Last Updated: May 23, 2012

April 05, 2011

Understanding the Two Main Types of Shared Hosting

Shared web hosting is usually referred to as the cheapest kind of hosting, and is therefore often utilized by novice webmasters for their initial online endeavors. Shared web hosting has a number of advantages and disadvantages, however most experienced webmasters tend to frown upon shared hosting because the disadvantages often outweigh the advantages. Many people look no further into shared hosting, and do not realize that there are actually two very different types of shared hosting being offered. There are two main types of shared hosting - shared IP hosting (also known as name-based shared hosting), and dedicated IP hosting (also known as IP-based shared hosting). Although some web hosting control panels allow the user to utilize a mixture of the two aforementioned shared hosting types, some hosting providers only offer one type. The following information discusses these two main types of shared hosting as well as their advantages and disadvantages.

The Pros and Cons of Shared IP Hosting

In the shared IP hosting environment, multiple host names are served by virtual hosts on a single Web server with a single IP address. In essence, this means that you are basically sharing an IP address and Web server with  dozens, or even hundreds of other webmasters. Ultimately, this usually results in cheaper monthly costs, however it can also result in several significant disadvantages. The stability and security of your website could be threatened if another website that is sharing your IP address performs illegitimate activities that cause the Web server to be shut down. Shared web servers are also most likely to fall victim to DDoS (Distributed Denial of Service) attacks, in which large amounts of traffic are sent to the Web server to overloaded and shut it down.

The Pros and Cons of Dedicated IP Hosting

Dedicated IP hosting is a type of shared hosting, and should therefore not be confused with dedicated hosting (in which the customer gains full remote access to a private web server). With a dedicated IP shared hosting plan every virtual host (or customer) receives a different IP address for their websites. In fact, most hosting providers that offer dedicated IP shared hosting allow you to purchase multiple IP addresses for an additional monthly fee. Overall, dedicated IP shared hosting is more advanced, safer, and more reliable than shared IP hosting, which is the reason why the majority of shared web hosting providers offer dedicated IP hosting.

Choosing a Shared Hosting Plan

When choosing a shared web hosting plan is important to ensure that you will not server resources to power your website all times. Preferably, you'll want to utilize the services of a reputable hosting provider that has a lot of positive feedback and customer reviews online. You'll also want to choose a hosting provider that offers a 99.9% uptime guarantee, and/or at least a 30 day money back guarantee. Web hosting companies that are willing to offer such guarantees are more likely to provide quality service and keep your websites online consistently.

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