Web Hosting Reviews & Ratings

February 06, 2009

Enjoying Good Times with Uptime

Whether you are running a website for personal or business matters, no one will ever see your content if it's always down due to technical difficulties.  Because this can damage your credibility, it is a must that you find a web hosting company able to ensure the maximum uptime.

Research

Most web hosts will advertise a 99.9% uptime guarantee but it is wise to research those claims in detail.  If the server is not up 99.9% of the time over any given month, the provider typically applies credits to your account.  Some require that you write a letter with details regarding the downtime your site experienced.  Others call for you to sign a guarantee contract with special stipulations on what qualifies as downtime.  The key is to always read the fine print and ask all the questions you can.  If possible, look for a company that publishes accurate server stats for customers to view.  This will provide all the proof you need if something happens to go wrong.

Redundancy

A web host could be using high-performance servers and advanced systems but even the best technology fails every now and them.  A reliable company understands this and equips their data center with backup diesel generators, UPS systems, multiple routers and even backup servers.  Coupled with high-speed internet connectivity, these components will enable the host to guarantee a respectable uptime.  Unlike an Internet Service Provider, a web host must utilize multiple backbone providers to ensure connectivity if one happens to experience problems.  Be sure to ask the prospective web host about their disaster recovery plan, data center redundancy and backups.  A good company will be more than happy to comfort you with details on their network infrastructure.  If you encounter a host that gives you the run-around, their uptime guarantee may be questionable.

Reliability

A solid web hosting company has the ability to offer the maximum uptime guarantee because they are prepared for the unexpected.  They invest in sophisticated monitoring systems and employ professional technicians with the knowledge to anticipate potential problems.  At the first hint of failure, they can have issues resolved and backup systems installed to keep the operation flowing seamlessly. A web host with a loyal customer base will go above and beyond to deliver a reliable service as it could result in significant losses for them.

Final Thoughts

If uptime is important to you, get a guarantee before purchasing service with a web host.  Go over the details and make sure there are no tricks that might be to your disadvantage.  If there is anything you don't understand, call the company and speak with someone directly.  If they can't provide you with clear, satisfactory answers, rest assured of there being several more companies waiting for your business.   Most importantly, keep in mind that an uptime guarantee doesn't mean that the server will never be down.  Sooner or later, it will and your site will be unavailable.  The key is to find a host that can assure that you experience as less downtime as possible.

Tags: server stats,  redundancy,  maximum uptime,  downtime,  data center,  uptime guarantee,  uptime