Types of Web Services - Web Hosting 101 Guide
When looking for a web hosting provider, make sure you know the difference between the different hosting plans. Here is a breakdown of the many used and available types that are available. There are advantages and disadvantages to all of them. The most common you will find is shared and the most expensive is dedicated. But I would highly recommend staying away from the free hosting. If you really want to host a site on the internet, you need to invest a small amount.
Free Hosting Server
Free Hosting is what everyone would love to have. And these types of web hosting providers do exist. The good thing about this web hosting topic is that it is very affordable...FREE. But should only be used for small site that don't have a lots of traffic. Never use for a business! They give you limited in security, no domain name and lack professionalism.
Shared Hosting Server
Shared Hosting is the most common and still very affordable web hosting plan. This is when there are hundreds of sites on the same server. If you have this type of web hosting plan you are sharing your server with hundreds of other people. They all share common hardware resources, such as Hard drive, RAM and CPU. You get your own domain name and have software options, but security is still troublesome. This can also affect Search Engine Optimization.
Dedicated Server
Dedicated Hosting are more expensive than shared. There are cheap dedicated server companies on the internet, such as HostGator.com. A Dedicated Hosting plan is where you have your own ip address and your own hard drive. You have almost complete control over the server. This is needed when having a site with lots of traffic and bandwidth. Or an ecommerce store that needs high security.
Manage Dedicated Server
A Manage server is a server that is over the top from a dedicated server. This is just like a dedicated server, but you get more control and custom advantages. You can add extra modules or services to it. Make reports, security, administration setups, software updates and load balancing. This gives you full support to your server. The downside to this than compared to a dedicated server, is that it is going to cost you that much more to have.
Virtual Dedicated Server
Virtual Dedicated Server is close to the same as a Dedicated Server. The difference is that a Virtual Dedicated Server is divided into several servers. It feels like a dedicated server and acts like one. But you are still sharing it with other domain names. This is a great way to get your site to act like a dedicated server, but not paying the dedicated server costs. This is an affordable way to get your own ip.
Reseller Hosting Server
Reseller Hosting is when you might have a extra space and bandwidth on your server and would like to rent space and bandwidth out. You can use your server and host other sites. Check with your hosting provider before doing this.
Collocated Hosting Server
Collocated Hosting is when you have a dedicated server and you own it. But the hosting company provides physical space and maintenance. Maintenance could include software updates or hardware replacement. Collocated Hosting is the mother of all hosting. You have complete control of the web server. But it is also the most expensive web hosting.
Many Different Types of Web Services
With these different types of web hosting, most of the time you will be looking for a shared hosting plan. Shared Hosting plans are affordable and cheap. Analyze your site and see how much traffic you will be planning for. Shared hosting is for regular traffic and dedicated hosting is for large amounts of traffic.
