Choosing The Wrong Server Will Literally Make Or Break You
Choosing The Wrong Server Will Literally Make Or Break You
by: Rich Hamilton
Choosing the right web server will be one of the most important
decisions you will ever make with your online business. Why?
Because the web server you choose will literally make or break
your online business.
Today I am going to talk about two types of servers, one is
Virtual Web Hosting and the other is Virtual Private Servers.
Over the last couple of years Virtual Web Hosting has been the
only way to go when choosing a web server. One of the reasons
that Virtual Web Hosting became so popular was because they
supported the necessary files and allowed you to have more
freedom than other conventional web hosts. But now you can have
more freedom than ever before with Virtual Private Servers.
Moreover, Virtual Private Servers should not be confused with
Virtual Hosts, because they are completely different.
Before I go any further I must explain what the difference is
between a Virtual Host and a Virtual Private Server, so that you
can fully understand. In this article I will also go over the
advantages and disadvantages of both types of servers, to help
you decide which is right for you and your business. Let's get
started with Virtual Hosting.
Virtual Hosting
Virtual Hosting is also known as Shared Web Hosting, where you
are sharing the physical server and a single set of software
applications with other users. Virtual Hosting has been
extremely popular in the past for it's fast deployment, strong
resources, and most importantly for having a very reasonable
price. Another advantage to Virtual Hosting is that you have a
powerful, reliable, and professionally managed server without
having to have advanced technical skills, making it ideal for an
individual, small business, or even a beginner webmaster.
The disadvantage of Virtual Hosting is that you are sharing the
server with other users, which are configured and controlled by
an administrator, not you. So basically you have your hands tied
behind your back, because you have to contact the administrator
everytime you have to adjust or change your configuration
settings. Even if you managed to get a hold of the
administrator, they may not fulfill your request. It's up to
them, they are the administrator. If you were the administrator
you wouldn't have these limitations and would have full control.
Virtual Private Servers
Virtual Private Servers are a hot topic these days and for a
good reason. Before I get into the advantages of a Virtual
Private Server, let explain what it is first. A Virtual Private
Server is a single server that is partitioned at the root into
multiple dedicated servers. This allows you to share the cost of
the network connectivity, hardware, and system maintenance with
other hosting customers, while maintaining your flexibility and
freedom.
The real advantage of Virtual Private Servers is that they allow
you to have complete control and they have the security
advantages of a dedicated server at the fraction of the cost.
You have access to the virtual root, Telnet, web configuration
files, and full CGI-BIN access. I can't forget to mention that
you also have access to your password, aliases file, and
sendmail configuaration file. For many reasons you can see that
a Virtual Private Server is an excellent solution for small to
medium size businesses that have an increasingly complex needs.
Moreover, there is one disadvantage with Virtual Private
Servers, you need to have some program knowledge to control and
configure the settings. Sounds overwhelming, most businesses
that offer Virtual Private Servers have very detailed manuals
making them easier to configure and control no matter what your
program level is.
Which one is right for you? Well, that all depends on you and
the size of your network.
If you have or plan on having just one web site and have
absolutely no programing knowledge, then Virtual Hosting is the
recommended and economical way for you to go. A Virtual Host can
cost anywhere from $20 - $50 a month for an account, rather than
a $100 or more for a Virtual Private Server.
On the other hand, if you have a larger network that requires
multiple web sites, like ours, and you have some programing
knowledge, then a Virtual Private Server is ideal for you. You
can host up to 50 web sites on a Virtual Private Server account,
instead of having multiple Virtual Hosting accounts, which is
not as economical.
When it comes time to get a web server, make sure that the
server fits your needs and that it supports the essential
software for a prosperous online business.
Rich Hamilton Author of: "Inside Internet Marketing"
www.InsideNetMarketing.com
HostingChecker.com - help for all your web hosting needs.
Article may be republished if this portion is not removed.