Different types of Hosting Services

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Cheap Web Hosting

This form of hosting is the perfect alternative for you that want affordable quality hosting for your personal or small online business website.
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Dedicated Servers

This is probably the strongest type of hosting on the market. Great for all websites expecting a lot of traffic.
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Reseller Web Hosting

This type of hosting is especially popular among web designers that want to offer their clients a complete package.
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Linux Web Hosting

Popular hosting alternative for anyone into Perl, PHP and MySQL. The hosting itself is cheap and qualitative.
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eCommerce Web Hosting

If you are into the eCommerce segment it is important that you partner up with a reliable web host. We have listed the best and most trustworthy providers on the market.
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Windows Web Hosting

This toplist is for all of you looking for the best Windows Web Hosting. Low fees and top quality.
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Virtual Private Servers

Great web hosting alternative for all of you looking for that thing in-between shared hosting and dedicated server. Much appreciated among for example medium sized online businesses.
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Server Colocation

This toplist is dedicated to all of you that are into server collocation. Quick and reliable solutions.
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Shared Web Hosting

Shared Hosting is the most popular form of hosting on the market today. We have created a toplist with the best and most affordable shared hosting solutions.
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WordPress Hosting

WordPress is increasing in popularity and getting a stable WordPress hosting solution is a must. Take a look at our toplist and compare the different providers.
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ColdFusion Web Hosting

Compare different ColdFusion hosting plans to get the one matching your needs. A must have for all future website creators.
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Java Web Hosting

This toplist is for all of you on the lookout for great Java Web Hosting. Read our reviews before you make any decision.
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Business Web Hosting

Regardless if you run a small or medium sized business you will be able to find top Business Web Hosting matching all of your needs right here.
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PHP Web Hosting

PHP is the most popular scripting language and through this toplist you will be able to find quality hosting supporting it.
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Unix Web Hosting

Are you using Unix features such as Perl, Php and MySQL. If yes, take a look at this toplist to find matching Unix Web Hosting.
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FrontPage Web Hosting

Combine Microsoft Frontpage with Frontpage Web Hosting to squeeze the most out of your creation.
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Managed Web Hosting

Find easy and powerful Managed Web Hosting solutions with the help of our toplist. Compare all providers before settling upon one.
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Image Hosting

If you are looking to upload and store images, Image Hosting just might be the thing for you. We have listed the best providers on the market.
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Almost Free Web Hosting

Yes, it is true. You can find almost free web hosting right here. Take part of the different offers via our toplist.
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Cpanel Hosting

Cpanel is probably the most popular control panel of them all and here is a list with web hosts offering it along with some great hosting.
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ASP Hosting

Active Server Pages is still very much alive and if you are into this scripting language you should check out this listing with the best web hosts supporting ASP.
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ASP.net Hosting

Millions of people are taking advantage of the dynamic scripting language ASP.net and here is a list with the very best ASP.net hosting.
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Blog Hosting

If you, like us, love to blog it is a good idea to get web hosting that allow you to easily install useful blog-software. Use our list to make your blogging experience an even better one.
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Mysql Web Hosting

As you know are databases quite useful for building dynamic websites but it can also be rather technical. These web hosts will help you with the technical factors making it easy to set up and handle your website.
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Email Hosting

With email hosting you will get more functions out of your hosting than you thought was possible. Get hosting that supports IMAP, POP3 and SMTP right here.
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Exchange Hosting

Want web hosting and an email service that is produced and offered by the almighty Microsoft Corporation? If yes, this list is for you.
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Forum Hosting

The hosting industry is becoming increasingly narrow and hence they are now offering forum hosting. This is the perfect alternative for you that are looking to set up a forum at your website.
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phpBB Web Hosting

This is a list with the best web hosts supporting the popular Internet forum package phpBB. Take a look at our reviews.
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Joomla Hosting

Joomla hosting is constantly growing in popularity and here is a list with the best web hosts within this niche.
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Drupal Web Hosting

Drupal is a highly popular content management system and this is a list with the best web hosts supporting it.
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Free Domain Hosting

This type of hosting is the perfect alternative for you that are looking for a web host that is offering a free domain.
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Multiple Domain Hosting Packages

Are you interested in setting up and maintaining up to 10 different web sites? If yes, multiple domain hosting is the perfect form of hosting for you
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Reliable Web Hosting

All website owners want their sites to be supported by reliable hosting and this list will help you find exactly that – reliable web hosting.
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Mambo Web Hosting

Mambo is a popular open source content management system and this is a list with hosting supporting it. Check it out!
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Web Page Hosting

If you want to set up stable website with great web pages you need quality web hosting. This list consists of web hosts offering the best web page hosting.
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Web Hosting Plans

This list consists of the best web hosting plans on the market. Plain and simple.
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Mac Web Hosting

No, there is no such thing as hosting that is only intended for Mac users but through this list you will be able to find web hosting that at least is very suitable for all of us using a Mac.
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Web Hosting Packages

Web hosting is not only “hosting” – you will sign up for a complete package. The web hosts offer some of the greatest web hosting packages on the market.
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Web Hosting Companies



This is simply a list of web hosting companies that are offering their clients great web hosting.
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Web Hosting Solutions

It is difficult to say what constitutes as a good web hosting solution as it depends on what you are looking for. With this said we have created a list with some of most qualitative and popular hosting solutions.

Local Hosting

n the list below you can find reviews of web hosting providers divided by their geographical position. This way you can endorse your local web host and it is also benificial for you since their support team are located in the same time zone as you.

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Asia
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India
+ Gossimer Read Review
+ SpeedHost
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Taiwan
+ SinoHosting Read Review
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Indonesia
+ iDot
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Europe
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United Kingdom
+ 1&1 UK Read Review
+ Aventure Host Read Review
+ Cyber Host Pro Read Review
+ Dataflame Read Review
+ FreeVirtualServers Read Review
+ UK2 Read Review
+ WebFusion Read Review
+ First Protocol Read Review
+ eUKhost
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Germany
+ LDHosting
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Slovakia
+ Platon Webhosting
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North America
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United States
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Pennsylvania
# 1&1 Read Review
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Illinois
# AN Hosting Read Review
# Host Clear Read Review
# Just Host Read Review
# midPhase Read Review
# Steadfast Read Review
# Ubiquity Read Review
# Web Hosting Pad Read Review
# SingleHop Read Review
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Kansas
# Aplus Read Review
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California
# Arvixe Read Review
# Globat Read Review
# InMotion Read Review
# LunarPages Read Review
# Super Green Read Review
# Mochahost Read Review
# DreamHost Read Review
# GreenGeeks Read Review
# Omnis Network Read Review
# StartLogic Read Review
# Pronet Hosting
# Gate
# Infinitely Virtual
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Utah
# Bluehost Read Review
# FastDomain Read Review
# HostMonster Read Review
# PropellerHead Read Review
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New Jersey
# DedicatedNOW Read Review
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Wisconsin
# eMonsterHost Read Review
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Massachusetts
# FatCow Read Review
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Arizona
# GoDaddy Read Review
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Texas
# HostGator Read Review
# Frictionsweb
# Kazila
# Lush Technologies
# Sprocket Networks
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Virginia
# HostICan Read Review
# Network Solutions Read Review
# VPSNext Read Review
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Ohio
# IX Web Hosting Read Review
# XLHost Read Review
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Delaware
# Web Hosting Buzz Read Review
# HostColor
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Florida
# HostDime Read Review
# Host Infinity
# Server Intellect
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Alabama
# Ipower Read Review
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Oklahoma
# Yahoo! Web Hosting Read Review
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Washington
# Fazewire
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Nevada
# HostKitty
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Michigan
# ServerJolt
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Canada
+ eSecureData Read Review
+ Gogax Read Review
+ Hostpapa Read Review
+ Ultra Hosting Read Review
+ Aeris Network
+ ClickHOST
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Oceania
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Australia
+ Jezweb

Dedicated Servers

Choosing a good but cheap dedicated hosting provider can be complicated, so we have made it a little easier for you. The list below is the result of our vast market research, our effort to bring you the best and the most reliable dedicated web hosting providers. These companies deliver good value for the money, have high commitment to quality, and have extremely stable server racks. Because every dedicated server customer has his own specific needs and requirements, it is difficult to single out the provider that will suit you the best. Therefore, we recommend that you visit the company websites yourself and have a look at the different hosting offers. Some of the companies have very cheap dedicated server plans so it is important to note, reliability and service do not suffer.

Compare Rank Provider Plan Price Rating Location
1 DedicatedNOW Core2Duo E7200 $189.00 95% United States Flag Sign up now
Read review
2 InMotion Dual Core Xeon 3.0GHz $199.95 94% United States Flag Sign up now
Read review
3 eSecureData Gen 6 Junior $99.00 94% Canada Flag Sign up now
Read review
4 XLHost Dual Core E2200 $69.00 90% United States Flag Sign up now
Read review
5 SingleHop ATOM 330 $149.00 91% United States Flag Sign up now
Read review
6 Mochahost Dedicated Hosting $129.00 92% United States Flag Sign up now
Read review
7 The Planet Celeron 2.0 $89.00 88% United States Flag Sign up now
Read review
8 Arvixe Celeron 2.0 Ghz $105.00 94% United States Flag Sign up now
Read review
9 Ultra Hosting Elite 1 $51.15 89% Canada Flag Sign up now
Read review
10 eSecureData Gen 5 Junior $79.00 94% Canada Flag Sign up now
Read review

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VIRTUAL SERVERS

Virtual Servers or Virtual Dedicated Servers are also referred to as Virtual Private Server (VPS, also referred to as Virtual Dedicated Server or VDS) involves a way where the physical server is partitioned into multiple servers. Each of the multiple servers in effect carries the appearance & capabilities of running on its own dedicated machine. Each virtual server can be rebooted independently and can run its own full-fledged operating system.
virtual_server
Go4hosting’s Virtual Server hosting plans empower you the control that you’d expect on a conventional dedicated hosting service at just a fraction of cost. Go4hosting’s low server density also supplies the availability and reliability that you need for high-demand, latest applications. Go4hosting’s Virtual Server hosting plans present proper virtualized instance of the operating system instead of a containerized system. Enjoy maximum uptime for your mission critical applications with server virtualization.

Types of hosting

Internet hosting services can run Web servers; see Internet hosting services.

Hosting services limited to the Web:

Many large companies who are not internet service providers also need a computer permanently connected to the web so they can send email, files, etc. to other sites. They may also use the computer as a website host so they can provide details of their goods and services to anyone interested. Additionally these people may decide to place online orders.

* Free web hosting service: Free web hosting is offered by different companies with limited services, sometimes advertisement-supported web hosting, and is often limited when compared to paid hosting.
* Shared web hosting service: one's Web site is placed on the same server as many other sites, ranging from a few to hundreds or thousands. Typically, all domains may share a common pool of server resources, such as RAM and the CPU. The features available with this type of service can be quite extensive. A shared website may be hosted with a reseller.
* Reseller web hosting: allows clients to become web hosts themselves. Resellers could function, for individual domains, under any combination of these listed types of hosting, depending on who they are affiliated with as a provider. Resellers' accounts may vary tremendously in size: they may have their own virtual dedicated server to a collocated server. Many resellers provide a nearly identical service to their provider's shared hosting plan and provide the technical support themselves.
* Virtual Dedicated Server: also known as a Virtual Private Server (VPS for short) divides server resources into virtual servers, where resources can be allocated in a way that does not directly reflect the underlying hardware. VPS will often be allocated resources based on a one server to many VPSs relationship, however virtualisation may be done for a number of reasons, including the ability to move a VPS container between servers. The users may have root access to their own virtual space. This is also known as a virtual private server or VPS. Customers are sometimes responsible for patching and maintaining the server.
* Dedicated hosting service: the user gets his or her own Web server and gains full control over it (root access for Linux/administrator access for Windows); however, the user typically does not own the server. Another type of Dedicated hosting is Self-Managed or Unmanaged. This is usually the least expensive for Dedicated plans. The user has full administrative access to the box, which means the client is responsible for the security and maintenance of his own dedicated box.
* Managed hosting service: the user gets his or her own Web server but is not allowed full control over it (root access for Linux/administrator access for Windows); however, they are allowed to manage their data via FTP or other remote management tools. The user is disallowed full control so that the provider can guarantee quality of service by not allowing the user to modify the server or potentially create configuration problems. The user typically does not own the server. The server is leased to the client.
* Colocation web hosting service: similar to the dedicated web hosting service, but the user owns the colo server; the hosting company provides physical space that the server takes up and takes care of the server. This is the most powerful and expensive type of the web hosting service. In most cases, the colocation provider may provide little to no support directly for their client's machine, providing only the electrical, Internet access, and storage facilities for the server. In most cases for colo, the client would have his own administrator visit the data center on site to do any hardware upgrades or changes.
* Cloud hosting: is a new type of hosting platform that allows customers powerful, scalable and reliable hosting based on clustered load-balanced servers and utility billing. Removing single-point of failures and allowing customers to pay for only what they use versus what they could use.
* Clustered hosting: having multiple servers hosting the same content for better resource utilization. Clustered Servers are a perfect solution for high-availability dedicated hosting, or creating a scalable web hosting solution. A cluster may separate web serving from database hosting capability.
* Grid hosting: this form of distributed hosting is when a server cluster acts like a grid and is composed of multiple nodes.
* Home server: usually a single machine placed in a private residence can be used to host one or more web sites from a usually consumer-grade broadband connection. These can be purpose-built machines or more commonly old PCs. Some ISPs actively attempt to block home servers by disallowing incoming requests to TCP port 80 of the user's connection and by refusing to provide static IP addresses. A common way to attain a reliable DNS hostname is by creating an account with a dynamic DNS service. A dynamic DNS service will automatically change the IP address that a URL points to when the IP address changes.

Some specific types of hosting provided by web host service providers:

* File hosting service: hosts files, not web pages
* Image hosting service
* Video hosting service
* Blog hosting service
* One-click hosting
* Pastebin Hosts text snippets
* Shopping cart software

What is Linux (Unix) Hosting?

Web pages are developed using various kinds of platforms. They might be developed using the windows or even Linux and UNIX platforms. Thus, a web page that is developed using the UNIX or the Linux operating platforms are called as Unix/Linux based hosting. There is not much of a difference in the above two operating systems. It can be called that Linux/Unix is an upgraded version of the Linux/Unix operating systems.

Advantages of Linux/Unix hosting

There are many advantages related with Linux/Unix based hosting. One of such benefit is that Unix/Linux is extremely compatible with the PHP programming language that is gaining popularity these days. The cost involved is also a factor that is attracting a lot of developers these days. The fact that these operating systems are mostly available for free makes it really economical. Thus, customers can get some additional software's that are required for Linux/Unix platforms. Some of these software's are Apache, BIND, Sendmail and APF Firewall.

Some other advantages related with Linux/Unix based hosting include the security that is provided by the platform. The security that is offered by this platform is incomparable to that offered by Windows based hosting. Even the various developers have proved that this system offers a lot of control and stability over the operations. Linux based hosting is also very beneficial as it provides the developers with the ability to integrate various other things like Mod Rewrite, MySQL, Chmod permission, Apache Web Sever and even PHP. The important thing that can be noted about Linux/Unix based development is that the codes can be changed very easily because it is an open source operating system. Thus, the various people can easily change the codes according to the requirements and needs.

Reliability, Usability and Functionality

It has been proven by the various developers that the Linux/Unix based platform is the most reliable one and only depends upon regular maintenance. Thus, the stability and the quality related with these platforms won't be affected with sudden system problems. They even prove to be consistent as it secures the functioning of the web site.

Over the years Linux/Unix has developed very efficiently. In the beginning this system was really tuff to be controlled by the beginners and was thus, used by only professionals. But in the present scenario it has been made really user friendly and can be administered quite comfortably. Today the beginners will find this system to be very comfortable with the availability of the easy to use features and control panels. The professionals will find this platform really easy and handy providing total control and stability.

Linux/Unix platform is absolutely different than that with other platforms. It has the capability of handling a lot of processes that can be run at the same time. This platform also provides the developers to obtain more from the server. This platform supports more application languages than any other platform, even windows. Some of the languages supported compromise of Tcl, Python, Shell, Java, C+ + and PHP.

Important Considerations for Your Colocation Needs

After deciding that you need colocation, your work is far from done. There is so much that must be carefully considered outside of the price. This is a very important business move, and one that should not be rushed into by any means. When drawing up your colocation plans, keep this list of key factors in mind.

Proximity

Because colocation is a solution that provides you with access to the facility, it would be convenient to choose a location that is in the proximity of your place of business. Having to purchase an airline ticket or plan a road trip ruins many of the benefits this type of service delivers. Being that this is a service that isn't necessarily prevalent in all geographic locations, you may also want to consider options that provide you with remote control of your server. This will ultimately prevent you from venturing out to the facility every time the server requires a reboot or other minor tasks.

Company Track Record

Before entering an agreement with a colocation provider, it is highly recommend that you check into the company's background and find out how long they have been in the business. Some firms simply offer this service on the side, while others specialize in it full time. You can end up with a quality service in either scenario, but it best to consider vital aspects, such as reputation and commitment, when making such an important investment. Ask for a few references, and if the company cannot comply, consider this as a sign to move on.

Bandwidth Options

There are essentially two types of colocation: carrier neutral and carrier specific. Carrier neutral tends to be the most highly sought after variation, as it provides you with more flexibility in terms of bandwidth options. This basically means that the host is not locked into any exclusive bandwidth commitments with specific providers. A good carrier neutral facility will offer redundant connections from a nice variety of carriers, in addition to reliable peering arrangements with other networks connected to the internet. The more dependable connections you have, the better chance you have of eliminating downtime.

Stability and Scalability

Choosing a colocation facility with lightning-fast, scalable internet connections should be one of your top priorities. Your current bandwidth requirements may not be suitable once your business grows and demands more resources. Tier-1 facilities with large OC (Optical Carrier) connections tend to provide the stability and scalability a business needs to flourish with their internet infrastructure. It is crucial that you inquire about these aspects, as they can be dramatically impacted by a colocation provider that oversells its bandwidth for the sake of profits.

Data Center Features

The colocation features you require will all depend on your individual needs. For the most part, you want to keep your focus on data center features that provide adequate protection for your equipment. Some to look out for are surveillance systems, physical security, fully air conditioned server rooms, environmental controls and backup generators among others.

Rack Space

Very few businesses these days operate in static fashion. Therefore, the colocation arrangement that suits your organization today just may not be enough tomorrow. For example, you might only require rack space for two servers at the present time, but could need room for an additional three down the road. Can the provider comfortably meet the needs without costing you a fortune? Never hesitate to ask a prospective host about meeting such demands and finding out how quickly these upgrades can be made, and how much they will cost.

Cost of Service

While the price of a colocation service is not exactly the most essential factor, it is definitely of paramount importance. When comparing services, make sure you understand all the pricing terms and will receive all the features and services for which you have been quoted. Don't focus on a company that offers the lowest price, but instead one that offers the best value for your money. Once you speak with a few firms, you will quickly understand what is too high, too low or just right. After you have found a colocation provider that offers a fair price, evaluate them based on the factors discussed in this article to determine if they are an ideal suitor for your business.

The Truth about VPS Hosting

VPS hosting has become a popular offering on the web hosting market. The allure behind this solution is that it creates a common ground between shared and dedicated hosting. Despite its power and all the benefits, a VPS is not suited for everyone. This type of arrangement will cost you a few hundred dollars per year on service, but there are more glaring disadvantages that need to be considered as well.

Technical Challenges

With the typical shared hosting service, you lease a plan on a monthly or annual basis. What you sign up for is an outsourced, fully managed solution. The hosting company provides the hardware and internet connectivity, administers the server, and takes care of all the technical aspects behind the scenes. With a VPS hosting plan, however, you move up in status and virtually have complete control of your private environment.

While this can be a major advantage, it can also present challenges for the simple fact that you are responsible for managing the server, installing software, applying updates and monitoring security. This isn't much of a problem for the more technically inclined user, but could be a terribly frustrating ordeal for the less experienced. If you do not have firsthand knowledge of server administration or OS commands, you could end up out of your league with a VPS hosting solution you simply are not equipped to handle. The power of a virtual platform is sometimes too much for the needs and experience level of many individuals.

Hardware Limitations

VPS hosting can provide you with a much greater degree of control and better performance, as critical system resources are more adequately allotted. However, even though you get the benefit of guaranteed resources, there are some limitations that might be cause for concern.

Due to the similarities of a VPS and dedicated server, some have the misconception that you have all the resources to yourself. This is not the case. You are still required to share hardware assets with the other virtual servers partitioned on the machine. While this is not an issue for most, it could be for you, depending on the nature of your business. This essentially means that you are not guaranteed access to the memory you require at any given time due to an instance such as a log jam. Though very rare, an error like this can occur on a virtual platform. If these are disadvantages your business cannot afford, you might be best suited for a dedicated server in order to have all the hardware resources at your disposal.

Making a Decision on VPS Hosting

There are a few telling signs that indicate it is time to upgrade to a VPS hosting package. Maybe you are not longer satisfied with the performance of your current shared hosting arrangement. Slow response times are impacting the end-user experience, and you just can't afford to sacrifice quality any longer. Perhaps you are concerned about all the lingering potential security issues that can become a reality at any time and compromise the sensitive data on your website.

These are perfect indicators that the shared hosting environment is no longer sufficient for your needs and the time for change has come. When a shared server is no longer an option and a dedicated server is out of financial reach, VPS hosting is the rock that can provide a happy medium. And although virtualization will cost you a little more than the standard hosting arrangement, the competitiveness on the market makes it easy to find a plan for a very reasonable price.

Selecting a Host

Just like most web hosting solutions, the level of success you get from a VPS hosting plan largely depends on the company providing the service. When signing up with an unreliable host, you are guaranteed nothing but heartache and a failed investment. This is one quality that means everything when your business and web presence are on the line. Virtualization is becoming a commonplace on the market, and finding a service provider shouldn't be much of a challenge. What we recommend is being very selective in the decision process and comparing the services of as many qualified providers as you can.

The Crucial Aspects of Reseller Hosting

If you are looking to enter the reseller hosting market, the most important decision you make will be the web host you select. The level of services you are able to provide all depend on what the host can provide to you. As the "middleman," you need a partner that can support your business and drive it to success. There are three important qualities that make up a viable reseller hosting solution: reliability, features and support.

Service You Can Depend On

Reliability is extremely important in the web hosting business, and the same holds true for the reselling sector. Everything could be smooth sailing in the beginning, but once your business starts to grow, you may encounter some problems. It could actually be the success of your customers and their traffic that results in slow response times and presents the threat of unavailability. This is when the complaints start to arrive, as customers become concerned about the performance and availability of their websites, leaving you with no choice but to contact your web hosting provider for assistance.

Unfortunately, if you have not taken the time to seek out a reliable host, you could be in for a rude awakening. Perhaps the provider is utilizing inadequate hardware or takes the common approach of overcrowding its server with customers for the sake of profits. Maybe they take forever to respond. Each of these scenarios equals a disadvantage for your business.

There are many signs that point to reliability. You can start by identifying and then verifying the hosting provider's uptime guarantee. They keyword here is "guarantee" so you need to find out how you are to be compensated if the host cannot assure its uptime claims. It is also advisable to learn more about what measures are being taken to protect against system failures, power outages, environmental issues and security breaches, as each of these elements can severely impact the overall reliability of the service.

Functionality for You and Your Customers

Whenever reseller hosting is mentioned, disk space and bandwidth are the features most often discussed. These resources play a major role in how many hosting packages you can sell. Therefore, when shopping for your reseller package, you must pay attention to how much you are being provided and at what price. You need to plan carefully here, as not all of your customers will have the same requirements. Some may have moderate needs while others have demands that eat up tons of disk space and bandwidth. In this scenario, it is wise to acquire more than enough to comfortably suit the business as your needs increase.

Another critical feature of the reseller hosting process is the control panel. This software acts as the office that allows you to manage customers and your entire account. The control panel aims to provide administrative authority that permits you to create custom hosting plans, create, suspend and delete accounts, view bandwidth usage, bill customers and much more. Most notably, this software also provides an interface that allows your clients to manage their own individual accounts. The reseller software you decide on could either make your venture a smooth experience or a turbulent ride.

Other features you want to consider will be to accommodate the needs of your customers and your personal preference as well. Features abound, but some of the basics you may want to have onboard are multiple email addresses, webmail and file managing facilities. Because sensitive business transactions will likely be conducted frequently, you need to provide must-have e-commerce features, such as shopping cart programs and SSL for security measures.

The Backing of a Solid Business Partner

Support is vital for the longevity of any reseller hosting business. This is such an important aspect that you may want to consider testing the company's response time before even singing your name on the dotted line. Give the host a call or send them an email, as this contact information should be openly published and easily accessible on their website. The response you get and the time in which it is received can tell you volumes about the overall quality of a reseller hosting solution. If a host cannot provide an acceptable service and support, then they are not equipped to meet the needs of your business.

"Bluehost" hosting plan

From the business owner to the individual who desires full functionality on a small budget, Bluehost provides your complete web hosting solution.

"Bluehost" details | Review this plan

General Information:
Plan category: UnixHosting space: UnlimitedMonthly traffic: UnlimitedMultiple domains: UnlimitedFree domain: Free setup: Fantastico library: Phone support: Money back: 30 Marketing bonus: 75 Special details:

Pricing Information:
3 months:$9.95/mo6 months:$9.95/mo1 year:$7.95/mo2 years:$6.95/mo

Easy-Install CMS:
Wordpress: Joomla: b2evolution: Drupal: Special details:

Marketing Bonus Credit:
Yahoo Marketing: $50Google AdWords: $25Microsoft Adcenter: $Bidvertizer: $

Domain Features:
International domains: Multiple domains: UnlimitedParked domains: NoSub-Domains: UnlimitedSpecial details:

Email Features:
POP3 Emails: 2500 IMAP Emails: 2500 Spam Protection: Virus Protection: Special details:

Site Management:
File Manager: FTP Accounts: 1000 Backup: Error Pages: Special details:

Databases:
MySQL: 100 PostgreSQL: 100 MySQL Admin: PostgreSQL Admin: Special details:

Scripting:
PHP: Perl: CGI-Bin: CGI-Library: Ruby: Python: SSI: Special details:

ECommerce:
osCommerce: Agora Shopping Cart: CubeCart: Zen Cart: PayPal Cart: Google Checkout: Special details:

Security:
SSL Secure Server: SSH Access: HotLink Protection: PGP Protection: Special details:

Site Building Tools:
FrontPage Extensions: Website Builder: Website Templates: Special details

The Essentials of Web Hosting

The internet has become a common way of life for many of us, and every day, more users are starting to realize the benefits. This global network has opened the doors for users around the world to communicate, seek entertainment, shop and conduct business online. Many are leveraging the internet as their medium for connecting with the world – and the same opportunities exist for you. If your plans require a website, then you will need web hosting to accomplish those goal.

What is Web Hosting?

Web hosting is a common service designed to serve websites to internet users. Operated by companies known as web hosting providers, or simply web hosts, these services are managed out of data center facilities and made available to personal and business customers in various regions throughout the world. Web hosting is composed of numerous elements, and four of the most essential of all are the server hardware, web server, operating system and the hosting provider itself.

Server Hardware

Though technically a computer, a server is very different from your typical PC. The standard home-based computer has a single processor and limited capacity, while a web hosting server usually contains at least two processors, a robust hard drive and larger capacities of other vital hardware components. This allows the machine to execute much faster and simultaneously process more applications. When set up in most environments, this high-powered computer can run one or dozens upon dozens of websites with relative ease. In theory, a server keeps your website available 24/7 with redundant dedicated connections to the internet.

Web Server

Often confused with its hardware counterpart, a web server is a software application that plays a critical role in the web hosting process. As the name indicates, it helps the server hardware serve your web pages when they are requested by a visitor’s web browser.

Web servers run a method known as HTTP (HyperText Transfer Protocol), a standard communications procedure that utilizes the client-server model to facilitate communication between remote computers. For example, when a visitor opens your website in their browser, which is a client program, a request is sent to the server hosting your site. The server application then processes that request and responds accordingly, displaying your web page to the visitor. There are many types of web servers, but the most prominent on the web hosting market are Apache and Microsoft IIS (Internet Information Services).

Server Operating System

The operating system is the most important piece of software for a server or any computer. Often referred to as a platform in the web hosting environment, this software is responsible starting and shutting down the server, communicating with computer hardware and allowing the installation of various other software packages. If you are like most users, the operating system you are familiar with is Windows, the popular software developed and distributed by Microsoft. In the hosting arena however, several platforms exist, with Unix and the open-source Linux operating system being among the most widely used. Although the web server application is extremely important, the operating system is the heart of the server hardware. Because the platform acts as the core of the computer, it must be installed and configured before implementing any other applications.

The Hosting Provider

As a customer, the most essential element of web hosting is the company providing the service. The web host must be able to ensure quality and reliability in order to make sure that your website will be available to internet users. This is made possible by running their network operations out of data centers, complete with state of the art electrical and backup power systems, environmental controls and advanced security measures. They must also deliver a superb level of customer service and technical support to make sure you have a way to present your questions or concerns 24/7/365. Collectively, these features better assure that your website is secure and running smoothly with minimal downtime.

There are many aspects that go into a web hosting operation, and these are just a few of the key ingredients. You don’t need to be a technical wizard just to run a website, but knowing what makes this business ticks can result in a less frustrating experience.


What are the options for web hosting?
If you are just starting out and want no string attached, there are plenty of alternatives. Free hosting allows you to not only create a website, but it helps beginners, no matter how much experience they have. Although there are popup downsides and other annoyances, free web hosting will give you everything that you need. If you are not sure if you even want to extensively design one, Geocities or AngelFire is great to experiment with.

Shared Web Hosting

Are you looking for something a bit more customized? For many webmasters, shared unix hosting or shared windows hosting are the most favorite platforms. This means that an abundance of websites are actually on one server. While this only costs a few dollars a month, there are still issues that come along with it. For instance, if a fellow webmaster were to have done something illegal, chances are your website would be shut down as well. This is because you share an IP, which of course can be quite dangerous. For this reason, you must be careful when choosing people to share a host with.

Dedicated Server Hosting

While these are great alternatives, many professional companies enjoy dedicated server hosting. Fortunately, the website is the only one on the server, which results in a lot less complications. With freedom comes a plethora of features, which include extra bandwidth, visitor trackers, and your own I.P. As a result, you do not have to worry about illegal situations occurring within your server. Everything is based around your needs.

Reseller Web Hosting

Reseller hosting is another admired amenity. If you are a webmaster and are looking to make some extra cash, reseller web hosting is a great opportunity. In simple terms, you purchase a web hosting package from a company and divide the space into several sections. These sections can easily be purchased by fellow webmasters, who are in need of space. With this business in place, you will effortless make a few dollars.

Regardless of what you are looking to make, web hosting is necessary. From affordable shared unix hosting or shared windows hosting to dedicated servers with only one website, there are endless opportunities. Although most beginner webmasters assume that there is only one type of web hosting service, this article clearly shows how wrong the myth can be

TYPES OF HOST

First of all we must determine the meaning of the word “hosting”. So, what is hosting?
Hosting origins from the word “host” which has different meanings that are familiar to you. Hosting means providing place for your website on the web hosting company’s servers and makes it viewable in the Internet
and floating it.

Why can you once need hosting?

Imagine that you have created a website and now you are wondering how
your friends and acquaintances can see it. You place it in your personal computer, but then you come to know that it’s dangerous for your computer’s safety and needs permanent Internet connection. So it causes a lot of inconveniences for you. To avoid them there is web site hosting.

There are different kinds of web site hosting. Let’s have a good look at them:
1.Shared or virtual hosting
2.Dedicated hosting/ server, Co-location
3.VDS/VPS –Virtual Dedicated Server/Virtual Private Server

Before choosing some type of web hosting it’s necessary to consider the way you are going to use it.

Free Shared hosting

If you want to host some non-profit-making or your personal web site it’d be more profitable to use basic shared hosting for no fee. This type of web site hosting is a rather logical choice if you are a junior in web site building or if you want to try some new idea and don’t want to pay. But of course you don’t have to suppose it to grant your site the best conditions, such as proper bandwidth and disk space. Some other features can also be limited, I mean MySQL, PHP support. It often also provides poor web statistics.

Paid Shared hosting

Almost all small businesses, intermediate and large professional sites use shared hosting, ‘cause they don’t need the whole server’s space and besides the whole server costs much. With shared/virtual hosting such necessary features, as multiply e-mail, MySQl, PHP, are supported. The main disadvantage is decrease of your site’s security.

Dedicated hosting /Server

This type of hosting is the best choice for those, who need much storage and bandwidth, and are good in server administration. You’ll be able to use all necessary software, but if you don’t have enough knowledge to administrate your server it will be a little bit difficult for you.

Co-location

It’s a sub type of dedicated hosting and can be compared with your own house which was built specially for you, with your favorite furniture and all. It’s built on your hoster’s (ISP) ground. This service is implied to fulfill only your tasks and is designed for your needs alone. And it’s cost is correspondingly high.

VDS/ VPS

Virtual private server is a type of web site hosting that is based on dividing a physical server into several virtual ones. It costs less though gives same possibilities as Dedicated server. Now, when we’ve examined different types of hosting services, you can decide which type of hosting is the most suitable for you.

TIPS FOR CHOSING GOOD WEB HOST

1. Starts with you. Determine your needs. Space, bandwidth and budget.
a) Space – Cover your needs and allow for expansion if needed.
b) Bandwidth- Same as above.
c) Budget – Set a realistic budget for yourself. How much are you willing to spend? Lowest price too highest. Being a little flexible on your price will give more hosting choices.

2. Follow some basic guidelines for even considering a hosting provider.
a) Does the host have phone number? At the very least a web host should provide you with a contact phone number. This doesn’t have to be a 24-hour a day number but your future host should be available during normal business hours in their respective time zone. A toll free shows a willingness to provide convenience for their customers.
b) Do they provide at least 24/7 Support Desk? Support is important, this is a must. You should have access to support 24 hours a day. Test the support desk. Choose anytime of the day or night and contact the support desk to test response times, ask any questions you might have. A response time under an hour is good; less than thirty minutes is considered excellent.
c) Take a good look at their web site. This sometimes can be over looked but I believe this says something very important about the hosting company. If they care about how they present themselves to the public, they are more apt to care about other things like service and maintaining a high reputation.
d) The hosting company should provide you with an Acceptable Use Policy, Terms of Service and a Privacy Policy as well. It is in your best interest that you read these policies and understand them before you pay for services.
e) Do they have an Uptime Guarantee? We won’t set a number on this but a hosting provider should be willing to disclose what their commitment to service is. A professional company will have this included in their Terms of Service.
f) Do they provide a Money Back Guarantee? Again, this should listed in their Terms of Service.
g) Payment Options – A host should provide their customers with more than one payment option. Credit cards and other payment option such as PayPal or something comparable.

3. Make a list of at least four to five possible hosting providers that fit your needs from the guidelines above and do some research.
a) Search these forums and others to see what type of information you can find on the host.
b) Compare features and price of the hosts on your list.
c) Contact the host either by phone, email or support desk and ask any questions you might have.
d) Check Testimonials – If the host has a list of testimonials if possible send an email to one of those customers and ask for their feedback on the host. Most people are happy to give a recommendation. This can also help determine if the testimonial real or a fabrication.
e) Finally you might want to consider doing a ping test if you can, check some customers web sites if listed, see how fast they load.
f) Make your choice, sign up and good luck.

There are so many hosting companies out there today, and the choices are close to endless. These guidelines are not fool proof in anyway but if you follow them you will have a better chance finding a host that you can trust in delivering quality service and save you from moving from host to host. In twelve years of buying web hosting and dedicated servers I have never once had a provider suddenly disappear on me in the middle of the night. Good luck and good hunting.

SIMPAL STEP IN CHOOSING HOST

1. Do your research here and on the internet to find a host that works for you.

2. Every host has had some problems, but that doesn’t make them bad.

3. If you find a host that’s too good to be true, it probably is. Just remember this, you get what you pay for.

4. There’s no such thing as unlimited bandwidth and storage space, so don’t waste your time with hosts that offer this.

5. Once you find a host ask questions to see if they fit your needs, and see how long it takes for them to respond.

6. Go with a host that has a 30 day money back gaurantee.

7. I have nothing agains’t one year hosting payments up front, but if you’re starting out it’s better to pay monthly.

HOW TO PICK THE BEST HOSTING COMPANY

There are a lot of Web Hosting Company. First you should choose Good and Reputable company, then you should Filter that to the Best. Here is the criteria to pick the best Web Hosting Company.

Back End/Network Operations Centers
This is where your accounts are actually housed. Sometimes a hosting provider will lease a part of a larger network and sometimes a hosting provider will develop their own. It is important to find out what kinds and how many fiber optic connections the NOC has. Make sure there is plenty of redundancy built in. Make sure the NOC is managed 24/7, even on holidays. Make sure there are fire suppression systems in place. Last but not least, ask about security. Make sure there are plenty of security measure in place.

Customer Service
Are they friendly? Do they answer their telephones? Are you put on hold and if so, for how long? If you have to leave a message, do they respond quickly? Does the rep on the other end know what they are talking about? Look at their network page and see if they have reports of down time or issue statements about problems.

Technical Support
How long does it take to get questions answered and tasks performed. Send a test support message and gauge the response times. See if they offer 800 toll free support.

Ticketing Systems
Do they have a ticketing system that tracks performance times. This is key. If a hosting company has this, they are serious about improving internally.

Domain Names
Do they offer domain name sales? This can help to consolidate your vendor costs. See about getting a discount on domains if you are buying in bulk on a monthly basis.

Branding You
Does the hosting provider offer branded support? As you grow, you will need to expand and see if the hosting provider will set you up with your own technician in your company name. Do they offer branded control panels and name servers? You need these tools to grow. Find out how easy it is to set these features up for your own account.

Scalable Discounts
If you are growing at a rapid rate, ask for better pricing and discounts. It is ok to ask. It’s even better when you get it and will
reduce your overhead.

Financial Overview
Is that particular company in the red of black? Do they have a good cash flow? How fast is the host growing and can they handle the growth? What are they doing to grow and maintain the customer service level you expect. Are they near a buy out or planning

HOW TO SELECT WEB HOST THAT FITS YOUR NEED

Whether you’re considering starting a website or you have one and want to possibly move it, this article can help you decide what the best webhost means to you.

To begin, every website is hosted on only 3 platforms: Unix, Windows NT, Macintosh

Very few sites are hosted on a MAC server, so the majority of webhosts use Unix or NT. For these reasons we will focus on only those 2 platforms.

Unix and NT both offer various options and have different abilities. Your choice of which platform to use depends on what applications you want your site to run and the amount of control you want to have over your site.

ARE YOU SEARCHING FOR PHP WEBHOSING

Are you searching for PHP web hosting? If so, you probably have a website that calls for this type of hosting. But for some people, it can be more difficult than they thought to find a good PHP web hosting provider.

This is not always the case, but it is something that you should be prepared for. When it comes down to it, not all PHP web hosting companies are the same. You will find that some offer better response, more features, and much more. As you can imagine, you want to get set up with the host that is going to give you the best deal for your money.

So what should you look for when it comes to PHP web hosting? Although a lot of this has to do with what your website is calling for, there are some basic features that most webmasters do not want to overlook; not even if you are a newbie.

First off, take a look at what your PHP web hosting provider is offering in the way of disk space. You need to make sure that you get enough space to suit the type of website you are building. For most people, anywhere from 15 to 30 GB of disk space should do the job. But of course, this is solely up to you based on your needs.

Of course, bandwidth transfer is also important when shopping for PHP web hosting. You may be overdoing it with anything more than 500 GB, but you will never know until you actually have your site up and running.

When shopping for PHP web hosting you should also consider some of the smaller details as well. For instance, how many domains can you host on the same account? If you have more than one website, you may need to the ability to host them all in the same place.

You should now have a better idea of what to look for from a PHP web hosting provider.

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what paid is webhosting now???

Technology moves so quickly, many of us feel like an ostrich with our head buried in the sand. Often we find that what was new yesterday is suddenly old news today and trying to keep up with the technological advances with concerns to the web hosting industry can be mind-boggling for the common individual.

If you have worked in an occupation that did not move swiftly along with the Internet, your knowledge of even the basics can now be considered illiterate. Now, more than ever before people are utilizing the Internet to advertise themselves and their businesses on the World Wide Web.

In order to establish your own web page on the Internet, it is important to understand some very important terms. The first and most important term to getting your website on the Internet is "web hosting".
Who or What is a Web Hosting Server

A paid web host is a company or an individual that owns a server that is connected to the Internet 24 hours per day, seven days per week and who is willing to sell you a space on that server for a certain number of dollars. The ideal web host is online 99.9% of the time, however, many cannot fulfill this goal. There is a broad range of what hosting services can and will do, so research is a large key to successfully finding the correct server for your intentions.

the dark site budgt web hosting

As in this world nothing is for free; same is with free web hosting. In case of free web hosting there is another dark side undisclosed which hampers one’s chances of becoming successful. However, if one knows about these dirty secrets, he/she will be prepared and better able to handle any possible problems before they would actually arise.

The following are some of the secrets which one should know before selecting a web host:-

1. Absence of Experience

There are several budget web hosts on the web that have not been around for very long and have little or even no experience at all. The final thing which the user is supposed to do is to sign up with a company that is brand new and inexperienced and be component of their learning curve. Instead, one should find a web host that possess experience of several years and is happy to outline the year they started, their expansion, and entire experience level.

2. 24/7 Support

In case a company is searching for a budget web host and is willing to save much costs. It is for sure that the cost which the company is trying to save will be less in comparison to the loss which it has to suffer due to poor support afterwards. Thus it is quite common that some budget web hosts do not offer any sort of information about their level of support, but some argue to offer 24/7 support but in real sense don’t. Prior to signing any agreement, with a budget web host, he/she should make sure that whether the host response the call at 3 a.m. on weekdays or anytime on weekends or not. Through the conclusion whether the phone is answered or not will be a very good sign as to whether one should sign up with them or keep finding.

3. Service Level Agreement

One should study the service level agreement that is provided by the budget web host. If the budget web host do not have, one then definitely move on, and if it is not a sturdy agreement that outlines precisely what will happen and the class of service the user will get in the event of a problem. The actual cause for this is because all web hosts will run into a problem at several places and one needs to know how that will be handled and how it will affect him/her before inflowing into the agreement.

4. No sole hosts

A further dirty little secret is many budget web hosts companies are not exclusively web host companies but they do offer range of other businesses or products as well. One definitely would not like to be in a situation to work with anyone who is in reality not a real web host rather one wishes a web host that only concentrate on web hosting nothing else. One should ask without hesitation before signing up any agreements or giving credit card numbers, what kind of business they are involved in and from which area their revenue comes from. This will help one to come to a conclusion about whether or not this is the web host meant for him/her or not.
Posted by Administrator at 8:40 AM
Labels: Budget Web Hosting, Service Level

WEBHOSTING TIPS FOR SELEST RIGHT PAID

While choosing ones paid Web hosting provider one has to confront with thousands of companies, tens of thousands of different plans as out of these thousands of companies and plans only few are suitable for the website and online needs.

In today’s world Web hosting has become a part of the informational revolution brought by the Internet and it has become compulsory for both business and also individuals.
Here we are just going to point on few things related to choosing an adequate web host for a web site as there is no need explaining why a website is a must on World Wide Web. This business might seem very complicated but once one knows what to look for it is easy to find out. Stick to ones requirements after analyzing it properly.

Many inexperienced web owners often buy more than required while evaluating their needs in terms of space and bandwidth. Thus many web-hosting providers size their web servers taking this into account as this is exceptionally common and in fact over sell the space and bandwidth assuming that customers will never make full use of it.

Ask ones paid web host provider per server ration to avoid web hosts that result to just that or crowed their web servers to get an extra profit per customer. To become a clever buyer one should do this with all the other companies one finds interesting to do business with and are eligible to host web site. Never buy a web-hosting plan that fits just perfectly instead always leave some space as website is like a living creature which always grows so buy a little extra space so that when website is expanded one have resources available. Always leave margin for error too as supposing the initial bandwidth evaluation proves itself insufficient then one might not be able to use its website because of exceeded bandwidth. For both knowledgeable and less knowledgeable web owners most web hosting plans come packed with features and some even offer pre-installed scripts and programs that might come handy.

Do not forget things actually required like the OS (Operating System) or the PHP support, as one could consider any extra feature a plus. Do not allow the provider to tell something not required or is less than expected so one should decide of its own what is needed.

Importance of Support: - One might overlook Support facility when one finds an offer which is suitable both in terms of space, bandwidth and has all other facilities which one needs but remember all the good features will go in vein if one does not have good support. If the web-hosting provider is too careless then any technical problem, which arises, will take long hours to be solved even after making many support help calls thus curtailing the work.

If one wants to test the quality and how responsive the support personnel is then one should fire many pre-sales questions through email. Check if the response fact is enough. Now supposing that a conference has to be attended and the site is down and many clicks are expected, check if the website is online to get them and also whether the response one is getting from the support is thorough or is just scratching the surface and is the response understandable.

Look for these qualities when looking for good support: -
-Online support staff, help desk, message boards etc.
-Try to find on forums or discussion boards Information on the reputation of a web-
hosting provider.

-Would one like to be among one those discontented customers there?

Another aspect of the problem is reliability. Company’s web server’s up time should be asked. Usually 99.9% of up time is guaranteed by Most of the hosts, as 100% is not a realistic figure in the computer world. This guarantee means that, the money will be refunded for that month or free web hosting will be given for a month as compensation for web site being unavailable if the web site was not available 99.9% of the time.
Our sincere advice to everyone looking for web host provider is don’t try too hard to find the cheapest possible web host though it is true that one has to pay for paid web hosting. Still if one goes for cheaper one then within two weeks from the date of purchase one will stumble upon a better deal and thus will most likely end-up wasting an incredible amount of time. On the other hand paying extra amount to get what one could have got for less is also not a good deal. Getting 200 MB of space with 2 GB of bandwidth for $60 one is getting cheated and at the same time getting same service for $6 or $10 can be a good deal. A thin line between Nightmare of getting slow server response, unreachable support and irritating server downtime and Profitable and enjoyable web presence is drawn by individuals’ themselves.
Posted by Administrator at 10:11 PM
Labels: paid Web Hosting Provider

CHOSE THE RIGHT PAID WEB HOST IN THREE STEPS

Choosing a paid Web hosting services provider can be a challenge. There are literally thousands of companies that offer countless products and services. It can be a difficult task for a novice as well as for a seasoned professional, but it doesn’t have to be. We’ve broken the process down into three steps.

Step One: Free or Paid Hosting?
Step Two: Determine Expectations
Step Three: Compare Hosts in the Right Category

Step One: Free or Paid Hosting?
To pay or not to pay?
A large percentage of Web sites are ‘free’ and posted by individuals for personal reasons. Typically, these sites are associated with one of the larger portals such as Yahoo or AOL and consist of a page or two with limited content. If you’re looking to put up a personal site like this, look no further than the solutions offered by these two companies. The tools and applications such as email, community interest portals and photo management software provided are straightforward and make setting your site up very easy.

The downside to free hosting? Generally you'll have to put up with banner ads on your homepage or other ads you don’t get to pick. To be fair, it’s how these companies can afford to set up your infrastructure for free. All the same, you have no control over whose ad shows up on your site. If that’s unacceptable, a paid hosting solution (some start lower than $5/mo) might be your best bet.

Most Web hosting companies bundle services into a series of packages. The standard hosting service component is normally a bundle of disk storage space (where your site is stored) and bandwidth (the capacity for data transfer of a wired or wireless communication system.) In addition, hosting companies usually bundle email services with standard plans. The email service contains POP and IMAP solutions which direct email received through your site to desktop applications (Outlook® or Exchange®.) “Web-mail” is also provided to view and manage email through a Web browser.

Frequently, small businesses want a Web site that functions only as an online brochure that provides information about the business but not sell products. Standard packages are ideal if you’re building a simple brochure site. Additional service packages offer eCommerce, media intensive applications for video and audio sharing and dedicated servers, designed to back-up more complex business requirements. Paid solutions pretty much come down to whether you’re going to sell products and services online or just display information in a brochure format and what kind of customer and technical support you’ll require.

Step Two: Determine Expectations
You Get What you Pay For
There are basically two price levels prevalent in Web hosting. There’s a large group of Low Price or Discount hosts that offer nice solutions from below $5 to $15 per month and there are hosts that offer solutions that start above $15 and the pricing goes up from there. Companies such as Affinity have developed a number of different hosting brands to help simplify the customer experience. As an example, Affinity uses the Host Save and Win Save brands for their low-cost hosting solutions and the Value Web brand for their premium services.

Customer service is usually the primary difference between inexpensive hosting solutions and the higher priced options. Here’s where the “you get what you pay for” maxim comes into play. Prior to choosing a provider it’s important to determine how serious you are. In other words, if the site is your small business lifeline, where you’ll find customers, display, sell and even ship products you probably don’t want a hosting company that won’t answer calls when there’s a problem. On the contrary, many experienced professionals would rather not talk to someone and prefer technical support and customer service through email or online chat.

Clarifying expectations ahead of time can mean the difference between a great online experience or completely frustrated and without support. The extra $10 per month may be worth the piece of mind it buys.

Step Three: Compare Hosts in the Right Category
Once you know whether you need a standard hosting plan or an eCommerce solution and whether low price or premium (a.k.a. better customer support) hosting is right for you, it’s time to shop. Any of the major search engines will provide a multitude of responses with a query such as Web Hosting or eCommerce hosting. You can even narrow your search with more definition. A search for “Cheap eCommerce hosting” will yield mostly companies whose solutions fall in the low price category.

Take some time and visit several hosting company’s Web sites. Go over plan options and see which offer the services and support that match your expectations. Because of the similarities, hosting plans can become confusing. Most major providers have a “Compare Plans” page you can print. Its good to print out the various packages and have them in hand while you shop.

Using Affinity’s Value Web brand as an example, some hosts offer a portal where you’re free to ask existing customers if they’re satisfied and recommend the provider. Look for this function as you shop, it’s an excellent tool in how to determine whether a company is right for you. Unless you’re an experienced professional you shouldn’t buy a solution without at least first talking to a sales rep at the company. This gives a sense of the company’s commitment to its customers. Many also call the technical support numbers to see how long it takes to answer and how friendly and knowledgeable the staff is. Companies such as Affinity combined sales and support departments so when you order an account you’re talking to a technical support representative as well. This creates a forum in which all questions can be answered without having to be transferred to other departments.

It’s important to find a hosting relationship that fits your needs and whose level of involvement you feel comfortable with. Following these steps will make choosing a Web hosting solution easier and, hopefully, even fun.
Posted by Administrator at 10:07 PM
Labels: Affinity’s Value, paid web host