Types of web hosting
· Shared Web Hosting
· Dedicated Web Hosting
· Free Web Hosting
· Virtual Private Servers (VPS) Hosting Primer
· Managed Web Hosting
· Co-Located Web Hosting
· Reseller Web Hosting
Shared web hosting
- Also called virtual hosting.
- Most common type of hosting service used.
- Sharing one server (CPU time, memory, OS, applications, bandwidth, etc) with a number of clients of your hosting company.
- The webhost manages the server to ensure uptime, upgrading hardware and software.
- The cost of shared hosting depends on the number of clients being hosted on a server as the hosting company tries to maximize profits per server.
- Shared hosting is very cost effective.
- With shared hosting, your web site gets its own domain name, and is hosted on a powerful server along with maybe 100 other web sites.
- Shared solutions often offer multiple software solutions like e-mail, database, and different editing options. Technical support tends to be good.
Good/ pros | Bad / cons |
Low cost. Cost is shared with others. | Reduced security due to many sites on one server. |
Good for small business and average traffic. | Restrictions on traffic volume. |
Multiple software options. | Restricted database support. |
Own domain name. | Restricted software support. |
Good support |
Free Web Hosting
- Best suited for small sites with low traffic, like personal sites.
- It is not recommended for high traffic or for real business.
- Technical support is often limited.
- Technical options are few.
Very often you cannot use your own domain name at a free site. You have to use a name provided by your host like http://www.freesite.com/users/~yoursite.htm. This is hard to type, hard to remember, and not very professional.
Good: | Bad: |
Low cost. It's free. | No domain names. |
Good for family, hobby or personal sites. | Few, limited, or no software options. |
Free email is often an option. | Limited security options. |
Limited or no database support. | |
Limited technical support. |
Dedicated Hosting
With dedicated hosting, your web site is hosted on a dedicated server.
Dedicated hosting is the most expensive option. This option is best suited for large web sites with high traffic, and web sites that use special software.
You should expect dedicated hosting to be very powerful and secure, with almost unlimited software solutions.
Good | Bad |
Good for large business. | Expensive. |
Good for high traffic. | Requires higher skills. |
Multiple domain names. | |
Powerful email solutions. | |
Powerful database support. | |
Strong (unlimited) software support. |
Collocated Hosting
Collocation means "co-location". Collocated hosting lets you place your own web server on the premises (locations) of a service provider.
This is pretty much the same as running your own server in your own office, only that it is located at a place better designed for it.
Most likely an ISP will have dedicated resources like high-security against fire and vandalism, regulated backup power, dedicated Internet connections and more.
Good: | Bad: |
High bandwidth. | Expensive. |
High up-time. | Requires higher skills. |
High security. | Harder to configure and debug. |
Unlimited software options. |
- Allows complete control of the server and its resources
- Allows you to use customized hardware and software for hosting
- Usually the most expensive hosting solution
Managed Web Hosting
Managed or "fully managed" web hosting solutions take the dedicated model to a higher level. We know that dedicated hosting allows the client to have full control of the server but dedicated servers can be difficult to operate technically and require that you have certain knowledge about server maintenance and system administration. The notch above is managed hosting, as it takes the dedicated features and adds extra services like reporting and monitoring, load balancing, security, setup, system administration and software updates. This is the most hands-off solution for the client.
Pros of managed web hosting
- continue to provide the benefits of a dedicated server,
- You have access to the complete server.
- Your package would be tailored to the amount of bandwidth and hard drive space that you might need and CPU intensive applications could operate without hindering other sites or being conflicted.
- Added as well is the management service that would ensure that the server operates at an optimum level by installing the needed software, updating patches, and providing support for any hardware or software issues. But you must make sure that the provider has the specialized people on staff and provides 24/7/365 support.
Cons of managed web hosting
- Usually the premium offerings of a company and represent the top tier in terms of service.
- Usually command the highest prices - more expensive than dedicated.
- Involve some sort of a setup fee as it is more time consuming to setup a complete server than it is to create a hosting account in a shared environment.
Managed Hosting Review
- Allows complete control of the server and its resources
- Allows custom web applications and higher level of uptime
- Provides complete server support and system admin
- More expensive than dedicated hosting
Reseller Web Hosting
- To create an e-commerce venture, selling web hosting and other related services.
- Reselling web hosting means that you contract with a hosting provider to sell their server space under your brand.
- Reseller agreements can be based on per signups, which is you sell one of a number of hosting packages and pay a certain amount of the fees to the hosting company.
- Another option involves a carte-blanche approach where you pay a set fee and receive certain resources that you are free to resell.
- another option would be to lease a dedicated server and resell the web space
- Keeping all the profits
Pros of reseller web hosting
It allows you as a client, to earn a potential income. If you do web design services, you can easily offer your clients a complete package that includes design and hosting. The clients would appreciate the lower costs and convenience of getting all the services under one roof and you can start building a business that brings in recurring monthly income. Another good use of reseller accounts is if you have a network or websites you wish to host. You might not have enough to justify a dedicated server, but too many to pay for individually. Multiple domain hosting can get expensive if you have to get an individual service for each of your web sites. So a reseller hosting plan can either allow you to create your own web hosting business or host multiple domains from one easy to manage place.
Cons of reseller web hosting
If you decide to get into the business of web hosting, you will have certain responsibilities and expenses. For one you will have to provide support for your clients. This could be anything from email support, live chats to phone support if you business grows. Other responsibilities could include ensuring that your clients are adhering by the terms of service and managing the billing cycles. Unless you are reselling from a dedicated server, this is again a shared or virtual hosting service. So all the pitfalls of shared web hosting would apply here.
Reseller Hosting Review
- Allows you to earn an income by re-selling web hosting and services
- Good for multiple domain hosting
- Usually come with helpful control panels to manage all the sites
- Can vary greatly in price, but more expensive than shared hosting
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