Warnings to Consider About Shared Hosts

“Unlimited” has become a prevalent term in the web hosting industry. It seems as if every other provider is offering some type of unlimited service, whether it’s storage space and bandwidth or domain names. So does this mean that there is no limit to the scalability of your business? Not exactly, especially in a shared hosting environment. Even if a web host is genuine about their claims of providing unlimited space, bandwidth and domains, there are other factors that need to be considered, factors that are unworthy of the unlimited title.

Before you are able to enjoy the benefits of unlimited bandwidth, you are likely to experience issues such as exceeding associated resources. Resource usage is a major factor that limits the capability of a shared host. It generally covers three areas: CPU usage, RAM usage and database usage.

CPU

CPU (central processing unit) is responsible for the functionality of a website and delivering content to visitors. If your website is built with dynamic content, with applications such as blogs and message boards, it would naturally require more CPU usage. This is because the CPU has to process web content and recreate it every time a user requests it.

If you are building on a shared server that is hosting a number of other sites, the performance of your site may eventually endure issues and thus function much slower. This is because the server uses CPU to compensate for each individual site on the server. Shared hosts with limited resources typically monitor CPU usage and restrict those use too much.

RAM

RAM (random access memory) is temporary memory used to store the programs, scripts and related data of your website as they are running. While many web hosting providers openly advertise their amount of bandwidth and storage, rarely will they disclose the capacity of RAM and how much you are allowed to use.

RAM usage also determines how fast your website runs a script or process. Keep in mind that every script and application requires RAM usage. The more you install on to the server, the higher amount of RAM you’ll need.

Database Connection

The database is a very critical feature in web hosting. With more than 10 million installations throughout the globe, MySQL is the most widely used database management system available. Your database is what stores the content of your website such as user names and passwords, customer addresses and credit card numbers, etc. However, when there are too many requests or connection to a database, the server may easily become overloaded, especially when a number of users are constantly making simultaneous adjustments.

In Closing

Before purchasing service with any web host, you should ask the provider about resource usage and how they handle accounts that have exceeded server limits. Shared servers are popular but at the same time they are limited. Hopefully this article helped you to become familiar with this type of hosting. This environment tends to be more suited for personal sites and small businesses opposed to large e-commerce sites.

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Jun 30, 2008 : Shared Hosting No responses yet

What is FrontPage Hosting?

There are several aspects that make up a quality web hosting provider. Bandwidth and storage space are essential, along with up time and customer support. Aside from the basics, enhanced features are perhaps the most attractive benefits of web hosting. These are the tools that will help to build your site with eye-popping designs, generate traffic and potentially revenue.

When searching for a web host with just the right features, you will find that many of them offer FrontPage. FrontPage is a technology designed by Microsoft. It includes various components that allow you to quickly publish web pages and build your site with ease. While FrontPage is a great feature in its own right, it also works well with other components that increase functionality. To ensure that you get the most out of this web building technology, it is important to learn if your website will be equipped with other features as well.

Control Panel Demos

Web hosting packages are filled with numerous features. One of the most important features is the control panel. This software is typically integrated into the server of a web hosting company. While the functions may vary from host to host, the primary goal of all control panels is to grant the end-user with more authority over their site. If your looking to host with FrontPage, it’s a good idea to test out the control panel before deciding on a particular company. By doing this, you can play with the controls and learn just how easy it is to publish with FrontPage extensions. Many companies who use the popular cPanel control panel often provide potential clients with demo versions to prove the quality of their service.

Web Publishing and More

FrontPage web hosting has become popular because it allows you to build a site with ease and bypass third-party FTP web publishers. This program is so easy to use that novice builders can become webmasters with a bit of training. FrontPage allows you to work with many different pre-designed templates that can be applied to your website with a simple click of the mouse. You can also create custom designed templates with your own text and graphics. This is a great way to make sure your website coordinates with the company theme. FrontPage is well known for designing capability but also gives you the benefit of multi-user and remote authoring, along with the creation of website counters, web forms and discussion boards. FrontPage aids in the security your website by handling MIME types, redirecting URLs and protecting directories. It essentially gives you all the tools required to a dynamic website.

Web hosting with FrontPage has offered a great solution for medium sized companies who cannot afford to pay expensive designers to create and maintain a web presence. It is also ideal for small companies and individuals just starting who are looking to create a web presence while saving a few bucks. Depending on the cost of the package, FrontPage is a solid option for many of your web hosting needs. This technology will give you the power to quickly build a high-quality site even if you lack technical skills.

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Jun 27, 2008 : FrontPage Hosting No responses yet

Linux Hosting: A Fine Point Overview

In your mission to find a website provider, you will notice that many companies offer what is know as Linux-based hosting. This article will detail the finer points of this option and how it can be used to create and maintain dynamic web sites. We will also shed a bit of light on the Linux operating system in general and why it is the preferred choice by many users.

History

Linux is essentially a variation of the Unix operating system. It was created in 1991 at Finland’s University of Helsinki by a student named Linus Torvalds. Torvalds came to develop Linux while working on a non-commercial replacement version for Minux, a smaller Unix-like system. Linux was originally intended for academic use but evolved into something much more useful.

Since it was developed under the GNU Project’s General Public License, the source code of Linux is freely available. While the goal of the GNU Project was to develop and distribute free Unix compatible software, the Linux operating system itself is not free, only the source code for the kernel and most of it’s software. Linux developers and third-party vendors can charge a fee for it as long as the source code is freely available.

Web Hosting

Just as with any provider, before choosing a Linux host, you should first determine the needs of your website. Many ISPs (Internet Service Providers) will offer a Linux-based hosting plan for a very reasonable price. This option presents you with a wide range of software applications that can be used to enhance the presentation and functionality of your site. The most common configuration of this type of hosting is known as a LAMP platform, consisting of a Linux operating system, an Apache web server, a MySQL database and PHP, Perl or Python scripts.

The LAMP configuration offers a number of components that can be used to support and run a website or a server. When put into action, it defines server infrastructures and a paradigm for developing software. LAMP is so widely used because the Linux system itself is so affordable.

The Apache server is what provides access to websites on the internet and is available for both Linux and Unix systems. It is currently the most widely used server today. MySQL is the database management system that adds ease to building a website. It actually functions as a server and is a multithreaded, multi-user system that grants users with access to their databases. MySQL is the most popular database management system and is said to have more than 10 million installations. The programming languages used in LAMP are typically either PHP, Perl or Python. These scripts are used to create object-orientated web pages and can also be used on Windows-based platforms as well.

The Linux system itself is capable of many things such as networking, software development and functioning as an end-user platform. It works with almost any kind of hardware from the basic AMD and Intel products to more obscure names such as Digital Alpha, PowerPC and Silicon Graphics. Due to its low cost and high-level of functionality, Linux has become one of the most popular operating systems and web hosting platforms outside of Windows.

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Jun 26, 2008 : Linux Web Hosting No responses yet

Maximizing your initial e-commerce efforts

The birth of e-commerce has opened up many opportunities for online business. When compared to old fashioned brick and mortar style business, e-commerce is certainly more viable as it requires both minimal start up costs and risk. While there are a number of great benefits, that does not imply that establishing a successful e-commerce website is a walk in the park. In this article we will discuss a basic plan and steps that need to be taken towards getting your e-commerce site off the ground.

Discover Your Niche

The first thing you need is an idea, something that can bring in revenue. Perhaps it’s a hobby that you’d like to turn into a business. Focus on your areas of expertise, things you have a burning passion for. From there you want to research your niche. This is when it’s time to be realistic. Just how many people are looking for your products or services? How do they go about finding people like yourself? Is your niche even relevant in a search engine? If you do not have a large start up budget to create a new demand, it may be wise to go with something that is at fairly common.

Keep an Eye on the Competition

In the beginning, it is important to thoroughly research your competition. Take a trip their sites, survey their products and services then make comparisons with your own. This will give you an idea of what you are up against. From their you will know how to proceed, making an e-commerce site that’s just as, if not more professional than theirs.

Find A Provider to Host Your Site

With a sound game plan intact, it is times to find a company to host your e-commerce site on their server. Type in “web hosting” and you will literally get thousands of results displaying companies who are competing for your services. Depending on what kind of content you plan to host, the features required will vary. In any event, your e-commerce site will need adequate storage space and bandwidth along with script features such as a shopping cart. Email accounts also serve purpose by giving your business a professional appearance.

Create Your Site

Presence is everything and a professionally designed site always creates a great first impression with your visitors. Be sure to select a host that provides professional templates, scripts that can be easily customized to fit the needs of your business. Most of these templates can be easily managed with basic HTML editing web-based graphic applications. You also want your site to appeal to search engines like Google and Yahoo. This can be done by building your site with keyword-rich content - product descriptions, product reviews, informative articles and properly tagged HTML files. However, this process can be rather challenging and time consuming. That’s when you turn to the SEO experts who are more than willing to assist for a minimal fee.

Online Marketing

With your site finally up and running, here comes the hard part - marketing! Once again, you have the option of putting in the hours and manpower or hiring a company to do it for you. Some marketing options include submitting your site to the major search engines, using blogs to draw attention, link exchange, banner promotions and newsletters.

As you can see, getting started with your own e-commerce site is no easy task by far. However, these critical steps are enough to get you started. With a working plan and loads of determination, you can one day make your site a success like so many others.

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Jun 25, 2008 : Ecommerce No responses yet

cPanel - .htaccess and IP Deny Manager Tutorial

Web hosting providers using Apache servers are equipped with a number of configuration tools designed to help clients effectively administer their website. Few of these tools have the purpose and functionality of the .htaccess file, another handy feature found with the cPanel control panel. Though small, this file is quite powerful when put into action, giving users the ability to override the default settings of their hosting provider’s server.

.htaccess is merely a simple ASCII text file, yet it can be extended to perform many different functions. Some of its capabilities include password protecting the directories of your site, to preventing intrusion from malicious hackers and redirecting visitors to different locations on the web. In this article we will cover its unique ability to block IP addresses and specific domains.

Reasons to Block with .htaccess

The web contains a great number of sites hosting interactive member forums and blogs. These sites are often targeted by several spammers and malicious hackers. Website owners have been trying to come up with a solution to this issue for years with few results. However, the .htaccess file is a tool with the power to limit this intrusive activity and give you a bit of privacy by keeping out those IP addresses and domains causing all the ruckus.

.htaccess vs. IP Deny Manager

Although .htaccess files can be easily activated from within the cPanel, choosing whether to use them or not is a difficult call. This is a sensitive file with a lot of power, meaning it could inadvertently shut down your site or negatively impact the provider’s server when used incorrectly. For this reason, the IP Deny Manager may be a better solution, another feature of the cPanel which functions similar to .htaccess.

Just like the .htaccess file, the IP Deny Manager can be used to block IP addresses and domains from accessing your website. If there is a particular IP address or domain you wish to deny access, it can be done easily from the control panel by following these directions:

Both .htaccess and the IP Deny Manager are great solutions for protecting your website against unscrupulous characters. It can prevent data from being stolen and the spamming of your interactive features. Although .htaccess works well, the IP Deny Manager is the recommended choice as it will have no negative effects on your site or the provider’s server. If would like to try the .htaccess file, be sure to inquire within your web host and find out about their regulations before carrying on.

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Jun 24, 2008 : cPanel Tutorials No responses yet