What Is A Hosting Control Panel?

A hosting control panel is a tool that allows you to manage all aspects of a hosting service.

It allows you to do most of the complex system admin processes in just a few clicks from the admin interface.

You can even do advanced tasks such as server migrations, web server switching etc. in just a few clicks.

Earlier this was done manually and took a huge amount of time to set it all up where as it is just a matter of few minutes now.

There are different hosting control panel tools. The most popular ones are:

◈ cPanel
◈ Plesk

Here are some of the points that you should take into account before choosing a control panel.

◈ Easily manageable user interface.
◈ Platform independence
◈ Support and Forums.
◈ Features and Software support.
◈ Cost effectiveness.
◈ Stability and Security updates.

Easily Manageable User Interface

A control panel should provide an easily manageable user interface so that users can manage all aspects of their hosting easily.

Simplicity of the interface is very important, otherwise end users may get confused. Control panels should make system admin tasks simple so that even non-technical people can perform the tasks with the interface. cPanel is our preferred control panel option.

Platform Independence

Most of the control panels available online are built for Linux based servers.

If the website you built is coded in asp.net which works well with Windows systems, you need to choose a control panel that works in Windows servers.

As far as platform independence is concerned, Plesk is the most popular option. It works in Debian and RPM based Linux servers and also in Windows servers.

Support And Forums

Once a control panel is installed on a server, management of the services is done by the control panel itself and it is very important to have great support in case there are any issues.

Most the proprietary control panels offer support, but for the free panels, it is important to have an active forum where most of the topics related bugs and other errors are discussed since no support is available for 90% of the free open source panels.

Features And Software Support

It is essential that the control panel supports any required software or features you need to have installed on the server.

For example, Nginx with PHP-FPM web server setup doesn’t work well with cPanel. So you need to take into account the applications you are using are compatible with the control panel itself.

Cost Effectiveness

If you cannot afford to pay for a control panel go for a free one.

The most popular option is Virtualmin/Webmin.

If you do have a budget, go with a paid control panel which suits your needs and offers good tech support in case you ever need any help. The best options would be cPanel, Plesk and DirectAdmin.

Stability And Security Updates

Stability and security of the server is a very important factor that will affect your business if not maintained properly.

It is very important that the server and the control panel is stable and won’t cause unnecessary downtime to the users.

Also considering the fact that there are hackers and attackers everywhere, it is critical to update the patches and bugs and keep the server secure.

When choosing a control panel, make sure the panel is stable and security updates are available regularly.

These are the essential points to consider when you choose a control panel.

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4 Key Differences Between a Virtual Private Server & a Private Cloud

Some companies think virtual private servers and private clouds are the same thing, but these terms are not interchangeable. While the differences between virtual server hosting and private clouds might seem slim at first glance, it could mean all the difference in the world for businesses. Forbes predicts private clouds are going to end up being the next area of cloud computing focused on by businesses. Take a look at these key differences between VPS and private clouds, and for more info.

Cloud computing is actually about creating an IT supply chain. This is more fundamental than just an outsourced server.

Server Setup

A virtual private server is a single physical server, split up between a limited number of users. It is a similar hosting set-up to a shared server, where many user accounts are located on the same server. The main difference between these two server setups is that VPS accounts have fewer users per box, and the users get more control over their section of the server. Virtualization software divides the users from each other, although you’re not entirely isolated from being affected by other people on your server.

A private cloud uses distributed resources across multiple physical servers. The redundancy allows for a seamless transition to the other servers in a network in the event of a hardware failure or other issue. It’s similar to a RAID 5 hard drive setup. You see the resource as one server, but multiple systems are behind it.

Location

A major difference between a VPS and a private cloud is the location of the hardware. A virtual private server is generally hosted at an off-site, third-party web hosting provider. A private cloud is situated on site or at a data center you own. There are exceptions to this rule, however, as some cloud providers are offering hosted private clouds for users. These clouds use hardware that is solely for the use of that particular cloud and is not shared with other users.

Scalability

Cloud control panels are built with quick provisioning and deployment in mind. The process to get a new virtual server, database or other resource up and running typically takes only a few clicks through the administrative panel. A VPS requires you to upgrade your service manually, send in a support ticket to the provider, or call to get tech support to provide you with the resource needed, making a private cloud more convenient in this regard.

Cost

A private cloud is rather expensive in terms of hardware, as you have to shoulder the cost of the hardware, installation, set-up, and maintenance. This is lowered somewhat if you go with a hosted private cloud, but you don’t have the same level of control on a hosted cloud as you do with your own, on-site option. A virtual private server is vastly less expensive and even cheaper than dedicated server hosting. If cost is an issue, the VPS wins out every time.

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Cloud Hosting or Dedicated Server Hosting

The rate at which the cloud industry is flourishing in today’s IT world, the choice of cloud hosting vs dedicated server has become an eternal topic of discussion. There are literally thousands of forums, discussion boards and blogs on the Internet that are discussing this in lengths; most of them being one-sided (no points for guessing that they're in favor of cloud hosting on accounts of its numerous benefits).

But, I wanted to do a brief neutral comparison without being biased towards the cloud hosting… So, let us also kick-start the comparison with the basics of these technologies.

Cloud Computing

This is perhaps the next big thing in the hosting world; it is comparatively new, but definitely has the high potential of becoming the sole solution to data storage and hosting in near future. In this case, the server is outsourced and is run on virtualized software. There are a very large number of data centers that are running on servers in virtualized environment. Therefore, a single server essentially produces many instances of virtual servers. To a user, these appear like nothing but dedicated servers; however, in reality, they actually run on a large number of different servers. So, it basically is like a dedicated server, but the user obviously does not know what hardware his/her server is currently running on.

Dedicated Server

This is the traditional, reliable and highly recommendable way of hosting just about anything, be it highly interactive websites, web apps or anything else. It follows a simple protocol in which, a user buys/leases a server from a provider and pays monthly charges.

A basic server costs in the range of $50 to $100 per month, and the cost goes up depending upon the features that are offered as a part of the package.

Once you purchase one of these, there normally is a waiting (set-up) time required for installation… And, the server is actually set-up by somebody, as opposed to cloud hosting, wherein just an instance is created in the cloud, and the user can access it within a matter of few minutes, since the time needed for setting up an instance is obviously far lesser than time needed for setting up a complete web server.

Cost Differences

Monthly cost for dedicated servers may range from $100 to $1,000 depending upon the packages. It can actually start even at $50 but such configurations are usually not that useful; the billing of a standard dedicated server normally starts at around $100. In the case of cloud computing, it basically is about how much you use.

You only get charged for the amount of storage and the time for which you use the storage. The minimum billing normally starts at $50, and there's no upper limit of course because you're billed at “pay-as-you-use” model. The best part about cloud storage is that there is nothing that is capped like dedicated servers. Whether it is data store cost or data transfer cost, a user is charged only for what he or she uses on the cloud.

Performance

Performance-wise both of them are quite comparable.

Dedicated servers are as fast as their cloud counterparts; however, there is something called "dirty" instance in the case of dedicated servers. It is quite normal to see a computer slowing down over a period of time due to too many unwanted program files and temp files running on the server. This can actually be the same even with cloud servers but here you have the ability to switch to a new instance leaving a “dirty” instance behind, cleaning up that machine without interrupting things, and then moving back to the same machine in a hassle-free manner.

Reliability

The biggest difference is, of course, the reliability aspect… Since data is stored and retrieved from multiple machines on the cloud, even if one of the servers crashes down unexpectedly, your website/web app won't go down, and you may just experience some performance issues and a slowdown in the pace of execution.

However, in the case of a dedicated server, there's no such possibility of a backup kicking in, and your website/web app directly goes on in the case of a server crash, and there is no interim solution available until the server is repaired, and gets up-and-running again.

Virtual private servers, of course, offer a midway solution between the two and offer the benefits of a dedicated server at a significantly lower price.

So, after reading the good and bad about dedicated server hosting as well as cloud hosting, I reckon, it'd be quite easy to make a choice, but I’d still like to hear the opinion of readers – what do you reckon? Do you also suggest cloud all the way or is there something that still keeps you interested in dedicated servers?

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What is Blog Hosting?

Blog Hosting is one type of web hosting. Weblogs, more often referred to as Blogs, are websites that feature frequent updates and ongoing chronicle of information  in the form of individual entries or posts. In fact, what you are reading right now is a blog post from us! With the vast variety of different blog hosting options available on the market nowadays, getting your blog set up can often seem like a stressful and overwhelming task. Fret not and read on, for we have simplified it into a mere few steps to make it easier for you to grasp!

Blog Hosting Features

Blog Hosting has everything to do with the features that allow you to install and/or use a blog-software such as WordPress, b2evolution,Typepad, Nucleus or any other blog-software. These features will include

◈ Scripting support (ie. PHP)
◈ Database support (ie. MySQL)
◈ Ample amounts of storage and bandwith space
◈ Easy one-click installations (ie. Fantastico)

Choosing A Blog Host

The first few baby steps in choosing a blog host of your preference is deciding whether you want your blog to run on free web hosting or if you want to invest in a reliable paid blog hosting provider. If you are creating a personal blog to just pen your thoughts down or keep in touch with your family and friends, a free blog hosting service would most likely be sufficient for your needs. Free blog hosts such as WordPress.com, offer basic and non complicated interfaces that make it simple for people with limited technical skills to start blogging. There is no need for script installation or database configuration as the blog software is all setup and ready for you. Unfortunately, most free blog hosting options only provide a very limited selection of templates and layouts for your blog – on top of that, you won’t be able to remove ads from the site.

For bloggers who are hoping to monetize their blogs, your best best is to invest in reliable and paid blog hosting. With a paid account, you will have your own personal domain and greater options for customising your blog. Should you choose to join ad networks and place ads on your blog, you will be the one who keeps the income generated. Furthermore, paid hosting makes it able for your website to accommodate larger amounts of traffic. Many paid blog hosting providers offer easy one-click installation for major blog softwares, so you can easily get your blog up and running in just a mere few clicks.

WordPress

One of the great things about WordPress, our blog hosting software of choice, is that you are able to make use of hundreds of plugins, both free and paid. With WordPress, you can extend your site and nearly anything that can be done within a website, such as a static website, a forum, a photo gallery, a food blog, job boards, an eCommerce site and so much more!

In summary, Blog Hosting, when broken down into a few simple steps, is something really quite simple to understand. We always recommend using utilising reliable paid hosting as it gives you 24/7 support should any issues crop up with you blog, and allows you to customise your blog with bespoke designs and personal touches. All in all, when choosing what type of blog hosting you want to use, always ensure that you know exactly what the purpose and targeted goals for your blog are, then choose accordingly!

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What is PHP in Web Hosting?

PHP in web hosting is a server-side computer language used to configure the display and functionality of web pages. The term “PHP” is an acronym for the term “PHP Hypertext Preprocessor.” The PHP language is open source and free to use, unlike proprietary web programming languages, such as ASP and C#. Proprietary languages must be interpreted by licensed server software, such as Windows Server, whereas PHP runs on open source servers, such as Apache. However, PHP can also run on proprietary web servers as well. PHP code pages can be identified by the “.php” file extension, according to PHP.net.

Many of the open source web applications, such as WordPress, Joomla and Drupal are written in the PHP language. Additionally, open source ecommerce packages like OSCommerce and Zen Cart are written with PHP code. In short, the majority of web pages on the Internet are most likely programmed using PHP.

PHP vs. HTML

With server-side scripting langugages like PHP, the source code is processed on the server. This means that the code is not exposed to the end user like with HTML and other web programming languages. However, PHP code pages may include segments of HTML, CSS or other compatible languages. HTML pages can also include snippets of PHP to provide server-side functionality that HTML code cannot accomplish, such as querying or saving records to a database.

What Can PHP Do?

PHP code can authenticate users and track their history on a website. PHP can also perform complex calculations. The language can interpret what type of device on which the page is displayed, and then display a version of the page that best fits the device screen. PHP code pages can send and recieve cookies. Forums, blogs and other interactive web pages that thread conversations between users can be programmed with the PHP language. XML pages can also be served using PHP. The language also enables the programmer to alter the appearance of graphics on the fly. Programmers can resize, rotate and even alter the color of graphics using PHP coding, such as those displayed on CAPTCHA verifications. Create an entire interactive, fully functional website exclusively with PHP code.

PHP pairs nicely with MySQL, an open source database package that is popular and available for free with most Linux-based web hosting plans. You can even store the PHP code of a website in a database, and then retrieve the code as requested by end users. This is known as serving dynamic page content. WordPress and other popular web applications written in PHP operate using the dynamic page content model.

Though most PHP programmers will us MySQL because it is an open source database, PHP is compatible with a wide range of databases, including Oracle and Microsoft Access and SQL Server.

PHP.net

PHP.net is the support center and knowledge base for PHP coders. Whether you are learning PHP as a beginner, or you need to quickly find a reference for a particular function, PHP.net is the go-to source.

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ICANN Defends New Domain Name Procedure

ICANN has been strongly defending the newly approved proposal to introduce thousands of new Internet domain names. The California-based nonprofit was recently attacked by the Association of National Advertisers (ANA) in a letter expressing fervent concerns with the new policy. As a result, ICANN has publicly defended the process and policy.

Association of National Advertisers

The ANA consists of major U.S. corporations such as Apple, Home Depot and Verizon who raised many issues with the most critical being that the trademark owners are required to defend their brands as a result of the introduction of so many new domain names and extensions. They indicated that the expense to conduct such a task will be extraordinary.

Opposition of the New System

Furthermore, the association argues that many companies will be compelled to apply for the all new top-level domains related to their business at $185,000 per domain name. Additionally, the ANA claims ICANN is failing to follow its own rules by requiring that its policies are to be adopted through a bottom-up consensus process. Therefore, the organization has called on ICANN to withdraw the proposal or work in conjunction with trademark owners to revise it.

ICANN’s Response

ICANN sent a written response to the ANA that noted Internet stakeholders have had ample time to comment on the new proposal. Also, they stated that many of the suggestions proposed by the ANA were included in the final proposal, approved June 2011.

Statement from the CEO

The CEO of ICANN quantified that the declarations in the statement from ANA were problematic in several ways with the most sever mischaracterizations regarding the ICANN approval process. The domain name process has been developed over six years of implementation planning and policy. There have been a variety of significant actions taken to find equilibrium amongst all vested parties while protecting them.

He additionally stated that ICANN will vigorously defend the model while defending its duty to act in accordance with the established bottom-up process. Additionally, this covers the broad public interest of the entire global Internet community as opposed to the interests of specific parties or groups.

ICANN knew once the process was released to the public and commercial entities that they would be vigorously defending it to ensure its implementation. Although there are only several months until the registration officially opens, there will definitely be additional controversies that are publicly announced.

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File Hosting vs. Cloud Computing

In an age when digital file sharing has become the norm among businesses and individuals alike, it's easy to get swept away with catchphrases like "cloud computing" and "file hosting." These buzzwords often get people excited about products they don't fully understand. Many people assume that file hosting and cloud services are interchangeable; what they don't realize is that each comes with a set of pros and cons, and each actually differ in a few key ways. The following guide outlines the benefits and drawbacks to file hosting services and cloud storage networks.

File Hosting vs. "The Cloud"

For starters, file hosting services provide a broad range of services to businesses, including building an intranet and managing an overall internal network. These services have existed for decades, ever since businesses turned to the Internet for storage solutions and project management. Conversely, cloud computing is a relatively new phenomenon that many traditional hosting services claim as their own. In reality, cloud computing has an even broader scope, meaning that it connects with all aspects of a company’s software and computing to provide file sharing across a huge spectrum. If people think of a cloud as a literal cloud, or nebulous entity, then it will help them to understand the difference. File hosting is more localized and focused on an internal basis of getting everyone in an office complex on the same page. Cloud computing goes beyond this.

File Sharing: Pros & Cons

Pros: File sharing allows businesses the option of a personalized team of experts handling a specific network. For smaller companies, file sharing makes more practical and fiscal sense in that they can choose a platform that works for them without paying for extra unnecessary services. Because file sharing is an industry standard among IT personnel, companies won’t have as much trouble fixing problems when they arise.

Cons: File sharing is limited in its scope, which is why cloud computing came about in the first place. Businesses may think they’re getting a comprehensive sharing solution only to discover that the hosting site doesn’t work between servers and software. For example, Microsoft Outlook often has trouble connecting with Mozilla Firefox, so companies that utilize these services may have issues.

Cloud Computing: Pros & Cons

Pros: Cloud computing works across all platforms because it is not a locally stored piece of technology but rather an intangible network of shared information. While it shares some characteristics with its file sharing predecessor, cloud computing takes the information to the next level by offering practically unlimited space depending on the services a business chooses.

Cons: Cloud computing offers somewhat of a risk due to its nature of being intangible. Many businesses who choose to utilize a cloud computing site take a chance by hosting their entire network on something that is remotely monitored. In lieu of hiring IT professionals, some companies may rely solely on their cloud computing company to handle their technical snafus, only to discover that they need a real person with working knowledge to solve some issues.

Some argue that the major con for both file sharing and cloud computing is the shift away from IT staff entirely, which causes a company to spend more money over time fixing problems that a trained technician should handle. Still, cloud computing and file sharing provide many benefits to businesses, large and small, that want to get more work done easily and efficiently. With customer integration and customizable plans, some businesses would do well to choose either type of remote network capabilities to save money on costly project management software packages. As technology continues to develop, more cloud-based computing will inevitably supersede traditional means.

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5 Most Important Features of Shared Web Hosting Explained

Shared web hosting is the most popular hosting solution purchased from hundreds of web host companies all over the world. The sheer size of the huge market of shared solutions often causes problems to customers since most people purchasing shared plans are new to web technologies, and usually do not know what to pay look for when choosing a good hosting package.

How to Choose Proper Web Hosting Package

Web hosting is a complex of functions and hardware features; thus, you need to understand some technical processes in order to find for a proper solution. The system is not complicated at all—you just have to keep in mind that the abundance of unlimited features awarded by a certain web host does not mean that their shared plan is exactly what you need. Of course, it would be great if you could just consult a web master who would explain what features you will need for this or that online project. If you don't have that option, read on to understand some key facts about shared hosting plans and choose a proper solution.

Key Features of Shared Hosting

Here are five most relevant features included into shared hosting packages:

The Essentials: Disk Space & Traffic

Let's start with the basics. When you want to host a website on the web, you need some disk space that will be used for things like different code files, databases, and media. That's when you need a certain amount of disk space. Logically, the smaller your website is, the less importance this feature has. Now that you have hosted some files and made them into a website, you will want users to access that data. That's when bandwidth comes in. Imagine a tunnel: the wider the tunnel is, the more information can pass through it. Bandwidth works the same way. Many web hosts offer unlimited bandwidth but restrict traffic speed, which can also influence the performance of your website. Pay attention to bandwidth and traffic speed when searching for a good shared plan. Again, the bigger your website will be, the more disk space you will need. Additional hard drive security is very good, but typically this feature is not included in shared packages.

Uptime

Uptime is the time when your website works online and when users can access the site without any problems. It is usually measured in percentages from the total expected uptime (twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week). Of course, it depends if your website has to be online one hundred percent of the time.. Normally, if you purchase shared hosting, your project is not too big, so you don't really need 100% uptime. In such cases, the level of 98% is common. When choosing a hosting plan, do not pay much attention to what companies say about their uptime-- they only use best servers for their company website while you may get a worse one. Still, if you want to know the actual online rate, use some independent web projects to measure this number for you; likewise, you can check out some forums or ask you friends for advice. You also have to pay attention to different security features included in the plan, which will ensure better safety for your server. Be aware that most web host companies do not include pricey security options into cheap shared plans (for example, your server will be more secure if the package includes RAID, server backup, manual server restart, advanced network architecture, or other similar services).

Support

Support is extremely important. If you are new to web hosting, support will be your eyes, hands, and everything else. That's why we advise that you browse the web and check different reviews for information about support of your web host candidates. Also browse through forums where users discuss web hosting to give you an insider’s review. Why is support so important? When making your first steps in hosting management, you will have many questions, and many of them will require immediate answers--that's why the working speed of customer support is so crucial.

Pre-Installed Apps

Many web host companies include so many additional features into their shared plans that it's becomes a giant mess. They will offer some unlimited options, pre-installed apps, extra-fee services, and the like. Concentrate on the pre-installed apps, which are special widgets that help you create a website quickly and manage it more efficiently. One of the most basic apps is the control panel. If your shared plan includes a control panel, you can breathe a sigh of relief. Life gets much easier with one, as you will be able to control the most complicated server processes through a very convenient interface. The most popular control panel is cPanel, but some web hosts of will offer you an alternative — Zpanel, Webmin, Virtualmin, or even their own customized control panel (which is not always so good as it sounds). Now, most control panels have some apps and add-ons pre-installed, so you can switch some important functions on with only one click, like eCommerce tools such as payment instruments or shopping carts. You can also have a CMS like WordPress or Joomla available for quick automatic installation. Note that all those extras are only reasonable if you need them. If you have someone make you a promo website or a portfolio, most of those features are not necessary.

Free Bonuses

Finally, we get to the sweetest thing about shared plans. Since the market of shared web hosting is so big, different companies try to attract more clients by offering free bonuses. Some of them will offer a free domain name, website transfer, site-building tools, or some other nice features. Of course, this great and convenient, so the more free bonuses you get, the better the deal. When it comes to free bonuses, the main item that needs your attention is the so-called “renewal fees.” What happens here is that the company will grant you the first year of domain usage free, but later on you will have to pay yearly fees. As always, examine the user agreement thoroughly if a company offers you free features. Choosing a shared package is very subjective. You have to spend some time considering the requirements for your website so that you know what features are priorities and what features are non-essentials. Remember to keep pricing and reliability at the forefront.Your web host must have a good reliability-price ratio.

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Benefits and limitations of e-commerce

E-commerce has revolutionized the concept of conducting business by providing equal chance to all the businesses to mark their global presence. It has also eased the customers with online shopping and easy transactions. With the introduction of e-commerce business, communication has become effortless and has also changed a lot in recent years for the better. Still, there are people who think that conventional business practices are far better then the e-commerce business. Here, we are bringing you some of the benefits and limitations of e-commerce that will make you aware of the certain aspects of this new trend of conducting business.

Benefits:-

Expands the reach of your business to the global market :- The foremost advantage of e-commerce is that it empowers the business to reach the global market. E-commerce caters to the demands of national as well as international business simultaneously and brings your business activities out of geographical boundaries. With e-commerce, even small businesses get the access to the global market.

◈ Round the clock availability :- E-commerce has abolished time restrictions on business activities because with this you can execute business transactions 24X7. The time factor significantly turns into the increment in sales as well as profits.

◈ Gives freedom to make choices :- It also gives customers an opportunity to look for cheaper and better quality products. With e-commerce, consumers can search the specific product or service they require and can even find the direct manufacturer from where they can purchase products at comparatively less price. Shopping online is time saving and convenient. In addition to it, you also get to see the reviews of other consumers that will help you in making beneficial purchase decision.

◈ Cost effective : - E-commerce is proved to be highly cost effective for business concerns as it cuts down the cost of marketing, processing, inventory management, customer care etc. It also reduces the burden of infrastructure required for conducting business. You can also collect and manage the information related to the customers efficiently, which in turn will assist you in developing efficient promotional strategy.

Limitations:- 

◈ Technological and inherent limitations :- The technological limitations of e-commerce have restricted a large number of people from using this revolutionizing technique. The major disadvantage of e-commerce is the limitation of the Internet, as it still has not touched the lives of every individual. Lack of knowledge restricts large number of people from using the internet and understanding online transactions. Some people refuse to trust the legitimacy of online business and some are not comfortable about disclosing their personal and confidential information online. Authenticity of e-commerce businesses has always remained in question.

◈ Not suitable for perishable commodities :- The biggest limitation of e-commerce is that it is not suitable for perishable goods and food items. For purchasing such items people prefer the conventional way of shopping. Along with that, the time period also plays a significant role in delivering goods to the customers. Customers may need to make lot of phone calls and e-mails for getting the products within the desired timeframe. Moreover, it becomes really troublesome to return the product or get refund in case if you are not satisfied with the product.

After evaluating the pros and cons of e-commerce, we can clearly state that the benefits of e-commerce are sufficient enough for overpowering the limitations. If apt strategies are followed and technical issues are addressed properly, you can easily build up the customers trust in your system. The present scenario of e-commerce can also be changed for good, so that it can easily adapt to the ever changing needs of the customers as well as of the world.

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Domain Name System (DNS) Uses, Features, Advantages and Disadvantages

DNS translates Internet domain & host names to IP addresses and vice versa, It can convert the names of domain we type in our Web browser address bar to IP addresses of web servers hosting those sites, Larger corporations use DNS to manage their own company intranet, Home networks use DNS when accessing the Internet but do not use it for managing the names of home computers.

DNS (Domain Name System)

DNS stands for Domain Name Service, It acts as a look-up table which allows the correct servers to be contacted when the user enters the URL into the Web browser, This transparent service offers the other features which are commonly used by the webmasters to organize their data infrastructure.

DNS runs on DNS servers, When the user enters the URL, such as www.google.com, into the Web browser, The request is not directly sent to the Google servers, Instead, the request goes to the DNS server, that uses a look-up table to determine several pieces of information, most importantly the IP address of the website that is being requested, Then it forwards this request to the proper servers & returns the information requested to the user’s web browser.

DNS is the hierarchical naming system for the computer systems, the services or for any resources participating in the internet, Many information with domain names is assigned to each of the participants, It can translate the names of the domain into the binary identifiers that are associated with the equipment of the network to locate & address these devices.

How DNS works

DNS is the client/server network communication systems, DNS clients send the requests to and receive the responses from DNS servers, The requests containing the name, which result in an IP address being returned from the server, they are called forward DNS lookups, The requests containing IP address & resulting in the names that are called the reverse DNS lookups.

DNS contains support for caching the requests & for redundancy, Most network operating systems support configuration of primary, secondary and tertiary DNS servers, each of which can service initial requests from clients & it was designed to avoid a single large central database.

DNS Advantages

Domain Name System (DNS) is the centralized mechanism for resolving / giving the IP addresses for a given domain name, It is the system that helps you to find the website using your internet browser, When you click on your internet browser ( Internet Explorer, Safari, Firefox etc. ), You will be able to type the name of the website.

It is the only system of its kind that will allow you to browse & use the internet, Its use is necessary for most companies & the people across the world, Without this system it would be impossible for the people to access the internet & the internet has become an essential part of our society.

You do not need to memorize numbers, The domain names make / give a kind of sense to hyper the links when the name is given instead of a string of numbers, It is easy for categorizing, archiving & helping the search engines.

DNS enables you to specify the technical functionality of the database service, It can define the DNS protocol, the detailed specification of the data structures & the data communication exchanges used in the DNS, DNS is used as a form of load balancing or an additional layer of security.

Host-names & IP addresses are not required to match in a one-to-one relationship, Multiple host-names may correspond to a single IP address, that is useful in virtual hosting, in which many web sites are served from a single host, a single host-name may resolve to many IP addresses to facilitate fault tolerance & load distribution to multiple server instances across an enterprise or the global Internet.

DNS can enhance the security of your DNS infrastructure, It can allow the dynamic secure updates, It is more reliable, It can deliver the messages to the users with zero downtime, It is faster, It is connected well at intersections of internet, It enables the requests to be answered to the next closest node in the case of maintenance or downtime, It is smarter & It offers the automatic corrections of typos.

DNS Disadvantages

The hierarchial & centralized which breaks down the main objective of Internet which is designed to be a decentralized system, ICANN can control the DNS root registry that is a non profit private organization with ties to one specific nation & challenges the concept of net neutrality.

The breakdown of Domain Name System will crash the world wide web although there are many root servers & backup servers targetting DNS servers at particular key locations will do lot of harm, Spoofing DNS would lead to lot of crucial/private data ending up in wrong hands.

If the server or computer breaks then the web-page hosted by the server or computer cannot run, DNS issues can be difficult to troubleshoot due to its geographical & distributed nature, The clients can connect to their local network when DNS is broken, but they will be unable to reach the remote devices by their name.

DNS queries do not carry any information about the client that triggered the name resolution, The service-side DNS server knows only the network address of the DNS server that asks about the service location.

What is a DNS Server ?

The DNS server is the computer server which contains the database of public IP addresses & their associated host-names, It translates those common names to IP addresses as requested, DNS servers run special software & communicate with each other using special protocols.

The domain name system servers are the computers which host domain names & website information, So, when you type the website into your internet web-page, you are linking to another computer that holds all the information of the website you are looking for.

The servers link into the root computers across the world then collate internet websites & They allow the internet to run effectively, The other names for the DNS server include the name server & domain name system server.

DNS servers help the standard Internet users to use Internet resources without having to remember port numbers & IP addresses, Even similar services, such as different areas of the website may be hosted at different IP addresses for security reasons.

There are two DNS servers which are the primary & the secondary server, They are automatically configured on your computer when connecting to your ISP via DHCP, You can use two DNS servers, if one of them fails, So, the device will use the secondary server.

DNS servers disadvantages

When the DNS server can not find the correct IP address, The website will not load, As the computers communicate via IP addresses & not host-names, The computer doesn’t know what you’re trying to reach unless it can use an IP address.

If the malware changed your DNS server settings, entering the same URL might take you to a completely different website or to the website that looks like your bank website but really isn’t, It may record your username & password, giving the scammers all the information they need to access your bank account.

Malwares hijack some DNS servers to redirect the popular websites to ones that are full of the advertisements or fake virus websites that make you think you have to buy the program to clean the infected computer.

You should install an antivirus program so that malicious programs are caught before they can do any damage, You have to be aware of how the website looks, or you’re getting an invalid certificate message in your browser, it might be a sign that you’re on an imitation website.

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What is Cloud hosting? How it Works

Basically, this means that your website uses the virtual resources of several servers to accommodate all the aspects of hosting your site. The load is balanced, security is taken care of and hardware resources are available virtually so they can be used when needed. The cluster of servers is the cloud.

The term Cloud hosting origins from Cloud computing, where two and more computers are connected in a system. The servers included in this system are not simply bundled, processing different tasks, they are collaboratively processing redundant tasks and storing data parallel, which guarantees the security of your data and the flawless experience for your users or website visitors. Connected together they share resources and thus can act as a supercomputer. Cloud hosting today is based on the most innovative hosting technologies available right now and allows your files stored and your websites to be hosted on unlimited number of machines that act as one system.

The infrastructure is not limited to a singe server or data center as in the traditional hosting. In Cloud hosting the web hosting services like files storage, ftp, mail services run on many different servers. This separation ensures that if there is a failure in one device this will not cause a failure in the entire service.

In the Cloud there is an option to integrate additional resources if needed. RAM, disc space or bandwidth etc. can be added with few clicks and dismissed when no longer needed without financial loss. Thus Cloud hosting can be defined as a web hosting solution that provides resources on demand. It is dynamically scalable and customizable according to the needs of the customer. No large investments are required. Unnecessary resources can be removed without any cancellation or further fees.

How it Works

Public Cloud

Most examples of cloud hosting involve the use of public cloud models; hosting on virtual servers that pull resource from a pool of other publicly available virtual servers

The same public networks are used to transmit their data; data which is physically stored on the underlying shared servers which form the cloud resource

These public clouds will include some security measure to ensure that data is kept private, and would suffice for most installations

Private Cloud

Private clouds are more suitable where security and privacy is more of a concern

Private clouds use ring-fenced resources, such as servers and networks, whether located on site or with the cloud provider

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7 Benefits of SSD Hosting Over HDD Hosting

If you’ve been shopping around for web-hosting, you’ve probably seen one of these two acronyms on nearly every host you’ve looked at:

SSD and HDD

These three letter abbreviations represent two different types of storage disks on any web hosting company. For you, it’s important to understand which type of Hard disk your hosting company is offering you & which one is better among: SSD & HDD.

While both are a viable means of storing files, SSD hosting has some very significant advantages when compared with HDD hosting.

In this post, I’ll tell you what these acronyms actually mean and why you should always choose SSD hosting over HDD hosting whenever possible.

SSD vs HDD – What’s the Difference?

HDD stands for “hard disk drive”.

It represents the older style hard drive where an actual physical disk spins around inside and stores your data. That means that in order to access data, there’s always a slight delay while the physical disk spins.

They’ve been around forever, and up until a few years ago were used in pretty much every computer. But, with the invention of more affordable and larger capacity SSDs, that trend has started to shift.

SSD stands for “solid state drive”.

Unlike an HDD, there’s no physical disk spinning inside. The data is all stored on microchips.

Because there are no moving parts, an SSD can load data much faster than an HDD.

What are the advantages of  Solid State Drive (SSD Hosting)

When it comes to comparing SSD Vs. HDD hosting, it’s not much of a battle. Solid state drives offer significant benefits & advantages when compared with hard disk drives. The only real area where hard disk drives are superior is the price per GB of storage, but even that gap is decreasing every day.

In the below section I have highlighted all the benefits of SSD over HDD hosting:

1. Faster Hosting Speeds

Because solid state drives are just generally faster than hard-disk drives, the major benefit of SSD hosting is faster site speed. Because your drive can serve up data faster, your site will consequently load faster (as long as there aren’t any external bottlenecks like slow internet speeds).

Because page speed is a Google ranking factor and affects everything from user experience to conversion rates, this benefit can actually make your site significantly more successful.

2. Better Data Security

Because hard disk drives rely on physical spinning, they’re far more prone to mechanical failure than solid state drives. And if a drive fails, you’re at risk for data loss. Hosting providers try to mitigate this flaw with HDDs by using RAID backup system (Redundant Array of Inexpensive Disks), but the risk still remains to an extent.

And while an effective backup strategy can further mitigate your risk, it’s still much nicer to not have to worry about your primary drive. In addition to generally having longer lifespans, SSDs are also more resistant to physical damage like bumps or drops.

For anyone who cares about their data, website, selecting a hosting company that offers SSD is a smart choice.

3. Executes Requests Faster

Unlike hard disk drives, solid state drives can read and write data at the same time. This means they can execute web requests faster than hard disk drives which will lead to a better hosting performance, especially for request-heavy sites. Faster read/write times can also lessen your server’s CPU reliance, which frees up server resources.

4. Better For Database Intensive Uses Like eCommerce or Forums

If you’re running a database intensive site (which many WordPress & eCommerce sites are), you’ll experience some of the best performance improvements by choosing SSD hosting over HDD.

Because the hard drive is typically the limiting factor on a database or I/O intensive site, any improvements to hard drive speed will massively improve the website’s performance.

5. Lower Power Usage – More Friendly to the Environment

Solid state drives typically only use about 20% of the power needed for spinning hard disk drives. When scaled up over hundreds of servers, this is a huge savings in power.

So, if you care about the environment and lowering electricity consumption, you’ll definitely want to choose SSD hosting.

6. More Reliable Performance Because No Fragmentation

Because solid state drives don’t experience data fragmentation like hard disk drives, they’re able to offer more reliable performance. SSDs always know exactly where the needed data is, unlike HDDs.

7. SSDs Are Decreasing in Cost

This one isn’t entirely a benefits, because solid state drives do still cost more than hard disk drives for the same storage capacity. But that gap is lessening every day. It’s now possible to get budget shared hosting plans using SSD for pretty much the same price as HDD hosting.

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