Understanding Web HostingA web hosting service is a variant of an internet hosting service which allows individuals and organizations to offer their own website accessible via the World Wide Web. Web hosting companies provide space on a server they own for use by their clients as well as providing Internet connectivity, typically in a data center. These same web hosting companies can also provide data center space as well as connectivity to the Internet for servers which they do not own to be located in their data center; this is referred to as- *collocation
Often times web hosting is provided as part of a general Internet access plan; most consumers will find that there are many free and paid providers (insert eVarity link) offering these services.
It is important that as a consumer you evaluate the requirements of your site to decide what kind of hosting to use. Such considerations would include: database server software, scripting software, as well as the specific OS (operating system) which the server is based. The majority of hosting providers provide Linux-based web hosting which offers a wide range of different software.
Always be aware of a few key areas when shopping around for a hosting solution that works for you.
Web hosting packages will often include a pre-constructed Web Content Management System, which is often referred to as a CMS, so the end-user will not have to worry about some of the more technical aspects. These Web Content Management systems or CMS’s are a good option for the average user, however, if you desire more control over your site design without paying a hefty amount on a custom CMS then it would be a good investment to look into open-source solutions.
* Referring to the process of running data or applications in a single process, i.e., virtualization
A Few Quick Facts On Hosting
Different types of hosting
Before you settle on which company you are going to use to host your site it would be a wise idea to look over the various hosting solutions available to you in order to understand which one is best suited for your needs. You'll find some of the more common hosting solutions listed below.
- Shared web hosting service: your website is on the same server as many other sites.
- Free web hosting service: (usually) free web hosting that is often limited.
- Virtual Dedicated Server (VPS): server is divided into virtual servers. As a user you’ll have root access to your own virtual space.
- Dedicated hosting service: You will have your own web server and will gain full control over it, although you will likely not own the actual server. You will be responsible for security and maintenance.
- Home server: Usually no more than one or two pc’s within a home residence that functions as a server with the ability to host one or more websites.
Host multiple domains
You’ll find that with the majority of web hosting providers you will have the ability to host unlimited domains. This is especially important if you are planning on hosting multiple websites.
Understanding DNS and Name Servers
DNS is the acronym for Domain Name Server. It basically takes your domain name and translates it to an IP address which your computer needs to connect to the appropriate server. After your computer has an IP address, the server will perform its magic and responds to the request by serving your files to the client.
A Name Server is the DNS server responsible for being authoritative and giving the answer to your computer for the DNS Lookup. All of this is handled on the server side and the only thing you need to do is change your Name Servers if you are ever instructed to do so by the hosting provider.
Being aware of uptime
There is no hosting provider that will be able to guarantee you absolute uptime. You’ll find that the reputable companies will do everything possible to prevent their servers from going offline. A good question to ask is whether the specified servers are running on redundant power supplies and, or redundant networking connections. However, you should keep in mind that a hosting server is a machine, and with any machine, even the computer you’re using, there is no assurance that it will never experience difficulties. For routine server maintenance you can probably expect to see downtimes ranging in the 2 - 5 minute arena.
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