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Web Hosting
When considering a web hosting service, evaluate
them for the following:
1. Operating System
The two main operating systems used by most web
hosts are Unix or Windows, and both have advantages
and disadvantages. Windows servers are generally
easier to manage, but are also more apt to be
hacked. Unix hosts are known for their reliability
and flexibility.
2. Price
The least expensive is not always the best. Avoid
free web hosts, as you will often get just what
you pay for. When evaluating a web host, price
should only be one consideration.
3. Disk Space
Evaluate the web host for the amount of disk
space they provide. Make sure there is room for
future expansion. If you are planning on hosting
your own downloads, the disk space could make
a big difference in your requirements.
4. Bandwidth
Bandwidth refers to the amount of data transferred
from the website. When someone requests a webpage
or graphics, bandwidth is used. Additionally,
if you host a software download, each time the
application is downloaded, bandwidth is used.
When evaluating bandwidth, pay particular attention
to any fees charged if you exceed the bandwidth
allotted. Quite often, if a website or product
receives press or publicity, they will have traffic
spikes as well. Make sure that the chosen web
host can handle any traffic surges, and without
it costing more than it's worth in over-limit
fees.
5. Reliability
Remember that in business, time is money. And
downtime will cost most businesses far more than
what they actually pay in hosting costs. Reliability
is crucial! It is often worth spending a little
more each month if a more expensive host can provide
more dependable and more reliable hosting services.
6. Support
Evaluate what hours the host's technical support
is available. Determine what their typical response
time is. Is support offered via phone or email?
How does the level of support provided suit your
business needs? Read forums and see how the host
has respond to other customers when problems occur.
7. Language And Database Support
What kind of back-end scripts or database access
do you require? Web hosts may support any combination
of the following: Pearl, PHP, ASP, and SQL. If
you are serving dynamic pages from a database,
the database support and scripting languages may
be a critical component of your hosting needs.
Keep in mind that even though your site may currently
be static, you may want to use a host that can
also support dynamically served web pages, so
that option is available to you as your website
grows and changes.
8. Logs
Consider whether the host provides access to
the raw web logs or a web-based GUI interface
to view the web log statistics.
9. Access
Determine what kind of access your web host provides.
FTP/SSH are common transfer protocols. Determine
your needs, and then determine whether the host
provides the level of access required.
10. Types Of Hosting
There are two different kinds of basic hosting:
"Shared" server and "Dedicated" server. Shared
server hosting allows multiple companies to share
one single server, while Dedicated server hosting
has only one company or website per server. The
pricing of shared hosting is lower because multiple
websites share the cost; but it also means that
the actions of another company can have an impact
on your online service. There are different options
for dedicated servers: managed and unmanaged,
meaning that either the host will manage the server,
or you will retain full control over the server.
Evaluate which option will best satisfy your business
needs and technical abilities.
11. Security
If you are sharing a web server, discuss potential
security concerns or issues before finalizing
your web host decision.
When selecting a web host, there are a number
of factors to consider. A good web host will minimize
downtime, and is an important investment for an
online business.
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