June 04, 2009
Putting Your Shared Host Through the Test
Because shared hosting is usually available in the form of low-end services, it is necessary for the customer to be very selective when it comes to choosing a provider. There are literally thousands of shared web hosts in existence and while some are reliable, others are providing a service that is less than desirable. Since making the decision is such an important process, one must take due diligence and evaluate prospective hosts in and out before purchasing a subscription. In this article we will go over one of the most overlooked aspects of the evaluation process - testing the server.
Why Testing?
Testing the technical capacity of a shared web host will ultimately reveal whether or not the services they provide are good enough to suit your needs. By doing so, you can make sure you are not wasting your money on a bad service, even if it is only a seemingly low risk shared hosting package. Thorough testing can be achieved through the utilization of advanced network tools that monitor the web hosting provider's server. These tools can help determine how often the server experiences outages and also generate a list of reasons why the service may be unavailable. Using such tools is quite beneficial in ensuring that you get the maximum uptime with the shared hosting solution you choose.
The Tools You Need
Most web hosting companies like to boast that they can deliver a 99.9% uptime guarantee. While this has effectively become standard on the market, very few customers actually perform the necessary tests to make sure these claims are true. It is the smart customer who goes beyond the norm to authenticate these advertised uptime service guarantees. They rely on services of established server monitoring companies such as Keynote's NetMechanic. This service is a fully integrated suite of tools capable of detecting problems with your website. Server Check Pro is another one of the company's solutions that can tell you if your site is up and running 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. This tool does a ping, traceroute and attempts to access your website via HTTP on a routine schedule to verify that the server is up. For a minimal fee, these services constantly monitor servers and can alert you if it goes down by contacting you via phone or email. It also generates real-time performance stats that allow you to monitor outage patterns so you know that you are getting a respectable uptime from your shared hosting provider.
Taking the Extra Step
One should keep in mind that a quality shared hosting service is backed by a solid network infrastructure capable of making sure your website stays available. While thousands of companies are waiting and willing to serve you, landing a good shared hosting service is only possible when conducting extensive research and thorough evaluation. Fortunately, there are many tools available to can aid both individuals and small businesses in their search for reliable shared hosting solutions.
Categories: Shared Hosting |
Tags: Shared Hosting,
server testing,
network tools,
NetMechanic,
Server Check Pro,
ping,
traceroute,
shared web hosting
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