Colocation vs Managed Hosting

If you’ve ever registered a domain name, the registrar probably offered to host your website for a small fee. Or maybe you signed up with a third-party hosting company, either one of the ‘free website hosting’ vendors or one that charges a fee, and received an ‘account’ with which you could create or upload your website content, set up email boxes, and so on? In either case, what you received was a Managed Hosting account. Simply put, this means that the hosting provider ‘managed’ everything that was required to give you an online presence for your website – the hardware (web server and networking equipment), software (web server and email software, site creation software), the internet backbone connection, maintenance, upgrades, backups, and so on. Once signed up, all you had to do was create your web pages, set up your email boxes, and order any other additional services you wanted.

Windows HyperV Virtualization Architecture

Incidentally, the above scenario described a typical shared hosting account – which just means that many customers such as yourself shared space and resources on a single server, which has been designed to host multiple accounts simultaneously. An alternative to this is a dedicated hosting account, often referred to as a dedicated server, or in some cases, a virtual private server. As with shared hosting, your provider owns and manages the hardware, and takes care of all the infrastructure details (networking and internet connectivity), backups and maintenance. But in this case, the entire server is dedicated for just your use. Typically, the software installed on the server will allow you to host more than one website, and often you are allowed some control over how the server itself functions, which is NOT the case with shared accounts. There are variations in between shared and dedicated hosting – offerings called ‘virtual dedicated’ and ‘reseller shared’ and so on, but suffice to say that they are all different forms of Managed Hosting.

Servers racked in a data cabinet

Colocation is a very different animal. With colocation, you purchase and own both the hardware (servers) and software that will host your web presence, AND you are responsible for properly setting up and configuring both. Depending upon your needs, you may also purchase a network device or two (switch, router, firewall, vpn appliance, etc) to manage traffic in and out of your servers. Usually these are not sold to you by the colocation provider, nor do they dictate what you can or cannot buy – you are free to choose the combination that best fits your needs. Once ready, you install your equipment at the colocation provider’s data center. They may provide assistance with this, but normally this is your responsibility. They provide you with space in a data cabinet in their facility, power for your equipment, IP addresses for your use (or a cross-connect to a dedicated carrier if you are bringing your own bandwidth), and an uplink port for you to connect your equipment to their network, which leads to the Internet. The better facilities are staffed 24/7, and will offer some basic support on request, but you are responsible for the upkeep of your equipment, and will be allowed physical access whenever you need it. The colocation provider is responsible for the security and upkeep of the facility, so that the space, power and bandwidth that they provide you are not compromised.

Let’s take a moment to discuss ‘bandwidth’ a bit more – part of any online presence is that all-important pathway to the Internet. With managed hosting, Internet bandwidth is an integral part of the offering, with the only questions being how much initial bandwidth you need, rates for overages, etc. In the case of colocation, bandwidth may not be automatically included in the provider’s offering. Many colocation providers have a ‘house’ bandwidth offering, which will typically be a blend of two or more major Internet traffic carriers, that they can deliver to you colo space at a reasonable cost. For many colocation projects, the house offering may be all that is needed. Colocation data centers will typically have several major carriers ‘on-Net’, meaning that the carriers have active service already present in the facility. If you prefer to get service from one of these carriers, either instead of, or in addition to, the facility house blend, you can order service directly from the carrier, then get a network cross-connect from the facility that will deliver the carrier bandwidth to you colo space. Depending upon the types of services and amount of bandwidth needed, one option may be more affordable or make more overall sense than the other – something that you must determine.

As you can see, Colocation is much more of a hands-on, do-it-yourself solution, as opposed to Managed Hosting. It’s called ‘colocation’ because you act like you own managed host, co-locating your equipment in a data center, instead of, say, trying to host it yourself from your home or office internet connection.

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6 Steps to Explain How DNS Works

Surfing is the most common activity of people worldwide. We just type keywords or our favorite websites in URL(Uniform Resource Locator) to find our desirable webpage. However, it’s also interesting to know the processes behind your PC. A process which in tenths of a second pop up the page you look for. Computers and servers don’t detect our alphabetical language. Instead they have a numerical language through which they connect to each other.

Each website, laptop, tablets, mobile phones or anything which connects to the internet has an Internet Protocol(IP) address made up of numbers. We can recognize and remember only alphabetical names of websites which is ineffable to the servers. To bridge this gap, DNS plays a crucial role. It converts human readable domain names into IP addresses detectable to servers, thus acting as a translator. Let’s understand this in 6 simple steps:

1. The Query

The process is initiated by your urge to find a webpage for which you type a domain name (say mydomainname.com). Your browser sends a query on the internet to match your domain name with it’s specific IP address. First server to which your browser contacts is recursive resolver which further extends the process to other servers.

2. The Root Servers

DNS is a stratifies distributed naming system in which root servers are at the top which serve the DNS root zone. They are total 13 in number running throughout the world supported by thousands of servers. Each root server acknowledge the top level domains that’s why recursive resolvers interact with it to gratify your queries.

3. The TLD Name Server

In this hierarchical system, next comes the Top Level Domain(TLD) DNS name server. It stores second level domains under top level domain. After getting a query, it replies with IP address of the domain’s name server which will eventually answer your query.

4. The Domain’s Name Server

Now when recursive resolver knows which servers has the IP address your query is looking for, it contacts the server and gets the answer.

5. Website Appearance

You’re done! Recursive resolver assists your browser with the IP address it just discovered. Then the browser requests the particular website to retrieve its contents, reaching it through the IP address.

6. Response

The process seems to be difficult and time taking. Although it’s not. What do you do to surf? You just need to type the domain name and in a flash your webpage is displayed on your screen. This process doesn’t take even a second. It responds you promptly in tenths of a second.

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What's the Buzz in Web Hosting?

What’s the buzz in web hosting? While a lot of the industry’s focus is on tried and tested web hosting staples, equally as much is directed on the new technologies that promise more than ever before, and seem to be the solution to everyone’s problems – whatever it might be. Without any further ado, below is the current list of ‘hot’ items in the world of web hosting, alongside why they are causing so much buzz.

1. The Cloud

What is it?

The cloud (or cloud computing) is defined as computer hardware and software resources delivered to users as a service over the Internet. Basically, in cloud computing, users and individuals no longer need to manage their own IT requirements as applications, platform and storage are offered by third parties. For the individual, this might mean rather than having your own email server account and an email client installed on your computer, you simply open a Gmail, Hotmail/Outlook, or Yahoo! Mail account (these are the leading Cloud email providers at the moment – in fact the list goes on ad infinitum) and everything you need to send email is provided for you. For a business, it might, for example, mean ditching your Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software (and the IT guy who maintained it) in favor of something like a Salesforce.com account, where again, everything you need for successful CRM is available when you need it, and where you need to use it from. In fact, the cloud has developed to such an extent that a company’s entire IT capability can be farmed out to third-party operators, as can all of its communication and collaboration needs.

Why the buzz?

The cloud is on everyone’s lips, probably because the term has crossed over to mainstream usage. What’s key to the buzz is that if they aren’t offered free of charge, cloud services are generally provided (or perceived to be provided) on a pay-per-use basis – that meaning you only pay for what you use. That’s the kind of language CEOs, CFOs and accountants understand, so there is a strong perception that the cloud is a solution businesses must engage as quickly as possible to save costs and develop efficiencies.

2. Green Hosting / Green IT

What is it?

Possibly the most self-explanatory of the current buzzwords used in web hosting. Green hosting, or Green IT, is essentially web hosting which is powered by ‘Green’ electricity – electricity generated by alternative energy sources. These include windmills, solar energy, tidal energy, wave power, hydroelectricity, and geothermal energy, amongst others. Often web hosts simply buy carbon offsetting which means they buy certificates from companies that invest in alternative energy sources and ways of reducing carbon footprints. The amount of carbon a web host produces is calculated and that is offset by, for example, buy purchasing power saving light bulbs for use in third world countries – the amount of carbon saved by the power saving light bulbs offsets that which the web host produces. However, some hosts take extreme measures. The Deltalis RadixCloud data center is located deep within the Swiss Alps in a space formally used by the Swiss Air Force’s High Command. They actually use the cold water from melting glaciers to cool their premises.

Why the buzz?

Global warming is breathing down everybody’s neck and in the past hosting was one industry that people pointed fingers at – energy hungry, often inefficient, and often leaving a huge carbon footprint, web hosts had to change their ways rapidly, and be seen to change their ways. If the quality of a hosting service is the same at two companies, who wouldn’t use the provider that has ‘green’ credentials?

3. Reseller Hosting

What is it?

With a Reseller Hosting account you can use the server space and bandwidth your account has been allocated by a web host to host third-party websites. This can be done for a number of reasons – programmers might need the hosting space to manage the applications they are developing, while website design companies might offer full commercial packages that include ‘website design plus hosting’ options. A number of Internet-related businesses can use this type of hosting.

Why the buzz?

Reseller Hosting is a quick and easy way for a number of Internet companies to make passive income – they sell hosting along with whatever their products are and charge for it on a monthly/annual basis. Beyond that, reselling is an easy way for entrepreneurial types to get into the web hosting business. Web hosts generally offer lots of support to resellers, provide tools that allow them to build a white label business of their own using their resources and often utilizing their business know how. A reseller has his/her own company name, telephone number, premises, and to the end user can appear wholly independent of the web host providing the services. A number of top web hosts started life as resellers.

4. Dedicated Hosting

What is it?

Most websites are built on shared web hosting accounts. That means that hundreds (possibly thousands) of websites sit on a server and compete for the server’s resources (bandwidth, etc.). Websites on shared accounts can sometimes respond very slowly, and in rare cases, not be available to end users because there is too much activity on the server. Dedicated servers are different. They are not shared by lots of people or companies, and the resources (CPU, RAM, etc.) offered by a particular server are ‘dedicated’ to the renter’s needs. That might mean a dedicated server runs a single website with all server resources dedicated to its operation. Alternatively, the renter might have hundreds of websites, but he/she alone is in charge of allocating resources for each website.

Why the buzz?

Dedicated Servers often provide a better user experience for people visiting websites and also offer a genuine guaranteed uptime. With a dedicated server, you know what you are getting and you can scale your hardware as your website or websites grow. You can add very specific configurations to a dedicated server, and with Root Access you can install any software you wish. Dedicated Hosting offers peace of mind, flexibility and reliability – and that’s always hot.

5. Open Source Application Hosting

What is it?

Open Source software is produced by volunteers and available free of charge to end users. There are hundreds of examples of such software available which often enable people to create sophisticated websites at a fraction of the cost of developing them from the ground up. Possibly the best known of this type of software is WordPress, which started life as a free blog software, but has now morphed into a very sophisticated Content Management System (or CMS) with which to develop websites. Other examples include Joomla, Drupal, and PHP-Nuke, but there are a host of others. Open Source software also includes software for specific purposes – for example, ATutor and Moodle are specifically designed for people who want online classrooms.

To compliment the software the Internet is awash with websites that offer ‘themes’ that can be downloaded free of charge to give a website specific functionalities, and a specific look and feel. Often these are free; some cost a nominal fee, and for a little more you can have your template customized so it meets your exact requirements. Recognizing the popularity of Open Source software, many web hosts now offer web hosting specifically designed for Open Source applications. Such web hosting accounts allow you to install the software you need using a control panel and immediately start working on your website – no fuss, no code, no technical knowhow required.

Why the buzz?

Although the Internet was once seen as being something of an egalitarian platform, the costs involved in developing an attractive website with all the bells and whistles are prohibitive. Open Source software is the software for the rest of us – software for the people. It gives people a chance to be the next big thing on the Internet without having to break the bank to do it. Open Source Application Hosting simplifies things even further by making Open Source software immediately accessible and usable.

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Shared Hosting vs Dedicated Hosting

Let’s start with the basics: shared hosting and dedicated hosting. Neither system is right for everyone, so it pays to identify your needs and do your homework.

Shared Web Hosting

On this platform, one physical server is shared by a number of users who tap into the same resources. Everyone shares the cost of storage, bandwidth and other features. Web neighbors can’t access other accounts or websites, so the system is safe and secure. Its cost-effectiveness and ease of use make shared web hosting a popular choice. Even beginners can start using it almost immediately.

We'll set up your server and install the necessary software. All you have to do is upload your website or other web-based system. Using the simple control panel, you can create and manage your database, email account and other tools for doing business.

If at least one of these statements describes you, shared hosting may be an ideal solution:

Your business is small to mid-sized

Your traffic is limited to a few hundred monthly visitors

The content on your website is frequently updated

You have no earthly idea how to configure a server, install and upgrade software or perform technical maintenance

Why Choose Shared Hosting?

If you’re new to web hosting, a shared platform is great for learning the ropes. It’s perfectly adequate for businesses and websites that have light to moderate web traffic and don’t require complex, customized server configurations.

You could think of it like a large house shared by several roommates. Expenses for things like food, cleaning supplies and electricity are divided. If the fridge stops working, the kindly landlord lives right next door. The arrangement saves everyone money, and things work out nicely provided no one drinks directly from the milk carton.

Dedicated Web Hosting

With this option, you’re the sole user on the server. Its capacity and resources are all yours. This gives you much more control over its configuration and overall operating environment. There’s also a wider variety of services and software to choose from.

Not every business needs all the bells and whistles that dedicated hosting provides, but it might make sense under the following circumstances:

Your business is continually growing and adding products or services, so you need the control and flexibility to customize the server, choose your software and adapt the system to changing needs

Your website features a significant amount of video streaming and high-resolution photos

You want a unique IP address that you don’t have to share with other websites

Your business handles extremely sensitive transactions, so you require enhanced security features

What Else Should You Know About Dedicated Hosting?

Understandably, having a dedicated server all to yourself costs more than shared hosting. After all, there are more features and resources to choose from. Unless you have very good technical skills or strong tech support in your company, you’ll probably need a package that includes building and maintaining the equipment.

These additional features come at a price, but they’re worth it for clients who need complete control of the operating environment and a little extra security.

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Advantages of Using a Linux Server

When choosing a server for your business, you have a few different options to pick from. While many companies use Windows-based servers, choosing a Linux server is probably your best bet. Why exactly is a Linux server better than all the rest? Here are a few of the advantages of using a Linux server.

Most Stable

Using a Linux server make sense because it is considered to be the most stable platform in the market today. You don’t have to worry about rebooting the system or downloading updates constantly. Linux is very stable and it rarely crashes. It is possible to have the server up and running for hundreds of days consecutively without ever having to shut it down. With a Windows server, this simply is not the case.

Best Performance

Linux is also known for having the best performance of any server that is available today. With Linux, you can have a large number of users working off of the same server without any problems. It is also an ideal server to use for networking purposes. It can be connected to many different devices without running into problems along the way. When you get a Linux server, you’re getting a server that has a good reputation in the industry for having the best performance overall.

Open Source Code

Another big advantage of using a Linux server is that the code is open source. With other operating systems, the code is not available to everyone freely. With Linux, the code has been out there for a long time and it has been reviewed by thousands of programmers from around the world. These programmers have thoroughly reviewed the code and worked out any bugs that were present in the operating system. This has helped to create a platform that runs more smoothly than any of the other programs in the market. With all of this review, it also helps to strengthen security because any holes in the code have been fixed.

Multitasking Capabilities

When using a Linux server, you also have the ability to multitask. Linux is known to be able to handle many different programs running at the same time. With other operating systems, they may put certain programs into “sleep mode” when you open something else. With Linux, the program can continue running in the background while you are working on something else. This makes it easier to multitask and make sure that things are happening when you are not necessarily looking at the program running on the screen.

Flexibility

The Linux platform is known to be very flexible and adaptable to many different situations. Since it is from an open source program, programmers can customize it based on what you need. With this level of flexibility, it also makes the platform that much more secure. You can customize the security aspects so that they are unlike anything else out in the market. You can make the platform much more secure by varying the security protocols and systems that are in place. By hiring a programmer, you can implement new techniques and strategies within the operating system that can match exactly what you need for your business.

Linux servers are superior to other servers in the market, and as a business owner, you owe it to yourself to investigate them. Even if you’re not familiar with how they work, check them out before making a purchase.

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Subdomain vs. Subdirectory – When to use what?

“The historical reasons why you might’ve wanted to go for a subdomain don’t really apply as much, and that leaves you with, okay both are on the same domain, overall, and so it’s really a question of which one is easier for you..” - Matt Cutts, Head of Google’s Webspam Team, Halloween 2012

With his brief message in late 2012, Cutts updated the ongoing dispute between between making use of subdomains and subdirectories. Google has basically made the two virtually equal in the SEO game, where previously subdomains were given an edge for the ability to provide a sense of unique linking.

And so, we’re back to fundamentals. What is the case for using either on your primary domain? With subdirectories, the answers are more simple to understand, as the structural difference is rather minor. Subdirectories are a partitioning of a single domain, whereas subdomains manifest a virtual split from that single domain.

If you as webmaster are a one person operation, or web development is a very small part of what your business is actually up to, then subdirectories are the place to start, and possibly stay. As you grow, or plan to expand, the subdomain may come into play. Subdirectories are easier to set up and in general, are easier to manage. With subdirectories, you can generally add things to a site in short order, i.e. testing an installation. While you can do this via subdirectories on a subdomain, it is likely not worth the effort to do this as an early and sole purpose for a subdomain.

Perhaps the most simple reason to not just dabble in subdomains is the realization that the general user online doesn’t get this internal debate among administrators of the web. To them, it is not understood that www.example.com is a subdomain for example.com. So, if adding in a standard subdomain, like news.example.com, it may confuse some who think a ‘www’ must precede whatever is being presented as the domain.

Here are the reasons for why and when a subdomain makes good sense:

◈ Differing languages for site content. Wikipedia is prime example of this with 280+ languages that contains a lot of the same content for each subdomain, while intentionally allowing for variation as well. Wikipedia generally adds two character subdomains to the primary domain, such as “en.wikipedia.org” or “fr.wikipedia.org” for its English and French sites respectively.

◈ Differing regions for same products or services, looking to achieve a local brand. Franchises may follow on this path as well. This allows the local or regional management to employ the core features at the primary domain, while also managing content that is unique to its own location specific customer base. Craigslist is a decent example for this use of subdomains.

◈ Differing product lines for same brand. This is more strategic and where expansion in an organization comes into play. This may be better realized via a hypothetical situation. Say a video game website has obtained a core audience that visits the site for say discussion on role playing games (or RPG’s). Now, with more resources available, the site owners wish to become a prime resource for current news in the entire video game industry. As this could possibly disrupt the flow on the primary domain, or alienate some hardcore RPG visitors, the subdomain, along lines of news.videogame.com allows for a strategic and significant distinction from videogame.com/RPG-forum.

◈ In each of these situations we see a common theme – all have far more resources and personnel for managing site content compared to a smaller operation. With the 2012 update from Google, the choice for webmasters is really a matter of own resources and organizational strategies. In general, the subdirectory may be seen as less secure, as an attack on a subdirectory may expose vulnerabilities to the primary domain. The tradeoff though is that a subdomain will likely mean more coding and duplication of resources, including file security.

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Difference Between URL and Domain Name

URL (Uniform Resource Locator) and Domain name are the common terms having relevance with internet or web addresses and are used interchangeably sometimes. Although these terms are absolutely dissimilar.

The major difference between URL and domain name is that URL is a string that provides the information location or complete internet address of a webpage whereas domain name is a part of URL which is a more human-friendly form of an IP address.

Comparison Chart

BASIS FOR COMPARISON	URL	DOMAIN NAME
Basics	URL is a full web address used to locate a webpage.	Domain name is the translated and simpler form of a computers IP address (Logical address).
Relation	Complete web address containing domain name also.	Part of URL defines an organization or entity.
Subdivisions	Method, host name (domain name), port and path.	Based on sub domains (top level, intermediate level, low level)

Definition of URL

When you want to access a website, you just write a web address in a web browser. Each web page is uniquely identified by a unique name (identifier) known as URL (Uniform Resource Locator). To extract the desired information the browser parses the URL and utilizes it to obtain a copy of the requested page. As the URL format depends on the scheme, the browser starts with extracting the scheme specification followed by determining the rest of the URL with the help of scheme.

URL contains full specification which includes a method, host name, port and path.

◈ The method specifies the protocol used to retrieve the document, for example, http, https, ftp.

◈ Host name string specifies the domain name or IP address of the computer where information is located, or server for the information operates.

◈ Port is an optional protocol number needed only if the popular port (80) is not used.

◈ The path is the file path in server more commonly the location of the file.

Definition of Domain Name

The domain name was invented to simplify the IP address and make it more human convenient and friendly. An IP address is a logical address (numerical label) assigned to every computer connected to a computer network. It basically identifies the location of the computer on the internet and also helps in routing the information. For example, 166.58.48.34 is an IP address. These are not so convenient to remember and hard to roll off your tongue.

The Domain Name System (DNS) converts a domain name into its specific IP address that computer want to communicate. When a user enters your domain name into a web browser, the browser uses your domain name to search and identify the correct IP address and as a result, passes the website associated with that IP address.

DNS has two distinct aspects; abstract and concrete. Abstract specifies the name syntax and rules for the names assigning authority. Concrete defines the implementation of the distributed computing system which effectively maps names to the addresses.

Domain also contains domain suffixes isolated by a delimiter character. Individual sections in a domain may represent sits or groups, but these sections are known as labels. Some suffix of a label in a domain name is also known as a domain.

Note that the domain name database is distributed among different machine (servers) that communicates through TCP/IP protocols rather containing it in a single machine.

Key Differences Between URL and Domain Name

1. The URL is the complete internet address used to locate a requested page and has a domain as its part. Whereas, Domain name is the simpler form of technical IP address which defines an organization or entity.

2. Domain name is partitioned into levels. The labels (sub-domain, domain suffix)are separated by delimiter character and follows a hierarchical naming system. On the other hand, URL provides more information than a domain name, and its partitions are method, host name (domain name), port, path, etc.

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Why Managed Hosting is Beneficial for eCommerce Business

Managed hosting is service that can be provided by your web host if you run your eCommerce website on their dedicated servers, VPS or cloud networks. Whilst no two managed hosting services are exactly identical, generally, it means that your service provider will administer your hardware, operating systems and system software.

This usually involves your web host setting up and configuring hardware, installing and configuring software, undertaking system maintenance, monitoring, updates and patching, and offering 24/7 customer and technical support.

In addition, services such as backups, load balancing, disaster recovery, vulnerability scans, intrusion detection, DDoS (distributed denial of service) prevention and mitigation can also be included or purchased as additional services.

Overview of managed services

Here is a more detailed outline of the services provided:

1. Server setup: this includes the installation of the control panel (e.g. cPanel or Plesk) and operating system (e.g. Linux or Windows).

2. Performance monitoring: this includes monitoring of the server, databases and network.

3. Security scanning: using tools like the powerful MTvScan, your system will be monitored for viruses and other malware.

4. Application support: your host will manage the installation of supported applications and their updates.

5. Patching: to protect your system from security holes, your web host will install OS and application patches, updates and bug fixes.

6. Troubleshooting: if you call customer support with a server problem or if monitoring identifies any issues, the technical support team will take responsibility for putting it right.

7. Hardware maintenance: all maintenance and upgrading of hardware is taken care of by the web host.

8. Backups: your host will offer you the ability to backup and securely store your data so that, in the event of a disaster, recovery can be achieved much quicker.

Different types of managed hosting

Generally speaking, there are two types of managed hosting that you can choose from: fully managed and partially managed. However, users need to be wary when looking at different packages as some hosts offer a wider range of services than others.

With fully managed hosting, your host is responsible for the complete administration of the server, including technical maintenance and performance. With partially managed hosting, you will still be required to undertake some of the management of the server yourself. The option you choose depends up whether you have the time, expertise and need to partially manage your server yourself, or whether it would be more convenient for you to leave it to the experts.

There are also different types of server management services, depending on the type of hosting you have chosen. Whilst dedicated servers, VPS and cloud hosting all have similarities in how they are managed, they also have their own specific requirements. For example, VPS and cloud hosting both operate in virtual environments whereas dedicated servers do not. These differences may affect what is included in your managed package.

How managed hosting is beneficial for ecommerce business

Now that we have a better understanding of what managed hosting is, let’s take a closer look at how it benefits eCommerce businesses.

Preventative management

One of the biggest benefits of managed hosting is that it helps prevent problems occurring. Software compatibility checks, security scans and performance monitoring all help the service provider detect and deal with small problems before they develop into serious issues. This is very helpful for e-commerce sites that often have specific site requirements and a lack of in-house technical expertise.

Site loading speed

Slow loading speeds affect search engine ranking and turn customers away. It is estimated that every extra second that your pages take to load will cost you 7% of turnover!  Whilst some of the loading sluggishness can be due to the configuration of your website, it can also be due to server speed. However, with managed hosting your server is monitored to detect performance issues, thus ensuring your site loads quickly no matter how much traffic you are experiencing.

Availability

When your eCommerce site is offline, you lose business. Managed hosting, especially on packages where high-availability is guaranteed by SLA, helps ensure your website stays online at least 99.95% of the time.

Security 

There are all sorts of security threats faced by eCommerce sites and the visitors who use them: hacking, DDoS, infection, ransomware, data theft – the list goes on. A managed hosting service, however, takes care of much of the security for you: preventing intrusion, blocking viruses and securing your data so that you can continue to offer your services and products in a safe and secure way.

Reducing costs

Undertaking the management of your own servers would require you to have the in-house expertise needed to do the job to the same standard that your web host can. For most eCommerce companies, this would mean the employment of additional staff that would, in most cases, be more expensive than the managed service. Even if you already had IT staff employed, they could be put to more productive use if much of the admin work was passed over to your service provider.

In addition, a managed service can reduce costs by helping to prevent loss from performance and security problems and by removing the need for maintenance and upgrades.

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Difference between a Virtual Private Server and a Dedicated Server

Cloud computing is the latest buzzword in the internet space. As businesses try to find ways to cut costs due to increased competition and pressure on bottom lines, Virtual Private Servers, also known as cloud servers, have become quite popular due to their cost-effectiveness as well as other benefits that they provide.

As businesses try to find the best web hosting solutions for themselves, they get flustered learning the nuances of a cloud server and a dedicated server. Here in this post, we will the differences between the Virtual Private Server and dedicated servers.

What is a Virtual Private Server?

Virtual Private Server or Cloud Server model suits small or medium businesses that are looking to optimize their IT infrastructure yet don’t want to incur the higher costs of fully dedicated server hosting. VPS is just like owning a set amount of space in an office building. Virtual private servers provide the performance of a dedicated server running on a machine located in a shared environment. Through root access, customers get the full control of the server just like a dedicated server. So you can install or run any customized software or applications specific to your business needs.

Unlike a shared server, the performance of the websites running on your server is insulated from the other websites. VPS servers give better performance and your websites load much faster than they would on a shared server hosting.

What is a Dedicated Server?

A dedicated server is an ideal solution for the medium or large businesses that have outgrown a VPS server. Dedicated servers provide you the full control or nearly full control over your server for its use. Like a VPS, you may choose the operating system or compatible software of their choice which is most appropriate for your business.

Difference between Dedicated Server and VPS or Cloud Server

Majority of the VPS benefits of VPS are also applicable to a dedicated server. However, there are a couple of features that differentiate the two. Unlike VPS, you need to buy or rent the physical server, and also incur costs related to maintenance or management. Dedicated servers are mostly housed in Data centers, similar to collocation facilities, providing redundant power sources and HVAC systems. In contrast to collocation, the server hardware is owned by the provider and in some cases they will provide support for your operating system or application. You may either use a managed or an unmanaged dedicated server as per your convenience.

VPS servers cost far less than a fully dedicated server as you don’t need to buy any physical server or incur costs on managing or maintaining your server. VPS servers allow you to pay as much you use, on a monthly basis. So you pay only for what you have used never charging for anything extra.

VPS also provides you the flexibility to increase or decrease your resources depending on the actual demand. So for example, in case you are foreseeing a heavy traffic during a particular festive season, you can be better prepared by increasing the server specifications accordingly.

Selecting the right server is a crucial decision for your business. Depending your business goals, current requirements, future strategies, growth objectives, you may decide which server, Cloud/ Virtual Private Server or Dedicated Server, will help to meet the growing demand and give your users the best experience.

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Domain Registration vs DNS Service vs Web-Hosting

Domain Registration

A domain name is a unique space, or zone, that can be used to set up services on the Internet. Domain names are registered with a registrar, who then does the job of maintaining it with the top level registry for that type of domain (for example, Verisgn for .com, CIRA for .ca, etc..).

While computers locate spots on the Internet by IP address, these can be very difficult for a human being to remember. Through the use of DNS (the Domain Name System), a host name based on a domain (such as www.exampledomain.com) can be a static name that resolves to a a numeric IP.

DNS Service

DNS (Domain Name System) is the hierarchical system designed to translate human readable information (such as a domain name, website, or other Internet-based resources) into the actual addressing protocols used by computers to navigate and locate information on the internet.

This sounds complex, and can be at times, but the basics of it are actually very simple.

Computers route information and find things on the Internet using IP addresses (IP stands for Internet Protocol). Everything connected directly to the Internet has a unique IP address, which is reached through the interconnected routers, peers, bridges and data-pipes that make up the backbone of the Internet. Very few people can remember 205.210.42.30

What DNS does is provide a system to track what IP address that name will resolve to, and answer back quickly and authoritatively so a browser can get the website with no noticeable interruption.

When you go to view a website, here's what happens:

1. Your computer queries your local DNS resolver for where to go -- and waits patiently for the resolver to do all the heavy work.

2. The local DNS resolver queries the root servers for the registrar responsible for the information, gets a reply and goes on to the next step.

3. The DNS resolver now asks the registrar for the name(s) and address(es) of the server(s) responsible for knowing all the details about the domain name. These are called nameservers.

4. The DNS resolver now queries the nameservers (which it knows to be authoritative because it started from the root) for the IP address of the server that hosts the web site you've clicked to view, and receives it.

5. The local resolver sends that IP address back to your computer, which can now look it up on the Internet in a format that makes sense to it, rather than to us.

Web-Hosting

A web-hosting service is required when a website for a domain is needed, but can also be used for hosting files, images, games and similar content. Web hosts are companies that provide space on a server owned or leased for use by clients, as well as providing Internet connectivity, typically in a data center. Web-hosting providers typically offer three main types of hosting:

1. Shared web-hosting, where a large number of websites are typically housed on the same server.

2. Dedicated web-hosting, where an entire server is leased and reserved for a single website.

3. Virtual Private Server hosting, a hybrid of the first two options in which a website is hosted on its own virtual server so that it won't be affected by the websites of other customers.

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DNS: Types of DNS Records, DNS Servers and DNS Query Types

This post introduces DNS and explains:

◈ 3 types of DNS queries: recursive, iterative, and non-recursive
◈ 3 types of DNS servers: DNS Resolver, DNS Root Server and Authoritative Name Server
◈ 10 types of common DNS records: including A, AAAA, CNAME, MX and NS

Finally, we’ll give you a sneak peak into the amazing things that can be achieved by the next generation of DNS servers.

How DNS Works

DNS is a global system for translating IP addresses to human-readable domain names. When a user tries to access a web address like “example.com”, their web browser or application performs a DNS Query against a DNS server, supplying the hostname. The DNS server takes the hostname and resolves it into a numeric IP address, which the web browser can connect to.

A component called a DNS Resolver is responsible for checking if the hostname is available in local cache, and if not, contacts a series of DNS Name Servers, until eventually it receives the IP of the service the user is trying to reach, and returns it to the browser or application. This usually takes less than a second.

DNS Types: 3 DNS Query Types

There are three types of queries in the DNS system:

Recursive Query

In a recursive query, a DNS client provides a hostname, and the DNS Resolver “must” provide an answer—it responds with either a relevant resource record, or an error message if it can't be found. The resolver starts a recursive query process, starting from the DNS Root Server, until it finds the Authoritative Name Server (for more on Authoritative Name Servers see DNS Server Types below) that holds the IP address and other information for the requested hostname.

Iterative Query

In an iterative query, a DNS client provides a hostname, and the DNS Resolver returns the best answer it can. If the DNS resolver has the relevant DNS records in its cache, it returns them. If not, it refers the DNS client to the Root Server, or another Authoritative Name Server which is nearest to the required DNS zone. The DNS client must then repeat the query directly against the DNS server it was referred to.

Non-Recursive Query

A non-recursive query is a query in which the DNS Resolver already knows the answer. It either immediately returns a DNS record because it already stores it in local cache, or queries a DNS Name Server which is authoritative for the record, meaning it definitely holds the correct IP for that hostname. In both cases, there is no need for additional rounds of queries (like in recursive or iterative queries). Rather, a response is immediately returned to the client.

DNS Types: 3 Types of DNS Servers

The following are the most common DNS server types that are used to resolve hostnames into IP addresses.

DNS Resolver

A DNS resolver (recursive resolver), is designed to receive DNS queries, which include a human-readable hostname such as “www.example.com”, and is responsible for tracking the IP address for that hostname.

DNS Root Server

The root server is the first step in the journey from hostname to IP address. The DNS Root Server extracts the Top Level Domain (TLD) from the user’s query—for example, www.example.com—and provides details for the .com TLD Name Server. In turn, that server will provide details for domains with the .com DNS zone, including “example.com”.

There are 13 root servers worldwide, indicated by the letters A through M, operated by organizations like the Internet Systems Consortium, Verisign, ICANN, the University of Maryland, and the U.S. Army Research Lab.

Authoritative DNS Server

Higher level servers in the DNS hierarchy define which DNS server is the “authoritative” name server for a specific hostname, meaning that it holds the up-to-date information for that hostname.

The Authoritative Name Server is the last stop in the name server query—it takes the hostname and returns the correct IP address to the DNS Resolver (or if it cannot find the domain, returns the message NXDOMAIN).

DNS Types: 10 Top DNS Record Types

DNS servers create a DNS record to provide important information about a domain or hostname, particularly its current IP address. The most common DNS record types are:

◈ Address Mapping record (A Record)—also known as a DNS host record, stores a hostname and its corresponding IPv4 address.

◈ IP Version 6 Address record (AAAA Record)—stores a hostname and its corresponding IPv6 address.

◈ Canonical Name record (CNAME Record)—can be used to alias a hostname to another hostname. When a DNS client requests a record that contains a CNAME, which points to another hostname, the DNS resolution process is repeated with the new hostname.

◈ Mail exchanger record (MX Record)—specifies an SMTP email server for the domain, used to route outgoing emails to an email server.

◈ Name Server records (NS Record)—specifies that a DNS Zone, such as “example.com” is delegated to a specific Authoritative Name Server, and provides the address of the name server.

◈ Reverse-lookup Pointer records (PTR Record)—allows a DNS resolver to provide an IP address and receive a hostname (reverse DNS lookup).

◈ Certificate record (CERT Record)—stores encryption certificates—PKIX, SPKI, PGP, and so on.
Service Location (SRV Record)—a service location record, like MX but for other communication protocols.

◈ Text Record (TXT Record)—typically carries machine-readable data such as opportunistic encryption, sender policy framework, DKIM, DMARC, etc.

◈ Start of Authority (SOA Record)—this record appears at the beginning of a DNS zone file, and indicates the Authoritative Name Server for the current DNS zone, contact details for the domain administrator, domain serial number, and information on how frequently DNS information for this zone should be refreshed.

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What is Web Hosting and How to Host a Website?

There are only three main ingredients to get your website online and improve the visibility of your business online. The first one is a domain, the second is hosting, and the third is search engine optimization, which improves website visibility.

What is Web Hosting and How to Host a Website?

The Internet is developing at a faster rate, and many people are trying to figure out how they can have their website or business online. Now the problem is the people who don’t have enough knowledge in web services and don’t know where to start.

First buy a domain, then hosting package.

Everyone knows about the Domain, which is nothing but an address.

What about hosting?

A hosting account is very crucial for every website to have or else, your website won’t begin at all.

Note – Google is a search engine, there is no such thing as google hosting.

What is the host?

To explain the hosting services in simple way possible, we are going to use simple reference.

First, to build your house, you need space or land, right? Similar way, you need space to build your website.

Now coming to the domain, it is nothing, but an address to visit your house. So, domain is a path to find your website.

A hosting package comes in different categories like Linux web hosting, Windows, and Cloud.

Linux web hosting is the cheapest one, while could is the most expensive one.

To host a localhost website, you can select Linux web hosting package, if you are running a heavy site, then move to cloud.

Coming to the Windows host unlimited, the price is slightly higher than Linux web hosting, so it better that you avoid Windows package unless you have a web application to run on the website.

How to host a Website?

Every hosting site has a different interface so it would be difficult for us to show you exact instructions step-by-step.

We will begin from the cPanel, so you are on your own until you reach cPanel.

Step 1: First login, find services, then select hosting package, access cPanel.

Step 2: Now you have two options if you are planning to host your website on WordPress or any other script, then you can select “Softaculous”, or you can upload your custom site.

WordPress – First, search for “Softaculous” or scroll down until you find it.

Select the script; you want to install.

Your script will be installed automatically that also includes MySQL database.

Now moving to the second part, adding your custom website manually.

You have to add website files in the file manager.

The easiest way to add website is to compress the website into. RAR file using Winrar, then upload it to the PUBLIC_HTML, then extract the files.

Step 3: You have to create MYSQL database depending on your custom website requirement.

Using the Wizard, you can create new MYSQL database.

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What is Windows Web Hosting?

Windows is the most widely known operating system in the world. Windows hosting uses Windows as the servers’ operating system and offers Windows-specific technologies such as ASP, NET, Microsoft Access and Microsoft SQL Server (MSSQL). Windows hosting is the most excellent choice

What makes Windows server hosting different?

In today's Windows hosting plans, offers include Windows Server 2003 and Windows Server 2008 which both originated from the Windows NT core. These Windows web servers own robustness and versatility that can parallel the features offered by UNIX and Linux. The Windows server hosting stands out from Linux due to its capability to exceed it in various aspects.

When should I use Windows hosting?

Windows makes it possible to execute conception frameworks, .NET framework or SharePoint. In this case, Windows has a big advantage when you want to add special Windows applications to your website. Some of them are Active Server Pages (ASP), .NET script languages, Visual Basic or using Microsoft SQL databases (Access).

Our Windows Hosting Technologies are:

◈ ASP.NET Hosting

◈ SP.NET MVC Hosting

◈ Windows Server Hosting

◈ Microsoft SQL Hosting

◈ PHP Hosting

◈ MySQL Hosting

◈ Microsoft WebMatrix Hosting

◈ Microsoft Access Hosting

Advantages of Windows Hosting:

Ease:

Microsoft Windows has made much advancement and changes which made it easy to use the operating system. Even though it is not the easiest, it is easier than Linux.

Our windows hosting server comes with ASP.net, PHP, MsSql and MySQL Databases. We might not be the cheapest windows hosting company in India. But we are surely the most reliable windows hosting provider. You can rely 100% on our Windows Web Hosting services.

Software:

Since there is more number of Microsoft users there are more software programs, games, and utilities for windows. All most all games are compatible with windows, some CPU intensive and graphics intensive games are also supported.

Hardware:

Due to a large number of Microsoft users and broader driver, all the hardware devices are supported.

Front Page Extension:

When using a popular web design program having windows hosting makes it a lot easier. You don’t have to worry if it supported or not.

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