It is important to understand all the hosting options available before you choose a web host. Every website has different needs and meeting your site’s needs will help produce a satisfying end result. The following categories will most likely be the best for hosting services:
Free Web Hosting
Free web hosting is definitely the cheapest option available, however as we all know there’s no such thing as a free lunch and this holds true with so called “free”Hosting services are also available. Hosting services that are free will usually be ad-supported and offer very limited features, storage space, bandwidth, and other limitations. This is not a good choice for websites that are supporting businesses or require a stable, efficient environment. Small websites that aren’t intended to share much information with friends and family will benefit from free hosting.
Shared web hosting
A shared web hosting service allows you to host many websites on one computer, also known as a box or server. The company, cost and hardware of the machine will all affect the number. For small businesses and individuals alike, shared hosting can be a reliable option for hosting websites. It is important to research shared hosting centers before making a decision. Quality, speed, and cost can vary widely from one host to another. Websites that use excessive resources, such as CPU time or bandwidth, will often be shut down. Your website may require a lot of resources. You might need to consider other hosting options.
Reseller web hosting
Although this type of hosting is less common, it allows clients to be web hosts. Common examples of this would be web design firms who host their clients’ websites. Reseller web hosting and shared hosting are essentially the same thing. The difference is usually the size of the hosting company. Reseller web hosting can be found in larger hosting companies, such as Bluehost or HostMonster.
Virtual Dedicated Server
Virtual dedicated servers look very similar to shared web hosting, but the way resources are allocated is different. Virtual dedicated servers are different from shared hosting in that all clients have the same CPU and bandwidth resources. With virtual dedicated servers, each client has a guaranteed amount of CPU power. Clients can also get virtual dedicated servers, which is commonly referred to as “root”Access to their virtual machine. This allows them to have more control over the machine’s operation and the ability modify the operating system.
Hosting Services Dedicated
The only client allowed to use the dedicated hosting service is the user. There are two types of dedicated hosting services: managed or unmanaged. Managed hosting allows clients to have a variety of support plans and personnel available to assist with the management of the server, as well as ensuring the security policies are in line. Unmanaged hosting will be left up to the client, which in some cases can prove less costly. A dedicated server gives you more control over the options available to your server, from mail programs to FTP service and so forth. Dedicated servers are typically more expensive so webmasters often choose the less expensive shared or virtual personal server options. Hosting companies own the servers for both dedicated hosting options.
Colocation Web Hosting Service
Colocation is similar in concept to dedicated hosting services. However, the user owns the server, while the hosting center provides power and physical space for the client. Many times, the client is not provided with any additional support beyond making sure that the server has power and is available the bandwidth they have negotiated. This option allows the server owner to have remote access or visit the site.
Clustered Hosting
Sometimes it’s not enough to have just one server hosting a website. Clustered hosting is an option in these situations. Clustered hosting allows multiple servers to host the same information, allowing for a larger number of users to have access at once.
Grid Hosting
Grid hosting is a type of distributed hosting in which a server cluster acts as a grid, and is made up of multiple nodes.
Home Server
Webmasters may choose to manage their web servers from home or work. You can either use a broadband connection that is consumer-grade or something more advanced. Colocation is similar to home servers, except that they are not equipped with the same facilities. However, these expensive facilities have back-up power and industrial-grade cooling systems. You should check with your ISP before you attempt to set up your own website.
Which Hosting Option should I choose?
If you’re reading this article you probably should be choosing shared hosting, or either virtual or fully dedicated hosting. These hosting options are suitable for small and medium-sized websites. These options are not sufficient for larger web hosting requirements. You may have an IT specialist as part of your team that is better equipped to evaluate your web hosting needs.
You should now have an idea of what kind of hosting you require. Now it’s time for the real fun, choosing the best webhost!
