features and services. These hosting services provide you very limited space for storage due to which you can only host a certain number of pages in your website. Free web hosting services will allot you very less bandwidth which constraints the amount of data transfers you make per month. It is quite a possibility that you might not be allowed to transfer files with MP3, ZIP and MPEG formats. Therefore, you will have to be very selective while transferring files from your allotted server.

However, with a free web hosting service, you might avail of certain advantageous features like add-on web based control panel, scripting languages and transfer of numerous files with the help of FTP. In case, your part of the server is instantly activated, you will be immediately allotted small storage space and less bandwidth. In case, you opt for approved activation, you will be allotted with comparatively larger space and bandwidth.

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