Basic Web Hosting Definitions

For newcomers to the world of web hosting, the vast amount of need-to-know information can be overwhelming. There are so many terms to know and understand. Here are a few defintions to increase your knowledge of web hosting and hosting technology.

Disk Space – The amount of hard drive space on the host server. This space is used to store all code, files, databases, images and videos for your site. You generally want to future-proof your site by getting a plan with larger amounts of disk space than you need.

Bandwidth – The amount of data that can be sent to or from the host’s server measured in bytes. This term is often used interchangeably with data transfer. Data, whether it be text, images, audio or video, is requested by visitors of your site and then transferred from the server your site is on. Many hosts have a limit in place for bandwidth, which is called ‘monthly data transfer’.

RAM – Random Access Memory, commonly known as RAM, is the amount of memory on the server that your site can use. If your site or service is very resource intensive, say a video site, you are going to want a large amount of RAM. A smaller site, say a personal blog, can get by on smaller amounts of RAM.

Now that you know these basic terms, why not request a web hosting quote! It’s fast, free and there is no obligation!

Linux vs Windows hosting

Not sure if you need Linux web hosting or Windows web hosting? Both have respective upsides and drawbacks.

Linux based hosting is the most prominent form of hosting on the Internet. This is because many of the technologies that run on Linux hosting, as well as the operating system itself, are all open source. Linux based hosting has a very low cost because of these factors. In addition, Linux web hosting scales extremely well, so as your site grows it remains easy to manage. The only downside to Linux hosting is the lack of support for most Windows based applications and coding languages. This is where Windows hosting comes into play.

Windows hosting is based on the Windows operating system. It is known for support of various programming frameworks, including ASP.net and ColdFusion. Windows hosting can also support SQL server, which can be used to build a site around an online searchable database. Windows based hosting or servers are ideal for those who need easy compatability of Microsoft based technologies. The cost of Windows web hosting is generally higher than Linux based hosting due to licensing of various Windows enviroment technologies. There are few open source solutions for Windows hosting.

By now you know if you need a Linux or Windows based hosting solution. Host Voice has you covered with FREE hosting quote request forms for both Shared Linux Web Hosting and Shared Windows Web Hosting. Get a FREE hosting quote today and start building or transferring your web site!

Content Management System basics

“Content is king”. This mantra is ubiquitous on the Web today. Websites that are built around great content tend to have more return visitors and a higher level of respect than sites that are not. But how do you easily organize and create the content of a website? By using a content management system!

A content management system, or CMS for short, is a piece of software that allows site owners to easily manage the Web contents of their site. Specifically, it allows users to create and edit content as well as control how the content is distributed.

CMS’ are targeted towards non-technical users. Most require no in-depth knowledge of mark-up or programming languages and are extremely easy to use. In addition, no software needs to be installed on the users computer, as using a CMS is done through a web browser.

Plugins and addons are another great feature of content management systems. These programs interact with the content management software to create another level of interactivity on a site. For example, a plugin can allow a site owner to extend SEO value of the site, deliver the latest breaking news headlines, or allow easy bookmarking of content on popular social media sites. There are thousands of plugins for each content management system out there, so imagination is the limit when it comes to thinking of possible web site extensions.

If you’re thinking about starting a blog or website, a content management system should be an integral part of your plans. Most web hosting companies will include one with your account, so there is no reason not to start using one today!

Control panels for web hosting

Control Panels are a very important part of any web hosting package. They allow you to manage your site and account in many different ways. Control panels make operating a website simple and fun, even for the technically challenged.

Most control panels include the following site management tools:

• File manager
• Email configuration and access
• Database management
• Site statistics
• FTP account administration
• Server log access
• Domain and subdomain management

Control panels also let you view the resource usage of your site and usually include summary information of
disk space usage and bandwidth usage. This is great info to have since you want to make sure you stay within
the limits of your hosting account’s resource allotment.

Most web hosting companies include a control panel with every hosting account, so you don’t have to worry about
finding one yourself. Also, some hosts give you a choice when it comes to what type of control panel you want
installed.

There are situations where a host will not provide control panel software. If you happen to be purchasing
an unmanaged dedicated server or unmanaged virtual private server you will have to install the control panel
yourself.

If you feel overwhelmed while staring at your web hosting account’s control panel, it’s ok. Most have
a help option or users manual that will explain everything you need to know and tell you how to use each
feature properly.

Understanding uptime

Uptime is extremely important in the world of web hosting. It signifies the amount of time a web server is online and available during a certain time frame. When a server is online, your website is up and available for people to visit.

Some web hosting companies claim 100% uptime with their services. While this is technically possible given a small enough time frame, there is no way for a hosting company to be certain they will have 100% uptime for the duration of a server’s life.

The opposite of uptime is downtime. This is the amount of time a server is offline. Downtime can be attributed to server maintenance, technical failures at the datacenter of the hosting company, or to DDoS attacks on the hosting server.

Downtime is calculated by looking a the uptime claims of a web hosting company. For example, over the course of one year, a host that guarantees 99.9% up time will have 8 hours and 46 minutes of downtime. This can be calculated by taking the amount of hours in a year (8760) and multiplying it by the difference of 100% and the claimed amount of uptime (1.00 – .999 = .001).

When searching for web hosting, always be sure your potential host has an acceptable amount of uptime (99% or higher). This will not only keep you happy, but it will keep your visitors happy as well.