Much like plugins for your PC applications, web hosting scripts are programs, which add to the functions of the websites. Many web hosts offer scripts like Word Press, etc. free of cost to the clients. The main purpose of these scripts is to let the owners of the website add functions to their website at a minimal cost, besides requiring little time.
Some of the web host scripts are mentioned below:
Fantastico is mainly used for commercial reasons and is a script library which assists the automation of web application installation. The website administrator, using control panel, can execute these scripts. Fantastico has revealed claims that their service has been installed on over 10,000 servers and they have in excess of a million users across planet Earth. This is an extremely large amount and would see them as market leaders for this type of product.
When a new website is created or a new application is added to an existing website, the Fantasatico script is executed. The script can assist in a number of ways and these include altering the file configuration of a web server or using a database to create a table. Fantastico may be commonly associated with open source programs, commercial products have been known to utilize it too. Once the script has been uploaded and ran, the script can be placed on every domain which is hosted by a server. An example of this would be the ability to site a website builder for SohoLaunch, software that PerlDesk provides customer support for and do the same for Account Lab Plus, which enables interaction with internet registrars.
Over 50 applications are linked with Fantastico scripts, with the most popular ones being:
shopping cart software
software to enable easy creating of blogs
* sharing of pictures
the enabling of a reliable web content management system
information sites like Wikis
There is a choice to be made between Linux and Windows web hosts and it is not an easy one. A user has to know the language that their website uses before they choose which operating system they require. The Linux platform is best suited to the websites that offer basic HTML content or a simple e-Commerce website or a php or MySQL created site. If you use or plan on using ASP or ASP.NET then you need to use a Windows server.
As we have mentioned the terms PHP, MySQL and ASP.NET, it is worthwhile to consider them in greater detail.
PHP is a short form for Hypertext Preprocessor. It's basically a normally used server side scripting language [which is mostly used for developing and creating interactive and dynamic websites] or a programming language. It is easy to plant it into an HTML code. Normally, PHP is used alongside APACHE on most operating systems, mainly on LINUX. Generally, the purpose of PHP is to act as a filter, which takes inputs from a content-containing file and other PHP instructions, and it displays a unique stream of data. In most of the operating systems, platforms and servers, the deployment of PHP is done without any cost.
MySQL primarily retrieves and manages data and it offers multi-threads and provides computer language for many users. It enables its users to gain access to, and modify, data. If you are looking for an SQL database management system that has around ten million installations then MySQL is the one to choose. MySQL can be uses as a database component for WAMP, LAMP and MAMP as well as being used in web applications and be used to track bugs in an open source manner. There are strong links between PHP, "Ruby on Rails" and MySQL. Sites like WordPress and those similar find it possible to run on MySQL and PHP.
ASP.NET, otherwise known as Active Server Page is a Microsoft product that is strongly marketed and is also the companies .NET platform division. It has superseded the technology that developed ASP and provides many uses for programmers including creating websites and XML / web applications. In reducing the number of codes required to build a web application, ASP.NET assists in simplifying the process. As it supports a number of .NET languages it improves the flexibility a user has in choosing a language. The combination of HTML and source code ensures that it is easier to compile and maintain web pages. Another benefit comes in the fact that the configuration information is built in means that there is no need to register separate components. ASP.NET is also extremely fast and is able to satisfy a large number of users with no noticeable difference in performance.
Having some knowledge about these technical terms will improve your ability to select the best server type for you. At first it is likely to be difficult to automate a website site using CGI scripts but it definitely becomes over time.
Like most things in life, starting simply and then working up can be the best way to go about things. If you need CGI scripts, visiting cgi-resources.com is a good start. No matter what you want to run, be it website management, emails, rotating banners, advertisements, password protection, polls, mailing lists, adding a search engine, having a shopping cart or any other activity, it is possible to obtain free scripts and scripts you need to buy. It is possible to buy some but it is possible to save cash by using a cheaper script and installing it by yourself. Spending a lot of money is not always the best tactic and you may get everything you need for a very little price.
The most important hindrance in webmasters not using scripts is because they have the impression that a thorough knowledge in computer science is required for setting it up, which is false. For CGI scripts, however, access is required to your server, but some free providers allow users the chance of uploading CGI scripts. You can try many combinations of these CGI scripts before going ahead with any one of them.
If the scripts include a setup or a config file, then setting up CGI scripts would be quite simple. Upon uploading the files onto your server, you would be able to access the config files and the setup files, and after you enter some content into it, the script automatically sets itself up. Having a variable file is another way of setting up things. Generally, the file has most of the information required for running the script. The most general scripts may have multiple files which need to be configured for their working.
If the script is provided with a setup or read-me file, which it generally does, then it used with HTML text and the user will be descriptions to follow when it opens up. Some script writers will provide quality instructions whilst others make an assumption that the user knows what they are doing. If your script confuses you, you could try to find a similar acting one.
If you want to maintain your site more easily and would like to have interaction on your site, CGI scripts would be the best choice for you.
Free Web Hosting Script
Unsatisfied with free web hosting services provided by Geocities, Angelfire, and Fortune City? Easily forgotten long domain name full of dashes and slashes which will fail the Radio Test, Pop-ups, banners making your life miserable! You start looking for a real professional hosting service for your beloved website. You start searching over the Net. Suddenly the possibilities are immense! $20 a month and 20MB space. Fantastic, isn't it?
Is it?? Read on. Way back, when I was a real novice, when I was amongst that typical ?The Internet is so wonderful? optimist, I signed up with a paid web hosting service provider. I thought I found the perfect solution. I was provided a chunk of webspace, a web address and content for my site. But before I could even realize what's going on, I found out that the space was a useless chunk which won't work properly, the address wouldn't connect, the contents warped and too much downtime.
Wiser I grew as an year passed, I labored my way up to get a working website, having a helpful lovely support team. I knew what I wanted for my website. How did I achieve it? I had the advantage having a lot of wonderful friends who are working for several web hosting companis. But what about you? You see a world of opportunity waiting to be tapped and just dive-in into the vicious circle of money loss and disappointment!
I don't seek to be the angel of all odds, but I thought some useful tips and hints on how to get started in the web might help the ignorant and also save you from the misfortune. So what is it? I don't want to repeat the ?Know what you want? statement because that's too clich'd and not that simple to handle when it comes to the real thing. Sure you have a vague idea of what you want but what about the fine prints in all that, the ?mumbo jumbo?, so to speak?
I don't think you do! So relax, sit back and before you go jumping off to the last line, just read a bit.
MB of Space
What's an MB? MB stands for MegaByte. Basically this is the storage place allotted to you. Before buying the space, spend a little time in thinking about your website's requirements. Calculate approximately how much you require and then add another 50. Excess space will help you to add and alter and expand in the future. Always better to have too much in the bag than too little, isn't it? Remember audio and video files need a lot of space.
Pricing (Monthly/Yearly)
The payment options are either monthly or yearly. Believe me it is wiser ?test the water? first by starting with the monthly plan. Don't be tempted by all the marketing talks about discounted rates for longer period of time and pay for the year (or more) at one go!
Domain Name Registration
What's a Domain Name? It's basically the www.yourdomainname.com. This Domain name has to be registered so that no one else can use it. Most web hosts would provide domain registration as a package. If you already own a domain name then you surely have to transfer to the new host. Ensure that the host provides this service. Also ask for directions on how to do it yourself. If you don't have a name already, then ponder for a moment and think how many names you would need. Will one be enough? No extra names to be attached to sub-domains? Do you need redirects?
While selecting the suitable domain name for your website, make sure that it is relevant to what your site would feature. It should not be that you talk about ?woodworking? while your website name is ?cool-curtains.com?. That's very embarrassing!!
Email Accounts
There are quite a few options here.
Mail Servers: You think you would be getting substantial amount of mail through your website, then opt for a mail server. It is basically an actual online site, like mail.yoursitename.com, where you have your personal mail box. An email address like info@yourdomainname.com would be more professional unlike those free email addresses like John6578@hotmail.com
Mailing Lists: Do you want to promote your site through newsletters, promotional informations, sending emails to lot of people, then you might look for this mailing list option. However, lists are not always a ?must-have? service option for the hosting company.
Mail Catch all: This service executes what the name suggests. It collects emails which have wrongly typed names (typo), wrong names etc but have your domain written properly in the email ID, like typo@yourdomain.com
Mail Redirects: If you want the emails, to be redirected from your name@yourdomain.com email ID to another mail box e.g. to your hotmail account, then avail off this service.
There are many other options you might choose for your page. Like having multimedia, Front Page Support, Access/Database support, cgi bin, custom 404 error pages, search engine submissions etc. Think and make a list of your website's requirements.
But before you initiate anything, send an email to the support team of the web hosting service provider, asking them whether they provide the services you require. Try to be polite and friendly and point to your specific requirements. Assess their feedback and response time, whether they are prompt or slow. This would give you a good indication of what kind of support you would get in the future.
Basically, the crux of the matter is that you think before you spend. Countless victims are there to tell their tale of woes and frustrations. I'm one of the one but I had grown wiser. Don't be fooled by sweet talking marketing guys whop would spare no efforts to promise you everything. Are you sure they can deliver?
Both Matt Hedges & Ainuddin Mohamad are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Matt Hedges has sinced written about articles on various topics from About Web Hosting, About Web Hosting and The Internet. Author: Matt Hedges. Hedges, a veteran of the website hosting industry and helps small business owners find the on the Internet.. Matt Hedges's top article generates over 40500 views. to your Favourites.
Ainuddin Mohamad has sinced written about articles on various topics from Alternative Medicine, Free Credit Report Score and Home Schooling. Ainuddin Mohamad is the Webmaster of http://www.BestWebsites.com.my which is a Directory of Best websites. Since 1998 it has featured thousands of best websites in many categories of interest with descriptions/reviews given by leading publications and web. Ainuddin Mohamad's top article generates over 8100 views. to your Favourites.
Advertising And Promotions Manager make sure you take a step back and review you potential business opportunity very carefully before you jump in with both feet, do that youre guaranteed to save a lot of your precious time and hard e...
