Get Useful Features and Resources
Though abundant, not all cheap web hosting plans are created equal. Some are loaded up with features while others are lacking severely and basically give you what you pay for. If your web presence relates to business aspirations, there will be some features you can’t afford to miss out on. This could be anything from PHP or Perl scripts to multiple email accounts or advertising tools. Two of the most essential components you definitely need to consider are storage and bandwidth. Your cheap hosting plan isn’t worth much if you don’t have enough space for your content or enough transfer to support your traffic needs. Only you know the components it takes to make your site a success. Therefore, it is up to you to find them in an affordable hosting solution.
Don’t Overlook Security
Most customers don’t look for security features in a cheap hosting package but you should. Websites and servers are being compromised all the time, a factor that means you need to be prepared for the worst. Even if you don’t know a thing about website security, it is crucial that you sign up with a hosting company that does. If not, you are leaving yourself wide open to a variety of exploits that range from SQL injection and cross site scripting to viruses and DDoS attacks. All it takes is one successful attack to cripple your website and possibly put you down for good. Unless you want to be another statistic, make sure your low-cost hosting solution comes with adequate security.
Conclusion
If you are like most customers, then you are probably seeking a high quality hosting plan that comes at a cheap price. In order to get the reliable service you’re after, you must have a company that can assure a high level of availability, smooth performance and responsive support to aid in your time of need. When dealing with a respectable, well known hosting provider, these qualities are not all that hard to come by.
1.) Hardware - Perhaps the most obvious and significant difference between shared and dedicated hosting lies in the actual server hardware. A dedicated server is made exclusive to you and your website or business while shared hosting calls for you to share server space and equally important resources with other users.
2.) Cost - Another major difference between these two types of hosting is the cost of service. A dedicated server account is almost always more expensive than a shared hosting plan. However, both can prove to be very cost effective depending on your particular needs.
3.) Power - With a dedicated hosting account, you can expect a faster and more efficient performance. This is mainly because you have your own server and do not have to share disk space, CPU, RAM and bandwidth with other customers.
4.) Security - Although reputable shared hosting companies provide their customers with secure hosting environments, the level of security offered can never compare to that of a dedicated server. Shared hosting platforms generally have fewer resources available for troubleshooting, data backup, disaster recovery and other critical tasks. Organizations that are financially dependent on the availability of their website and cannot afford to compromise security can benefit tremendously from a dedicated hosting plan.
5. Availability - Both shared and dedicated hosting platforms can be optimized to deliver a high level of availability. In most cases however, a dedicated server can ensure you a better uptime. This goes back to the fact of having more resources and the entire machine to yourself.
6.) Features - All web hosting packages come with different features. The shared hosting environment usually gives you more upfront, but a dedicated server can be implemented with all the features and functionality you require.
7.) Overall Value - The overall value of any hosting plan depends on various factors including the price, features, benefits and reliability of the hosting provider. In the end, only you can determine the overall value of a shared or dedicated hosting solution.
Conclusion
There is a lot to process when it comes to choosing between a shared and dedicated web hosting plan. While someone can give you sound advice and point you in the right direction, it is essentially up to you to determine what is best for your particular needs. A reputable hosting company can tell you all about the pros and cons of each solution, but the final choice is all on you. It is not always an easy decision, but when gathering some good information, expert advice and exercising a little practical sense, you can make the right choice and come out with the perfect hosting solution.
Unix Pros
The Unix operating system was made to perform demanding tasks, giving it the ability to run multiple sites on a single machine with ease. It is extremely flexible for programming environments and provides a tremendous level of administrative control. Unix handles CGI scripts perhaps better than any other system, making it ideal for hosting operations that require a lot of automation.
Unix Cons
The disadvantages of Unix do not have much of a bearing on end-users or shared hosting customers, but to the server administrator, they can be a determining factor. Thriving off raw DOS-like commands, it can be incredibly difficult to learn as there is no GUI to simplify management tasks. In fact, it can take administrators years to fully grasp all the basic commands of the Unix operating system.
Windows
A relative newcomer to the web hosting arena, Microsoft got its start in the market with the introduction of its NT server operating system. Windows NT was beloved instantly for its ease of use and seamless integration with the FrontPage web authoring tool. This niche variation really appealed to users who lacked the ability to code with scripting technologies such as HTML, CGI and PHP. Despite its popularity, Windows NT quickly gained a bad reputation for being vulnerable to exploits and stability issues. The platform improved greatly with the introduction of Windows Server 2003 and got even better with the release of Windows Server 2008 in 2007.
Windows Pros
Windows offers a user-friendly setting that is quite familiar to its desktop environment, making it easier to use for administrators. Instead of complex commands, management tasks can be handled from a GUI boasting icons and easy to use tools.
Windows Cons
Now far more stable and secure, the Windows disadvantages have been reduced significantly. The biggest drawback would be cost, which stems from licenses tied to the Microsoft SQL Server, Exchange and even the Windows platform itself.
Conclusion
When it comes down to it, both Unix and Windows have demonstrated their ability to perform efficiently in the web hosting environment. Both are traditionally more expensive than Linux so cost may not be as big a factor as you may think. Perhaps the best way to decide is to base the decision on your experience with server software and most importantly, your particular needs.
What’s Different About VPS?
Simply put, a VPS refers to one or more servers that run within another server. Each virtual server looks and feels like a dedicated server with the one major difference - they all share the same hardware, essentially making it a more advanced form of shared hosting. View it as a multi-unit luxury condominium. Each apartment has its own bedrooms, kitchen and storage area within a single larger unit. There are numerous software vendors that created virtualization software including Ensim, Sphera and Parallels, the company behind the popular Virtuozzo platform.
Let’s take a closer look at some of the advantages that makes a VPS so different from its closely related shared hosting counterpart.
Performance Isolation - With a virtual private server, CPU load and heavy traffic have no impact on the other private servers running on the same machine. Thus, regardless of what your neighbors have going on, it will not affect the performance of your personal hosting environment.
Functional Isolation - A VPS is not required to share services or applications with its neighboring servers. Because the servers are independent and appear invisible to each other, they also are not required to share processes or the same file system.
Fault Tolerance - Errors and faults within one virtual private server do not affect the others.
Unique IP - In a VPS environment, each private server gets its own IP address and network stack.
Root Access - With root access, you can install your own software applications and completely manage your VPS as you would a dedicated server.
Guaranteed Resources - Unlike the typical shared hosting arrangement, a VPS does not call for you to share critical resources such as CPU, memory, bandwidth and disk space. Since you don’t have to compete for these important elements, a VPS hosting solution tends to give you higher availability and better uptime.
Enhanced Security - A virtual private server is able to ensure better security for the fact that you are not required to share disk space, processes and TCP/IP stacks.
The promise of better performance and security makes VPS hosting an ideal solution for web developers, resellers and businesses of various sizes. The platform offers the power you need to run everything from custom made software applications and multimedia technologies to database servers and even your own operating system. Although getting a VPS solution is usually more expensive than shared hosting, the price tends to be economical and far more affordable than leasing a dedicated server. Virtualization isn’t for everyone as there are technical aspects involved. After all, it is quite similar to having your very own server. Fortunately, control panel software and comprehensive management tools can greatly simplify the administrative process for anyone equipped with a little computing knowledge.
1.) Excellent Cost Value
The cost for a virtual private server is almost always less expensive than a dedicated server. The unique advantage is that it offers many of the same benefits. Rather than purchasing or leasing a costly physical server to run your applications and host your site, you can go with a VPS and enjoy significant cost savings. Because the Windows server platform is designed to tap into existing computing resources, the customization and performance benefits makes this type of hosting solution quite valuable to most users.
2.) Convenience Factor
A Windows VPS hosting plan enables convenience in a number of ways. With benefits such as guaranteed system resources and burstable RAM, developers can separate critical tasks into simpler assignments. For example, with the right software tools, you can easily separate images and text for genuine content management. In addition, this type of account provides for optimal resource usage and management when compared to the shared hosting environment. Even if you find yourself in a situation where you are approaching the limits of your guaranteed resources, a VPS package that offers burstable RAM can make up for that capacity and allow you to continuously flourish.
3.) Applications Galore
One factor that draws many webmasters and developers to VPS hosting in general, is the ability to configure and install their own software applications. In regard to Windows, you typically receive a package equipped with ASP or ASP.NET, both of which are web application frameworks that can help you create a dynamic, feature-rich website. Aside from these programming environments, a Windows VPS hosting account can also be integrated with technologies such as JavaScript, Python, PHP and Cold Fusion among others. The Windows platform and virtualization make a great combination for highly functional, data-driven websites.
Why Go With Windows?
There are numerous reasons to consider Windows as your VPS hosting platform. Aside from the benefits listed in this article, you also have the ability to install and utilize a host of free, open source applications right alongside the native Microsoft technologies. These tools can go a long way in helping you reduce complex tasks and increase productivity. Although you can purchase a VPS hosting account on platforms such as Linux and Unix, Windows makes a solid choice due to its power, flexibility and exceptional value.
Cleaner Code - With the introduction of Perl 5, it became possible to write code that is far more readable. Once cryptic variable names can now be replaced with mnemonic identifiers. Even the error messages are more informative and comprehensive while the optimal warnings will detect many of the mistakes made by novice developers.
Modularity and Reusability - The Perl 5 library is defined in terms of modules, components that can be easily shared between various packages. A package can be made to import all or just a piece of a module’s published interfaced. Pragmas, the compiler directives, can be defined and used by the same mechanism.
Object-orientated Programing - Perl supports dynamic inheritance and virtual methods in a simple and straightforward manner with very little new syntax. Packages can function as classes and filehandlers can be treated as objects.
Highly Compatible and Extensible - Perl 5 can easily be embedded into C or C++ applications and can call or be called by routines through a documented interface. Thanks to the provided IX preprocessor, you can easily glue C and C++ routines into the framework. Dynamic module loading is supported and even Perl itself can be transformed into a dynamic library.
POSIX Compliant -The POSIX module is one of the latest Perl modules. It provides access to all available POSIX definitions and routines via object classes when necessary.
Multi-Simultaneous DBM Implementation - A Perl program can simultaneously access DBM, GDBM, NDBM and SDBM from the same script. Its DBMOpen interface has been modified in a manner that allows any variable to be connected to an object class that defines its access methods.
Auto Subroutine Upload - Aside from uploading, Perl’s AutoLoad mechanism allows you to define arbitrary semantics for any undefined subroutine call.
Regular Expression Enhancements - Perl 5 allows you to write regular expressions with embedded whitespace as well as comments for better readability. The added extensibility mechanism is upwardly compatible with older regular expressions.
Innumerable Unbundled Modules - If you read the perlmodlib.manpage, you will discover that The Comprehensive Perl Archive Network contains a large number of plug-and-play modules containing reusable Perl code.
Compilable - Although a fully functioning Perl-to-C compiler does not exist, Perl 5 is capable of generating portable byte code, simple C or optimized C code.
Lexical Scoping - Perl 5 variables can be declared within a lexical scope, similar to auto variables in the C language. Not only is this feature more efficient, but it also enables better privacy for your programming environment.
You can enjoy all the benefits Perl has to offer by downloading the free software package at the official Perl website or finding a web hosting provider with the language installed on their server.
1.) Vulnerability Scanning
A vulnerability scanner is a tool that scans a website for known vulnerabilities. The returned feedback can provide maintenance teams and administrators with the knowledge they need to tighten up web applications, firewalls and other areas to secure the health of a website. If you run a high-traffic e-commerce site, a vulnerability scanner is certainly a tool you need to put to use.
2.) Penetration Testing
Penetration testing is quite similar to vulnerability scanning as it can help determine the weakness in everything from browser scripts to application code. Security experts recommend that all consumer orientated sites pass penetration testing before production deployment.
3.) Web Application Firewalls
A web application firewall is a device that resides in the data path between client browser and web server. Its purpose is to analyze HTTP traffic, prevent attacks and data leakage. Although a web application can be very effective at blocking attacks, it needs fine tuning and every now and then to remain in sync with the web application. Because of this, not all websites require the expense of such a security mechanism.
4.) Browser Security Tools
Most of today’s popular web browsers are equipped with features designed to minimize the risk of exploits such as XSS attacks. You should advise your end-users running Microsoft Internet Explorer 8 to enable the built-in XSS filter and those using Mozilla FireFox to install the equivalent XSS Me add-on.
5.) Application Whitelists
For an added means of security, administrators can document the configuration of approved applications through application whitelists. Implementing such a policy can detect and prevent unauthorized changes to the server environment.
6.) Do What You Can
There is a great chance that your budget will not be enough to apply all the security mechanisms and policies listed above. If this is the case, prioritize and choose the features that are easy to afford, implement and most importantly, provide you with an adequate level of security. For example, if you invested in a quality penetration testing solution, you may be able to get by without vulnerability scanning.
7.) Pray for a Little Good Luck
Even if you can afford to apply all the security tips mentioned in this article, you should assume that your website is vulnerable and can be exploited at any given minute. With this type of mentality, you should always have processes in place to detect various attacks along with a plan that minimizes the damage and allows you to bounce back quickly. On top of that, a little bit of luck can go a long way in keeping your site protected from the cyber goons.
1.) Multiple Domains
There are a number of small businesses that have a need to run more than one website. Unfortunately, many of them are paying for several hosting accounts. They typically start with one hosting company and then as their needs increase, try out different services to end up with a half dozen different providers. When calculating all the monthly fees being paid to different hosts, you will see that the price for maintaining multiple websites adds up rather quickly. A simple solution for most online businesses would be to gather all the domains and resources they need with a single web host under a single account. In this instance, a reseller account could be the answer as it is designed for multiple domain hosting.
2.) Cost Advantage
Reseller hosting has proven to be a very cost effective option. Although there are much lower prices, let’s say you can purchase a certain reseller account for $20 per month and are allowed to host 50 domains. The package gives you enough to sell each customer 2.5 GB of disk storage and 20 GB of monthly transfer. Even with a price as low as $5 per hosting plan, all you would have to do is sell four packages and your reseller hosting account is free every month. Everything after that is genuine profit.
3.) Flexibility
One fear that some people have about reseller hosting accounts is being stuck with leftover server capacity. However, this isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Business might pick up to a pace where that extra capacity comes in handy. Besides that, there are many other ways to utilize this space. For instance, you can give it away or even ask friends to sell it in exchange for a free hosting account of their own. Because a reseller account gives you a lot of flexibility, you should never worry about being stuck with the valuable resources that can be leveraged in so many ways.
Conclusion
Reseller hosting accounts are economical and idea for entrepreneurs with growth potential because they are designed for scalability and support future expansion. Unexpected upswings are becoming more common for businesses in various industries and web hosting especially. With the right hosting solution, you will not have to worry about scrambling to pay for multiple websites or bandwidth overages. Then there is always the great potential of making a business out of it and collecting major profits.
Common Usage
When it comes to web programming and development, there are a number of specially designed scripts written a language specific to their underlying software packages. Many client-side scripts such as web browsers are written in Java, which is one of the most widely used programming languages. CGI, Perl and PHP are some of the most popular server-side technologies. While CGI offers many features that can provide your site with automation, Perl and PHP are newer languages, and thus faster and higher demand by website owners and developers. Some of the functionality these scripts offer include:
Shopping Carts - Some of the best e-commerce shopping carts are written in CGI. This technology is capable of communicating with popular databases like MySQL and as well as MS SQL and Access, making it compatible with Linux, Unix, Windows and Mac OS X platforms. Other languages used to create shopping cart programs include PHP, Python and ASP (Active Server Pages), a server-side programming framework created by Microsoft.
Form Managers - Many of the forms you view on a website are powered by CGI. This includes those filled out by customers when they make a purchase. In most cases, this is a very seamless process as all the customer does is enter their details into the form and click the “submit” button. From there, CGI goes into action, sending the data to an email address or database where it can be accessed by the website owner.
Pass Protection - Some website owners require that users enter a user name and password before they access a particular area of their site. This could be the criteria for several motives such as tracking new visitors for marketing purposes, allowing site members to participate in a community forum, or confirming that a customer has completed a purchase to access downloadable products. The use of CGI scripts is one of the most common ways site owners setup registration that requires users to login with a user name and password.
What’s Your Language?
Scripting languages are abundant and you have several to choose from. Aside from the scripts mentioned in this article, you can also get automated features with technologies such as Ruby on Rails, Cold Fusion, Server-Side Javascript and many others. CGI scripts are among the easiest to use as they are pre-scripted and generally come installed and ready use on the hosting provider’s server. While languages such as PHP and Perl are more difficult to use, they also offer more power and functionality. Whatever language you choose, you are sure to enjoy a feature-rich website that gives you an edge over the competition.
The Importance of Reliability
The reliability of an e-commerce hosting provider is very critical as an untrustworthy company can gravely hinder the success of your business. The best way to determine the reliability of a particular web host is to ask around in forums and read reviews. Both make great resources and generally disclose a wealth of information about what measures a hosting provider is taking to ensure a reliable service.
Support Provides the Backbone
If you find a company that has a substantial amount of negative feedback during your search, this should serve as all the motivation you need to stay away. Sadly, there are a few e-commerce hosts that are strictly in it for the money. These are companies that cannot provide you with the tools and support your business needs to thrive. If the support staff cannot make the time to address your questions or concerns, they are not worthy of your service. Although you never really know until signing up, you can gauge the level of support by calling the host or sending them an email. If they respond well and answer your questions in a satisfactory manner, this could be sign that you have found a responsible e-commerce hosting provider.
Price Determines the Overall Value
Price is another crucial factor that must be considered when shopping for an e-commerce hosting plan. If you are looking to save a few dollars, you will be happy to know that there are several companies that offer low-priced solutions. This is the result of a highly competitive market and innovation that has made web technologies very affordable. However, you should be aware that the cheap service can end up being far more expensive when you are forced to purchase add-on products and services you overlooked. This is why it is so important that you determine exactly what your business needs to succeed online. When it comes to e-commerce, you need to put much thought into expansion rather than simply focusing on the present. After all expanding, is a good thing for your business.
Whether you plan to start small or big, an e-commerce hosting solution can provide you with all the tools you need to make it happen. The key is finding the right service that empowers you to succeed. When during your research, be sure to keep the factors mentioned in this article in mind.