Introduction to Managed Hosting

Managed hosting describes a situation where a provider handles the administrative tasks of a web server.  Although it may also describe the arrangement with a shared host, managed hosting generally refers to a server solution for individuals looking to turn over the management functions of their network operation to another company.  This may include maintenance of the server, storage, bandwidth, software applications and other associated components.  Many companies choose this type of hosting because of tighter security and better reliability as some managed providers offer an uptime guarantee of 100%.  As several businesses aren’t physically able to maintain the technical aspects of their operation, the managed hosting provider steps up with a fully equipped data center and quality support to offer a higher level of service.

Managed Hosting Fees

Just like any other form of hosting, managed hosting comes at a monthly fee and offers numerous benefits to the customer.  Though more expensive on first glance, it spares a company of spending money on the necessary software and hardware required to host their own internet business.  The aspect of managed hosting can be compared to outsourcing the IT-related services of a business to another company.  It is also similar in some aspects to colocation hosting.

Who Should Consider Managed Hosting?

While shared hosting is suited for the small business, managed hosting is suited for larger organizations that require a dedicated server.  This solution gives them to opportunity to focus on the core of the business opposed to spending extra time and resources managing the technical aspects.  Apart from not having to worry about server maintenance and software installations, managed hosting also comes with tighter security.  The dedicated server alone frees you from the traffic and stability issues associated with shared hosting and the managed host can better assure that the operation runs efficiently.  When considering the backing of an experienced technical support staff, a reliable uptime and infrastructure at a fixed cost, managed hosting offers excellent value for your dollar.

Similar to other types of hosting, the managed environment extends into a wide variety of service options.  Some of this includes additional security products and database administration tools along with fully managed SQL hosting services.  The basic essentials in regard to server management consists of administering stored files, database support, internet connectivity, load balancing as well as monitoring and reporting of the server.  Naturally, the hosting company is also responsible for the physical maintenance and security.  Furthermore, some companies provide software-related services for an additional fee.   This may include implementing anti-virus solutions along with firewalls and intrusions detection systems.  Since you have a large say in what goes on the server, managed hosting is the perfect choice for someone who desires control over the server but needs a fully managed service to do so.

Managed hosting offers numerous benefits but is not the solution for everyone.  This type of service is more suited for someone that needs to hand over the server maintenance to experts while focusing on the essentials of their business. More importantly, its designed for the business able to consistently fork over the monthly expenses required for such a solution.

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Nov 19, 2008 : Managed Hosting No responses yet

Security Tips for Windows Dedicated Hosting

The opportunities are abundant on today’s internet.  With the emergence of e-commerce and millions of people surfing online at every moment of the day, virtually anyone has a shot at succeeding and generating income from the internet.  Unfortunately, similar opportunities exist for more unscrupulous characters, individuals looking to make their profit off your hard work.  Hackers and malicious software coders are not only a threat to the consumer-based PC, but the high-powered server running your website as well.

With so many probable threats, adequate security is an absolute must for anyone running an internet business.  This is particularly true if you are hosting on your very own dedicated server and using the Windows platform.  For some, this is challenging as maintaining a server and keeping it running properly is a task in itself.  Because security translates into a long-lasting business and customer satisfaction, we will provide you with a few tips to make sure your Windows dedicated server is as secure as possible.

Password Protection

Never look at passwords as just some optional feature that you can do without.  The sensitive areas of your server need to be locked down to prevent unauthorized access.  If not, you can be the victim of a hacking attack, defacing or even hit with a nasty infection that compromises the entire system.  For these reasons, your passwords should be secure and unpredictable.  Refrain from simple terms and phrases that can be found in a dictionary.  Instead, come up with something at least eight characters in length with a nice blend of numbers, letters and symbols.  This constitutes as a strong password which will make the vital areas of the server much harder to penetrate.

Hardened Shell Access

One of the most effective ways to ensure the security of a Windows dedicated server is to secure the SSH function.  This can be done by disabling the password authentication scheme and using public key encryption for SSH authentication instead.  Port 22 is known as one of the most vulnerable points of entry, commonly searched by intruders looking to access web servers.  By moving SSH access to another port, no one will be able to find you aside from those who know where your server is located.  Additionally, you should make sure to utilize the most recent version of SSH are prevision versions tend to be more vulnerable after hackers find ways around the security mechanisms.

Hardened Apache

Ensuring the security of your Apache server application is one of the most important aspects of keeping a Windows dedicated server protected.  Because Apache is a widely used solution, it is also a prime target for intruders looking to gain access via server applications.  The best way to secure this critical application is to use an efficient mod security tool.  You can learn more about the benefits about mod security at modsecurity.org.

Disable Unused Applications

Aside from Apache, general web applications pose great security risks.  An experienced intruder can take advantage of the smallest scripting error and use it to hack into your system.  The worst part of all, there is a great chance you will not even be aware until the damage is done.

Conclusion

Web security is vital these days, especially when a Windows server is involved.  This system has been the target of many brutal attacks that have left the most prominent companies staggering.  By taking a few preventative measures to lock down your dedicated server, you can better your chances of not becoming another statistic.

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Nov 18, 2008 : Security Issues No responses yet

What You Need in a Dedicated Server

There are a number of options for hosting your site these days.  Do your prefer hosting with Linux or on a Windows platform?  Are you going to create one site or does your business call for multiple domains?  Some options will actually cover several of your hosting needs.  However, if you’re planning to run a database driven operation or simply need more control over the hardware itself, you would be more suited for a dedicated server.

Similar to conventional hosting, a dedicated server is leased to you by a web host.  Instead of sharing server space and resources with other clients, the machine is dedicated exclusively to the needs of your business.  This gives you complete control over server administration along with all the software configurations.  With an entire server to work with, you can create a powerful web presence without concern of the issues associated with shared hosting.

To assist in your mission of acquiring a dedicated server, we have listed a few essentials that need to be considered when looking for a host.

Operating Systems: The platform you choose to run plays a tremendous role for many reasons.  First of all, you must have some level of experience with the software in order to administer the server.  It will also determine just what software applications you are able to incorporate.

Windows NT is one of the most popular and generally the most expensive solution.  This software is very comprehensive as it brings a look and feel from the Windows desktop environment to a server platform.  Linux is another option, not as well known and a bit more complex.  Many experienced webmasters prefer the flexibility and stability of Linux.

Bandwidth: With your own server, disk storage shouldn’t be much of an issue.  However, you still need to be concerned about the amount of transfer.  Dedicated server hosts generally provide a certain amount of bandwidth every month.  You certainly need to make sure its enough to compensate for the traffic of your business.  The good thing is that most companies allow you to purchase higher levels on demand.

Backup and Restoration: A reliable backup solution is vital in any web hosting environment.  Because manually backing up your data can be a hassle, you should look for a host that offers an automatic backup solution.  This might cost a little extra but the convenience is well worth it, especially if something out of the ordinary should occur.

Monitoring: Since you are leasing the dedicated server, you do not have the ability to physically watch over it.  This is why you should invest into a company that provides constant monitoring of their equipment to ensure that your site is always functioning.  Do some investigating to find out approximately how frequently they monitor the equipment and then ask how they go about handling issues when they are detected.

Automated Tools: Maintaining your own server takes far more knowledge than managing a shared hosting account.  At the same time, you don’t have to be a technical genius to enjoy the benefits of dedicated server hosting.  A host that offers some type of automated system can make the task much easier.

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Nov 17, 2008 : Dedicated Servers No responses yet

H-Sphere Control Panel Review

The H-Sphere control panel is developed by PSOFT, Comodo’s website hosting and server automation division.  It currently runs on the most popular operating systems including Windows, Linux and Unix and supports a number of database systems such as MySQL, MSSQL and PostgreSQL.  Scripted in the Java programming language, H-Sphere is a multiserver hosting solution capable of handling any database compliant with SQL.

Features

H-Sphere is known for its ease of use and functionality.  It comes with an integrated billing system and offers various payment methods.  The program also supports nearly thirty payment gateways along with six E-payment services including PayPal.  A plethora of tools make it easy to design and maintain your site with support for Microsoft web building technologies and numerous programming scripts.  H-Sphere provides easy access to your web hosting provider with a built-in support system.

Benefits

Recent analysis of competitive web hosting control panels among H-Sphere, cPanel, Ensim and Plesk indicate that H-sphere is the most secure and reliable.  As a highly extensible multiserver cluster, it has the ability to manage a wide range of servers from a central location.  Your databases, mail and domains can all be maintained right from the user interface.  H-Sphere also allows you to integrate more servers with a few easy clicks.

H-Sphere isn’t as much recognized for ease of use like other solutions.  For this reason, the novice may find it somewhat complex for their hosting needs.  On the other hand, the experienced webmaster will appreciate the advanced feature set and all the control this program gives the end-user.  For those who require assistance, H-Sphere provides a lot of online documentation along with help from the program’s vast community of users.

With multilingual support in more than 10 languages and exclusive features, H-Sphere sets the stage for an efficient hosting environment.

Disadvantages

H-Sphere offers several benefits but its disadvantages are considerably greater than other control panels.  For instance, licenses for H-sphere accounts tend to be more expensive than the competition.  These licenses are however, reusable and sold as clusters rather than a server, the situation with Ensim.

Going back to complexity, the installation, configuration and upgrade procedures for H-Sphere call for a higher level of system administration.  Although everything runs seamlessly after being set up, just getting there can be a challenge for beginners.   Some users have also stated that the saturation of advanced features makes this control panel too complicated for a small business solution, particularly when used as a single-server installation.  Supporters have fired back by claiming that the benefits of H-Sphere are more abundant when used on a clustered multi-server platform.

Other complaints are related to the extensive use of Java which serves as a drawback for some.  A client-side firewall may also block out the software without proper configurations.  The biggest knock on H-Sphere is the lack of a comprehensive data backup utility, a feature that has essentially become standard on the control panel market.

Conclusion

So is H-Sphere right for you?  It certainly makes a viable hosting solution, but you should definitely take the good and the bad into consideration.

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Nov 14, 2008 : Control Panels No responses yet

The Benefits of Windows Reseller Hosting

It looks as if the battle of Windows and Linux has spilled over to the reseller hosting arena.  Although Linux is a popular hosting choice well known for its flexibility and stability, resellers may find that the Windows system offers advantages that could make it a more viable solution.

Easy Management

Providers such as ResellerChoice offer all-in-one solutions on the Windows platform.  For example, reseller customers are not required to administer multiple accounts to keep track of their clients, whereas the operation is generally spread amongst various control panels with Linux.  This make things quick and easy by allowing you to manage the accounts of all your clients from a centralized interface, saving you the time of not having to switch back and forth.  Windows reseller hosting supports a wide range applications scripted in various languages and development tools.  This gives you the ability to run a site scripted in PHP and driven by MySQL databases right beside your Microsoft technologies.

Professional Programming Tools

One of the biggest advantages Windows gives to the reseller is the use of ASP and ASP.Net.  These tools are more powerful than the average language and are able to create dynamic web pages with ease; technologies that are not widely available on a Linux server.  ASP and ASP.Net also work well with some of the most popular content management systems, allowing you to create sites that exceed the norm.

When hosting your reseller account on Windows, you will generally have access to the latest technology which can be added to your services.  You can offer Exchange 2007 to your clients along with services such as ActiveSync, Push Technology, SharePoint and Windows Mobile.  These additional services give you a more efficient means of marketing your professional hosting service and can go a long way at bringing in extra income.

Another reason more resellers are flocking to the Windows is because of the SQL Server, Microsoft’s database management system.  This software has proven to be very efficient and reliable at handling a wide variety of complex applications.  MS SQL is one of the fastest growing solutions on the database market, able to give you the competitive edge needed with a reseller account.

Power and Flexibility

In comparison to Linux, a Windows-based control panel acts a clustered solution, powered by Microsoft’s AD (Active Directory) technology.  This simply means that the platform is designed for Enterprise level hosting, offering enough flexibility that is able to meet the demands of your growing business right from the start.

Linux will always make a solid choice whether it’s for a shared, dedicated or reseller accounts.  At the same time, you should also know that the Windows platform can provide solutions that just might work out better for you and your clients.  When partnering with a reseller host making use of this platform, you are essentially offering your clients a wealth of opportunities to benefit from - the latest technology along with the capacity their businesses need to grow.  If you desire a high-quality reseller solution able to endure the long-term, look no further than the Windows OS.

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Nov 13, 2008 : Reseller Web Hosting No responses yet