Web Hosting Articles & Tutorials

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

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

The Beauty of cPanel

Throughout your search for a reliable web hosting provider, it is important to learn what features a company supplies, which ultimately boils down to what control panel they use. While there are quite a few to choose from, cPanel is often considered the very best. cPanel, short for control panel, is a sophisticated program that comes in the form of an intuitive GUI (Graphical User Interface). cPanel adds convenience to the tasks of designing and managing your website from publishing web pages to handling important administrative functions. cPanel includes a number of programs which enable you to easily increase the functionality of your site. Through the interaction of the web server, you, the webmaster can implement various features such as mailing lists, email accounts, message boards and blogs.

cPanel Platform and Benefits

The cPanel program functions on various Linux platforms along with a variety of other Unix-like environments. This control panel was designed with security in mind as the authentication logins of your individual programs can be accessed on different web pages. It also includes the Spam Assassin, a reliable anti-spam program that will drastically reduce the number of unsolicited emails showing up in your inbox.

As a standard in the web hosting industry, cPanel is even more efficient with the Fantastico script installer. If you need a blog or message board, Fantastico allows you to include them into your website with a single click, eliminating the task of manually importing third-party applications which can be a challenge for beginners. Together, cPanel and Fantastico make for a powerful web hosting solution, allowing you to streamline a number of great features from a centralized location.

cPanel effectively combines numerous scripts and web-based applications that have the ability to function well on their own. It standardizes these additional features which allows companies to provide their clients with a uniformed web hosting package, usually at a reasonable price For this reason, cPanel is the preferred choice for many web hosting companies and end-users as well.

While this program offers endless benefits, the capability and intuitiveness of cPanel has also made it a prime target for malicious attackers. Because of it’s popularity, several unscrupulous individuals have used this control panel as a platform to manipulate programming scripts and command them to set up unauthorized sub-domains. This is primarily done to lure unknowing victims into compromised sites designed to thieve sensitive information, an attack more commonly termed as phishing. These exploits are certainly on the rise, a reason why you should make the most out of the spam filter included within cPanel, as the majority of these exploits originate via email.

cPanel - The Bottom Line

Despite the malicious programmers on the prowl, cPanel still offers a variety of benefits that overshadow the negative by far. This program combines convenience and ease of use with a number of add-on programs that enable you to create a dynamic website. While there are other control panels on the market that work just as well, you simply can’t go wrong with cPanel. This program provides you with all the tools needed to make the most out of your web hosting package.

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Jun 23, 2008 : Control Panels No responses yet

What to Consider when Selecting a Control Panel

What is it that sells a web hosting package? The answer is simple - features. One of the most important features of all is the control panel. Every web host has their own preference when it comes to control panels. What is key is finding one that suits you best? Let us take a closer look at the unique features to the most commonly utilized control panels.

A control panel is a program that provides a GUI (Graphical User Interface) to enables quick and easy access to the features of your website. Many of them grant access to critical functions such email configurations, website statistics, database management, server log views and much more. While there are many control panels available, this article will focus on the big four: cPanel, Plesk, Ensim and vDeck. Almost all shared hosting providers offer one of these four control panels.

cPanel

cPanel is the most widely used control panel application on the market. Several web hosts implement this control panel, with the exception of those looking to cut cost. Though more expensive, cPanel is highly effective as it allows customization of all available features and add-on modules provided by the web host. Additionally, cPanel includes a skin feature preferred by hosts and users, allowing them to customize the overall appearance of the control panel.

Recent versions of cPanel have become more user-friendly as complexity was an issue with previous programs. While this control panel will provide the functionality to make your site stand out, you can save money by residing with a web host using a more affordable solution such as Plesk, Ensim or vDeck. You should also take note that cPanel may include more bugs than other solutions.

Plesk

Plesk is another control panel geared towards the budgeting webmaster. This program has established a reputation for it’s user-friendliness and stability. This comes in handy when tending to important tasks that can’t afford to be interrupted. The downside of Plesk is that it lacks various features when compared to other control panel solutions. If your website involves E-commerce and requires several add-on modules, cPanel maybe a better option.

Ensim

The Ensim control panel is better suited for the webmaster on a strict budget. This program is known to contain less bugs than cPanel but isn’t as easy to use for beginners. If you do take interest in a web host using the Ensim control panel, be sure to compare it with the cost of a host offering cPanel as there should be a noticeable difference.

vDeck

vDeck will soon be releasing it’s third edition and is slowing catching on as a reliable control panel. Many users deem this program as the perfect alternative to solutions like cPanel and Plesk. Some of its features include pre-installed professionally designed templates, a comprehensive web statistics program, a content management function and various advertising services. vDeck is more in-depth and has more of professional feel than cPanel as it offers a complete website management system for both small and large businesses. While vDeck is better suited for experts opposed to beginners just starting out with their first site, version 2 was more intuitive and version 3 promises to be even easier to use.

Whether it’s cPanel, Plesk, Ensim or vDeck, all of these control panels will provide the tools needed to make your website flourish. The issues with these solutions boil down to price and ease of use. Before purchasing a web hosting service, inquire within the provider to learn exactly what control panel they offer.

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Jun 20, 2008 : Control Panels No responses yet

An Introduction to the Many Features of cPanel

These days, owning a website has become an obtainable goal to those with low-level designing skills, and minimal budgets as well. This is all made possible due to the current prevalence of the web hosting industry, along with the great features provided by individual companies. Even if you have no experience with programming scripts or designing a website, a good web hosting control panel can produce quality results that will make you look like a seasoned webmaster. While the type of control panel varies, cPanel is the most widely used and the preferred choice for many web hosts.

cPanel is a web-based application that allows you to control every aspect of your website. This program is now considered a standard due to its ease of use and extreme functionality. cPanel is highly compatible and works well on various Unix-like platforms along with popular web browsers such as Internet Explorer, FireFox and Opera.

Every feature provided by a web host can be accessed and administered within cPanel, giving you the ability to create a vibrant, interactive setting for family and friends to view or an e-commerce site to power your online business. Here is a brief overview of the amazing features included within cPanel.

Backup Facility

It’s easy to become so involved in running and promoting your business that critical aspects, such as data security, are overlooked. When using a web host equipped with cPanel, this will be something you no longer have to worry about. This control panel allows you to store backups of images, text and other essential content from your website, enabling you to recover quickly if an unlikely disaster happens to strike.

Email Management

Most web hosting companies provide their clients with multiple email accounts. Through cPanel, you can assign domains to your email accounts and also create autoresponders to enhance the level of customer service. cPanel also includes a spam filter to keep unsolicited messages of your inbox.

Statistics

You can actually measure the status of your website with useful tools such as Webalizer. This utility allows you to view the statistics of your site including the latest visitors, how long they stayed and how they found you. A powerful marketing tool, this handy component gives you the ability to analyze the amount of traffic on your site and make adjustments where needed.

Domains

Multiple domains is a great luxury offered by many web hosting companies. This feature allows you to create numerous web sites and manage them from a single interface - cPanel. For instance, you may want to separate the novels you’re selling from the web promotion services you offer. This is easy with cPanel as each of your services can be individually managed and designed with their own domain names.

Fantastico

One of cPanel’s best features is a dynamic utility called Fantastico. Fantastico works as an installer that allows you to implement a variety of programs such as Wordpress blogging software, and several content management systems likes Mambo and Joomla, increasing the functionality of your site with a simple click of the mouse.

Conclusion

The possibilities are endless when building a website with cPanel. This program is user-friendly on all levels with capabilities that exceed the norm. If you want complete control of your site, inquire within a web host to find if they offer cPanel.

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Jun 19, 2008 : cPanel Tutorials No responses yet