Is Your Web Hosting Compatible with Your Website?

If you are planning to launch your own blog or website, then plan first with a great concept. You can create an incredible concept after several weeks of preparation and research. If such concept is finished then its time to carry out the concept and let your blog or website running. Web hosting should be the first and major decision that you should make.

As you can see, millions of different websites are available online and not any of these websites online are the same. This only means that every website is consists of diverse hosting requirements. In finding for the ideal host for your preferred website, you should ask yourself a handful of questions to help you find reliable web host:

⇨ Framework – do you intend of using a framework for your website like the content management system? There are various hosting providers that specialize in this kind of services such as the Joomla hosting or the WordPress hosting.

⇨ Traffic – how much can your website generate traffic on a monthly or daily basis? Several hosting plans are used best for heavy traffic websites although some sites don’t need this additional cost.

⇨ Hosting Type – which website hosting plan do you intend to utilize? You must consider the hosting plan you opt to use and choose among VPS, cloud hosting, shared or dedicated server will suit your requirements.

Each of this website hosting products are designed and intended for particular purpose. Since there are numerous alternatives, it is difficult to look for a website hosting plan that will fit the business owner’s requirements. One hosting company developed a relevancy tool for hosting which could help you pick an ideal hosting plan.

Hosting Relevancy Device

The hosting company’s hosting relevancy device is designed to assist people look for a website hosting solution that is well-suited to their website. The device will aggregate product uptime information, editor reviews and customer reviews generating certain score to indicate the right hosting plan for ones requirements. If such website plan or host is chosen as inappropriate then proxies are offered. Some websites are becoming famous which reviews the daily page that jumps from 300 up to 800. The repeated use of this hosting relevancy device is not advisable since this tool suggest to first suit the requirements of your website.

So, website-hosting requirements changes very fast and simple. Last year’s hosting plan is not anymore appropriate to use these days and this cannot meet any current requirements. High costs, low reliability and slow loading are the three factors that can definitely oblige the online entrepreneurs to buy web-hosting services. Moreover, the reviewed website hosting relevancy device can significantly help you to make a decision whether you switch hosts or not and which website host you must choose.

Alternatively, if you are planning to change your website hosts then keep in mind that it must not affect your SEO ranking. You must consider taking these guidelines to help you out by changing your website host.

⬢ Search for a reliable hosting company, which can go with your needs.
⬢ Carefully choose the server’s location.
⬢ Upload the web to your new host and test.
⬢ Contemporize the TTL of the DNS record; this is highly recommended but optional.
⬢ Modify the DNS records.
⬢ Maintain both servers subsist for one or two days.

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What is the Ideal Host for Your Website?

Finding the ideal host for your website means understanding your website’s needs from the bottom up. This means understanding the kind of content you will deliver, as well as the expected demographic of your users. Cheap web hosting services might be found for private blogs and websites, but running a site that provides any significant amount of content means considering things like cloud hosting, VPS services, site uptime, and technical support for when things just don’t work the way you want.

Movin’ On Up…

Starting small might make sense now, but if you have plans to further expand your site, you need to make sure the host you’re with offers pain free means to do so. Upgrading your hosting plan should be as easy as clicking a few buttons and handing over some extra cash, so one of the first questions you need to ask customer service for any host you’re considering is whether or not the hosting plans are dynamically upgradable. It may seem odd, but in today’s hosting world, having your site offline for even a few hours to complete a plan upgrade could spell disaster for your community.

Of course in the planning stages of your website you’re not considering your budget needs further down the road as your site expands, but be sure and look at the top tiers that any host you’re considering offers. You never know when your business might expand to the point that you’ll need one of these top tiers to keep your site running smoothly. Is the price something you’d be comfortable paying when the site is generating income? If not, you may want to reconsider your hosting options.

Static vs. Dynamic Hosting

One important thing to consider if you will be delivering digital content such as music, videos, podcasts, or games is the availability of these items to your customers. With the quality of digital audio and video, your allocation of bandwidth could be eaten through in a matter of minutes if you have a spike in downloads. In order to prevent this, several hosts offer numerous features.

One frequently offered feature is cloud hosting, where your file is distributed across the hosts network so that is always accessible from anywhere in the world. The best cloud services connect your customers to the server node nearest them, so in addition to getting the file they want, it is also delivered at the highest speed possible. While cloud hosting is traditionally a bit more expensive than standard website hosting, if you deliver any sort of content digitally and you plan on having significant growth, then you will probably need some form of cloud hosting to keep you covered.

Shared vs. Dedicated Hosting

Shared hosting means there can be hundreds of sites on one box, all sharing the same IP. If one of the sites you share the hosting box with gets a massive spike in growth and brings the box down, then your site goes with it. In a shared hosting environment, someone else’s marketing success could spell your doom. In order to keep this from happening, having a dedicated hosting plan should be considered.

Dedicated hosting means you are the only site on the box and you’re the only one utilizing the IP. Therefore, any traffic spikes to your site are better able to be handled. While your site may not need dedicated hosting when you first start out, checking with customer service to make sure you can upgrade as you need without much hassle should be a priority. Most highly successful sites will find need of dedicated hosting plans so they are not hammered with problems caused by other sites sharing bandwidth and processing power.

Support and Security

Of course, the final thing you should be fully aware of before choosing a host for your website is whether the company you are going with offers the level of security and customer support you require. If you’re a website novice and need help setting up basic scripts such as WordPress, you might want to see if customer support offers assisted installs to help take some of the headache away from web hosting.

When it comes to security, daily off-site backups are a must. No host can protect you 100% from hard drive failure as that happens, but having off-site backups that are stored on the cloud can keep you from experiencing any significant downtime due to having a backup of your site. Most sites of any repute offer these features, but when you check out the many web hosting reviews of any host you’re considering, be sure and check the security policy to determine whether or not the host will take the security of your site seriously.

Finally, before you purchase hosting from any website, have a good chat with their customer support. If you feel as though they are unable to answer all of your questions adequately, you may want to seek hosting elsewhere. Your initial experience with customer support should be a positive one before any money changes hands, since the company should care about you as a customer before you are one. Let us know your views about ideal host in form of comments below.

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How Important is a Fast Web Server?

Bandwidth, upload time, hosting fees… We all know the old adage that time is money, but how much does that hold up in today’s world? The answer is more than ever. With so many digital facets vying for our collective attention, it’s crucial for the success of an online businesses to make sure that server speed, reliability and security are all adhered to indefinitely.

Much like a good social media strategy, an online business needs to be acutely aware of their surroundings, target audience and customer needs. Are you a flower store that’s prepared for the influx of traffic when Valentine’s Day comes around? Is your online shop ready for the mass spending that occurs come Christmas? Whatever your area of trade, shoppers on the web rarely forgive a site’s incapability to deliver what it promises; not when there is so much else to choose from.

Server Location is Key

There are many options for self-hosting a website – cheap plans starting at $1/month or ones that offer full-service deluxe packages for over one hundred times that price. Often, there’s just no avoiding all the fine print. Besides just noticing the price, though, you should pay attention to server location, because that typically plays a role in how fast a website loads.

Depending on your customer traffic rate, web hosting companies such as 1&1 for instance, make it their mission to deliver stable and powerful servers that will support your potentially growing online store. Depending on what kind of online shop you have, traffic might be heavier in different seasons, or different times of day if you’re an online gaming site.

A trustworthy dedicated host gives your site not only a fixed domain name and a full array of beneficial tools such as design templates and web apps, but ultimately the dependability of consistent and easy access to your site.

Servers for Online Stores

In 2015, the only way is up for online businesses to cash in on the booming market. As evident in CMO’s statistics concerning shopping over the web, the results showed that the trend for consumers to research, browse and eventually purchase online is rising steadily and predicted to grow staggeringly in the following years.

For a business to make an impact on new and acquired customers alike, the best way is to give them a seamless and smooth process on your site, which will expectantly lead to expanding trade for your business. Having a solid server to host your site is just the building blocks for a successful site.

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Understanding the Difference Between a Primary and Secondary DNS Server

DNS stands for domain name system, the largest database in the world, containing all registration information pertaining to every domain name in existence. A DNS server, also commonly referred to as a name server, is simply a web server that is equipped with software that allows it to connect and or interact with this database on a regular basis. Data contained within the domain name system includes but is not limited to information related to the web host, the domain registrant, and the active name servers for the domain. Every domain name has at least two name servers, provided by a hosting provider.

Understanding Name Servers

There are literally tens of thousands of DNS servers located throughout the world that each contain a portion of the domain name system database. To maintain redundancy and security of this database there are also 13 root DNS servers that contain the entirety of the database on each server. There are two main types of DNS servers – primary DNS servers and secondary DNS servers. 

What are Primary DNS Servers?

A primary DNS server is responsible for reading data related to the domain zone. The primary server is also responsible for communicating with the secondary server. Data pertaining to the domain zone is specifically designated by server administrators, who instruct the server on how to communicate and interact with other web servers. The process of a primary web server communicating with the secondary server is known as a...

What are Secondary DNS Servers?

A secondary DNS server, also commonly referred to as a slave server, is responsible for obtaining zone data from the primary DNS server immediately after being set up. Each time a secondary DNS server functions it receives information from the primary DNS server. However, it should be noted that a secondary DNS server does not necessarily need to obtain information from a primary DNS server, as other secondary servers can be set up as...

So, What Exactly is DNS?

In the simplest definition, DNS is the term used to describe a system that assigns user-friendly names to unique IP addresses. It translates unfathomable amounts of data into words and phrases in order to provide clear and accurate search results.

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Web Hosting: A History of FTP Technology

If you're not a complete computer whiz, a lot of the tech terms thrown out by your web hosting service might confuse you. One term that could have you scratching your head is FTP, which stands for file transfer protocol. Although it might sound confusing and high-tech, FTP is a useful method to transfer files from one location to another without ever having to be physically connected via data sources. By understanding just how FTP came to be, you can see how it can come in handy when building sites and sharing files.

Initial Process

The original protocol for FTP was written in the golden age of computer: the 1970s. The first process was created by Abhay Bhushan, and kept in use for several years, until a new protocol was written in the early 1980s. That protocol remains in place today and is the one used to facilitate FTP around the world. While various programs and directories come into play, the same basic protocol remains the same.

Special Programs

Believe it or not, almost all basic computers come with an FTP program built in, known as the "client." Most basic clients are functional, but can be slow. Downloading a more sophisticated FTP client can result in faster download times, but unless you're doing heavy file sharing, the basic client that came with your computer should suffice for your needs. Clients allow you to see, browse and read various files and directories and when you do choose to download specific files, they are saved and opened through the client, which can then be transferred to your hard drive.

Security Issues

One of the main issues FTP has faced in the past is a question of security. Users can either make directories public or password-protected, both of which have specific pros and cons. While making FTP directories private can offer some security, every person who needs access to the directory will need the password. Additionally, it's possible to accidentally download corrupt and sometimes dangerous files if you don't know or trust the directory author.

FTP Applications

Security issues aside, FTP can be a helpful tool when designing and building a website, particularly if you need to transfer a great deal of large files, such as sound clips, videos and pictures. With all files in a directory, others can simply go into the directory and pick and choose the files they want to download. This is especially ideal if you're copying files to a new website and don't want to find and download each file individually. Thanks to advances in speed and sharing, FTP is faster and more convenient than ever.

Whether you're building a website, moving to a new web or domain host, or simply need to download a large file, FTP is the way to go. It efficiently displays all the files you need in one place. Armed with the right client, you have the ability to download files remotely, which could mean an end to emailed files, countless flash drives and too much time sending and receiving files individually.

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How Secure is FTP Hosting?

From the time it was invented, FTP (File Transfer Protocol) has been used to move large files from one host to another by accessing the internet using an FTP hosting service.

This simple – and popular – tool has been the industry standard for moving files for decades. In 2011, FTP technology turned 40 years old, making it a dinosaur in the digital world. Since the technology was designed prior to the creation of encryption, FTP is not a secure protocol, especially by today's heavily regulated standards of security and compliance.

Since FTP is not able to encrypt its traffic, its key weakness is that all data is fully exposed. Data is transmitted in simple text, allowing anyone to unleash packet capture (sniffing) that can intercept your data. This sniffing uncovers text-based usernames, passwords and data commands, and with your files just sitting out on an unsecure server, almost anyone can access and share your data.

But even with inadequate security measures in FTPs native state, you can solve security issues. By using TLS-protected (Transport Layer Security) versions of FTP hosting services, you can feel confident that your data is safe and maintain a good relationship with your IT team and compliance group.

Here are two widely accepted and implemented secure protocols that you need to look for when looking for the best FTP host.

FTPS

FTPS is a secure version of FTP, but it comes in two flavors: FTPS Explicit SSL and FTPS Implicit SSL. Both utilize SSL encryption (Secure Sockets Layer), which is the most basic form of internet communication security.

FTPS Explicit SSL is an added command that allows your FTP client to request that the file transfer be encrypted before a connection is opened. This happens when an “AUTH LS” command is sent by the server that is accessing files from another server. The server receiving the command has the option to accept or reject the connection based on whether the files are TLS-protected. Simply put, it creates a checkpoint at the point of entry, and if your files do not comply with the security protocols, they are turned away. If proper protocol is in place, the connection is opened and the files are allowed to enter the server.

FTPS Implicit SSL is much simpler than Explicit SSL, and it establishes a secure connection before any data is exchanged. If the data is not being transferred over a secure connection, then the files are refused. This is where the security protocol ends. While still in limited use, the added security of the Explicit SSL has widely rendered FTPS Implicit SSL obsolete.

SFTP

SFTP (SSH File Transfer Protocol) has little to do with FTP other than that it is used to transfer files from one network to another – and that is where the similarity ends. This form of file transfer uses Secure Shell (SSH) to make the exchange, which provides built-in encryption for both data and commands. Unlike FTPS, which provides security solely through the connection, SFTP provides security on the data layer. In this respect, standard FTP clients are not able to communicate with an SFTP server, nor can an SFTP client communicate with an FTP-only server.

SFTP web hosting clients with graphical user interfaces are available for all major platforms, and they allow you to use the file transfer client as a drag and drop interface, giving you a desktop-like environment that you'll need to authenticate with a username and password set up by the host.

When seeking out and selecting an FTP hosting service, be certain you choose one that provides options for the best layer of encryption, but also works with your own internal infrastructure and security processes. This technology may be antiquated by today’s standards, but it continues to be a workhorse for many users who move data from one place to another.

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Cloud Hosting vs Shared Hosting - What's the Difference?

Perhaps we should begin with the three things that the two have in common: the web hosting provider, servers, and websites. Unfortunately, this is as far as the similarity goes. Whereas shared hosting can boast being the most popular of all the hosting plans, all its accolades fade when put against the new features that cloud hosting brings.

Key features we'll be looking out for include uptime, support, security, pricing, performance, speed, and bonuses. Each certainly fairs differently under each of these spaces and that's actually where the majority of the differences lie.

Although shared hosting has been part of web hosting history for the longest time, cloud hosting (or Cloud VPS) first came onto the web hosting scene in 1996. And since it came along, it has been gaining momentum. So let’s dissect the two, cloud hosting vs shared hosting, to see what sets them apart.

What Is Shared Hosting?

Shared hosting refers to the hosting plan that has multiple websites hosted together and sharing resources on one server (disk space, storage, bandwidth and databases etc). Most, if not all the web hosting providers offer this hosting plan. Shared hosting requires a dedicated web server provided by the web hosting provider. Advocates for shared hosting appreciate its cheap cost and ease of use when it comes to features. It is however not the best option for websites with a lot of traffic.

What Is Cloud Hosting?

Cloud hosting is whereby your website is hosted on a cluster of servers instead of having your site hosted on one server. In case of an issue, your site can be migrated to another server. Based on the cloud computing technology, it allows numerous machines to work in synchrony as one entity. The success of cloud hosting is guaranteed by the presence of many servers.

Proponents for cloud hosting love it for its speed and flexibility. In addition, engineers can quickly pull resources since high traffic is a norm for this hosting service. If you need more explanation about cloud hosting, please check out the following video:

Features of Cloud Vs Shared Web Hosting

Uptime

Shared hosting may guarantee 99.99% uptimes, however, it is challenging to live up to that. One major reason for this is the shared nature of the services. If one website experiences unprecedented high traffic could cause downtime issues with all the websites on that server.

Cloud hosting, on the other hand, has impeccable uptimes since the users are on a dedicated server. Even though there is an aspect of shared resources, problems on one server only mean websites are moved to another functioning server.

Support

Cloud hosting has an upper hand in this regard. Even the advanced users as well (those on cloud) tend to have more features. They have unlimited everything, from storage to bandwidth and databases.

Shared hosting is prone to more limits than the web host cares to divulge. Although the plan promises unlimited resources, if the monitoring team notices a user overusing the limited resources repercussions like suspensions can occur.

Bonuses

In this instance, shared hosting are clear winners. Since every web hosting company is trying to attract the huge client base of shared hosting, free bonuses abound for all. This can range from domain names to free web transfers and website builders. This is a plus for users on shared hosting.

Cloud users are not prone to such offers or have very limited options.

Benefits of Shared Web Hosting Vs Cloud Hosting

Security

Shared Hosting

In shared hosting, the security is based on databases and applications which make them vulnerable to hackers. This is because once one has access to one shared hosting server, it is easier to access the other websites on it. And once a website has been hacked into, most intruders leave a back door to gain entry again later.

Since the security threats on shared host are prevalent, most web hosts advise users to keep their computers safe using reliable update antiviruses like Norton Internet Security or Kaspersky Internet Security. They also advise on using strong passwords and keeping your cPanel password away from any files on your account. Also, disable unnecessary options on your PHP settings to enhance security.

Cloud Hosting

Cloud hosting security management deals with arising issues using security control. There are four major controls behind the architecture of cloud hosting security:

⇨ ​Deterrent controls

⇨ Preventative controls

⇨ Detective controls

⇨ Corrective controls.

While cloud hosting services encounter traditional security issues like network eavesdropping, illegal invasion, and cloud-specific ones like abuse of cloud services and side channel attacks, the service has clamped down on data confidentiality, data access control, and data integrity. On top of that, the hosting service has also incorporated encrypted algorithms to further protect privacy and data.

Winner

Cloud hosting – for the simple reason that the service provides the users absolute control when it comes to security by virtue of having dedicated servers. In case of problems with hardware, your website is migrated to a stable server.

Performance

Shared Hosting

Even with custom built servers and SSD servers, the resources on shared hosting are a limiting factor that impedes speed. Although there are companies that have done very well in this aspect, most web hosts struggle with being able to offer adequate resources for this popular segment of their clientele. In addition, you may have to contend with issues of constant downtimes and outages.

Cloud Hosting

With cloud hosting, you can expect an ultra-fast, auto scalable and customizable platform. In instances of high traffic, the site doesn’t bulge. In fact, cloud hosting is recommended for sites that experience a lot of traffic

Winner

Cloud hosting – having a lot more resources at the user’s disposal provides them with the ability to perform at optimum.

Speed

Shared Hosting

The servers powering shared hosting are almost always full to capacity. This means that if one website gets a sudden influx of traffic, all the other websites are afflicted with slow speeds which translates to terrible load times. In case of slow speeds, user have to wait until the issue is resolved to resume their normal online presence.

Cloud Hosting

Once again, it all comes down to the distribution of resources. Servers running cloud hosting , on the other hand, allocate all their resources to one website: yours! Whenever a hardware issue is detected, your website doesn’t stay stuck in the nonfunctional server.

Winner

Cloud hosting – the availability of resources means you have enough at your disposal to keep your website running at excellent speeds.

Pricing

Shared Hosting

Sharing server space always translates to cheap prices for all the website hosted. This is because while the resources are shared, the cost of the service is also spread out across all on board. With shared hosts, the payment is done on a monthly basis or locked down for a year to three years. In fact, to enjoy the lowest prices, you may need to lock down a longer period.

Cloud Hosting

Most users of cloud hosting will tell you that they don’t pay for services on cloud hosting when they are not using them. Having said that, the cost will come down to how you build your infrastructure. If you have numerous apps in your cloud and don’t keep track of them, you will end up with an expensive bill. However, if you have clearly mapped out objectives for your cloud that you are following, you will have a leaner cheaper bill.

Winner

Shared hosting – Since the payment is done on a monthly or yearly basis, you do not run the risk of overusing resources and paying more.

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An Introduction to Linux Web Hosting – Linux vs Windows Web Hosting

Introduction

Web hosting service providers offer two kinds of hosting: Linux hosting and Windows hosting. In general, Linux hosting refers to shared hosting, the most popular hosting service in the industry. In fact, most of the websites are now hosted using Linux hosting due to its affordable price and flexibility. Linux hosting is compatible with PHP and MySQL, which supports scripts such as WordPress, Zen Cart, and phpBB. Windows hosting, on the other hand, uses Windows as the servers' operating system and offers Windows-specific technologies such as ASP, .NET, Microsoft Access and Microsoft SQL server (MSSQL).

Searching for web hosting companies will return a variety of results, displaying the various types of web hosting plans available. You may have done this before and encountered a few Linux web hosting plans. I am sure most of your are familiar with the Linux operating system, but for those of you who are not, Linux is the leading alternative to the Windows operating system, and is used by many companies around the world.

LAMP

All Linux web hosting plans include the LAMP software bundle. LAMP stands for Linux-Apache-MySQL-PHP/Perl/Python. Apache is a widely used open-source, multi-platform web server. Most Linux hosting plans use Apache servers. MySQL is a database that provides multiple users access to several online databases that are used to comprise the data of a website or network of websites. Any webmaster trying to utilize advanced website design of any kind will need a database of some sort.

PHP/Perl/Python

PHP/Perl/Python are all programming languages used in the production of advanced web applications. Almost all Linux web hosting solutions support PHP, while Perl and Python are not fully supported by all web hosting service providers. In fact, few web hosting companies actually provide support for the Perl and Python languages.

Linux Hosting Vs Windows Hosting

Without knowing the difference it can be a difficult decision to choose between Windows and Linux -based web hosting. The fact is, there is no major visual difference between the two on the surface, and most average users would not even notice the difference at first glance. However, there are some fundamental differences between the two that could affect your ultimate decision. For example, if you’re planning on using any Microsoft applications and programming tools likes Visual C++, Frontpage, or ASP.Net, then you may want to consider Windows-based web hosting.

Security and Performance

As far as security is concerned, Linux web hosting is considered to be safer than Windows-based web hosting. Therefore users can expect greater reliability and more uptime when using a Linux  hosting service. Linux servers can also run for a very long time without the need for a reboot, whereas Windows servers need to reboot after almost every upgrade.

Price

The most noticeable difference between the two for the average consumer is price. Linux web hosting is generally cheaper than Windows web hosting. If you are looking for a cheap deal on web hosting combined with reliability then you should consider Linux web hosting. If you absolutely need Microsoft application functionality, then perhaps Windows-based web hosting would be best for you.

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Web Hosting Features

Before hosting a web site on a web server so that millions around the world can view your site, a lot of efforts is made to provide the site with a good content. Experts are hired to provide a good and meaningful content to a site. A meaningful content attracts a user and provides him the necessary information. Millions of dollars are spent so as to promote a site. To continuously get traffic to a site, various techniques are practiced.

Advertisements are posted on the websites, and the sites earn a large amount of money from these advertisements. Companies today pay quite a sum of money to increase the ranking of their site. Apart from advertisements and promotions, a quality web hosting server is a necessity. Web hosting is a technique that facilitates the servers to host the site.

There are a number of companies that provide web hosting facility to users. Some of them provide the service for free while others charge you. However, it is advisable that you select a paid web hosting service as you will be provided with customer service and uptime guarantee, which is not the case with service providers that provide the facility for free. Also, if a person requires saving a large number of images and graphics, a free service will not serve the purpose. There are various kinds of web hosting, they are:

* Reseller hosting
* E-mail hosting
* Clustered hosting
* Free hosting
* File hosting

Since there are several web hosting companies available, you should select the best web hosting service provider. Narrow down the number of service providers as per your need and budget. The most important point to be kept in mind is not to subscribe for the feature that you may not use. It is advisable that you read blogs and web hosting reviews on the Internet. It will give you a true picture of the quality of the services provided by web hosts service providers.
The sites give rankings to a number of service providers on the basis of the feedbacks provided by the users.

Other factors that must be considered while subscribing to a web service provider are:

* reputation
* server space
* control panel
* bandwidth
* script access

The service providers should be compared on the basis of their customer service support staff, traffic, price and space. The additional features differ from one provider to another. It is recommended that you select the company that suits your needs instead of selecting a top web hosting service provider that may or may not be affordable.

There is a very high possibility that you may face problems in the web hosting process. In such a case, only a company that provides 24 hour customer service will be useful. Server space and bandwidth should be considered as per your usage. It is important to choose a good quality web hosting service provider as it increases effectiveness of your organization.

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