By Sage Kalmus
Not every web plan is built alike, nor is every web provider. When you start shopping around for your next webprovider, there are certain criteria you’ll want to hone in on, namely: disk space, bandwidth, upload/download speeds, security and reliability, customer service, references/testimonials, and guarantees. We’ll take them one by one below.
Disk Space and BandwidthDisk space is the storage space your web provider allows you for all the files that make up your website (from image galleries to databases to HTML and ASP docs, etc.). Bandwidth is the amount of data transfer your webprovider permits you in a given period (usually a month). It’s disk space that determines how rich and elaborate your site can be. It’s bandwidth that determines how much traffic you can accommodate. Gauge properly for the best results -- in other words, don’t spend a bundle for more than you need, but get yourself more than enough to allow for the traffic (and the growth) you anticipate in your best-case scenarios.
Upload/Download SpeedsWhen someone visits your website online, how long will it take the page to load? The answer to this question alone -- and the consistency with which you and your web provider maintain it -- can be the singular point that makes or breaks your business. People have short attention spans, made even shorter on the web. The longer you keep them waiting, the more likely they’ll stop waiting.
Security and ReliabilityThe servers and other equipment that a web provider uses to run your website are housed in a building called a data center. This data center needs to be as secure as possible to protect your equipment -- your entire business is at stake. This means 24/7 365 monitoring by live, trained security personnel and security cameras. Certain precautions must be taken in order to keep the equipment functioning properly in case of emergency, like power outages, fire, and other natural disasters. This comes in the form of redundant backup power sources and fuel supplies to ensure uninterruptible power, state-of-the-art smoke and fire detection, alerting, and suppression technologies, and redundant environmental controls (ie. air conditioning systems).
Customer ServiceIs it 24/7 365? Is it all free, or only certain services? Or is none of it free? Can you talk to a human being by toll-free telephone? In what areas? (A European toll-free number might not be accessible from the U.S., for example.) Does the web provider use email query tickets or live chat or both? How extensive are their user guides, tutorials, and help
docs? Do they use Flash or streaming audio/video or are all of their help guides merely text based?
TestimonialsWho likes them? A smart sales site will feature customer testimonials on its very own page. To find out who dislikes a webprovider, however, you’ll have to do a little broader internet research. Just keep in mind however, if you look for complaints, you’ll probably find them. A web provider is not immune from the old adage that you can’t please all the people all the time. So take complaints with a grain of salt, and read them carefully. Could the issue have been the customer’s fault, was it something that was out of the web provider’s hands altogether, or was it a misunderstanding of policy or technology or some other form of miscommunication? Far too often the only type of feedback a company will get is negative. If an individual is inspired to give positive feedback, it should be given due weight.
GuaranteesJust like you need to test drive a new car before you commit to buying it, you should be able to try out a web provider and their services before committing to having your site hosted by them. Rarely (though occasionally) will this come in the form of a free trial. More often than not, it’ll come in the form of a money-back guarantee. Fine with us. 30 days is the minimum. 90 is especially nice.
A good web provider will also usually offer some sort of uptime guarantee, meaning the percentage of the time your site is guaranteed to be live when a visitor tries to visit it. The best ones go from 99.95% to 99.9999%. As long as they have one in the 99% range, you can feel somewhat secure.
One last guarantee you’ll often see is a Custom Support Response Time guarantee (though it may not be worded quite that way). This tells you have quickly they vow to have a support representative respond (either by phone, live chat, or email) to a “support ticket” or “email query” you submit. 24 hours is acceptable, though you’ll see 48 and 72 sometimes as well. 3 hour response guarantees are rare, and precious.
Upgrade/Downgrade PoliciesAre they free? For how long (1year, life)? What if you discover you’ve chosen the wrong plan for your needs, or you outgrow your existing plan, or you downsize? Don’t sign any contracts with any web provider that locks you into one particular plan with no recourse should these situations arise. There’s no need to have to pay exorbitant fees to get out of one plan and into another. Especially when a decent web provider will allow you to change plans whenever you need to and for whatever reason. Hosting-Review.com is the premier resource on web hosting. Visit http://www.hosting-review.com/ for comprehensive reviews and rankings of over 50 web hosts, as well as informative hosting articles.
Thursday, August 9, 2007
Choosing a Hosting Company
By Robert Bell
Choosing a good webcompany is like forming an important partnership. A good web company will appreciate you as a customer and work hard to make sure you are happy with their service.
At the same time your website is an important part of your business, and you will come to rely on your web host to make sure your site is always available and operating at peak performance.
* When you choose a web company - first and foremost they should be a stable business that has been around for a while and you can feel comfortable they are not going anywhere. We have seen too many clients scrambling to transfer their sites to another company after the host they were using went out of business. (Often the host doesn't bother to inform its clients that it is going out of business
- the client suddenly realizes their site has gone down and they can no longer contact the company.) If your domain name isn't properly registered or you don't have a recent copy of your site on disk - extricating yourself from a failed company can be a very difficult proposition.
* Second, and equally important, it should be easy to contact your company. Remember, at some point in the future - no matter how good your host is - you'll probably have a reason to want to contact them. Whether the reason is setting up a new e-mail address, modifying a technical setting, or some other reason a responsive host can save you a lot of time. W aiting on hold through 45 minutes of automated phone messages is not an efficient use of your time. Find a host who you can talk to - on the phone or face to face.Roberto is the owner of Guide of Hosting. You can find more information at http://www.guideofhosting.com/
Choosing a good webcompany is like forming an important partnership. A good web company will appreciate you as a customer and work hard to make sure you are happy with their service.
At the same time your website is an important part of your business, and you will come to rely on your web host to make sure your site is always available and operating at peak performance.
* When you choose a web company - first and foremost they should be a stable business that has been around for a while and you can feel comfortable they are not going anywhere. We have seen too many clients scrambling to transfer their sites to another company after the host they were using went out of business. (Often the host doesn't bother to inform its clients that it is going out of business
- the client suddenly realizes their site has gone down and they can no longer contact the company.) If your domain name isn't properly registered or you don't have a recent copy of your site on disk - extricating yourself from a failed company can be a very difficult proposition.
* Second, and equally important, it should be easy to contact your company. Remember, at some point in the future - no matter how good your host is - you'll probably have a reason to want to contact them. Whether the reason is setting up a new e-mail address, modifying a technical setting, or some other reason a responsive host can save you a lot of time. W aiting on hold through 45 minutes of automated phone messages is not an efficient use of your time. Find a host who you can talk to - on the phone or face to face.Roberto is the owner of Guide of Hosting. You can find more information at http://www.guideofhosting.com/
Why Cheap Hosting Costs You More In The Long Run
By Buddy Clark
Many people believe that selecting service for their web site is a routine tasks and not that important. This is a big mistake as there are a number of very costly things that can and will go wrong if you are not aware of the important factors you need to take into account.
Answers to these important questions need to be found and fully understood before you can proceed with your domain name in confidence.
This important activity is often seen as a routine technical / administrative task and insufficient attention is given to it. This is particularly the so with newbies who have little experience of the wider issues of internet marketing and the more technical aspects of the internet.
Selecting Your Hosting Service
All web sites need to be hosted (stored) on a server (special internet computer) in order to be accessible over the internet. There are many companies that offerservices for your web site.
It’s not a good idea to host your site with the same company that registers your domain name, as it can cause complications if you later wish to move your site to another company. By keeping these two activities seperate, you will keep
your options open and retain control of your business.
Tip:
Never use a company offering free domains as part of a cheappackage -- it’s false economy and you will not be in control of your business!
There are many goodcompanies that will charge you about $7 a month and provide a good service. I can recommend using Hostgator, as their basic package provides all the essential functions you will initially need.
Tip:
It doesn't pay to get free or unrealistically cheap hosting. If your web site is a success, you will loose a lot of sales and profit whenever your server goes offline. Be wary of plans that offer unlimited diskspace or bandwidth as something else has to suffer to make this viable.
Most companies provide you with a control panel that enables you to perform a number of basic functions to manage your site. e.g. create, rename or delete folders and files (similar to files on your PC). You can also set up email accounts, databases and various other things as well.
The first thing you need to do is get some help in the form of step by step instructions and coaching videos designed specifically for newbies.Internet Business Buddy makes it easy for newbies to become successful internet marketers. Learn the insider secrets on how anyone can now make profits online. For a limited promotional period you can get a free copy of his life changing system (reports and video tutorials) by visiting the home business opportunities website now.
Many people believe that selecting service for their web site is a routine tasks and not that important. This is a big mistake as there are a number of very costly things that can and will go wrong if you are not aware of the important factors you need to take into account.
Answers to these important questions need to be found and fully understood before you can proceed with your domain name in confidence.
This important activity is often seen as a routine technical / administrative task and insufficient attention is given to it. This is particularly the so with newbies who have little experience of the wider issues of internet marketing and the more technical aspects of the internet.
Selecting Your Hosting Service
All web sites need to be hosted (stored) on a server (special internet computer) in order to be accessible over the internet. There are many companies that offerservices for your web site.
It’s not a good idea to host your site with the same company that registers your domain name, as it can cause complications if you later wish to move your site to another company. By keeping these two activities seperate, you will keep
your options open and retain control of your business.
Tip:
Never use a company offering free domains as part of a cheappackage -- it’s false economy and you will not be in control of your business!
There are many goodcompanies that will charge you about $7 a month and provide a good service. I can recommend using Hostgator, as their basic package provides all the essential functions you will initially need.
Tip:
It doesn't pay to get free or unrealistically cheap hosting. If your web site is a success, you will loose a lot of sales and profit whenever your server goes offline. Be wary of plans that offer unlimited diskspace or bandwidth as something else has to suffer to make this viable.
Most companies provide you with a control panel that enables you to perform a number of basic functions to manage your site. e.g. create, rename or delete folders and files (similar to files on your PC). You can also set up email accounts, databases and various other things as well.
The first thing you need to do is get some help in the form of step by step instructions and coaching videos designed specifically for newbies.Internet Business Buddy makes it easy for newbies to become successful internet marketers. Learn the insider secrets on how anyone can now make profits online. For a limited promotional period you can get a free copy of his life changing system (reports and video tutorials) by visiting the home business opportunities website now.
Unix Versus Windows Hosting
By David Pierce
When browsing through the offerings of various web companies you are sure to notice that some offer UNIX and others offer Windows. Some hosts even offer a choice of the two operating systems. What are the differences and which one is better?
First of all, when choosing a host, it doesn't matter what kind of operating system you develop your web site on or what you use on your own computer. Web sites hosted on both UNIX and Windows servers are universally accessible because the data they serve is identical. The difference lies solely in the software used to serve that data.
In terms of reliability UNIX systems have a slight advantage. They are known to extremely stable and able to run for years without rebooting. Windows is also very reliable – slightly less so than UNIX but still able to handle the demands of modern web sites.
The majority of web hosts use various flavours of UNIX like Linux and FreeBSD. These operating systems are free and reduce the costs of );operation. Windows costs thousands of dollars so some hosts charge extra for Windows accounts if they offer both types.
As well as being free, Linux and the other UNIX varieties are open-source software. Anyone can alter the source code and make improvements, updates, and additions. There is a large pool of dedicated enthusiasts who use their free time to work on this software. Windows, on the other hand, is Microsoft proprietary software so users are dependent on Microsoft to release updates. There is no way for an individual user to modify the code.
The main difference between the two types of operating systems is the type
of software each can run. Windows is suitable for Microsoft products such as MS Access databases, ASP for delivering dynamic content, and VBScript for site enhancements. UNIX cannot accommodate these technologies so if you absolutely need ASP or VBScript you should pick a Windows host. UNIX hosts deliver dynamic content by using software such as PHP, CGI, and MySQL – technologies which are also available on Windows hosts.
Windows is necessary for Windows media files such as videos and audio. Other types of media such as MP3, Flash, Shockwave and Real can be handled by either UNIX or Windows. Websites created in Microsoft FrontPage (a graphical HTML development package) can also be hosted on either type as long as MS databases or dynamic content are not included for use on a UNIX host.
Which is Best?
Before deciding which type of to use for your website, consider carefully what kind of technologies you will need. Do you need a dynamic site? Will you have multimedia content such as streaming video or audio?
Both UNIX and Windows can provide dynamic content with PHP, MySQL, as well as CGI, and there are thousands of dynamic scripts readily available. Multimedia can also be hosted by either type of server, although Windows media (WMA and WMV) need to be hosted on a Windows server.
If you absolutely need Microsoft databases, ASP, and Windows media you have to go with a Windows host. Otherwise most websites are probably better off with a UNIX host. The advantages of UNIX over Windows include greater choices in web hosts, slightly better reliability, and (sometimes) cheaper costs.David is an experienced internet entreprenuer with over 7 years of experience. He owns and operates the site www.cheapaffordablewebhosting.info Visit his site for reviews on the best webhosting companies.
When browsing through the offerings of various web companies you are sure to notice that some offer UNIX and others offer Windows. Some hosts even offer a choice of the two operating systems. What are the differences and which one is better?
First of all, when choosing a host, it doesn't matter what kind of operating system you develop your web site on or what you use on your own computer. Web sites hosted on both UNIX and Windows servers are universally accessible because the data they serve is identical. The difference lies solely in the software used to serve that data.
In terms of reliability UNIX systems have a slight advantage. They are known to extremely stable and able to run for years without rebooting. Windows is also very reliable – slightly less so than UNIX but still able to handle the demands of modern web sites.
The majority of web hosts use various flavours of UNIX like Linux and FreeBSD. These operating systems are free and reduce the costs of );operation. Windows costs thousands of dollars so some hosts charge extra for Windows accounts if they offer both types.
As well as being free, Linux and the other UNIX varieties are open-source software. Anyone can alter the source code and make improvements, updates, and additions. There is a large pool of dedicated enthusiasts who use their free time to work on this software. Windows, on the other hand, is Microsoft proprietary software so users are dependent on Microsoft to release updates. There is no way for an individual user to modify the code.
The main difference between the two types of operating systems is the type
of software each can run. Windows is suitable for Microsoft products such as MS Access databases, ASP for delivering dynamic content, and VBScript for site enhancements. UNIX cannot accommodate these technologies so if you absolutely need ASP or VBScript you should pick a Windows host. UNIX hosts deliver dynamic content by using software such as PHP, CGI, and MySQL – technologies which are also available on Windows hosts.
Windows is necessary for Windows media files such as videos and audio. Other types of media such as MP3, Flash, Shockwave and Real can be handled by either UNIX or Windows. Websites created in Microsoft FrontPage (a graphical HTML development package) can also be hosted on either type as long as MS databases or dynamic content are not included for use on a UNIX host.
Which is Best?
Before deciding which type of to use for your website, consider carefully what kind of technologies you will need. Do you need a dynamic site? Will you have multimedia content such as streaming video or audio?
Both UNIX and Windows can provide dynamic content with PHP, MySQL, as well as CGI, and there are thousands of dynamic scripts readily available. Multimedia can also be hosted by either type of server, although Windows media (WMA and WMV) need to be hosted on a Windows server.
If you absolutely need Microsoft databases, ASP, and Windows media you have to go with a Windows host. Otherwise most websites are probably better off with a UNIX host. The advantages of UNIX over Windows include greater choices in web hosts, slightly better reliability, and (sometimes) cheaper costs.David is an experienced internet entreprenuer with over 7 years of experience. He owns and operates the site www.cheapaffordablewebhosting.info Visit his site for reviews on the best webhosting companies.
Web Hosting Solutions: Need an Answer?
By Chelsea Aubin
Many web companies offer a variety of services for web site designers, owners, or future owners. It is important to have your problem in the world of internet business solved with a web solution, whether for personal or business use. Many web solutions offer what is needed to build and manage your own website. Some of the things they offer are software, personalized domains, and email accounts. These basic tools are what is needed to create your very own website.
The first thing you should do before choosing a web solution is to check to see what content is allowed on the web server. There are service regulations that prohibit different types of material and you should make sure that your web site falls within those regulations. Many regulations prohibit certain pirated software and MP3's and music files, hacker programs, and archival materials.
Most web companies will offer package deals where you can select a certain package of services. Some services include virus/spam
filters, extensive databases, web discussion forums, chat rooms and blogs, streaming videos, image galleries, scripting options, and others.
The Microsoft program “Front Page” is often supported by web agencies. This programs grants control of the web site to the web designer in an easy to use program. Many other web businesses use programs similar to that of “Front Page” with which you can design your web. You can change the appearance, add images, buttons and check boxes with these programs and it is all up to the web designer.
You should familiarize yourself with how much customer service the web agency offers. Familiarize yourself with the help files so that you can become as knowledgeable as possible. It is important that you know how to use the technology and software you are using so that you can use it effectively. A good web agency will assist you as much as possible in learning how to use the software, especially if you are new to the whole web design thing. Learn more Web Hosting Tips, Information and Reviews at webhosting.techniscape.com
Many web companies offer a variety of services for web site designers, owners, or future owners. It is important to have your problem in the world of internet business solved with a web solution, whether for personal or business use. Many web solutions offer what is needed to build and manage your own website. Some of the things they offer are software, personalized domains, and email accounts. These basic tools are what is needed to create your very own website.
The first thing you should do before choosing a web solution is to check to see what content is allowed on the web server. There are service regulations that prohibit different types of material and you should make sure that your web site falls within those regulations. Many regulations prohibit certain pirated software and MP3's and music files, hacker programs, and archival materials.
Most web companies will offer package deals where you can select a certain package of services. Some services include virus/spam
filters, extensive databases, web discussion forums, chat rooms and blogs, streaming videos, image galleries, scripting options, and others.
The Microsoft program “Front Page” is often supported by web agencies. This programs grants control of the web site to the web designer in an easy to use program. Many other web businesses use programs similar to that of “Front Page” with which you can design your web. You can change the appearance, add images, buttons and check boxes with these programs and it is all up to the web designer.
You should familiarize yourself with how much customer service the web agency offers. Familiarize yourself with the help files so that you can become as knowledgeable as possible. It is important that you know how to use the technology and software you are using so that you can use it effectively. A good web agency will assist you as much as possible in learning how to use the software, especially if you are new to the whole web design thing. Learn more Web Hosting Tips, Information and Reviews at webhosting.techniscape.com
ASP Hosting Simplified
By Sage Kalmus
ASP stands for Active Server Pages. It is a technology that enables users to design and creative interactive pages for their websites, using something called “server-side scripting”. What do we mean by interactive? Forms, in-site search engines, blogs, user forums, newsletters, calendars, WhoIs searches, web-based email, polls, surveys, hit counters and more.
Best of all, with ASP, no longer do webmasters have to concern themselves with what browser a visitor to their site is using. With ASP hosting, your website will appear identically on all computers, on all browsers, a claim that HTML simply cannot make.
Anytime a browser requests a webpage that has the .asp extension where the more familiar .htm or .html would be, the provider’s web server interprets any ASP scripts in the program first and foremost, before delivering any HTML info to the browser. This is why you cannot simply run ASP websites with just any company. The company you choose must have servers that support ASP, or else the ASP scripts you use will be rendered useless.
When examining web companies to find one that supports ASP, you must look specifically for ASP support. Do not simply assume that becausecompany supports “most web-based scripts, from CGI to Perl” that it supports ASP. If it doesn’t say so in an obvious place on the sales site, go to the company’s FAQ and look for ASP. And since most FAQs are searchable, this shouldn’t be difficult to do. If you’re really enamored with a particular company (or their current promotion) but can find no information on ASP support, consider contacting them via email, telephone, or web chat to find out. It’s possible that they do support ASP and just have a lousy sales site (which may be an indicator of an altogether different sort).
Microsoft
brought ASP to the world, and as such provides the platform - Windows - on which ASP generally works best. In order to play around with ASP scripts on your web pages, you’ll have to download and install onto your system an ASP server, like Microsoft’s Internet Information Services (IIS) or Microsoft’s Personal Web Server (PWS) -- one or both of which is included with most Windows packages for no extra charge. If you use Windows on your machine and have never encountered IIS or PWS, chances are it’s because you have to “Add” the program to your hard drive using the Windows software CD-ROM or through your control panel, since it’s often not included as part of the “Basic Install”.
Incidentally, Windows ME and Windows XP Home Edition are lacking in support for ASP scripts. But we’re willing to bet the forthcoming Windows Vista probably does.
For those webmasters on a PC that isn’t Windows-based, all hope is not lost. Sun Microsystems has developed a program called Chili!Soft ASP that allows other servers -- such as Red Hat, Apache, and Secure Server -- and other operating systems -- such as Linux, Solaris, and AIX -- to support ASP hosting.
Writing and using ASP scripts is easy too -- at least it’s no harder than HTML, with all commands occurring between “;” instead of “”. Not so big a difference, is there? And you can find an abundance of software tools all over the web (many for free) that helps even the greenest novice create interactive web pages rife with ASP.
ASP is such a versatile language that more and more companies are finding themselves compelled to add ASP support to their packages just to remain competitive. This, of course, is only to your advantage as you can comparison shop around for the best ASP offerings right alongside all the other features you’re looking for. Hosting-Review.com is the premier resource on web hosting. Visit http://www.hosting-review.com for comprehensive reviews and rankings of over 50 web hosts, as well as informative hosting articles.
ASP stands for Active Server Pages. It is a technology that enables users to design and creative interactive pages for their websites, using something called “server-side scripting”. What do we mean by interactive? Forms, in-site search engines, blogs, user forums, newsletters, calendars, WhoIs searches, web-based email, polls, surveys, hit counters and more.
Best of all, with ASP, no longer do webmasters have to concern themselves with what browser a visitor to their site is using. With ASP hosting, your website will appear identically on all computers, on all browsers, a claim that HTML simply cannot make.
Anytime a browser requests a webpage that has the .asp extension where the more familiar .htm or .html would be, the provider’s web server interprets any ASP scripts in the program first and foremost, before delivering any HTML info to the browser. This is why you cannot simply run ASP websites with just any company. The company you choose must have servers that support ASP, or else the ASP scripts you use will be rendered useless.
When examining web companies to find one that supports ASP, you must look specifically for ASP support. Do not simply assume that becausecompany supports “most web-based scripts, from CGI to Perl” that it supports ASP. If it doesn’t say so in an obvious place on the sales site, go to the company’s FAQ and look for ASP. And since most FAQs are searchable, this shouldn’t be difficult to do. If you’re really enamored with a particular company (or their current promotion) but can find no information on ASP support, consider contacting them via email, telephone, or web chat to find out. It’s possible that they do support ASP and just have a lousy sales site (which may be an indicator of an altogether different sort).
Microsoft
brought ASP to the world, and as such provides the platform - Windows - on which ASP generally works best. In order to play around with ASP scripts on your web pages, you’ll have to download and install onto your system an ASP server, like Microsoft’s Internet Information Services (IIS) or Microsoft’s Personal Web Server (PWS) -- one or both of which is included with most Windows packages for no extra charge. If you use Windows on your machine and have never encountered IIS or PWS, chances are it’s because you have to “Add” the program to your hard drive using the Windows software CD-ROM or through your control panel, since it’s often not included as part of the “Basic Install”.
Incidentally, Windows ME and Windows XP Home Edition are lacking in support for ASP scripts. But we’re willing to bet the forthcoming Windows Vista probably does.
For those webmasters on a PC that isn’t Windows-based, all hope is not lost. Sun Microsystems has developed a program called Chili!Soft ASP that allows other servers -- such as Red Hat, Apache, and Secure Server -- and other operating systems -- such as Linux, Solaris, and AIX -- to support ASP hosting.
Writing and using ASP scripts is easy too -- at least it’s no harder than HTML, with all commands occurring between “;” instead of “”. Not so big a difference, is there? And you can find an abundance of software tools all over the web (many for free) that helps even the greenest novice create interactive web pages rife with ASP.
ASP is such a versatile language that more and more companies are finding themselves compelled to add ASP support to their packages just to remain competitive. This, of course, is only to your advantage as you can comparison shop around for the best ASP offerings right alongside all the other features you’re looking for. Hosting-Review.com is the premier resource on web hosting. Visit http://www.hosting-review.com for comprehensive reviews and rankings of over 50 web hosts, as well as informative hosting articles.
Web Hosting Geeks : Web Hosting Gude
Ivan Ivanovich
Looking for and buying a reliable web solution is an imperative decision. Whether you are doing online business, providing important information or sharing views online on a common interest, you need a reliable web service that will allow online visitors to browse through your site effortlessly. It is only powerful web that allows your website to be downloaded, browsed and updated in minimal time.
Trying to identify a web host can be a very daunting task especially when there are so many available nowadays and all of them promise one thing or another. Hence, it is crucial that before you jump in, you do your own homework or research for selecting the most appropriate web company for your website.
With the changing trend of technology, web hosts are also changing. Most of them provide various services in addition to their basic ones. Say if you are running an e-commerce website, then of course you need high end security and a medium through which you can manage your web content efficiently. There are many tools that facilitate this, however if your web service is not reliable then you can miss out on serious revenues and prospective clients.
Once you have determined and identified what web services you require for your online business, it is then time to enlist certain web features and options you must consider. You can find below some of the most important aspects of web hosting:
Disk space and bandwidthYou should know how much space your website would need and approximate
data it will generate. When we talk about disk space, well, it’s actually the amount of storage assigned to you by the web provider. The bandwidth is the amount of traffic that is allowed to access and leave your website. In case your website has a lot of graphics then you would require higher storage area and greater bandwidth.
Programming tools and the OSYou need to be sure that your website is uploaded through secure servers using the latest Operating System. Most web hosts run on a UNIX based operating system, usually Linux or BSD. For the running of various web applications you would require ASP, .NET, MS SQL, SBS and for these you need a Window based host.
Pricing AspectYou need to compare pricing before you finalize a web service. Some may provide you better services but at low pricing. It’s not always true that the best services are always the most expensive. Do your research and then finalize.
Support, Security, Guaranteed uptime and BackupsSecurity and backups are two very important aspects that you need to consider. You should always choose a web service with reliable telephone support. Some also offer 24/7 support through local or toll-free numbers. In case you are running an ecommerce website then security is one aspect that you just cannot discard. Your web service provider should be such that they can monitor things round the clock and ensure no unwanted intruder can hack your site. After all it’s your website and it is really worth looking into this aspect of web hosting.
This original article belongs to Web Hosting Geeks (webhostinggeeks.com). Web Hosting Geeks provides independent web hosting reviews, web host rating and monthly best web hosting awards. Visit our site for more information about web hosting related services.
Looking for and buying a reliable web solution is an imperative decision. Whether you are doing online business, providing important information or sharing views online on a common interest, you need a reliable web service that will allow online visitors to browse through your site effortlessly. It is only powerful web that allows your website to be downloaded, browsed and updated in minimal time.
Trying to identify a web host can be a very daunting task especially when there are so many available nowadays and all of them promise one thing or another. Hence, it is crucial that before you jump in, you do your own homework or research for selecting the most appropriate web company for your website.
With the changing trend of technology, web hosts are also changing. Most of them provide various services in addition to their basic ones. Say if you are running an e-commerce website, then of course you need high end security and a medium through which you can manage your web content efficiently. There are many tools that facilitate this, however if your web service is not reliable then you can miss out on serious revenues and prospective clients.
Once you have determined and identified what web services you require for your online business, it is then time to enlist certain web features and options you must consider. You can find below some of the most important aspects of web hosting:
Disk space and bandwidthYou should know how much space your website would need and approximate
data it will generate. When we talk about disk space, well, it’s actually the amount of storage assigned to you by the web provider. The bandwidth is the amount of traffic that is allowed to access and leave your website. In case your website has a lot of graphics then you would require higher storage area and greater bandwidth.
Programming tools and the OSYou need to be sure that your website is uploaded through secure servers using the latest Operating System. Most web hosts run on a UNIX based operating system, usually Linux or BSD. For the running of various web applications you would require ASP, .NET, MS SQL, SBS and for these you need a Window based host.
Pricing AspectYou need to compare pricing before you finalize a web service. Some may provide you better services but at low pricing. It’s not always true that the best services are always the most expensive. Do your research and then finalize.
Support, Security, Guaranteed uptime and BackupsSecurity and backups are two very important aspects that you need to consider. You should always choose a web service with reliable telephone support. Some also offer 24/7 support through local or toll-free numbers. In case you are running an ecommerce website then security is one aspect that you just cannot discard. Your web service provider should be such that they can monitor things round the clock and ensure no unwanted intruder can hack your site. After all it’s your website and it is really worth looking into this aspect of web hosting.
This original article belongs to Web Hosting Geeks (webhostinggeeks.com). Web Hosting Geeks provides independent web hosting reviews, web host rating and monthly best web hosting awards. Visit our site for more information about web hosting related services.
How To Find An Affordable Hosting Provider
By Morgan Hamilton
Finding an affordable provider is by no means a difficult task now. Compared to yesterday’s situation, now we are faced with numerous firms that offer quite cheap providing services. Now everyone can afford to become part of the online world. Getting online has never been easier, and you can get your web site and done for as little money as you can imagine.
A lot of firms compete in offering affordable providing, which makes for the gradual decrease in prices. Just some several years ago you had to be quite rich to afford to have your own web site and also to pay the taxes on a monthly basis. No it is no big deal. Everyone is offering provider services: yours is the choice which you will avail of. With the coming of Internet in every house all around the globe, the services gradually became cheaper, turning the whole process of getting a web site hosted into a child game.
You can find a lot of firms, whose only purpose is to offer cheap services. Major sites such as yahoo also offer you the possibility to be hosted for less than 5 dollars per month. This is actually a free service. You pay the nominal fee and you already have your web site hosted, in the best place possible.
Getting such advantageous services makes for a lot of people having their web sites hosted. The number of online-hosted sites is increasing, and now everyone can afford to have a site supported by a good provider.
These affordable providers have changed not just the way we advertise, they are gradually changing the whole economic system, giving chance for smaller firms to become popular. As everyone can have a web site hosted in different space, this makes for the better situation of smaller firms. They now can afford to compete with bigger ones for online clientel.
If you can afford to have your web site, you are already into the business. You may turn into a reputable firm in the nearest future, because going online not only means free advertising: your web site attracts more and more people as the time passes. Eventually they turn into your customers and the business flourishes.
With the arrival of affordable providers, everyone can be free to make as much money as their abilities allow them. The competitiveness is greater now than in any other time before. This makes for better and better products being made, and also their prices becoming cheaper and cheaper.Morgan Hamilton offers expert advice and great tips regarding all aspects concerning computer. Get the information you are seeking now by visiting www.thecomputerinfoguide.com/computers/computers/how-to-find-an-affordable-hosting-provider.html
Finding an affordable provider is by no means a difficult task now. Compared to yesterday’s situation, now we are faced with numerous firms that offer quite cheap providing services. Now everyone can afford to become part of the online world. Getting online has never been easier, and you can get your web site and done for as little money as you can imagine.
A lot of firms compete in offering affordable providing, which makes for the gradual decrease in prices. Just some several years ago you had to be quite rich to afford to have your own web site and also to pay the taxes on a monthly basis. No it is no big deal. Everyone is offering provider services: yours is the choice which you will avail of. With the coming of Internet in every house all around the globe, the services gradually became cheaper, turning the whole process of getting a web site hosted into a child game.
You can find a lot of firms, whose only purpose is to offer cheap services. Major sites such as yahoo also offer you the possibility to be hosted for less than 5 dollars per month. This is actually a free service. You pay the nominal fee and you already have your web site hosted, in the best place possible.
Getting such advantageous services makes for a lot of people having their web sites hosted. The number of online-hosted sites is increasing, and now everyone can afford to have a site supported by a good provider.
These affordable providers have changed not just the way we advertise, they are gradually changing the whole economic system, giving chance for smaller firms to become popular. As everyone can have a web site hosted in different space, this makes for the better situation of smaller firms. They now can afford to compete with bigger ones for online clientel.
If you can afford to have your web site, you are already into the business. You may turn into a reputable firm in the nearest future, because going online not only means free advertising: your web site attracts more and more people as the time passes. Eventually they turn into your customers and the business flourishes.
With the arrival of affordable providers, everyone can be free to make as much money as their abilities allow them. The competitiveness is greater now than in any other time before. This makes for better and better products being made, and also their prices becoming cheaper and cheaper.Morgan Hamilton offers expert advice and great tips regarding all aspects concerning computer. Get the information you are seeking now by visiting www.thecomputerinfoguide.com/computers/computers/how-to-find-an-affordable-hosting-provider.html
3 Options For Hosting Multiple Websites
John Lenaghan
The prices of domain name registration and web have dropped to the point that it's possible to own multiple websites without going broke. If you plan to operate multiple websites, here is some information on the different options available to you.
The first thing to consider when setting up multiple websites is whether or not to host them all with the same webcompany. Many web hosts offer packages that let you set up multiple sites on a single account and almost all will let you set up multiple accounts, one for each site.
If you are happy with company you're using for your existing website(s), one advantage of using them for another site is the fact that you know they offer good service and support.
They might also offer discounts for multiple sites, so your costs might be lower if you stay with them again.
On the other hand, if you choose a different host you'll be able to compare the quality of another company with whomever you're currently using. If you ever run into problems with them, you'll have an alternative. It's wise not to "put all your eggs in one basket" as the saying goes.
Another advantage of using a different host is that you'll get a different IP address for each of your sites. If your sites are related to one another and you want to link them together, having different IP addresses can sometimes help your site rank higher in the search engines.
Links from other sites are one of the most important factors in getting your site ranked highly. If those links come from sites on the same IP address, it is a signal to the search engines that they are quite likely all owned by the same person, and they
may discount the value of those links.
If you do choose to host all your sites with one company, there are essentially 3 choices - separate accounts for each site, a reseller account where they are all hosted or a dedicated server, again where they are all hosted.
Separate accounts are self-explanatory, so let's look at reseller accounts. As a reseller, you are basically acting as an agent for the company - a middleman between them and the end user.
The idea is that you can set up your own company offering web that is ultimately hosted by the company. You don't have to resell this however - you can use the services for your own websites, essentially "reselling" the to yourself.
A reseller account is nice because all your websites are "under one roof" and you have a single point of contact for any technical problems.
Hosting on a dedicated server gives you complete control of the computer that is the web server. You can install any software you want, any operating system you want and you can allocate resources like memory and hard disk space however you want to divide it up between your sites.
The disadvantage of a dedicated server is that you are responsible for maintaining the server and sometimes even for the technical side of things. If you aren't familiar with the technical side of running a web server, you may need to choose a managed dedicated server, where the company looks after these issues.
Dedicated server are, of course, more expensive than the other options, so unless your websites are well established, with a lot of traffic, they may not fit within your budget.John Lenaghan writes about web hosting and other related topics for the Hosting Report website. For more information, visit www.hostingreport.org
The prices of domain name registration and web have dropped to the point that it's possible to own multiple websites without going broke. If you plan to operate multiple websites, here is some information on the different options available to you.
The first thing to consider when setting up multiple websites is whether or not to host them all with the same webcompany. Many web hosts offer packages that let you set up multiple sites on a single account and almost all will let you set up multiple accounts, one for each site.
If you are happy with company you're using for your existing website(s), one advantage of using them for another site is the fact that you know they offer good service and support.
They might also offer discounts for multiple sites, so your costs might be lower if you stay with them again.
On the other hand, if you choose a different host you'll be able to compare the quality of another company with whomever you're currently using. If you ever run into problems with them, you'll have an alternative. It's wise not to "put all your eggs in one basket" as the saying goes.
Another advantage of using a different host is that you'll get a different IP address for each of your sites. If your sites are related to one another and you want to link them together, having different IP addresses can sometimes help your site rank higher in the search engines.
Links from other sites are one of the most important factors in getting your site ranked highly. If those links come from sites on the same IP address, it is a signal to the search engines that they are quite likely all owned by the same person, and they
may discount the value of those links.
If you do choose to host all your sites with one company, there are essentially 3 choices - separate accounts for each site, a reseller account where they are all hosted or a dedicated server, again where they are all hosted.
Separate accounts are self-explanatory, so let's look at reseller accounts. As a reseller, you are basically acting as an agent for the company - a middleman between them and the end user.
The idea is that you can set up your own company offering web that is ultimately hosted by the company. You don't have to resell this however - you can use the services for your own websites, essentially "reselling" the to yourself.
A reseller account is nice because all your websites are "under one roof" and you have a single point of contact for any technical problems.
Hosting on a dedicated server gives you complete control of the computer that is the web server. You can install any software you want, any operating system you want and you can allocate resources like memory and hard disk space however you want to divide it up between your sites.
The disadvantage of a dedicated server is that you are responsible for maintaining the server and sometimes even for the technical side of things. If you aren't familiar with the technical side of running a web server, you may need to choose a managed dedicated server, where the company looks after these issues.
Dedicated server are, of course, more expensive than the other options, so unless your websites are well established, with a lot of traffic, they may not fit within your budget.John Lenaghan writes about web hosting and other related topics for the Hosting Report website. For more information, visit www.hostingreport.org
All About Cheap Web Hosting
By CompareWebhosts
Before you decide to purchase a cheap webpackage, you need to evaluate your needs and analyze the company to assure your needs will be met with a quality web service at a cheaper price. The good news is that it is easy for you to choose your web company through a web directory. A web directory is a web site that provides users the majority of web companies, their services, plans and prices. So users can compare several options on one site and choose the best web plan for their needs. The web directory will also include cheap web services with different price categories.
Cheap web is a great idea as long as it is with a reliable company. Some of the webs directories provide the option to analyze the quality of services of the cheap webdirectory will help you find out if the company will offer domain, marketing and technical support of your site. If you choose a cheap web host, you need to make sure they have support technicians on hand to help with your web site, or you may regret choosing a cheap web service.
While purchasing a cheap web hosting, be sure to compare
web site packages not only concerning prices but also its quality. One of your main concerns will be the amount of web space you're getting for the money. This will be important as your website grows and you will need more space. So, make sure your web company can grow with you. A good web maintains enough listings of top web services. Cheap website companies usually offer a money back guarantee to ensure your quality of service.
Other concepts to take into consideration while selecting cheap web packages should include customer’s requirements, technical support, internet options, password protection etc. If you plan to resell web to your customers, be sure that the virtual host offers reseller also. When using a web directory, you will also be able to read reviews from other clients about the quality of their services, this will help you in your decision process.
Choosing your web host is a very important decision in the success of your web site. So, to find the most information available about cheap web plans at one source, we recommend that you use a professional web directory to help you find your web solutions.About the author: Since 1998 Compare Web Hosts has been providing valuable and comprehensive information on cheap web hosting companies and their services. The information is verified and provided objectively. Our aim is to offer people cheap web hosting, dedicated servers, web hosting reviews, managed server, windows and linux hosting, asp and coldfusion web hosting.
Before you decide to purchase a cheap webpackage, you need to evaluate your needs and analyze the company to assure your needs will be met with a quality web service at a cheaper price. The good news is that it is easy for you to choose your web company through a web directory. A web directory is a web site that provides users the majority of web companies, their services, plans and prices. So users can compare several options on one site and choose the best web plan for their needs. The web directory will also include cheap web services with different price categories.
Cheap web is a great idea as long as it is with a reliable company. Some of the webs directories provide the option to analyze the quality of services of the cheap webdirectory will help you find out if the company will offer domain, marketing and technical support of your site. If you choose a cheap web host, you need to make sure they have support technicians on hand to help with your web site, or you may regret choosing a cheap web service.
While purchasing a cheap web hosting, be sure to compare
web site packages not only concerning prices but also its quality. One of your main concerns will be the amount of web space you're getting for the money. This will be important as your website grows and you will need more space. So, make sure your web company can grow with you. A good web maintains enough listings of top web services. Cheap website companies usually offer a money back guarantee to ensure your quality of service.
Other concepts to take into consideration while selecting cheap web packages should include customer’s requirements, technical support, internet options, password protection etc. If you plan to resell web to your customers, be sure that the virtual host offers reseller also. When using a web directory, you will also be able to read reviews from other clients about the quality of their services, this will help you in your decision process.
Choosing your web host is a very important decision in the success of your web site. So, to find the most information available about cheap web plans at one source, we recommend that you use a professional web directory to help you find your web solutions.About the author: Since 1998 Compare Web Hosts has been providing valuable and comprehensive information on cheap web hosting companies and their services. The information is verified and provided objectively. Our aim is to offer people cheap web hosting, dedicated servers, web hosting reviews, managed server, windows and linux hosting, asp and coldfusion web hosting.
How To Assess a Web Hosting Company's Customer Support
By John Lenaghan
One of the key characteristics of a good web company is 24x7 technical support. This support shouldn't be limited to hardware and software issues but also things such as integration with payment gateways, installation of SSL certificates, help with extra features like autoresponders and RSS feeds, etc.
Unfortunately, the technical support at most web companies is not up to the necessary standard. Many of them make big claims but they often don't invest enough in their support staff and systems.
Some hosts aren't even really companies - they're resellers who are essentially a middleman between you and the company on whose servers your site is actually hosted. These resellers have to take your issues to the company when something goes wrong - adding to the time it takes for a resolution.
Before you choose a web host, you should put in a little effort to assess the quality and competence of the host's technical support staff. If something goes wrong with your website, it's these people you'll be dealing with.
What You Should Be Checking
Call their customer support and inquire about the host's maintenance routines and availability, as well the support person's professional certification, years of experience, years working
with the host, etc.
Even if you aren't very technical yourself, you'll get a good feel for the quality of the staff by asking a few questions. The way they answer your questions is as important as the actual answer they give.
Ask the person you're speaking with where they're located as well as the location of the web company. The support staff are often in a different location than the host, and this can sometimes lead to additional time when there is a problem that needs to be resolved. They can't just walk down the hall and talk to a network admin.
You can also ask if the support staff are working for the host directly or if they're hired on a contract basis. If they are on contract, it can be a sign that the technical support is outsourced instead of handled in-house.
If you are put on hold a lot by the support person, it could be an indication that they either don't have enough support staff or the "first line" people are not well trained and have to look to a higher level for answers to difficult questions.
Make sure you do your research before deciding on a host. If your website goes down in the middle of an important event, you want to know that you can talk to someone who can get you back up and running sooner rather than later.John Lenaghan writes about web page hosting for personal and business sites, and other website hosting topics on the Hosting Report website. Find out more at www.hostingreport.org
One of the key characteristics of a good web company is 24x7 technical support. This support shouldn't be limited to hardware and software issues but also things such as integration with payment gateways, installation of SSL certificates, help with extra features like autoresponders and RSS feeds, etc.
Unfortunately, the technical support at most web companies is not up to the necessary standard. Many of them make big claims but they often don't invest enough in their support staff and systems.
Some hosts aren't even really companies - they're resellers who are essentially a middleman between you and the company on whose servers your site is actually hosted. These resellers have to take your issues to the company when something goes wrong - adding to the time it takes for a resolution.
Before you choose a web host, you should put in a little effort to assess the quality and competence of the host's technical support staff. If something goes wrong with your website, it's these people you'll be dealing with.
What You Should Be Checking
Call their customer support and inquire about the host's maintenance routines and availability, as well the support person's professional certification, years of experience, years working
with the host, etc.
Even if you aren't very technical yourself, you'll get a good feel for the quality of the staff by asking a few questions. The way they answer your questions is as important as the actual answer they give.
Ask the person you're speaking with where they're located as well as the location of the web company. The support staff are often in a different location than the host, and this can sometimes lead to additional time when there is a problem that needs to be resolved. They can't just walk down the hall and talk to a network admin.
You can also ask if the support staff are working for the host directly or if they're hired on a contract basis. If they are on contract, it can be a sign that the technical support is outsourced instead of handled in-house.
If you are put on hold a lot by the support person, it could be an indication that they either don't have enough support staff or the "first line" people are not well trained and have to look to a higher level for answers to difficult questions.
Make sure you do your research before deciding on a host. If your website goes down in the middle of an important event, you want to know that you can talk to someone who can get you back up and running sooner rather than later.John Lenaghan writes about web page hosting for personal and business sites, and other website hosting topics on the Hosting Report website. Find out more at www.hostingreport.org
All About Dedicated Hosting Providers
By Sage KalmusUnless overtly listed otherwise, most web packages you’ll come across in your search are what are called shared providers. What this means is that the server or servers that host your website are simultaneously numerous other websites also. This gives you a discounted rate on web services in exchange for tolerating certain technical constraints, like bandwidth, disk space, upload and download speeds, security and privacy, traffic, and probably the most notable restriction -- total control.
If you want total control not only over the administration of your website but also over the very hardware and software used to run it, then you should be evaluating not shared providers, but dedicated providers. If your business is large enough or growing fast enough that it requires its own internet connection and server, you may need a dedicated web host.
What’s the downside to going with dedicated providers? In a word: responsibility. In most areas of life, with total control comes total responsibility, and it’s no different with providers. With a dedicated server, the onus is on you to buy, install, and maintain the actual equipment -- the server itself -- mounted in the dedicated providers’ data center.
Fortunately, you still get the benefit of their presumably top-notch, around-the-clock security over the physical premises, but you remain fully responsible for the security of your cyber-premises. Likewise, dedicated providers will ensure that the systems in the building are all provided with redundant uninterruptible and backup power and environmental controls, but it’s you who must keep your machines and cables maintained and functioning in this idyll environment.
How do you identify whether it’s time to switch from a shared host to a dedicated host? There are 3 main indicators to stay alert for:
Speed If the traffic streaming through your shared server is slowing down your customers’ pace as they browse your site (or your employees, if an in-house site), it may simply be time to look for more unencumbered shared hosting. But if you’ve tried several shared providers with the same results,
then it may be time to remind yourself how impatient the average web surfer is. While you’re jumping from shared host to shared host trying to save a buck, your customers are jumping ship. Your ability to respond promptly and effectively to customer transactions and inquiries cannot be overemphasized either.
ReliabilityThe limits to your control are nowhere more apparent than in the areas of reliability and security. It’s not simply that problems can arise: problems do arise. It’s the nature of the biz. And if you don’t have unlimited access to your own operating system, software and database apps, etc., there’s not much you can do when one arises.
CustomizabilityIf your company is growing fast, you’re going to be changing many aspects of your web presence along with it. You may regularly need to tweak your disk space and bandwidth and experiment with using different applications to better serve your changing needs. On a shared host, upgrading in such a way usually involves leaping from one “package” or “plan” to another. These packages are generally preset and may or may not serve your immediate needs. They may be riddled with programs you don’t yet need, for example, yet lack in the one singular program you do. Or the next leap up from your current plan has way more disk space and bandwidth than you need at the moment. With a dedicated server, you can make changes incrementally, step forward, step back, heck, step sideways if you need to -- and when you need to.
In large part, it’s the size and growth rate of your business that will dictate whether you need a shared or dedicated host. Affordability and personal time commitment are nice secondary considerations, but if your business is booming, you would do it a great injustice to try and save on a few bucks and few extra hours per week of your time in exchange for slower and poorer quality of service for your customers.
By the same token, however, if your business is small enough to function quite smoothly on any of the shared providers out there, don’t squander your precious capital on a dedicated server just so you can have total control. Because sometimes total control isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. Hosting-Review.com is the premier resource on web hosting providers. Visit http://www.hosting-review.com for comprehensive reviews and rankings of over 50 web hosts, as well as informative hosting articles.
If you want total control not only over the administration of your website but also over the very hardware and software used to run it, then you should be evaluating not shared providers, but dedicated providers. If your business is large enough or growing fast enough that it requires its own internet connection and server, you may need a dedicated web host.
What’s the downside to going with dedicated providers? In a word: responsibility. In most areas of life, with total control comes total responsibility, and it’s no different with providers. With a dedicated server, the onus is on you to buy, install, and maintain the actual equipment -- the server itself -- mounted in the dedicated providers’ data center.
Fortunately, you still get the benefit of their presumably top-notch, around-the-clock security over the physical premises, but you remain fully responsible for the security of your cyber-premises. Likewise, dedicated providers will ensure that the systems in the building are all provided with redundant uninterruptible and backup power and environmental controls, but it’s you who must keep your machines and cables maintained and functioning in this idyll environment.
How do you identify whether it’s time to switch from a shared host to a dedicated host? There are 3 main indicators to stay alert for:
Speed If the traffic streaming through your shared server is slowing down your customers’ pace as they browse your site (or your employees, if an in-house site), it may simply be time to look for more unencumbered shared hosting. But if you’ve tried several shared providers with the same results,
then it may be time to remind yourself how impatient the average web surfer is. While you’re jumping from shared host to shared host trying to save a buck, your customers are jumping ship. Your ability to respond promptly and effectively to customer transactions and inquiries cannot be overemphasized either.
ReliabilityThe limits to your control are nowhere more apparent than in the areas of reliability and security. It’s not simply that problems can arise: problems do arise. It’s the nature of the biz. And if you don’t have unlimited access to your own operating system, software and database apps, etc., there’s not much you can do when one arises.
CustomizabilityIf your company is growing fast, you’re going to be changing many aspects of your web presence along with it. You may regularly need to tweak your disk space and bandwidth and experiment with using different applications to better serve your changing needs. On a shared host, upgrading in such a way usually involves leaping from one “package” or “plan” to another. These packages are generally preset and may or may not serve your immediate needs. They may be riddled with programs you don’t yet need, for example, yet lack in the one singular program you do. Or the next leap up from your current plan has way more disk space and bandwidth than you need at the moment. With a dedicated server, you can make changes incrementally, step forward, step back, heck, step sideways if you need to -- and when you need to.
In large part, it’s the size and growth rate of your business that will dictate whether you need a shared or dedicated host. Affordability and personal time commitment are nice secondary considerations, but if your business is booming, you would do it a great injustice to try and save on a few bucks and few extra hours per week of your time in exchange for slower and poorer quality of service for your customers.
By the same token, however, if your business is small enough to function quite smoothly on any of the shared providers out there, don’t squander your precious capital on a dedicated server just so you can have total control. Because sometimes total control isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. Hosting-Review.com is the premier resource on web hosting providers. Visit http://www.hosting-review.com for comprehensive reviews and rankings of over 50 web hosts, as well as informative hosting articles.
Trust in a Website Hosting Review? Trust To Luck?
By Markus Steiner
The Web service market continues to grow every day, while the services offered become more complex to meet the needs of all businesses. In this volatile environment, it is important to be able to quickly research your options and read a variety of Webreviews before you spend your hard-earned money on the wrong provider.
There are thousands of Web hosts in existence, and many have similar packages available, so it can be tricky for a user to determine which ones are truly the best – which ones have the most accessible technical support, or the strongest security measures, and which ones are simply in the business of taking your money.
There are hundreds of so called web review sites but many of them belong to providers, offering biased information whereas a lot of othereviews are simply advertising in disguise.
So what are the signs whereby you will recognize a good Website Hosting Directory?
A valuable Website Hosting directory was created in order to offer truly independent Website reviews to help the visitors navigate through the tangled “hosting jungle” that exists today. It has to be backed by real people with real, solid technical experience and market-specific knowledge of all facets of the industry.
The Website hosting reviews have to be objective and unbiased. From establishing test accounts to reading through commentary submitted by the visitors, a good directory does intense research so that any visitor can quickly and easily perform a Website comparison on the site.
All of the content, including Website reviews, has to be updated on a regular basis, so everybody can be sure he is getting the most up-to-date information every time. Professional directories constantly research the market for the latest trends and changes, while tracking the emergence of new providers, and users are allowed to post their own reviews and experiences to the site.
Preferable, a good Web directory features a top 10 list which is hand-picked from the best service companies in the market today. In addition you can also choose to view more specific lists, such as the top 10 largest Web hosts, the top 10 adult hosts, the top 10 business hosts, the top 10 fastest growing hosts, the top 10 cheap Web hosts, and more.
Now then, Web Hosting Reviews will definitely help you decide what is the right Web Hosting company for you. But only professional and independent ones.
For more about this author visit www.guideX.biz - Independent Reviews for Independent People!Markus Steiner is partner and CEO of www.guideX.biz - Independent Reviews for Independent People - 10 years of market-specific knowledge of all facets of the hosting industry
The Web service market continues to grow every day, while the services offered become more complex to meet the needs of all businesses. In this volatile environment, it is important to be able to quickly research your options and read a variety of Webreviews before you spend your hard-earned money on the wrong provider.
There are thousands of Web hosts in existence, and many have similar packages available, so it can be tricky for a user to determine which ones are truly the best – which ones have the most accessible technical support, or the strongest security measures, and which ones are simply in the business of taking your money.
There are hundreds of so called web review sites but many of them belong to providers, offering biased information whereas a lot of othereviews are simply advertising in disguise.
So what are the signs whereby you will recognize a good Website Hosting Directory?
A valuable Website Hosting directory was created in order to offer truly independent Website reviews to help the visitors navigate through the tangled “hosting jungle” that exists today. It has to be backed by real people with real, solid technical experience and market-specific knowledge of all facets of the industry.
The Website hosting reviews have to be objective and unbiased. From establishing test accounts to reading through commentary submitted by the visitors, a good directory does intense research so that any visitor can quickly and easily perform a Website comparison on the site.
All of the content, including Website reviews, has to be updated on a regular basis, so everybody can be sure he is getting the most up-to-date information every time. Professional directories constantly research the market for the latest trends and changes, while tracking the emergence of new providers, and users are allowed to post their own reviews and experiences to the site.
Preferable, a good Web directory features a top 10 list which is hand-picked from the best service companies in the market today. In addition you can also choose to view more specific lists, such as the top 10 largest Web hosts, the top 10 adult hosts, the top 10 business hosts, the top 10 fastest growing hosts, the top 10 cheap Web hosts, and more.
Now then, Web Hosting Reviews will definitely help you decide what is the right Web Hosting company for you. But only professional and independent ones.
For more about this author visit www.guideX.biz - Independent Reviews for Independent People!Markus Steiner is partner and CEO of www.guideX.biz - Independent Reviews for Independent People - 10 years of market-specific knowledge of all facets of the hosting industry
Discover The Advantages Of Colocated Web Hosting
By John Lenaghan
If you've decided that a dedicated server is the best choice for your website - you can set it up however you want and you aren't sharing it with anyone else - the next question you need to answer is whether you're going to rent it or buy it.
Dedicated means you're renting a server from a web company. Your other choice is to buy your own server and pay the host to house it on their premises and connect it to the internet. This is what is known as colocated hosting.
Colocated offers all the same advantages as dedicated you have ultimate control over your server. The extra benefit you get with colocated is a lower monthly cost.
Because you've bought the server, you aren't paying to rent the equipment, you're only paying the host to physically house your server.
Your initial investment will obviously be higher but if you buy a quality server, the costs will be lower when averaged over a long period of time.
How Much Does Colocation Cost?
The cost will depend on how much space your server takes up. Data centers normally house the servers in racks, which are then housed in cabinets.
A cabinet is normally 40 rack units high - each rack unit being 1.75'. Rack mounted servers are measured in rack units - 1U being 1.75'. The most common sizes
for servers are 1U, 2U and 4U, so your costs will depend on how many units your server uses.
The other factor in how much colocated will cost is the bandwidth you use. Because your server is connected to the internet via the data center's connection, your cost will depend on how much of data is being transferred, and how much of their connection is afforded to your server.
Colocation vs. Dedicated Hosting
With colocation, you're in charge of the hardware which in turn means you're responsible for maintaining it in case of problems. If a hard drive crashes or a CPU malfunctions, you will need to arrange for it to be replaced.
With dedicated hosting, the web company is responsible for these things so they'll take care of any problems that arise.
With colocated servers you're also responsible for any software licensing costs, such as the operating system and any server-based software you need. Dedicated hosts usually include the necessary software for you to run your server.
In the end, you need to decide whether the additional cost of dedicated is worth the time and up-front investment saved compared to colocated hosting.
If you have the resources to maintain a colocated server, and your resource requirements are high, colocation may be your best choice.John Lenaghan writes about web hosting and related topics on the Hosting Report website. Find out more at www.hostingreport.org
If you've decided that a dedicated server is the best choice for your website - you can set it up however you want and you aren't sharing it with anyone else - the next question you need to answer is whether you're going to rent it or buy it.
Dedicated means you're renting a server from a web company. Your other choice is to buy your own server and pay the host to house it on their premises and connect it to the internet. This is what is known as colocated hosting.
Colocated offers all the same advantages as dedicated you have ultimate control over your server. The extra benefit you get with colocated is a lower monthly cost.
Because you've bought the server, you aren't paying to rent the equipment, you're only paying the host to physically house your server.
Your initial investment will obviously be higher but if you buy a quality server, the costs will be lower when averaged over a long period of time.
How Much Does Colocation Cost?
The cost will depend on how much space your server takes up. Data centers normally house the servers in racks, which are then housed in cabinets.
A cabinet is normally 40 rack units high - each rack unit being 1.75'. Rack mounted servers are measured in rack units - 1U being 1.75'. The most common sizes
for servers are 1U, 2U and 4U, so your costs will depend on how many units your server uses.
The other factor in how much colocated will cost is the bandwidth you use. Because your server is connected to the internet via the data center's connection, your cost will depend on how much of data is being transferred, and how much of their connection is afforded to your server.
Colocation vs. Dedicated Hosting
With colocation, you're in charge of the hardware which in turn means you're responsible for maintaining it in case of problems. If a hard drive crashes or a CPU malfunctions, you will need to arrange for it to be replaced.
With dedicated hosting, the web company is responsible for these things so they'll take care of any problems that arise.
With colocated servers you're also responsible for any software licensing costs, such as the operating system and any server-based software you need. Dedicated hosts usually include the necessary software for you to run your server.
In the end, you need to decide whether the additional cost of dedicated is worth the time and up-front investment saved compared to colocated hosting.
If you have the resources to maintain a colocated server, and your resource requirements are high, colocation may be your best choice.John Lenaghan writes about web hosting and related topics on the Hosting Report website. Find out more at www.hostingreport.org
Tuesday, July 31, 2007
How To Transfer Cheap Hosting Providers
By Sage KalmusThere are several measures you’ll want to take in preparation for switching from one cheap provider to another. To start with, do not under any circumstances cancel your service with your current cheap provider until you’ve completed the switch to your new one and made sure that your site is live on the new cheapcompany’s servers. If -- heaven forbid -- any problems arise in the transfer and you’ve already cancelled your current cheap service, visitors to your site will find it “temporarily” down -- and that is a humongous webmastering no-no.
Here’s another don’t to start off the transferring process for you: Don’t do anything until you’ve backed up your entire website. This is probably the most important step in the process and one that is all too often embarrassingly overlooked. Backup every last page, every graphic, every hotlink. If you’ve never performed a backup of your site before, it’s easy to do -- just use your favorite FTP program (any will do) and download all the files from your current cheap company.
Once you’ve got this critical step taken care of, it’s time to start hunting around for the cheap provider you’ll switch to. Maybe you’ve already got one in mind. If not, there are numerous cheap portals and review sites that exist solely to help you navigate the densely populated landscape of cheap providers.
Decide ahead of time why you wish to switch cheapproviders -- is it cost? Bandwidth? System compatibility? Customer support? Features? Plugins? Scripts? -- once you’ve identified the exact areas where your current cheap provider is lacking, you’ll have a much easier time examining the breadth of cheap offers out there for the one that will serve you best.
Don’t rush into any decisions here. The last thing you want to do is hop from cheap company to cheap company -- if you did, then transferring will be about the only administrative duty occupying your time. Take the time now instead to find the best possible deal -- competition is fierce in this industry and you should have no trouble finding all the services and features you need
at a heavily discounted price. Don’t settle either -- same reason. If one cheapcompany doesn’t have absolutely everything you’re looking for, keep looking -- surely at least one does.
Once you’ve decided on a new cheap provider for your site, you’ll need to take down a few pieces of information, namely:
-- Your domain name (such as “the-best-website-ever.com”) -- The company name where your domain is registered -- If applicable, the username and password for your domain name registration -- The name server info of your soon-to-be new cheap provider (this will more than likely be emailed to you when you sign up with them -- if not, or if you lost it, you can find it in the Help documents on the new cheapprovider’s site).
Now that you’ve got all this done, you are finally fully prepared to transfer from your old cheap company to the new one. To do so:
-- Login to the website where you currently have your domain name registered; -- Locate a link for Domain Name Servers or DNS Information; -- Change the information in these fields to reflect that of your new cheap company; -- Submit your changes.
And voila! You’ve done it! Easy, wasn’t it? Once you’ve completed the above listed steps, it’s time to get your website live online. Simply upload the files you backed up at the beginning of this process to your new cheap provider. Then take a visit to your site (preferably from several different browsers) just to ensure your website still appears as you want it to now that it’s provider’s servers. If you notice a problem in how your site appears, it’s time to delve back into the HTML code and find out what’s causing the discrepancy. It could very well be that a portion of the code simply didn’t transfer properly. If this is the case, all you need to do is reenter it as it should be, and that should take care of the problem.
Lastly, once you are certain that your website is live and looks like it should regardless of browser, it’s finally time to cancel your previous cheap service. Hosting-Review.com is the premier resource on cheap hosting providers. Visit http://www.hosting-review.com for comprehensive reviews and rankings of over 50 web hosts, as well as informative hosting articles.
Here’s another don’t to start off the transferring process for you: Don’t do anything until you’ve backed up your entire website. This is probably the most important step in the process and one that is all too often embarrassingly overlooked. Backup every last page, every graphic, every hotlink. If you’ve never performed a backup of your site before, it’s easy to do -- just use your favorite FTP program (any will do) and download all the files from your current cheap company.
Once you’ve got this critical step taken care of, it’s time to start hunting around for the cheap provider you’ll switch to. Maybe you’ve already got one in mind. If not, there are numerous cheap portals and review sites that exist solely to help you navigate the densely populated landscape of cheap providers.
Decide ahead of time why you wish to switch cheapproviders -- is it cost? Bandwidth? System compatibility? Customer support? Features? Plugins? Scripts? -- once you’ve identified the exact areas where your current cheap provider is lacking, you’ll have a much easier time examining the breadth of cheap offers out there for the one that will serve you best.
Don’t rush into any decisions here. The last thing you want to do is hop from cheap company to cheap company -- if you did, then transferring will be about the only administrative duty occupying your time. Take the time now instead to find the best possible deal -- competition is fierce in this industry and you should have no trouble finding all the services and features you need
at a heavily discounted price. Don’t settle either -- same reason. If one cheapcompany doesn’t have absolutely everything you’re looking for, keep looking -- surely at least one does.
Once you’ve decided on a new cheap provider for your site, you’ll need to take down a few pieces of information, namely:
-- Your domain name (such as “the-best-website-ever.com”) -- The company name where your domain is registered -- If applicable, the username and password for your domain name registration -- The name server info of your soon-to-be new cheap provider (this will more than likely be emailed to you when you sign up with them -- if not, or if you lost it, you can find it in the Help documents on the new cheapprovider’s site).
Now that you’ve got all this done, you are finally fully prepared to transfer from your old cheap company to the new one. To do so:
-- Login to the website where you currently have your domain name registered; -- Locate a link for Domain Name Servers or DNS Information; -- Change the information in these fields to reflect that of your new cheap company; -- Submit your changes.
And voila! You’ve done it! Easy, wasn’t it? Once you’ve completed the above listed steps, it’s time to get your website live online. Simply upload the files you backed up at the beginning of this process to your new cheap provider. Then take a visit to your site (preferably from several different browsers) just to ensure your website still appears as you want it to now that it’s provider’s servers. If you notice a problem in how your site appears, it’s time to delve back into the HTML code and find out what’s causing the discrepancy. It could very well be that a portion of the code simply didn’t transfer properly. If this is the case, all you need to do is reenter it as it should be, and that should take care of the problem.
Lastly, once you are certain that your website is live and looks like it should regardless of browser, it’s finally time to cancel your previous cheap service. Hosting-Review.com is the premier resource on cheap hosting providers. Visit http://www.hosting-review.com for comprehensive reviews and rankings of over 50 web hosts, as well as informative hosting articles.
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