Other terms for shared hosting are virtual or mass hosting, however, the term "shared hosting" is by far the most common. It refers to a hosting service which is shared with other websites.
The hosting company is able to provide efficient and inexpensive services, including technical services to maintain the server, because the cost is shared among users.
Additionally, if you use a shared hosting service you will also be able to customize your website and add extra features if and when you desire.
Small businesses in particular can benefit from the many low cost opportunities provided by shared hosting companies. Many of these shared hosting services offer complete services including technical support and even online website creation tools.
Some of these shared hosting companies even offer free hosting however you need to be very careful to fully understand the terms of agreement if you are going to be building a web-based business on the back of a free service.
If you want to get your feet wet without cost, choose a service that allows you to upgrade at a reasonable cost. You also need to be fully aware of potential additional charges as well as whether you are giving the hosting company the right to place advertising on your site or even for their advertisers to place cookies on your computer.
You also need ensure that a shared hosting service, whether free or otherwise, can offer you enough capacity for your website to grow as well as having the ability to handle short term traffic spikes as a result of marketing campaigns and increased traffic over time.
Shared hosting is by far the least expensive form of hosting for websites. However, its effectiveness depends upon the number, size and popularity of the websites sharing the server.
For example, if you choose the shared hosting option and find that you are sharing the server with some high traffic websites using a lot of server space, you may find the performance of your own website suffering setbacks such as slow page loads.
Therefore, despite the financial benefits of using shared hosting, it has its limitations. Should you choose the shared hosting option, you will also be unable to use certain scripting languages and applications.
If you require broader services from your host, you may need to consider dedicated hosting. However, unlike shared hosting providers, dedicated server hosts are only responsible for hosting services although some provide additional support services at a cost.
If you choose to rent a dedicated server, you will be able to use all the server's resources as well as renting server space to other websites should you wish to do so.
Renting a dedicated server may be worth considering if you expect your website to grow quickly as a result of extensive marketing programs.
Generally speaking, the larger the business, the higher the bandwidth requirement and the greater the potential need for more server space and higher level technical support.
Whether you choose shared hosting or dedicated hosting, be sure the company you choose provides 24/7 technical support and possesses a good reputation for security and minimal server downtime.
If you do your due diligence and make sure you are fully informed before committing to a website hosting service, you will give yourself and your business the best chance of online success.
Web Hosting On Windows
In an earlier article, we explained how web hosting reviews identify web hosting companies by the services they offer. So if a web host offers ASP technology, they say it's an ASP hosting company. With that in mind, in this two-part series we've laid out many of the most common types of web hosting services you'll read about in the web hosting reviews you peruse. Last time we started at ASP and got as far as FrontPage. Now we'll finish the alphabet.
If the web hosting review mentions Java Hosting, it refers to one of the most widely used and widely recognized programming languages, the use of which practically assures you that your website will be understood by any computer in the world. Java is a simple, versatile, cross-platform, tag-based language that lets you build all sorts of things: bit maps and vector graphics; server-side applications for forums and forms, online polls and stores; improved database, email, PDF, XML, and Microsoft Office functionality and more. Using Java opens you up to libraries upon libraries of prewritten code for every imaginable use you could have for your website. You may also see web hosting reviews mentioning JSP or Java Server Pages, which allow you to create entire websites that are platform independent.
If the web hosting review mentions MySQL Hosting, it's referring to one of the most widely used and recognized databases on the internet. If your web presence is going to be a database-heavy operation, consider a MySQL hosting provider. You'll get extra support for adding, accessing, editing, and processing data in your many MySQL databases. Web hosting reviews for MySQL hosting providers should mention the number of databases offered, the ease-of-use of the interface you'll be using day in and day out, CRON support for automating routine tasks, and PHP support since PHP and MySQL go hand in hand. Read on!
If the web hosting review mentions PHP Hosting, it refers to a server-side scripting language that is commonly used in conjunction with MySQL databases. It is an open-source language and as such can be altered and amended in any way you see fit. As such, there are tons of free, prewritten PHP scripts all over the internet for your convenience. Because PHP is a server-side language, it is cross-platform (meaning Unix, Linux, and Windows computers can see your site the same). And since PHP is a server-side language, if you plan to use it in running your dynamic, interactive, database driven website, you must go with a PHP hosting provider.
If the web hosting review mentions SSH Hosting, it refers to Secure Shell, a Linux-based protocol that gives users remote terminal access to their computer systems, meaning that administrators can perform private, confidential administrative tasks on their server -- tasks that ordinarily must be done directly on the server itself -- from a different computer in a completely different location -- securely.
If the web hosting review mentions Windows Hosting it just means that, like a computer might run Microsoft Windows as its operating system, your web server too will be running Microsoft Windows. That's all. A windows hosting company might very well offer PHP hosting, MySQL hosting, FrontPage hosting, Java hosting, ASP hosting, and more. Which brings us to our final point…
We closed Part I of this series with this note and we'll close Part II the same way. One web hosting provider alone quite likely will offer a great many of the hosting services we've described and more. Make sure you read each web hosting review carefully to be clear on exactly what types of hosting each company offers.
Both Ricardo D Argence & Sage Kalmus 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.
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