Web Hosting Rating

A Look at Web Hosting Technology

The technology that powers the web hosting business is essentially the same technology that powers the World Wide Web and keeps the internet running smoothly.  There are several components that work in perfect harmony to make sure the process remains seamless, but this article will focus on three of the most important: domains, web servers and the actual web pages.

Domains

The first step most users take in reaching a web page is typing in the address of the site they want to visit in their browser.  Although this address is called a URL, it actually refers to piece of web property known as a domain name.  This name represents an Internet Protocol or IP address, which enables computers connected to the internet to refer to one another.   In its natural form, an IP address looks something like “208.77.188.166.”  Because this is difficult for most users to recall, domain names are used to simplify the process as they resemble “yoursite.com.”  When someone types a domain in to find your website, they are actually requesting the underlying IP address.  This address is quite similar to the physical address of your home residence.  People need your home address in order to find you out in the real world, so for web surfers to find you out in cyberspace, they must know your domain name.

Web Servers

The web server plays an integral part in making sure users receive the information they request.  Although a web server could refer to the computer hardware, which also plays an important role, most associate the term with a piece of software.  The most commonly used programs are Apache, an open-source web server, and IIS (Internet Information Services), a web server developed by Microsoft.  Hence the name, the server is responsible for helping to serve the pages of a website to the user making the request.  Though other technologies are often involved, the output of the user’s request is typically in the form of HTML.

Web Pages

While many view HTML as the most simplistic of web languages, even it can be complex to the unknowing.  Just view the source code of any given website and you will see the programming logic used to create the page, most of which will probably look foreign to you.  It is this code that ultimately determines how the web page will be displayed in your browser.  The average web page also contains image files, which are loaded within your browser simultaneously with others.  The code used to construct the page contains links to those images, which are downloaded and temporarily saved so that they can be displayed with the page.  If you save a web page to your local drive, you will likely see far more than text as it usually contains a number of files, images and folders.

Conclusion

The technology that is involved in the displaying of a simple web page is impressive to say the least.  What is even more amazing is how this process occurs at all times of the day all throughout the world in what is for the most part, seamless fashion.  This technology may be difficult to grasp but without it, the web as we know it today would not exist.

Control Panels to Consider

The control panel is an integrated part of any web hosting solution.  This type of program gives you the ability to manage your email accounts, domains, databases, web building tools and much more.  Web hosts offer a variety of control panels and each one is different.  To help you decide on a program, we have provided details on some of the control panel applications currently on the market.

cPanel

cPanel is the leading control panel software, offering an array of features and functionality suited for the novice and veteran webmaster.  This program has a simple interface and provides easy access to all of your critical features.  Most web hosts using this control panel provide numerous video tutorials and documents to help you get familiar with the basic functions.  With cPanel you can access webmail, filter your inbox with Spam Assassin, setup cron jobs and upload files via FTP.  MySQL databases, web stat tools and a default site builder can also be accessed from the interface.

Supreme Control Panel

Supreme Control Panel is another program designed for both new and experienced webmasters.  The control panel offers an intuitive interface that is easy to use along with a wide range of features and management tools.  Supreme Control Panel allows you to view live statistics of your web traffic, bandwidth, log files and databases.  Additionally, it supports over 13 languages including English, Spanish, French and Ukrainian.  With Supreme Control Panel you can basically control every aspect of your hosting account from retrieving news feeds to renewing service with the provider.

Helm

This Windows-based control panel offers a look and feel similar to that of the popular Microsoft operating system.  Helm provides all the basics and even includes a variety of built-in wizards to help you get started.  This program gives you the power to create email and FTP accounts databases, view web stats and backup your essential data.  Helm also includes a one-click installer that allows you to incorporate add-on programs with ease.  Unlike cPanel, the interface of this control panel may take some getting used to.

SiteWorx

The SiteWorx control panel is geared more towards the novice user.  The interface is very straightforward as all your vital features are grouped right on the main page.  Like the competition, SiteWorx allows you to create email accounts, manage domains, view statistics and maintain your files.  The downside is that it doesn’t offer any built-in support tools and lacks the power of competing programs.

Plesk

Plesk is another widely used control panel commonly offered by web hosting companies.  The program is incredibly easy to use thanks to a well designed interface.  Plesk gives you control overall the essentials such as email accounts, domains and web building tools and also features a number of helpful tutorials and wizards.  A cross-platform solution, it allows you to create MySQL or MS SQL databases and offers exclusive features such as Web User, which lets you give other users as to your website.

Choosing a Control Panel

These are just a few of the many control panels on the market.  The program for you is one that is both easy to use and provides the features most important to your initiative.  You can get a good idea of what to expect by playing demo versions as they are offered by many web hosts.

A Closer Look at Becoming A Reseller Host

What is a Reseller Host?

A reseller host refers to someone who purchases a certain amount of disk space and bandwidth on a web server for a monthly fee. This fee is often more than basic hosting but may also compensate with more space, bandwidth, software and other resources. These allotted resources are then made available to other clients looking to purchasing standard hosting service. Individual sites hosted on a reseller package usually receive their own control panel and possibly a number of email accounts as well. In most cases, reseller web hosting is such a smooth operation that clients cannot differentiate it from a host using its own server.

Benefits of Reseller Hosting

There are many benefits that come along with reseller hosting. Although storage and bandwidth are typically more expensive, these resources are allowed to be purchased in much smaller capacities. This keeps the reseller host from wasting their valuable resources and money. Reselling is a great way for new hosts to work their way up to a dedicated server rather than taking that initial plunge at a much higher monthly rate. So instead of incurring losses month after month, the reseller host can yield profits.

As a reseller, you have one essential goal which is to sell hosting packages. This is a huge benefit as things are bound to go wrong every now and then. For instance, a server may fail, an operating system may be corrupted or other network equipment may become damaged. When disaster strikes, the parent hosting company providing the service is responsible for addressing all technical difficulties. Of course you do not want your customers to be plagued with downtime, but this factor keeps you from worrying about updating software or replacing failed equipment.

Disadvantages of Reseller Hosting

Reseller hosting offers numerous benefits to the aspiring entrepreneur but there are drawbacks as well. This type of plan generally offers fewer resources than basic or dedicated hosting. The space leased on a reseller account can only support so many clients before those resources need to be upgraded. In this scenario, it may be more economical to make beneficial upgrades to a dedicated server. Moving your clients from a reseller account to a dedicated server could end up costing you more money and downtime.

What you Want in a Reseller Provider

You should look for the same features in a reseller account as you would with a traditional provider. Some of them will only offer a certain number of databases, domains, email accounts and even the number of customers that can be hosted on the account. While reseller hosting is a thriving industry, you want to make sure that you are provided with every resource needed to make your business a success. Last but not least, solid support is a must. Although you are not responsible for maintaining the server, you do have to appease your client base if something should go wrong.

Keep in mind that reseller hosting is not a get-rich-quick system. It also is not guaranteed to make you a well known web hosting provider. However, it is a great way to establish yourself on the web and once you are established, reselling is structured in a manner that enables you to keep going strong.