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Virtual Hosting
What is Virtual Web Hosting?
A web hosting
provider hosts your Web site by placing it on a computer (also
called a "server", since it "serve" content up to Web surfers)
which are designed specifically to host Web sites. Servers
are directly connected to the Internet backbone on fast communication
links (much like phone lines, only these lines are bigger,
and carry digital data, instead of voices). Your Web site
will reside on one of servers at a web host's facility, yet
you can view it and work on it from your own PC. This is virtually
like having a computer of your own, hence the term Virtual
Web Hosting.
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What features should I look for when choosing a web host?
The more you
know about what you need, the easier it will be to use HostSearch
to find the right web host for you. For starters, you should
determine the following:
1. Do you want a shared or dedicated server?
Depending on your requirements,
you may be better off with a dedicated server than a shared
server. Dedicated servers are typically used in cases where
there is a high level of traffic, there is a strong need
for security, or the user wishes to run their own customised
software and applications rather than the standard ones
supplied by the host.
If you do not have a big site
that will be receiving a lot of traffic, then shared should
be fine for you.
For more information on dedicated
servers, check out our article: To Share or Not to Share?
On Dedicated Servers. Or search for a dedicated server:
2. Are you a good match?
Is your host's server, software
and support services compatible with the skills and software
that you (or your design team) are using? If, for instance,
you are working in a Unix environment, then it makes little
sense to choose an NT host.
With all hosting plans, there
will be some features that you need and some offered that
you don't need. Be sure to focus on the essentials that
are required to launch your website. You may want all the
nice extras but will you use them? It's a good idea to choose
a host that will allow you to expand and upgrade your plan
as and when your website grows. If you want to start selling
online, for example, an additional e-commerce option for
an extra fee will be easier and quicker to implement than
looking for and transferring to a new host.
3. Are You Flexible and Can I Upgrade?
You may not need a database
solution now, perhaps, but you may need one in the future.
Similarly, a shared hosting arrangement may be fine for
you now, but what if your traffic levels explode, and you
need one in a years' time? It is much easier to remain with
one host than to change. So, when choosing a host, keep
in mind your possible future needs, and whether the host
will be able to accommodate them.
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How much space and bandwidth will I need?
For a small site
with not so much traffic, not so much. Your needs in this
case can be met with 10 to 100 MB of disk space and 1 to 10
GB of data transfer per month. (Be aware that movie and sound
files will eat up a lot of disk space and bandwidth.) If your
web site is text-based, you needn't worry about this technical
stuff - text takes almost no space at all - not even really
big font sizes!
If you're planning
to sell something online, look for a provider who can provide
you with a commercial web solution such as Shopping Cart software
or a secure online payment system. Choosing a large web space
with a high bandwidth allowance is a good idea in this case.
In this category,
50 MB of disk space or more is advisable. Bandwidth allowance
really depends on how many visitors you're expecting and how
well you promote your web site. For most sites, 5 to 30 GB
should suffice.
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