Useful Tips for Buying Multiple Domain Names

The goal of nearly every webmaster is to continuously expand a network of websites that generate residual income. However, this goal cannot be accomplished without registering and acquiring a large collection of domain names, which will be used as the web addresses of the sites. Aside from registering completely unique domain names, many domain speculators choose to register alternative versions of their primary domain name for various reasons. Fortunately, most domain name registrars will provide a discount when several versions of the same primary domain name are purchased. In this, the more domain names you have access to, the more websites you can establish, and ultimately the more web traffic you can capture at one point in time. The following information discusses several techniques used by professional domain speculators when registering multiple domain names.

Capitalizing on Keywords

Keywords are basically the linguistic gateway that connects web traffic to your website. Any phrase that is commonly input into a search engine is considered to be a keyword, and is therefore capable of generating residual traffic if a website can successfully rank highly for a popular keyword. Thus, the first step in registering multiple domain names should be finding available domain names that contain popular keywords or key phrases within your desired niche. Not only will these phrases make it easier to rank highly for the keywords themselves within the search engines, it will also make it more likely that random web surfers will type in the name of your website simply by guessing the keyword. This especially true if you can register popular keywords with popular TLDs such as. com,.org, or.net.

Capturing Misspelled Traffic

It is also a good idea to purchase possible misspellings of your primary domain name, in order to capture type-in traffic that may misspell the name of your website while attempting to return to it. For example, if you own the domain name “exampledomainname.com”, then you may want to consider purchasing the misspelling of that domain – “exmapledomainname.com”. This not only maximizes the possibility of receiving random web traffic, it also keeps competitors from registering such misspellings and effectively taking some of your rightfully earned traffic. Aside from basic misspellings, you may wish to purchase plural or singular versions of the primary domain name. For example, the registrant of the aforementioned domain name may want to consider also registering “exampledomainnames.com”, as people commonly confuse plural and singular forms when remembering website addresses.

Varying Syntax and Preventative Measures

When purchasing alternate versions of the primary domain name, it is best to consider all possible formatting, with and without hyphens, using numbers, and even registering what are known as negative versions of your primary domain name. For example, if your domain name is “yourcompanybrand.com,” you could consider registering domain names such as “the-truth-about-your-company-brand.com” or “your-company-brand-sucks.com.” By doing this you can effectively prevent competitors from purchasing such domain names and negatively effecting your reputation in the future. Your goal as a domain speculator and registrant is to purchase all possible versions of your primary domain, especially if that domain is intended to be used as a business website.

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Five Reasons to Choose Unix Hosting

Though Red Hat Linux and Microsoft Windows are currently prevalent on the market, Unix is making a comeback as a viable web hosting solution.  The platform offers all the power and stability of Linux at a price that is often considerably cheaper than Windows.  Many web hosting operations are currently run on Unix-based systems that range from Mac OS X to FreeBSD.  While these platforms are great alternatives, this article will give you five reasons why Unix itself makes a great choice for your hosting needs.

1. Tried and Tested

Unix is arguably the most dependable operating system for the network server and web hosting environment.  The platform has thrived for more than 30 years and has been tightly integrated with the internet since its inception.  Although other systems have received worthy improvements over the years, Unix is a time-tested platform, offering the power and flexibility needed to meet a wide range of hosting needs.

2. Unrivaled Stability and Security

During its tenor in the hosting industry, Unix has proven to be notably faster than other operating systems.  It also has a reputation for having the ability to create the most secure hosting environment imaginable.  These qualities have made it a mainstay in the world of corporate business and e-commerce.  Perhaps the greatest benefit Unix offers is its high level of stability and performance.  Unrivaled processing power and a rock-solid core makes it an ideal choice for simple web pages and complex applications alike.

3. Unmatched Reliability

While Microsoft Windows offers a graphical icon-based interface for added simplicity, Unix has no GUI at all.  This dramatically reduces overhead and allows the system to dedicate the full power of the hardware to quickly and efficiently serve web pages when they are requested.  Even in a shared hosting environment, Unix is virtually impervious to server crashes or any types of faults caused by administrative errors dues to its user-level permission structure.  When used as a platform, it can help create a fault-tolerant web server with the ability to prevent potentially damaging processes, thus enabling your website to continuously run smoothly.

4. Extremely Compatible

Being a veteran server operating system, the Unix platform is largely supported by software developers and vendors.  The software integrates seamlessly with Apache, PHP, Perl, MySQL and other web technologies commonly used with Linux.  It also offers full support for Microsoft FrontPage, a web design and management tool that was once only available in Windows-based hosting plans.  Thanks to compatibility enhancements, FrontPage can now run flawless on both Windows and Unix servers alike.

5. Affordable and Easy to Use

Several have the misconception that Unix is an open-source operating system.  This is not true.  In fact, its source code is under license with numerous vendors and much of the core remains proprietary.  However, Unix hosting still tends to be affordable because of its integration with free and low-cost open-source products.  And while naturally a more complex system, this platform is just as user-friendly in the typical shared hosting environment as Windows or Linux.  Therefore,  it does not matter if you are an inexperienced webmaster or a novice, Unix hosting can offer all the power or simplicity you need to succeed with a website.

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The Truth About Managed Web Hosting

We troll the same Internet sites you do, and trust us, we know what’s out there: If you haven’t noticed, there are a lot of myths circulating about managed server hosting. Though the style of hosting isn’t perfect, it certainly deserves a better rap than it’s earning. With that in mind, we’ve compiled a brief list of our biggest complaints with the naysayers, as well as some general thoughts on why managed web hosting is the best thing since sliced bread. If you dare to clarify your knowledge set, press onward, Solider! There’s a lot of rumors to be sifted.

Only Newbies Need Managed Hosting: This thought is derived from the idea that paying someone to manage your server for you is somehow a sign of want2host weakness: Only those inexperienced enough to run their own server need to hire a company to manage their content. However, this is completely untrue, and can wreck your business model if you’re not careful. The idea behind managed hosting is not to tie over gaps in your experience, but to save you the pain of having to manage the thing yourself. If you’re a large company with more resources than time, it makes all the sense in the world to outsource control of your servers. Why bother to fix your car by hand when you can afford to pay someone to do it for you?

Managed Hosting is More Expensive Than a Dedicated Server: Again, this is a classic example of short-sighted thinking. Though you might pay slightly more upfront to create a managed server, in the long run opting for this service will save you a boatload in cash. Because your server is managed by professionals that will keep your server ship-shape, you avoid the need to hire a team of server masters, or an army of tech soldiers. This means less crunch on your payroll, as well as fewer financial headaches when something goes wrong server-side.

My Software Choice is Too Limited With Managed Hosting: This common myth shows a lack of research into the modern market. To be competitive, web hosts have to support a wide variety of consumer-desired softwares, likely including the one you’re after. Before writing off managed hosting based on a lack of software, take a look at some of the more popular hosts: You may be surprised by what you find.

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Are Cloud Providers Pushing Clients Back to Colocation?

When it comes to networking capabilities, knowledge truly is power. Those companies that rely heavily on their networks for the storing and sharing of business information know that without a strong working knowledge of their IT infrastructures, they risk encountering significant obstacles in recovering whenever those networks experience issues. Yet not every company has the knowledge needed to establish their own servers with enough bandwidth to meet their online needs, nor do they have the resources needed to bring on personnel to create and manage such a server for them. This leaves many smaller companies unable to compete with larger competitors who employ in-house support staffs.

Help Through Managed Hosting

Fortunately, these companies have other resources that they can turn to in order to meet their server demands. Data colocation providers allow them the opportunity to establish their own reliable server networks without having to maintain those networks themselves. Instead, their servers are housed in a dedicated colocation center, where they have immediate access to power reserves and support staffs to help avoid network downtime, as well as the bandwidth needed to support their online traffic. Whether they’re storing their own server within a center or simply renting space on an existing server, this managed hosting service allows these companies to enjoy the same level of network reliability as their competitors.

Yet that’s not to say that there aren’t drawbacks in working with a colocation provider. The glaring concern that those who rely on data centers typically have is network availability. With one’s entire infrastructure routed through a single server at a single location, concerns about the server environment are inevitable. The center itself can knock a server out and make it unavailable until those issues are resolved, and while colocation providers have safeguards in place to deal with such issues, try as they might, no provider can guarantee 100% operational efficiency.

The Cloud

Such concerns have led many to turn to the newest craze in server technology: the cloud. Cloud providers establish a virtual server network through a single host server, meaning that the space clients are renting is in a virtual space as opposed to a physical one. These virtual servers offer a number of advantages over their physical counterparts, namely:

◈ Scalability: A physical server can only offer so much server space. That means that if a client’s server space hits capacity during peak times, he or she can no longer handle any more traffic. In the cloud, extra server resources can be allotted to a client whenever they’re needed, meaning that his or her network can accommodate any level of traffic volume.

◈ Costs: In order to protect themselves from constantly stressing their server capacity, many colocation provider clients will aim high in determining how much space they need to rent. While this protects them against crashes during high-volume periods, it also means that they’re often paying for space that’s not being used. In contrast, cloud server clients only pay for what they use. When any of the aforementioned additional resources are needed to support heavy online traffic, the client pays extra for them. Yet once that traffic dies down, he or she is back to paying only for the space currently being used. This also holds true for periods of low traffic volumes.

◈ Set-up: Setting up a space on a cloud server is essentially like enrolling in a subscription service. Because the space itself is virtual, there’s no need to wait and see if a provider has physical space on which they can place one’s server. Thus, set-up is often as easy as applying for space with a provider and immediately being given a fully-functioning IP address.

◈ Availability: When issues at a data center affect server performance, clients often have to wait until those issues are resolved to have their network access restored. Those issues are nearly eliminated in the virtual environment. Because a cloud service provider has so many servers at his or her disposal, he or she can route an individual client’s resources to another server should any issues arise.

For all of the benefits that cloud servers offer, they also have their disadvantages. Cloud services often offer little extended monitoring, meaning that clients typically are only notified of issues happening on their own host server. Thus, they only learn of issues on the server network when their own servers go down. Network security in the virtual space is also a concern, as the lack of physical monitoring of cloud networks makes them prone to attack.

Can Cloud and Colocation Coexist?

Many of the more-established cloud service providers have developed methods to combat these issues. For those providers on the rise, they’re left with the difficult decision of having to either use their competitor’s services or risk exposing themselves to problems. Recently, however, many of these new providers have come up with a third option: a return to managed hosting. That’s right; many cloud providers themselves have recently chosen to follow the colocation model in establishing their host servers. While bucking the trend established by their predecessors, these providers are discovering that working with managed hosting services offers a number of benefits. These include:

◈ Server management: The task of maintaining production workloads across multiple virtual networks falls to the colocation provider, who also assumes the job of monitoring the cloud environment.

◈ Security: Colocation providers use the same security methods to protect their virtual servers as they do with their physical ones, namely:

1. VLANs
2. Firewalls
3. IDS/IPS

◈ Hybridization: Some applications can’t meet their performance needs on the virtual server and thus need the bandwidth available from a physical one. A hybridized model allows these new cloud providers to offer their clients many of the best benefits of both the cloud and colocation worlds.

There are some who feel as though by relying on the colocation model, these new cloud providers may be pushing clients back to it altogether. If many of the benefits thought to be unique to the cloud are supported by managed hosting, what’s to stop clients from devaluing those benefits in favor of the safety and stability offered in the managed environment?

Can cloud service providers survive relying on managed hosting services? Only time and client response to their services will tell. In the meantime, those up-and-coming cloud providers looking to gain a firm foothold in the virtual space may find that outsourcing their management to a colocation provider will make it easier for them deliver the security and stability needed to lure in those potential clients who are looking for such benefits in the cloud environment.

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Introduction to Exchange Hosting

Exchange hosting revolves around a popular server software application that facilitates the sending and receiving of electronic messages and the sharing of other business critical data via online or wireless devices.  The Exchange software is specifically designed to work with Microsoft Outlook, Outlook Express and other mail clients typically used in the business setting.  The goal of this technology is to provide companies of all sizes with access to their data while increasing productivity in their respective environments.

The Exchange Server

The Microsoft Exchange Server is the major component of Exchange hosting.  This software is comprised of a mobile email and collaboration suite equipped with email messaging capabilities, calenders, shared folders, contact lists and to do lists.  Unlike traditional POP3 email accounts where messages are deleted from the server upon retrieval, a hosted Exchange service stores messages on a remote third-party server.  This type of service allows users to access shared or private files at any time on any mobile device equipped with a web browser or PC with a compatible mail client.

Supported Devices and Protocols

With Exchange hosting, emails and other business data stored on the server can be accessed through various client devices such as personal computers and PDAs.  Some of the devices commonly used with the service include the Blackberry, Motorola Qpocket, Nokia Smartphone and Treo.  The Exchange server enables the synchronization of inboxes, contacts, calenders and task lists along with mobile browsers that support HTML, compressed HTML and WAP-based devices.  The software runs on Windows Server operating systems and supports various messaging protocols including MAPI, POP3, IMAP4 and SMTP.

The Exchange Advantage

Microsoft Exchange is easily the most widely used messaging solution of its kind.  With a hosted service, small and medium sized businesses can enjoy benefits that were previously only available to bigger companies with more resources.  Exchange hosting is very cost effective as there is no investing in expensive hardware or software.  In addition, outsourcing the service allows for an easy, secure deployment that can be scaled up or down according to your needs.

The seamless integration of messaging services offers numerous advantages to business users that rely on Exchange.  With shared calenders, employees can view the availability of their colleagues to schedule and manage meetings, shared task lists can be created and assigned for sharing with team members, and shared contacts help to ensure the accuracy of information while ensuring that data is secure and not lost or misplaced.  These features and more make Exchange a solution that can truly maximize the efficiency of your business communications.

Before the prevalence of Exchange hosting, mobile functionality was virtually non existent for businesses that lacked the time or resources needs to house and maintain a server.  With hosted services now available, businesses can outsource their messaging needs in exchange for a feature-rich package at a low cost.  The best thing about Exchange hosting is that you get the benefit of a fully equipped data center to house the equipment along with technical support.  This results in a managed enterprise-level collaborative communication system handled in a secure and cost-efficient manner.

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Linux Hosting vs. Windows Hosting (2018): 6 Differences

When comparing Windows and Linux hosting, your choice of operating system boils down to your intended use for your server(s). As x86 servers continue to grow in popularity, Linux servers are gaining ground. Windows unit shipments are also growing, albeit more slowly. As of early 2017, Unix servers account for more than 66% of all web servers with Linux making up 55.6% of those while Windows represents around 35%

In this article, we’ll discuss the differences between Linux and Windows hosting — specifically the factors, such as stability, security, and cost of ownership, especially important to business users. As we highlight the strengths and weaknesses of these competing platforms, we’ll also showcase the tools available to developers and go over some rather new developments in the hosting business. By the time we’re finished, I hope you’ll have a better idea of which OS to choose for your project as well as which hosting company to choose and which features to look for.

6 Linux and Windows Hosting Differences

Ask any server administrator to identify the biggest difference between Linux and Windows, and the first thing they’ll mention is stability. Linux servers are sometimes considered more secure than Windows servers. They rarely need to be rebooted and most configuration changes can be accomplished without a restart. Windows servers, on the other hand, can get especially unstable when tasked with running multiple database, web, and file servers. When you start adding separate applications and lots of scheduled tasks, the problems tend to get worse. While a significant amount of work has gone into alleviating these issues, it is still a problem with which server administrators wrestle. If you anticipate your solution will be called upon to have near 100% uptime, going with a Linux server will likely be your best bet.

Linux takes the cake when it comes to security, as well. You may have noticed the recent BitLocker hacks being perpetrated worldwide. Nearly all of these attacks target Windows machines. The domination of the desktop market has made Windows machines a prime target for hackers. Linux also benefits from being a Unix-based operating system. The rights management features found in Unix have proven to be a great strength for Linux servers. These features silo off access to the operating system kernel and allow only administrators (root users) to modify certain directories and applications. The root user also has unlimited visibility to the files on a server, significantly reducing the problem of obfuscation through hidden files so often encountered by anyone fighting malware on a Windows machine.

It should be said that the learning curve for managing a Linux server is undeniably steeper. If you have the time or background, this won’t be a problem. Those with other responsibilities outside of IT and development might find configuring and managing such an environment a daunting task. Many Windows options can be found through a user interface and the standardization of the software allows a beginner to find many answers to their problems online. If you are looking for simplicity, Windows is the way to go.

Ultimately, the biggest question you must ask yourself is, “What type of software will I be running?” Are you going to be running an Exchange server or a Sharepoint site? If so, you’d better go with a Windows server. Do you love being able to install your favorite CMS, such as WordPress or Joomla, through cPanel? For that, you’d be correct to choose Linux. We’ve gone over some of the basic factors that you should consider when deciding between Linux and Windows hosting. Let’s dig into them a little deeper below.

1. Operating System

The most obvious difference between Linux and Windows hosting is the operating system that runs on the server(s). The user interface differences tend to be the most glaring. Windows users who are switching to Linux will be in for a big shock when they first boot into the Linux command line. The syntax and functions found through the Linux command line are not at all like clicking around menus in Windows. While a Linux team can choose from many graphical user interfaces (GUIs), I would suggest considering a Windows solutions instead if you intend to interact with the operating system itself instead of going through a tool, such as cPanel, to install and update software, install databases, and manage your email server. This concern is mitigated if you already have a Linux administrator but the process of learning to configure multiple pieces of software via command line is simply more than the vast majority of busy users are willing to go through. You may find yourself in over your head if you try.

As mentioned above, Linux server stability and security is truly superior to that of Windows. If you intend to run a complicated and business-critical web application, you may find the reliability found in a Linux server to be a must-have.

Linux has been forked off into many distributions, whereas Windows has fewer options.

The last operating system-specific factor to consider is hardware and software compatibility. Being a licensed and constantly updated operating system makes Windows a good option for people operating in a complex IT environment already populated with many legacy applications and databases running on Windows servers. Having system administrators already familiar with the OS could mean less training and greater in-house support — a factor not to be underestimated. In a crunch, you don’t want to be reliant on one Linux administrator hired specifically to help with this solution when you may already have an entire Windows system administration team that could easily take on the task.

2. Use Cases

Arguably the most common reason someone might be looking for a server is to set up a simple personal website, eCommerce site, blog, or online portfolio. Shared hosting on a Linux server is often the best solution for this kind of user. Many shared Linux hosting services come equipped with tools, such as cPanel or Confixx, that give users a simple web interface to install microblogging platforms, content management systems, and databases. They also have interfaces for configuring email addresses and, if allowed, will automatically manage software packages such as Apache, PHP, MySQL, and FTP. These features — especially useful for beginners — remove a few of the more involved steps of configuring and managing a server.

Windows servers are commonly used in large corporate environments. They may also be used as a Sharepoint or Exchange server. You’ll need Windows servers if you intend to use Microsoft software options such as these.

Linux is a good choice for experienced web developers who know how to configure an Apache or NGINX web server, and for developers who use Perl, PHP, or Python to develop with a MySQL database. These development tools have been used with Linux for a very long time and, as such, have a large support structure. As we mentioned above, the Linux distro you choose will make a difference, but many of the developers interested in this option will already know how to configure these tools.

Many legacy applications and scripts take advantage of VBScript. If you are working in a corporate environment, this will be something to look out for. Sites that have been developed with Microsoft ASP.NET and MSSSQL technologies will also need to use Windows servers. Consulting your existing IT department is a wise step to take before choosing your web hosting solution.

Lastly, and slightly out of the scope of this article, are large applications that might someday be deployed in the cloud. Cloud technology is expected to be used by more than 75% of companies within the next five years, and new options are being developed for large websites servicing rapidly growing user bases. This particular area could warrant its own article, but, if you think your application is of sufficient complexity, I would suggest consulting your developers to see which they prefer.

3. Dev Tools and Control Panels

We’d be remiss not to begin the control panel conversation with cPanel. It is the standard for small web server administration tools, and once you understand some of the features it offers, you’ll understand why. The popular hosting management panel allows users to install all variety of software from a simple user interface. Applications, such as WordPress, phpBB, Drupal, Joomla, and Tiki Wiki, are available via one-click installs, and many of them automatically with security patches automatically. This ease of use allows people of even the most basic skill level to jump right into creating websites, blogs, bulletin boards, and wiki pages.

You can also create and manage MySQL databases and configure PHP with cPanel, which will update the software packages without any human intervention. Need to setup new email addresses? Adjust mailbox size limits? Get help pointing your mail client to the correct ports? Your control panel can help with all of these tasks. The powerful tool that is cPanel can help beginners get more done faster without having to learn the intimate details of installing each and every package.

On the Windows side, we have Plesk (though Plesk is also available for Linux users). It offers many of the same benefits of cPanel and can help you run the Windows version of the LAMP (Linux, Apache, MySQL, and PHP) stack. On a more complex level, Plesk also supports Docker, Git, and several advanced security extensions.

However, with Linux servers dominating the Apache, MySQL, and PHP market, we should discuss the unique tools most commonly found in a Windows server. Microsoft Web Platform Installer (Web PI) is a great tool. Windows servers are commonly used with an IIS (Internet Information System web server), MSSQL, and ASP.NET stack, and Web PI will help you get these components installed quickly and simultaneously. The Windows Web Application Gallery works much like cPanel in that it has free web applications for blogging, content management, and more.

4. Databases, Domains, and Disk Space

I personally prefer using cPanel when managing multiple domains. It’s simpler to manage disk space for multiple domains names through a single host using cPanel. And, by using cPanel, I am able to allocate more or less space to each client depending on our contract and their needs. MySQL has become the standard for web developers worldwide, but again, if you come from a corporate background and are more accustomed to developing internal sites using MSSQL, don’t disregard this option!

The fact is, most of the best web hosting companies will have greater experience working with Linux servers and will be better able to help you manage multiple domains through cPanel. So many amazing web applications — from wikis and CMS tools to bulletin boards and microblogs — are easily deployed through a preconfigured MySQL server utilizing cPanel as the administrative portal. As a web developer with limited time looking for a robust and easy-to-use toolset, I have to go with cPanel. The automatic updates, combined with the aforementioned tools, are just too good to pass up.

As you can see, context is very important when considering your operating system and hosting options. If you are working on your own external-facing site and want to take the easiest and most standardized approach, Linux with cPanel will probably be easier for you. If you are working within the confines of a business with existing databases and Windows-based servers you will need to interact with, Windows could be your best choice. If you are looking to build more complicated websites and require the combination of flexibility and stability, many advanced developers, including Google, prefer Linux.

5. Security, Reliability, and Technical Support

Any good hosting company should be able to help you secure your website from an administrative perspective, but recent online attacks have shown that Windows servers, despite Microsoft’s best efforts, are still more vulnerable than Linux servers.

Reliability, as mentioned above, is also a strength of Linux servers. There are Linux web servers out there that haven’t been rebooted in years. You’d be hard pressed to find an externally facing Windows web server that can say the same.

Another security factor to take into account is on the database and software package level. You are partially responsible for the security of your own website in that the easiest point of attack for any system can be found in the humans who administer and use it. Having good passwords and applying all necessary patches is key to a secure environment; however, as noted above, I am a fan of cPanel’s ability to keep both web applications and software packages up to date without any interaction from you, the user.

While most hosting providers will be more familiar with Linux, Windows hosts are ready to assist you.

Technical support will depend greatly on who you choose to help you host your site. If you are hosting it on a corporate server, you should discuss support SLAs with your IT department. If you are looking for a commercial service to host your website, we will review a few of them below. Most importantly, you should discuss your needs with a support representative from whichever hosting company you choose to confirm they can provide the level of support you need.

6. Pricing

Linux also wins from a cost perspective. Many Linux servers running on the exact same hardware on which they were configured 10 or more years ago. The slow rate of change in the environment and the trim and scaled-down nature of the operating system mean you do not typically need to repeatedly upgrade to accommodate new (and sometimes unwanted) features.

Did I mention Linux is free? While there are paid distributions, such as Red Hat, plenty of free and fully functional distributions are also available. You may pay a bit of a premium if you hire someone else to administer your Linux server, but Windows server administrators aren’t exactly cheap either, and the cost over the span of years associated with software licenses and hardware upgrades almost always mean Linux servers cost significantly less over the solution’s lifespan than a similar Windows-based one.

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Comparison of Popular Web Hosting Methods

In the world of web hosting, there are literally more options than one could shake a stick at—assuming it’s an extremely broad stick, and one with a full three-hundred and sixty degree turning radius, that is. If our metaphor is too vague, what we’re getting at here is that one can literally find hundreds (likely even thousands) of web hosting options out there in the wild blue yonder. With that in mind, how on earth is a discerning webmaster to understand them all, much less make an informed decision about which pricing scheme, functional platform, or feature set is right for his site? To be certain, it’s like putting yourself up a certain creek without a paddle. However, that does not mean picking the right web hosting method for your blog, business, or institution is an impossible task. In fact, using our comparison guide below to the various popular web hosting methods, you may find the task far easier than first expected.

With that in mind, we’d like to start our exploration of the various popular web hosting types off with:

Free Hosting

This one is really quite similar to shared hosting, and in fact, it typically is. However, free hosting removes the most annoying part of any hosting plan—the cost! Companies like Amazon, Google, WordPress, etc. offer free locations where users can store their websites. Typically, this is only a good idea for small time productions, as these freebies often come with a company-specific URL code.

Shared Hosting

This is a basic one, but one we feel you should be (at least) familiar with. Nine times out of ten, when one is talking about budget or low-end hosting, what one is really discussing is shared hosting. The idea behind the technology is simple, and certainly lends itself to cutting corners in the name of saving dollars. In our eyes, it’s best to think of shared hosting in this way:

Consider your average storage unit complex. There’s only one location that houses all the various units, but at that site you’ll find dozens and dozens of individual storage locations. Tenants come and go, depositing and removing their items at will, but all from a single address: Though their individual unit is, of course, blocked off from the others. In much the same way, shared hosting allows users to access a single server—or sometimes a single block of servers—while still utilizing only their individual space. This is made possible by partitioning a server into hundreds of smaller chunks, which can then be sold to a client. The client uploads their data via FTP to their personal directory, and is then free to mangle, change, or edit their website at will.

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Obviously, there are a few drawbacks to this style of web hosting. Primarily, speed and performance are often compromised, as hundreds of users drawing from the same location can reduce bandwidth availability across the board. Likewise, these arrangements typically come with some level of data cap, giving only a set number of gigabytes to the user in both storage and transfer. A good way to think about these limitations is to imagine a shared web hosting server as an apartment complex: If a dozen tenants arrive at once, the elevators will be running slowly, as they’re capacity is quickly met, requiring a slight wait. So is it the same for shared hosting, which is why our next category is so important for business sites.

VPS Hosting

This service actually comes in somewhere between shared hosting and dedicated hosting. The basic idea behind the technology bears a lot of resemblance to shared hosting, but with an important distinction: A VPS host mitigates its server space through partitions, allowing each partition to run a separate operating system as if it were an actual server. So in this sense, using VPS technology to handle your data is smart, as it allows for similar performance quality to dedicate hosting. However, as it is still shared by several other users on the same hardware, it’s somewhat cheaper than buying an entire hardware set. For the power-hungry user with a tight budget, it’s the perfect compromise.

Dedicated Server Hosting

In this method of web hosting, the need for shared space and bandwidth contentions is thrown out the window, as a single entity controls the entire server. This is in direct contrast to the previously mentioned shared hosting method, which divides a central server or databank into hundreds (or sometimes thousands) of shared units. With dedicated hosting, whichever organization owns the lease also owns all of the server’s power, space, and performance.

There are several benefits and costs to hosting your website in this manner, but no drawback is more noticeable than the overhead cost. If you decide to purchase a dedicated server space from a third-party, your monthly rates will be much higher than with a shared hosting provider. However, as you own the entire server, you will experience drastically improved performance and disc availability over a shared host. Should you decide to purchase a server yourself, your costs will also increase, as you’ll have to invest in a professional to manage the hardware for you. Also, should any problems arise with the hardware, all of the repair and maintenance costs rest on your shoulders, as the sole proprietor of the unit.

Managed Hosting

This one is essentially the same thing as dedicated hosting, but we still feel it’s worth mentioning, in case you run across the term somewhere. Managed hosting is identical in nature to dedicated server services (you still own the server) but instead of having you perform all of the maintenance is taken care of for you. In a lot of ways, it’s like hiring a janitorial service to clean the apartment complex you purchased all the way back in point number three.

Cloud Hosting

Cloud hosting is a newer service, and one that operates on a completely different scale than both dedicated and shared hosting. In cloud hosting (which is currently trumpeted by companies like Laughing Squid and Amazon Web Services) your data and site are spread out across a network of peer-connected server banks and computers. In other words, rather than storing all of your information at a single location, whether that location is wholly owned by you or a third-party, cloud hosting instead spreads your data out across the “cloud.” By doing so, cloud hosts can avoid a number of complications inherent to more traditional hosting methods.

For instance, bandwidth constraints and a lack of scalability are no problem with a cloud-based provider. If your content is suddenly put on high demand due to an unprecedented number of media requests, a cloud host can simply scale up the number of available points your data can be reached from. This is called scalability, and is a service that a single server simply cannot provide. Likewise, as your site is stored across an entire network of computers, there’s no need to worry about space limitations. Should you require more disc space to work with, your provider can simply open up a few more locations, ensuring your media—no matter how large—is open for distribution.

With cloud hosting, you are also guaranteed a near perfect uptime. Because your site is available at a multitude of locations around the globe, there’s little to no chance your data will disappear with an unexpected power failure. Should a single IP location go down, another will be added to the network map, delivering your media as if nothing had happened.

Reseller Hosting

One of our favorites, reseller hosting has got to be one of the coolest ideas to spring out of the Internet since Al Gore and that video about the exploding whale. Companies that offer a lot of shared hosting, at some point along the line, realized they could just as easily repackage all that space and give it to reseller distributors, instead of proper tenants. It does them no harm, as the new distributor takes the space he leases from the company’s servers, and then sells it as if he were a proper hosting provider. It’s a brilliant step forward, as it allows media professionals like graphic designers and web developers to host their client’s websites without needing to send them off to a third-party. It puts money back into the economy, in case you were looking for a campaign slogan to work with.

SEO Hosting

A little more dubious than the aforementioned methods, SEO hosting’s benefits are somewhat vague. The technology essentially allows web masters to assign specific IP addresses to multiple domains, as well as monitor a wealth of SEO oriented data. Then again, we aren’t really sure if this kind of technology works at all, or if it’s really quite worth your time. But, if you’re extremely concerned about the SEO integrity of your media, there’s no better way to host it than with a server that’s got search engine optimization built right into the title!

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The Benefits of Secure Email Hosting

Modern email hosting plans designed for businesses that cannot or simply do not want to spend their precious time and resources on setting up and managing an internal messaging infrastructure. This is very understandable because the continued maintenance and support can raise costs and also greatly increase the probability of virus infections, hardware and software problems. All of these issues could leave your business without email functionality for hours and possibly days.

What You Need to Look For?

Email is such a prevalent method of communication that it can easily get out of hand over time. If you are no longer able to control your messaging infrastructure from within, it might be time to consider another email hosting. There are many benefits to outsourcing your messaging needs to a professional hosting company. This article will go over some of the most significant ones.

Adequate Storage Space

When signing up a for an email hosting account, you typically get a robust amount of storage for each mailbox created. Some give you MB of storage, others give you GB per mailbox. All tend to provide you with more than enough to efficiently store tens of thousands of messages. A more flexible solution will allow you to easily upgrade as your storage needs increase.

Spam and Virus Filtering

A quality email hosting solution blocks potentially harmful mail before it even enters the network. Anti-virus scanners are usually integrated into the host’s SMTP gateways while spam is dealt with in numerous ways. A company that truly wants to help keep spam out your life will employ filtering methods such as blacklisting, whitelisting and greylisting, and allow you to make configurations that automatically sends it to a quarantine folder instead of your inbox.

Shared Address Book

The Address Book is a very useful feature in many email clients as it provides the user with a convenient way to store contact data for easy retrieval and use. Most email hosts offer both a private and shared address book, along with access to public network directory services. In many cases, the shared address book can be used with any mail client that supports LDAP directory services.

Secure Webmail Access

Email hosting providers generally equip their mail servers with industry standard 128-bit encryption, which is active during the entire webmail session. This essentially means that any data sent to and from the server is encrypted from the moment you sign in, until the moment you sign out. With this proven security protocol, you can ensure that your sensitive messages will not be intercepted or compromised in any way.

Secure IMAP and POP Access

Businesses are increasingly opting for email hosting solutions because they enable secure access to desktop email clients through IMAP or POP. All email traffic is encrypted, including user names and passwords sent from the email client to the mail server for authentication. The best hosting providers support all the popular mail clients such as Microsoft Outlook and Outlook Express, Eudora, Mozilla Thunderbird and Apple Mail. Some even offer support for Linux and BSD clients as well as PDAs and pocket PCs. Whether you prefer to manage your mail on or offline, an email hosting plan can ensure that is done in an efficient and secure manner.

The Basics of SMTP

Before we dig deeper, let’s talk about the technology behind emailing.

SMTP is short for Simple Mail Transfer Protocol and is a type of outgoing mail server. Due to the difficulty with maintenance, most web hosting providers do not offer access to simple mail transfer protocols. Also, they can be extremely difficult to defend against hackers and malicious users. Many web hosting companies are also trying to cut corners to save money so SMTP is one of the first areas to eliminate.

The most common email systems can be broken down into two functions: SMTP & POP3.

When combined, these two protocols allow users to send and receive email messages across the internet. SMTP performs the functions necessary to send a message from one point or address to another. As a user is sending a message, SMTP confirms that the sender has the right to do so. Then the system sends the outgoing message. If the mail is undeliverable, SMTP sends an email back to the sender notifying them of the failure.

The majority of email systems utilize SMTP to send messages between servers. POP3 or IMAP platforms are then used to retrieve those send messages on the other end. SMTP is also used to send email messages from a mail client to a mail server. These are the reasons for specifying the SMTP and POP3 or IMAP servers when configuring your email client.

Configuring the application correctly will identify which SMTP server is being used for sending outgoing messages and which POP3 or IMAP server is used for receiving messages. To complete this task properly, give your email client access to the SMTP server by stating your IP address.

The user never sees any of these transactions as they are all behind the scenes. The user simply clicks the send button or opens the email and the transfer is complete. With the emergence of IMAP email system technology, SMTP may not be necessary in some cases as it handles both sending and receiving of email messages.

Like POP3, SMTP has been around for quite awhile, specifically since the mid 1980’s. As technology is improving, the need for these types of systems may be diminishing and making way for one that completes all tasks. For instance, the IMAP technology is implementing aspects of POP3 and SMTP and combining them into one easy-to-use package.

The concept behind SMTP working in conjunction with POP3 is simple: one sends the messages and one receives them. Although the mechanics in the coding of these systems can be complex, it makes life much easier for those using an email client.

The Disadvantages Associated With Non-Secure Email

There are many advantages that make the POP3 email platform attractive. This is the most common and popular email platform. However, it needs to be updated in order to keep pace with ever-increasing technology.

Along with the many great features we have seen over the years from the POP3 email platform, there are a few noteworthy disadvantages including,

◆ Opening attachments

◆ JavaScript issues

◆ Corrupt email folders

◆ Disappearing of privacy

◆ Potential for infection

◆ Consumption of resources

◆ Downloading large files

While opening attachments within an email client that utilizes this platform is a quick and simplified process, the efficiency slows down greatly when the attached file contains a virus payload. Another disadvantage is the potential for JavaScript issues. If enabled in your email reader, you could be the target of a nuisance JavaScript file embedded in your email. This can cause computer issues and create a security hole.

Additionally, email folders can sometimes become corrupt and lost along with all the emails in that folder. Recovery can be an arduous task and may not always be an option. Furthermore, since POP3 uses your local hard drive to store messages, your privacy disappears when someone sits down at your computer. Even if the email reader contains a password, an individual that knows what they are doing can find other ways to access these folders and read your emails.

Also, your locally stored email files are subject to viruses that may be embedded in your machine by other means. Using an effective virus scanner will help with this issue but is only effective on 60 percent of emails being sent to other recipients. Additionally, after a while, these emails will collect (if not properly maintained) and begin to eat up valuable system resources like storage space.

Finally, the POP3 email system is set to download attachments one at a time. Therefore, messages sent with large files can take a great deal of time to download resulting in an unmanageable, counterproductive system. Utilizing mobile devices and dialup connections can cause even greater frustration and difficulty.

Despite the many advantages developed over the years, the disadvantages seem to have gone overlooked. Therefore, POP3 needs a vast update or overhaul in order to keep up with the demands of modern technology. There are other platforms in the works that will fix the shortcomings of the POP3 email platform.

The Importance of Email Security

Sending information online has never been more dangerous, especially in today’s high tech society and economical situation. The internet is full of hackers and criminals that are looking to make a quick buck on the backs of other individuals. Those who conduct eCommerce, both buyers and sellers, are victimized by these malicious characters on a daily basis.

The primary cause of online bank fraud, identity theft and other criminal occurrences, is the insecure transmittal of data. For this reason there have been security protocols developed that dictate the limitations and procedures associated with sending and receiving important financial data online. Unfortunately, these protocols do not always work, however they do deter about 90% of hackers in most cases.

Email Security

These file transfer protocols usually apply to the checkout process, but many online business owners forget to take the same precautions with their email practices. A lot of sensitive information is sent via email, including addresses, phone numbers, names, and even financial data such as receipts, order confirmation numbers, and other details about confidential transactions. If a third-party were to get a hold of this information, the possibilities in which they could use such data are seemingly limitless. To keep your customers protected you need to make sure your email sending procedures are completely secured in all instances.

Email Encryption

Emails are secured with by using encryption services which scatter the data that is being sent, so that if it were to be intercepted during transmission, it would be useless to the interceptor. Once the information reaches the receiver, it is then decoded into it’s original legible state. The encryption is conducted via the use of mathematical formulas that scramble data automatically and then use a key to reassemble the data once it reaches it’s destination.

The Benefits of Secure Email

Using secure email practices not only protects your customer from real threats, it also gives them the confidence to deal with you even if there are no actual threats being posed. In online business., there are two factors that hold precedence over everything else – convenience and trust. If your customer’s cannot trust you then they will take their business somewhere else. To build trust you will need to employ a variety of security measures, however just employing these measures is not going to give your customers the confidence needed to deal with you on a regular basis. You need to make sure your site visitors know what precautions you are taken, in order for these precautions to have an effect on the end users confidence levels. Thus, making your customers aware of your email security precautions is critical towards the reputability of your online business, regardless of the industry or sub-industry you’re in.

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Advantages of Windows Server Hosting

One of the most popular types of server hosting is Windows. Windows hosting is simply a web hosting server that runs the Windows OS. At this time, the most recent Windows server platform is Windows 2008 Server. Like any type of software, there are various advantages and disadvantages for running this platform compared to other hosting options.

Advantages

There are eight primary advantages for choosing Windows server hosting over others. These include:

◈ The .NET framework

◈ Development

◈ Ease of use

◈ Scalability

◈ .ASP and dynamically database driven pages

◈ Front page extensions

◈ Access compatibility

◈ Updates

Windows hosting is the only option supporting Visual Basic or .NET programming. If this framework is necessary for a site Windows hosting is the way to go. Similarly, if Windows based applications are to be developed on a site or its essential to use Visual Interdev, then Windows based server hosting is the most viable option.

Those already familiar with the Windows operating system will have an easier time using a Windows based server. This is a tremendous attraction to beginners as they won’t have to learn a great deal of foreign information just to run their website.

As websites expand and grow over time, they need to become more scalable. This indicates a need for adapting to new and different platforms. Windows hosting is effortlessly compatible with programming features such as PHP and MySQL. Other hosting software may not run as well with Windows technologies such as Visual Basic and .net.

Windows hosting is much more compatible with popular scripting advancements such as Active Server Pages (.ASP) and dynamically database driven pages. One of the most popular web page design programs is Microsoft Front Page. Since Microsoft creates both Windows and Front Page, having a Windows server host will ensure compatibility with Front Page extensions and other features.

Those websites planning to utilize Microsoft Access for database functionality will find Windows server hosting to be easy to use. There are many options available in Access so the integration between the two is helpful. Many choose the Windows server hosting over others for this compatibility.

Finally, Microsoft continually provides updates for Windows server software. The support and number of updates from Microsoft cannot be matched. This guarantees users will have bugs fixed quickly and patches created for improved performance and increased options.

Since Microsoft has created so many popular software technologies, Windows hosting servers run smooth and are 100% compatible with each other. Languages such as Visual Basic, .net, and .ASP run terrific with Front Page and Access. The largest advantage of a Windows hosting server is compatibility with other technologies. In this area, Windows hosting is king.

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Benefits and Drawbacks of using Windows Server hosting

Today, there are different types of web hosting to choose from. If you are considering the Windows Server hosting, it basically operates on the same server where all your content is stored while at the same time handling events so that your website will run smoothly and efficiently. In some cases, the operating system to be used is an important consideration whether to choose Window web hosting, Linux or another operating system.

Evolution of Windows web servers

In the past, the release of Windows 1.0 drastically changed the way computers were used. Back in 1981, Chase Bishop created an interface that is capable of displaying information on boxes that were tiled all over the screen. Understandably, these boxes or windows became the starting element of almost every computing graphical user interface (GUI) that was released. Even though it was not an operating system at its preliminary phase, the interface quickly gained popularity due to its versatility. In 1993, Windows dominated both home and office environment by becoming the most popular and regularly used software. Nevertheless, the Internet was already overtaking the scene and became an essential part of our lives. It resulted to the demand for a dependable network operating system that is capable of handling the requirements of delivering remote traffic while at the same time exceedingly responsive. Due to this, Microsoft released Microsoft Windows NT which was optimized for uptime, reliability and software portability. This release by Microsoft paved the way for the availability of Windows servers in the market.

What makes Windows server hosting different?

Majority of the Windows hosting plans offered today includes Windows Server 2003 and Windows Server 2008 which both originated from the Windows NT core. These Windows web servers boast 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 surpass it in various aspects.

Windows server hosting offers ASP.NET hosting

ASP.NET is considered vital to Windows server hosting. It basically allows developers to create dynamic, unique and interactive web-content that can attract potential clients to their websites. With the ASP.NET framework, it helps in streamlining the process of developing web applications by supplying built-in codes to deal with common functions utilized on a regular basis. As a Microsoft project, ASP.NET can only be included in a Windows server hosting service. This is definitely a factor in attracting companies and businesses to choose a Windows server hosting.
Advantages of Windows server hosting

◈ .Net framework by the Windows server hosting can provide you with what you need if your website depends on visual basic or .net.
◈ For those using Microsoft Front Page, a Windows server hosting will make life hassle-free with the help of the Front Page extensions.
◈ If you have been using the Windows operating system, this hosting is easy to use.
◈ ASP.NET is offered in a Windows server hosting plan.
◈ In case your website needs to gather its data from an Access database, a Windows server can integrate the database flawlessly.
◈ Ideal for those who utilize Visual Interdev or planning to develop applications on their site that is Windows-based.

Disadvantages of Windows server hosting

Even though the advantages offered by Windows server hosting are appealing, it is best that you are familiar with the disadvantages of the hosting plan first before finalizing your decision.

◈ Stability issues since a server operating on a Windows platform is not guaranteed stable unlike one that is running UNIX. There are some downtime issues as well as problems encountered on a regular basis.
◈ In terms of performance, Windows servers operate in a slower rate than the UNIX servers. This is not ideal if your website requires fast loading times.
◈ More resources are needed if a Windows server is used. It will require additional disk space, RAM and even bandwidth which will only add to your expenses.
◈ Tendency to reboot more often which can lead to unwanted downtime for your website.
◈ Compatibility issues if you are planning to use PERL or CGI applications on your website.
◈ Windows is not a free operating platform, thus the Windows server hosting will cost more. Additionally, there are limited free applications that can run on a Windows server.

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What is Free Website Hosting?

What is Free Website Hosting?

As the name suggests, free website hosting is a free non-paid web hosting service. There are many web hosts who provide subdomains to anyone who want to make website. Some of such popular free web hosts include Blogger and Wordpress. When you make your websites with these free website hosting services, your website gets such name as yoursite.blogspot.com and yoursite.wordpress.com. If you want to get a website with a domain name that doesn’t include any external site’s name, you must buy domain and then get web hosting which is usually a paid service. However, there are many web hosting companies that provide free web hosting with some or the other products/services that you buy from them.

Benefits of Free Website Hosting

There is this single biggest advantage of free website hosting and that is- it comes free without any cost. Now if you are amazed at why these free web hosting companies let you make a website free of cost then you may rest assured that they do not make any loss in this business. When you make your free website with them, they use your websites to place advertisements, banners and other forms of advertising media to earn revenue. Sometimes, the revenue from advertisement is shared with the owner of the website and sometimes it’s not. For example, when you get free web hosting from blogger and if you use their AdSense service, you get a share in the revenue generated from the advertisements that they place on your websites. On the other hand, when you make a free website using wordpress, you do not have any control on the placement or revenue generated from your free hosted website. The situation is altogether different when you get website hosted through paid web hosting service. You have full control over your website and it’s your decision whether you want to place advertisements on your site or not and if yes then the whole of the revenue generated from the website advertisement banners come to you only. There are many other differences between free and paid web hosting services.

Differences between Free and Paid Web Hosting

Here are some major differences between free and paid website hosting services. It will give you a better understanding about what is free web hosting service and whether it’s worth to opt for such free hosting for websites?

Advertisements on your website are controlled by the web hosting company that provides you with the free web hosting. It can use pop-ups, banners or any other advertisement on your site on which you do not have control. If also you have partial control, you may only decide what size of banner would be displayed where on your site. You won’t have control over what advertisement you will show on the website. On the contrary, when you avail paid web hosting, you have full control over your website and no outsider can decide anything for it.

Customer support is missing for free website hosting. Something which comes free cannot be asked to come with value added services. If something goes wrong with your website, there’s no customer support for websites made with free hosting. On the other hand, paid web hosting services not only give technical support to the customers but they also provide them with help guides, tutorials etc.

Low bandwidth and lesser data transfer capacity makes free website hosting vulnerable to greater downtime whereas paid website hosting gives you optimum bandwidth and data transfer for maximum uptime. You also can’t upload more images or videos when using free web hosting service as you don’t get enough disk space.

However, you can have best from the both worlds if you are ready to pay a little amount for any service that a web hosting company offers. For example, we offer a good web hosting package which comes with free online website builder and you have to just pay nominal rates. You get web hosting free along with many other facilities and services like email ID and free Google Adwords credit that you may use to advertise your website. This offer is better than any free website hosting service as you get full control over your website at practically very low cost! So, why wait!

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