Webhosting – Part 2
Webhosting
In Webhosting part 1, we discussed webhosting providers’ use of data centres and servers to provide the services that customers have purchased from them. We also discussed the various operating systems available to run a webhosting server, and the different web hosting packages that are available today as a result of the different operating systems available. Control panels were also discussed, since these are provided with most webhosting accounts that you purchase these days. For part 2 we will be discussing what kind of webhosting package you will need for specific purposes, since the variety can mean that some will be confused as to what webhosting package suits them based on their needs.
A webhosting provider should be able to provide you with a webhosting package that suits your needs, and in some cases may even be able to tailor a webhosting package to suit your needs exactly, so that you’re not paying more for disk space or bandwidth that you don’t need. However, a standard web hosting packages should be able to expect the basic expectations of you and other prospective customers through the means of features and the support of scripting languages and database systems. For example, basic expectations of a Linux web hosting package would include:
- support for PHP web hosting
- support for MySQL databases
- web based database management
- POP3 and IMAP based email accounts
Since there are basic expectations for Linux webhosting packages, there are also basic expectations from many for Windows web hosting packages:
- support for ASP.NET web hosting
- support for Microsoft SQL Server web hosting
- support for webmail access and email hosting
PHP and MySQL webhosting is available on both Windows and Linux web hosting platforms, since both operating systems are able to support it. ASP.NET and Microsoft SQL Server web hosting on the other hand is only available on Microsoft Windows Server 2003 servers, since they are both Microsoft products which aren’t supported by Linux
If you are new to the world of webhosting, then you may want to weigh up your web hosting options before taking the plunge and buying a web hosting package. There are several different types of hosting package to choose from these days, these mainly being shared web hosting packages, reseller hosting packages, VPS hosting servers and dedicated server hosting servers. When considering a web hosting package, you should always consider the following in regards to the type of solutions available:
- shared webhosting packages are aimed towards those who are starting out with webhosting, and haven’t held a webhosting account previously; higher end shared accounts can be used for the hosting of a basic website
- reseller webhosting packages are designed with website designers in mind mainly, but also those who are looking to break into the web hosting industry without the need to pay for a VPS or dedicated server
- VPS servers are for those who want to host a website that may need custom configurations to ensure it works properly, or is too resource intensive to be hosted in a shared web hosting environment; VPS hosting can also be used as an upgrade from reseller hosting
- dedicated servers are the most expensive form of web hosting, and are only aimed towards those running their own web hosting business or large enterprises who need reliable website hosting.
If you are veering more towards purchasing a VPS or dedicated server, then you may want to consider the level of webhosting support that you will have available in the event that your server faces a problem, node side or your side. In most cases, you will be provided with basic support; basic support for a VPS or dedicated server will normally consist of the following:
- a fixed amount of time each month dedicated to your server that can be spent in any way you want, but of course it has to be related to your server
- priority for support tickets during times of downtime or when you need an issue with your server to be fixed
- support for server reboots, and in some cases the odd one or two server reloads a month if absolutely needed.
Some webhosting providers on the other hand will be able to provide VPS and dedicated server customers with full support. Full support basically means that you are able to get support for any issue or query that you may have in relation to your server. It also means that your web hosting provider will be able to carry out any task on your server for you. Full support for a VPS or dedicated server should include:
- access to a 24×7 support team who are able to sort your queries at any time of day and at any time of year
- the ability for the support team to carry out any task that you require them to on your VPS or dedicated server – i.e. software installation
- unlimited reboot and system reinstall requests, unless other fees are likely to be incurred from third parties such as a data centre.
In conclusion, web hosting is a diverse industry that requires rigid planning right from the technicians running the main hosting servers on the data center floor up to the support personnel who are responsible for taking care of customer queries and carrying out the necessary tasks to keep all the servers in working order.
Many different programs are used in web hosting these days, from operating systems to control panels, there are many different software layers that are needed to operate webhosting server. Although these programs may cost money, webhosting providers are still able to provide cheap web hosting packages, which benefits the consumer greatly.
There are webhosting packages to suit the needs of all, from shared web hosting packages to dedicated hosting servers. If you run a basic website or are a large enterprise that needs reliable web hosting, you can rely on a web hosting provider to provide you with the necessary webhosting package to suit your needs.
