The Difference Between Shared and Dedicated Server Hosting

For those of you new to the subject, a web hosting service allows you to store your web pages on a server so they can be accessed for private or public viewing.  While web hosting comes in many forms, there are essentially two types that dominate the market: shared and dedicated server hosting.

The classifications of web hosting are based on the servers being utilized and ultimately determines the level of control a user will have over the website.  In this article we will provide you with an overview of both services.

Shared Hosting

Just as the name implies, shared hosting is a service where individuals upload content and run their website on a server that is shared by other users.  This represents the most popular type of hosting as it is the first option for most newcomers, small businesses and even decent sized organizations.  Despite the fact that they have limited resources, many companies will house hundreds to thousands of sites on a single server.

Shared hosting occurs in a managed environment, meaning software installations, security and server maintenance are handled by the provider.  They do however, give some level of control to the user.  Customers are provided with control panel software like cPanel, Plesk and vDeck to manage their hosting account.  The servers are typically administered by more advanced control panels such as Helm and DirectAdmin.  While some shared hosts use Windows or FreeBSD, most of them install the Linux operating system as it is more compatible with the current control panels on the market.

The best part about shared hosting is availability and a cheaper price.  Some shared hosts are able to provide service with numerous features including multiple databases, management tools, additional programming scripts, free software and more.  However, the shared server is more prone to issues of instability and security due to the abundance of users.

Dedicated Server Hosting

When hosting on a dedicated server, that server is dedicated solely to your usage.  In this scenario, you are not to forced to share server space with other users, meaning you have all the resources to yourself.  Dedicated server hosting is more suited for someone who anticipates a high amount of web traffic.  This environment provides you with a greater amount of storage space and bandwidth to support that traffic.  Aside from enjoying resources, you also have your choice of software installations including operating systems and dynamic web-based programs.  You have the option to maintain one site, or extend your web presence by hosting multiple domains.  Many people use these computers to sell server space of their own, a move that basically describes shared hosting.

A dedicated server enables 100% control over your site.  With that freedom comes more  responsibility.  You must ensure that the operation is stable and secure, tasks that require a level of administrative skill.  Your server must receive constant security and monitoring to immediately rectify any problems that may arise.  For those who lack the technical skills to perform these tasks, some dedicated server hosts provide additional services to help users administer their account.

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Dec 11, 2008 : Dedicated Servers No responses yet

Shared Security Risks

If you are like many newcomers emerging online, you are working with a modest budget and looking for an affordable web hosting plan.  In this scenario, a shared host would be the most cost-effective option as you can easily find a plan for under $10 a month.  If this is the path you choose, be warned of all the potential security issues that will be shared.

How Shared Hosting Works

A company that offers a shared hosting service runs numerous websites on a single server.  This allows the provider to enjoy convenience and savings as the hosting customers are paying the costs of the server.  The problem with this situation is the flexibility today’s shared host offers its customers, freedoms that open up numerous security holes.  With the ability to code with dynamic scripting languages such as ASP, PHP or Perl, domain owners can make critical mistakes that have an adverse impact on the entire server.  They could also launch attacks on other users hosting on the machine.

Many pre-installed software solutions typically require you to permit the server to read, write and execute your files, leaving them vulnerable other users on a shared server.  Although software developers have come up with a several safeguards, there is no surefire way to protect data in a sharing hosting environment.  Some applications attempt to make files only available to the domain owner.  However, because there needs to be write access, many of these programs make it possible for other domain owners to write files to a particular domain.  The same functions that grants a user flexibility opens up the door for potential abuse on a shared server.

If a web host permits the use of sensitive functions such as EXE. (execution), you should be very cautious about incorporating add-on programs, including those useful applications that come included in the Fantastico script installer.  To be on the safe side, you should first contact a provider and ask if the server grants other users with access to functions that enable files to be written to your directory.  If the host permits the use of the execution function, you may want to consider moving to a different hosting environment, especially if you are storing sensitive data on your website.

Conclusion

One of the most secure solutions for hosting your website is a dedicated server as you have the entire machine to yourself and are not exposed to potential threats posed by shared users.  When you are looking to save money, this may not be practical.  If shared hosting is your only option, do a little research on the provider to ensure that you are getting a secure and reliable service.  Always make sure that other domain owners cannot access commands that allow them to write files to your domain.  You should also remain cautious when installing open-source applications and working with scripting languages.  These technologies should be kept up to date to ensure the best functionality and security.  While you can’t ensure 100% protection on a shared server, there are ways to limit your vulnerability.

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Dec 09, 2008 : Shared Hosting No responses yet

How to Become a Web Host

You probably ran across many different companies when looking for a place to host your website.  Looking at all the monthly fees, you begin to wonder if any of these web hosting companies are making money.  The answer is a definite yes.  In fact, web hosting is a multi-million dollar per year industry, employing thousands of people and essentially powering the internet.  The primary focus of these companies is to provide around-the-clock service to make sure the sites of corporations and personal users are accessible to the world.

If you’re struggling with ideas of how to profit on the internet, getting into the web hosting business is a good place to start.  It’s easier than you may think but there are some critical phases that must be completed in order to succeed.

Phase 1

Your first step is to find a provider that offers a reseller account.  With reselling, you purchase a hosting plan at anywhere from $25 to $100 per month which gets you a certain amount of features and server capacity.  After purchasing a plan, you have the power to divide up the provided space and sell hosting accounts to other businesses and personal users.  Most companies will set you up with a control panel that allows you to manage the accounts of your clients with ease.  Some will also refer a merchant account provider, enabling you to process online credit card payments from your clients.  A good company will set you up with all the tools need to run your business just like a traditional web hosting provider.

Phase 2

After signing up a few customers and establishing your business, it’s time to step up into the big leagues.  This means you need to invest into a dedicated server.  This arena gives you far more flexibility as your business does not have to compete with other resellers on the provider’s shared server.  When you reach this second phase, your best bet would be to install reseller control panel software such as Ensim or Plesk to effectively manage your clients and the server itself.  Although a reseller account on a dedicated server will be more expensive, several companies have dropped the price on these plans, some offering accounts for around $100 per month.

Phase 3

When profiting with your reseller account on a dedicated server, you just may be established enough to become a certified web hosting provider.  This reward often comes with a huge investment of capital.  You have the option of renting out a data center to store your servers and network equipment or building a facility of your own.  Of course this requires a lot of dedication, but if you’ve made it this far, you already know the reward is well worth it.

As of 2006 there was reported to be well over 8,000 web hosting companies through out the globe.  Do you have that competitive edge?  If so, a reseller account just could be your ticket to success.

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Dec 04, 2008 : Reseller Web Hosting No responses yet

Managed Hosting or Colocation? - How to Decide

Managed hosting describes an arrangement where a web hosting company “manages” and provides everything needed to run your website.  This includes the server and network hardware, the software for building the site and managing email, an internet connection, upgrades, backups and so forth.  In this situation, all you really have to do is design the web pages and promote the site.

The Faces of Managed Hosting

The scenario above pretty much describes your shared web hosting account, an arrangement where several customers share a single server and all its resources at one time.  With shared hosting, the provider handles all the technical aspects behind the scenes.  Dedicated hosting is the alternative, a service which is most often used to described managed hosting.  With a dedicated server, you essentially have the entire machine all to yourself.  In most cases, you have enough disk space and bandwidth to host multiple sites and generally have a greater level of control over the server itself, the aspect that distinguishes it the most from shared hosting.  While there are different types of shared and dedicated plans such as VPS and reseller accounts, all of them are basically just different variations of managed hosting.

Colocation

Colocation however, is in a completely different arena.  With this arrangement, you purchase your own server, network equipment, software and all other needed elements needed to run your online business.  Though it shares similarities with the managed dedicated server environment, you are responsible for setting up the hardware and configuring the software.  A colocation host commonly does note provide these components, and often, they do not dictate what can or cannot be purchased, leaving you free to choose the items best suited for your needs.  After getting the equipment together, it is installed in the provider’s data facility, a task the company often assists with.  You get an adequate power supply for the equipment, multiple IP addresses dedicated to your business and an uplink that enables your network equipment to be connected to the internet.  A reliable colocation provider runs a tight infrastructure, keeping their data center staffed 24/7 with redundant systems to prevent overheating, theft or damage and keep the operation going in case of a power failure.  Most companies offer basic support but you are primarily responsible for keeping up the hardware and your applications.  Because of this, you are typically allowed 24-hour access to make upgrades and repairs whenever they are needed.

In short, the colocation host provides you with a facility to store your equipment, which they are responsible for maintaining.  Their job is to make sure the physical storage, power and bandwidth you are provided is not compromised.

Managed hosting is a great option for an individual or company that needs to rely on a web host.  Colocation can be viewed as do it yourself hosting as you are essentially your own provider, simply “co-locating” your operation to someone else’s data center.  This solution is designed for those who have outgrown a shared or dedicated server yet aren’t equipped to host their online business from the home or office.

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Dec 02, 2008 : Managed Hosting No responses yet

Choosing a Dedicated Host

The more popular your site becomes, the more resources your business demands.  Many people make their way on the web with a shared hosting account.  After exceeding their monthly resources they come to find out that the environment is no longer suited for their needs.  For the webmaster who runs a high traffic site or simply desires more flexibility, a dedicated server is the answer.

Unlike a shared server which could store hundreds of sites on a single machine, a dedicated server is made exclusive to one account.  You’re provided with an internet connection of your own, one that isn’t bogged down with other users competing for resources.  This means that your pages will open at lightning speed when visitors stop by, a great asset to the webmaster who experiences a lot of traffic.

One of the biggest advantages to dedicated server hosting is customization.  Since you are leasing the entire machine, you essentially have the power to incorporate various components to make the server more secure and efficient.  Not only can you make the choice of a Windows or Linux operating system, you also get the final say on memory and the size of your hard disk drive.  In the end, a dedicated server can be as powerful as you make it.

Available Options

Dedicated server hosting generally falls in two categories: managed and unmanaged.  A managed service is operated and maintained by a host while you simply provide them with the data.  This reduces a lot of the technical details that most average users are lacking.  A reliable managed host will provide tight security in the way of monitoring and redundant systems along with quality technical support.  The unmanaged solution is the most common situation.  In this scenario, you operate and maintain the server while the host provides you with physical security, bandwidth and connectivity.  Most of the time, the company will offer some form of assistance, although it may come for an additional price.

Accessing Your Needs

When it becomes clear that you need a dedicated server, there are a few important issues that need to be addressed before deciding on a provider.  For instance, you should have an idea of how much space your business needs to grow.  While a dedicated server is more flexible, it is a computer, and every computer has its limitations.  This is why you need to carefully think about your options in regard to bandwidth, disk storage and RAM.

Next, you should find out the level of customization a particular host allows.  For instance, some offer predetermined packages and give you a few choices.  Others offer full customization and give you complete control over your operation.  The best solution for you all depends on the needs of your site.

Lastly, you need to know that the host offers some form of reliable customer service.  Technical support is a very critical aspect of hosting, one that should even be provided by the unmanaged host.  This will come in handy if you need assistance setting up the server, helping to ensure that the operation flows seamlessly when incorporating the essentials for your business.

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Nov 26, 2008 : Dedicated Servers No responses yet