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There are many types of web hosting plans available in today’s market, thus it can be difficult to decide which one would be best for you. As soon as you think you have finally narrowed down your choices, that’s when you find out about another type of web hosting plan that could possibly suit your needs. With so many choices, making that final decision can be a very confusing process.
Even after you have decided upon a specific kind of web hosting plan, you then have to consider the sub-types of each type of web hosting. For example, you may choose dedicated hosting, however you then have to decide whether you want managed or unmanaged web hosting. Some of the web hosting types are very similar, and to the untrained eye there is seemingly no difference. If you;re having trouble deciding between colocation and managed web hosting then this article may help you make an educated decision that you won’t regret after the fact.
Managed Web Hosting
Managed web hosting is actually a form of dedicated web hosting. With managed web hosting you’ll have a dedicated server that is used only by you, however you will not have full administrative control over this server. In other words, the web hosting provider will be responsible for maintaining the integrity, performance, and reliability of the server. Since you will not be responsible for the administration of your server, you’ll have an added cost as you will essentially be paying for the continual service of the web hosting company. Many people choose this solution since it is much more convenient than having to manage the server themselves. This solution is especially optimal for novice users. Managed web hosting is considered one of the most expensive types of web hosting plans, right behind colocation hosting.
Colocation Hosting
Colocation is similar to dedicated hosting, as you will also have a server that is used only by you. However, the main difference is this server will actually be yours and will not be leased by you but will be owned by you. In other words, you will have to actually buy your own server which will cost thousands of dollars in startup capital. With dedicated hosting you’ll be leasing the server which is far cheaper than colocation hosting. Colocation hosting lets you store your private server at a facility that is specifically designed for server security. Therefore, colocation hosting is basically a server storage solution for larger corporations and businesses. For this reason, colocation hosting is the most expensive kind of hosting available.
The Main Differences
The primary difference between colocation and managed hosting is the amount of control you have over your server. With colocation hosting, since you actually own the server, you’ll have complete control over the server, however you’ll also need the ability to do so. With managed hosting you’ll be leasing the server and you won’t have to worry about the hassle of maintaining it. For most people managed hosting is the desirable solution between the two.
Managed web hosting is the perfect web hosting solution for novice users, as it lets them enjoy the benefits of a web hosting account without having to deal with the administrative tasks that are commonly associated with maintaining your own web hosting account.
Why Are There Different Types of Managed Web Hosting?
There are various types of managed web hosting plans available, all of which give the end user a certain degree of control. For the highly inexperienced user on a lower budget, there are completely managed plans that involve little to no administrative work. Depending on the package, the amount of work that needs to be done by the end user will vary greatly. For the users that demand the least amount of work, there is fully managed hosting, while other more experienced webmasters may opt for partially managed web hosting.
Fully Managed Web Hosting
Fully managed web hosting may sound as if it web hosting on autopilot, however this is often not the case. Therefore it is important to make sure you know what you are paying for before deciding on a particular plan. In general, fully managed web hosting is the easiest type of web hosting you could purchase. Users usually need only to specify their needs and make whatever adjustments they see fit, and the server is autoconfigured to take care of the rest for them. As mentioned before, this is most definitely the most beneficial form of web hosting for novice users.
Partially Managed Web Hosting
Partially managed web hosting is a bit different than fully managed web hosting, as the end user will need to perform more administrative functions to keep their website performing optimally. While this may sound as if it is a disadvantage to fully managed web hosting, ultimately the user has more control over the server with this kind of web hosting. While inexperienced users may not want the burden of control, more capable webmasters will find it absolutely necessary to possess full or at least partial control over their web server.
Control vs. Convenience – Which is Right for You?
If you can’t decide which kind of managed web hosting would be right for you, you may want to use this simple comparison to decide – control vs. convenience. If you need as more control then you may want to consider partially managed web hosting. However if you are looking for the simplest web hosting plan available, then you will undoubtedly benefit from fully managed web hosting. If you are going to purchase a fully managed web hosting plan then you should make sure you are paying for a fully automated service. Likewise, if you decide upon a partially managed web hosting solution, you should make sure you fully understand what aspects of your web server you’ll be able to control.
Regardless of the decision you make, be sure it is an informed decision that you will not regret after the fact. Making the right decision the first time around will save you a lot of time, money and frustration.
Web hosting plans include many features, and often times the feature lists can be difficult to compare since there are so many aspects to consider. Perhaps the two most important attributes of a web hosting plan are the bandwidth and disk space. The bandwidth capacity determines how much information a website can send to their visitors during their viewing of the site. The disk space determines how many files you can store for your website. The bandwidth is usually limited by a network line that has a measurable transfer rate capacity due to it’s size. Likewise, the hard disk space is also limited by storage space and other technological limitations.
The problem with most web hosting plans is that they claim to offer unlimited bandwidth and disk space, however they simply cannot truly offer this as they are not equipped to do so. Even Internet Service Providers don’t make such claims, as they know it is not possible to give this type of service to every customer. So then why do so many web hosting companies promise unlimited features that they cannot accommodate for?
All You Can Eat?
Think of it this way – when you go to a buffet, you are promised all you can eat. This means you are entitled to an unlimited amount of food, as long as you can swallow it. However, this does not mean that you are going to eat all of the food! In fact, most of the people at the buffet are not going to eat more than two plates! The buffet advertises unlimited food, even though both the restaurant manager and the diners know that this is not truly possible. How does this relate to web hosting? Because it is the same concept- web hosts offer unlimited bandwidth and disk space to attract customers. At the same time, they know these customers cannot possibly use all of their bandwidth.
Competition and Marketing
Due to the competitive nature of the web hosting industry, web hosting companies will do whatever they can to outbid the competition for your business. Web hosts know that most users are not going to uses even half of their allocated bandwidth, so they can offer unlimited bandwidth plans since there are so many server resources left over all the time. The sad part is, if the customer does happen to go over this hidden bandwidth limit, the hosting company may shut down their website without warning. While this kind of unlimited plan may be suitable for some webmasters, a rapidly expanding business should know their bandwidth limits to prevent from receiving warning letters and abrupt termination of service from their web hosting service.
Conclusion
The saying “nothing is free” may be just as relevant as “nothing is unlimited.” When a web hosting company says they offer unlimited features, it may be best to speak with these web hosting company’s support staff to assure yourself that the features are actually unlimited.
Searching for web hosting companies will return a variety of results, displaying the various types of web hosting plans available. You may have done this before and encountered a few Linux web hosting plans. I am sure most of your are familiar with the Linux operating system, but for those of you who are not, Linux is the leading alternative to the Windows operating system, and is used by many companies around the world. Developed by Linus Torvalds in 1991, Linux is a Unix-like operating system that was originally meant to replace the Minux operating system. Linux is considered an open source operating system, as each user receives a source code with their copy of the operating system. Linux comes in different “flavors” such as RedHat and Ubuntu.
LAMP
All Linux web hosting plans include the LAMP software bundle. LAMP stands for Linux-Apache-MySQL-PHP/Perl/Python. Apache is a widely used open-source, multi-platform web server. Most Linux hosting plans use Apache servers. MySQL is a database that provides multiple users access to several online databases that are used to comprise the data of a website or network of websites. Any webmaster trying to utilize advanced website design of any kind will need a database of some sort.
PHP/Perl/Python
PHP/Perl/Python are all programming languages used in the production of advanced web applications. Almost all Linux web hosting solutions support PHP, while Perl and Python are not fully supported by all web hosting service providers. In fact, few web hosting companies actually provide support for the Perl and Python languages.
Linux Hosting Vs Windows Hosting
Without knowing the difference it can be a difficult decision to choose between Windows and Linux -based web hosting. The fact is, there is no major visual difference between the two on the surface, and most average users would not even notice the difference at first glance. However, there are some fundamental differences between the two that could affect your ultimate decision. For example, if you’re planning on using any Microsoft applications and programming tools likes Visual C++, Frontpage, or ASP.Net, then you may want to consider Windows-based web hosting.
Security and Performance
As far as security is concerned, Linux web hosting is considered to be safer than Windows-based web hosting. Therefore users can expect greater reliability and more uptime when using a Linux hosting service. Linux servers can also run for a very long time without the need for a reboot, whereas Windows servers need to reboot after almost every upgrade. Performance-wise Windows and Linux are neck and neck and there is no considerable difference.
Price
The most noticeable difference between the two for the average consumer is price. Linux web hosting is generally cheaper than Windows web hosting. If you are looking for a cheap deal on web hosting combined with reliability then you should consider Linux web hosting. If you absolutely need Microsoft application functionality, then perhaps Windows-based web hosting would be best for you.
Searching for web hosting companies will return a variety of results, displaying the various types of web hosting plans available. You may have done this before and encountered a few Linux web hosting plans. I am sure most of your are familiar with the Linux operating system, but for those of you who are not, Linux is the leading alternative to the Windows operating system, and is used by many companies around the world. Developed by Linus Torvalds in 1991, Linux is a Unix-like operating system that was originally meant to replace the Minux operating system. Linux is considered an open source operating system, as each user receives a source code with their copy of the operating system. Linux comes in different “flavors” such as RedHat and Ubuntu.
LAMP
All Linux web hosting plans include the LAMP software bundle. LAMP stands for Linux-Apache-MySQL-PHP/Perl/Python. Apache is a widely used open-source, multi-platform web server. Most Linux hosting plans use Apache servers. MySQL is a database that provides multiple users access to several online databases that are used to comprise the data of a website or network of websites. Any webmaster trying to utilize advanced website design of any kind will need a database of some sort.
PHP/Perl/Python
PHP/Perl/Python are all programming languages used in the production of advanced web applications. Almost all Linux web hosting solutions support PHP, while Perl and Python are not fully supported by all web hosting service providers. In fact, few web hosting companies actually provide support for the Perl and Python languages.
Linux Hosting Vs Windows Hosting
Without knowing the difference it can be a difficult decision to choose between Windows and Linux -based web hosting. The fact is, there is no major visual difference between the two on the surface, and most average users would not even notice the difference at first glance. However, there are some fundamental differences between the two that could affect your ultimate decision. For example, if you’re planning on using any Microsoft applications and programming tools likes Visual C++, Frontpage, or ASP.Net, then you may want to consider Windows-based web hosting.
Security and Performance
As far as security is concerned, Linux web hosting is considered to be safer than Windows-based web hosting. Therefore users can expect greater reliability and more uptime when using a Linux hosting service. Linux servers can also run for a very long time without the need for a reboot, whereas Windows servers need to reboot after almost every upgrade. Performance-wise Windows and Linux are neck and neck and there is no considerable difference.
Price
The most noticeable difference between the two for the average consumer is price. Linux web hosting is generally cheaper than Windows web hosting. If you are looking for a cheap deal on web hosting combined with reliability then you should consider Linux web hosting. If you absolutely need Microsoft application functionality, then perhaps Windows-based web hosting would be best for you.
Searching for web hosting companies will return a variety of results, displaying the various types of web hosting plans available. You may have done this before and encountered a few Linux web hosting plans. I am sure most of your are familiar with the Linux operating system, but for those of you who are not, Linux is the leading alternative to the Windows operating system, and is used by many companies around the world. Developed by Linus Torvalds in 1991, Linux is a Unix-like operating system that was originally meant to replace the Minux operating system. Linux is considered an open source operating system, as each user receives a source code with their copy of the operating system. Linux comes in different “flavors” such as RedHat and Ubuntu.
LAMP
All Linux web hosting plans include the LAMP software bundle. LAMP stands for Linux-Apache-MySQL-PHP/Perl/Python. Apache is a widely used open-source, multi-platform web server. Most Linux hosting plans use Apache servers. MySQL is a database that provides multiple users access to several online databases that are used to comprise the data of a website or network of websites. Any webmaster trying to utilize advanced website design of any kind will need a database of some sort.
PHP/Perl/Python
PHP/Perl/Python are all programming languages used in the production of advanced web applications. Almost all Linux web hosting solutions support PHP, while Perl and Python are not fully supported by all web hosting service providers. In fact, few web hosting companies actually provide support for the Perl and Python languages.
Linux Hosting Vs Windows Hosting
Without knowing the difference it can be a difficult decision to choose between Windows and Linux -based web hosting. The fact is, there is no major visual difference between the two on the surface, and most average users would not even notice the difference at first glance. However, there are some fundamental differences between the two that could affect your ultimate decision. For example, if you’re planning on using any Microsoft applications and programming tools likes Visual C++, Frontpage, or ASP.Net, then you may want to consider Windows-based web hosting.
Security and Performance
As far as security is concerned, Linux web hosting is considered to be safer than Windows-based web hosting. Therefore users can expect greater reliability and more uptime when using a Linux hosting service. Linux servers can also run for a very long time without the need for a reboot, whereas Windows servers need to reboot after almost every upgrade. Performance-wise Windows and Linux are neck and neck and there is no considerable difference.
Price
The most noticeable difference between the two for the average consumer is price. Linux web hosting is generally cheaper than Windows web hosting. If you are looking for a cheap deal on web hosting combined with reliability then you should consider Linux web hosting. If you absolutely need Microsoft application functionality, then perhaps Windows-based web hosting would be best for you.
(The Hosting News) – Hostway Corporation, the global Web services leader, announced today that it has bundled Instant Business Broadcast, a service that submits a business profile to 10 of the most popular online directories plus Newsletter Broadcast, a robust email marketing platform into its Web hosting plans.
“We want to make it easy for the small businesses we serve to attract new customers and keep them coming back. That’s why we’ve made Instant Business Broadcast and Newsletter Broadcast easy to use and free with our Web hosting plans,” said John Lee, senior vice president of small business hosting. “Instant Business Broadcast attracts new customers by getting small businesses in front of more people when they’re searching online. Newsletter Broadcast lets a small business stay connected with its customers through newsletters and email marketing campaigns.”
With Instant Business Broadcast, a customer enters his or her business information into one form. Hostway formats the profile and submits it to 10 of the most popular online directories, including Google Maps, Yahoo! Local, Bing and Yellowpages.com. The profile can include a link to the business Web site or serve as a stand-alone Web presence with all of the information people need to buy from the business.
Newsletter Broadcast is a simple interface for creating and managing email marketing campaigns. Users can plug their information into a template or upload their own HTML code and send it to a list of subscribers and track its success using the application.
These two features were rolled out this year as part of Hostway’s ongoing mission of helping small businesses succeed. While most Web hosting companies charge for their directory listing service, Hostway is offering it free with any Web hosting package. Learn more by visiting hostway.com.
Hostway Adds Directory Listings and Email Marketing to Its Web Hosting Plans at No Extra Charge is a post from: Hosting News and Reseller Web Hosting information.
(The Hosting News) – Hostway Corporation, the global Web services leader, announced today that it has bundled Instant Business Broadcast, a service that submits a business profile to 10 of the most popular online directories plus Newsletter Broadcast, a robust email marketing platform into its Web hosting plans.
“We want to make it easy for the small businesses we serve to attract new customers and keep them coming back. That’s why we’ve made Instant Business Broadcast and Newsletter Broadcast easy to use and free with our Web hosting plans,” said John Lee, senior vice president of small business hosting. “Instant Business Broadcast attracts new customers by getting small businesses in front of more people when they’re searching online. Newsletter Broadcast lets a small business stay connected with its customers through newsletters and email marketing campaigns.”
With Instant Business Broadcast, a customer enters his or her business information into one form. Hostway formats the profile and submits it to 10 of the most popular online directories, including Google Maps, Yahoo! Local, Bing and Yellowpages.com. The profile can include a link to the business Web site or serve as a stand-alone Web presence with all of the information people need to buy from the business.
Newsletter Broadcast is a simple interface for creating and managing email marketing campaigns. Users can plug their information into a template or upload their own HTML code and send it to a list of subscribers and track its success using the application.
These two features were rolled out this year as part of Hostway’s ongoing mission of helping small businesses succeed. While most Web hosting companies charge for their directory listing service, Hostway is offering it free with any Web hosting package. Learn more by visiting hostway.com.
Hostway Adds Directory Listings and Email Marketing to Its Web Hosting Plans at No Extra Charge is a post from: Hosting News and Reseller Web Hosting information.
Ann Arbor, Michigan – (The Hosting News) – September 1, 2009 – Web hosting service provider and Magento hosting solutions company, NEXCESS.NET LLC, will be expanding its Magento Secure Isolated Platform (SIP) e-commerce web hosting plans.
The original SIP plans, launched in May 2009, are a tightly integrated combination of the popular Magento e-commerce software, combined with optimized high-end hardware and software to guarantee speed, reliability and security.
Chris Wells, CEO of Nexcess noted, ”The SIP plans have really taken off. They’re popular with both small and large clients, including Fortune 500 companies which we’ve signed deals with in the last few weeks. Even the official Magento demo stores have been moved to SIPs.”
The new reseller plan will allow interested customers to resell Magento SIP plans. Mr. Wells added, ”We’ve been offering shared hosting reseller plans for years now, and these are essentially the same blueprint, except with the Magento SIP architecture.”
Each SIP reseller plan provides the reseller with five separate SIPs (approximately the same as a SIP100) at a discounted price. The reseller can then offer these SIP plans to their own clients.
Mr. Wells continued, ”Regular reseller plans are often a popular way for individuals or small companies to offer their own web hosting services to their clients. Perhaps they’re a web design business that wants to be able to offer their clients web hosting as well. We expect that SIPs will appeal to a very similar kind of customer, someone who wants to be able to offer their clients a professionally hosted, extremely secure and stable e-commerce platform.”
Final details of the new SIP reseller plan are available on the website. Nexcess plans to begin offering a standardized SIP plan based around the Magento Enterprise platform within the next month. Full details of all the Magento SIP plans are available on the NEXCESS.NET site.
NEXCESS.NET is an Ann Arbor, Mich. based company specializing in web hosting solutions, offering a range of services from shared hosting to multi-server configurations. NEXCESS.NET provides custom hosting solutions for traffic heavy and high profile websites of all genres. NEXCESS.NET owns and operates its own private data center in Dearborn, Mich. and currently services thousands of clients worldwide.
To learn more, please visit: http://nexcess.net.
Ann Arbor, Michigan – (The Hosting News) – September 1, 2009 – Web hosting service provider and Magento hosting solutions company, NEXCESS.NET LLC, will be expanding its Magento Secure Isolated Platform (SIP) e-commerce web hosting plans.
The original SIP plans, launched in May 2009, are a tightly integrated combination of the popular Magento e-commerce software, combined with optimized high-end hardware and software to guarantee speed, reliability and security.
Chris Wells, CEO of Nexcess noted, ”The SIP plans have really taken off. They’re popular with both small and large clients, including Fortune 500 companies which we’ve signed deals with in the last few weeks. Even the official Magento demo stores have been moved to SIPs.”
The new reseller plan will allow interested customers to resell Magento SIP plans. Mr. Wells added, ”We’ve been offering shared hosting reseller plans for years now, and these are essentially the same blueprint, except with the Magento SIP architecture.”
Each SIP reseller plan provides the reseller with five separate SIPs (approximately the same as a SIP100) at a discounted price. The reseller can then offer these SIP plans to their own clients.
Mr. Wells continued, ”Regular reseller plans are often a popular way for individuals or small companies to offer their own web hosting services to their clients. Perhaps they’re a web design business that wants to be able to offer their clients web hosting as well. We expect that SIPs will appeal to a very similar kind of customer, someone who wants to be able to offer their clients a professionally hosted, extremely secure and stable e-commerce platform.”
Final details of the new SIP reseller plan are available on the website. Nexcess plans to begin offering a standardized SIP plan based around the Magento Enterprise platform within the next month. Full details of all the Magento SIP plans are available on the NEXCESS.NET site.
NEXCESS.NET is an Ann Arbor, Mich. based company specializing in web hosting solutions, offering a range of services from shared hosting to multi-server configurations. NEXCESS.NET provides custom hosting solutions for traffic heavy and high profile websites of all genres. NEXCESS.NET owns and operates its own private data center in Dearborn, Mich. and currently services thousands of clients worldwide.
To learn more, please visit: http://nexcess.net.
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