The Essentials of Web Hosting - The internet has become a common way of life for many of us, and every day, more users are starting to realize the benefits. This global network has opened the doors for users around the world to communicate, seek entertainment, shop and conduct business online.
The internet has become a common way of life for many of us, and
every day, more users are starting to realize the benefits. This global network
has opened the doors for users around the world to communicate, seek
entertainment, shop and conduct business online. Many are leveraging the
internet as their medium for connecting with the world – and the same
opportunities exist for you. If your plans require a website, then you will
need web hosting to accomplish those goal.
What is Web Hosting?
Web hosting is a common service designed to serve websites to internet users.
Operated by companies known as web hosting providers, or simply web hosts,
these services are managed out of data center facilities and made available to
personal and business customers in various regions throughout the world. Web
hosting is composed of numerous elements, and four of the most essential of all
are the server hardware, web server, operating system and the hosting provider
itself.
Server Hardware
Though technically a computer, a server is very different from your typical PC.
The standard home-based computer has a single processor and limited capacity,
while a web hosting server usually contains at least two processors, a robust
hard drive and larger capacities of other vital hardware components. This
allows the machine to execute much faster and simultaneously process more
applications. When set up in most environments, this high-powered computer can
run one or dozens upon dozens of websites with relative ease. In theory, a
server keeps your website available 24/7 with redundant dedicated connections
to the internet.
Web Server
Often confused with its hardware counterpart, a web server is a software
application that plays a critical role in the web hosting process. As the name
indicates, it helps the server hardware serve your web pages when they are
requested by a visitor’s web browser.
Web servers run a method known as HTTP (HyperText Transfer Protocol), a
standard communications procedure that utilizes the client-server model to
facilitate communication between remote computers. For example, when a visitor
opens your website in their browser, which is a client program, a request is
sent to the server hosting your site. The server application then processes
that request and responds accordingly, displaying your web page to the visitor.
There are many types of web servers, but the most prominent on the web hosting
market are Apache and Microsoft IIS (Internet Information Services).
Server Operating System
The operating system is the most important piece of software for a server or
any computer. Often referred to as a platform in the web hosting environment,
this software is responsible starting and shutting down the server,
communicating with computer hardware and allowing the installation of various
other software packages. If you are like most users, the operating system you
are familiar with is Windows, the popular software developed and distributed by
Microsoft. In the hosting arena however, several platforms exist, with Unix and
the open-source Linux operating system being among the most widely used.
Although the web server application is extremely important, the operating
system is the heart of the server hardware. Because the platform acts as the
core of the computer, it must be installed and configured before implementing
any other applications.
The Hosting Provider
As a customer, the most essential element of web hosting is the company
providing the service. The web host must be able to ensure quality and
reliability in order to make sure that your website will be available to
internet users. This is made possible by running their network operations out
of data centers, complete with state of the art electrical and backup power
systems, environmental controls and advanced security measures. They must also
deliver a superb level of customer service and technical support to make sure
you have a way to present your questions or concerns 24/7/365. Collectively,
these features better assure that your website is secure and running smoothly
with minimal downtime.
There are many aspects that go into a web hosting operation, and these are just
a few of the key ingredients. You don’t need to be a technical wizard just to
run a website, but knowing what makes this business ticks can result in a less
frustrating experience. For More Information Please Visit. http://www.hosting-wise.com/
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