Web Hosting
Web hosting is a prime service that users can utilize after obtaining either dial-up or broadband access to the Internet. It provides users to broadcast their own information resources to any Internet user that is interested in accessing them. Web hosting makes use of the server/client model to distribute content. A Web hosting provider will provide its client right to access a Web server that will push client’s content to recipients on request. Recipients use Web browsers like Microsoft Internet Explorer or Netscape Navigator to request content from the Web over their own Internet connection.
On a special computer Web sites are stored or hosted called server. The server or host computer permits Internet users connected anywhere to reach site when they put host’s domain address in web browser. The server or host computers are set up so that when someone types Web address in browser, the address will follow a route from computer to computer until it reaches host computer and web site. After that Internet user will be able to browse throughout the Web site. Hosting companies usually need their own domain name in order to host with them.
Web hosts provide the technical resources and equipment that are required to offer a consumer with their own customized Web site. Hosting companies charge a fee for the storing Web site service and allowing Web site visitor traffic flow through computers to get information on site.
Web hosting services are more advantageous because the physical location of the Web server does not reside at the consumer’s premises. Many small businesses take advantage of Web hosts in order to free themselves from pre occupying their scarce human and financial resources on Web host issues. Companies and individuals who outsource their Web presence to achieve the following objectives: improve own company focus, reduce operating costs, gain access to in-depth expertise, free internal resources for core competencies and obtain access to world-class capabilities to control IT functions which are difficult to handle. In multiple formats Web hosting is offered to the consumer based upon its requirements. These requirements are depend upon cost and infrastructure provided.
Types of Web Hosting
Web hosting services present in all sizes and shapes. It is useful to break down all services into several “classes” in order to understand the most fundamental differences in pricing and functionality. Each “class” speaks the needs of a particular type of customer.
1) Shared Hosting :
This is the most basic and important of all services. The hosting service providers put several web sites on a single powerful machine.
2) Virtual Dedicated Hosting :
This is a fairly new web hosting service, which seems to be bridge between “shared” and “dedicated” hosting. Several web sites are physically placed on a server, but the number of such sites is small in number and each one is given a dedicated “copy” of the operating system along with portion of computer resources, a copy of web server software in addition to direct “root-level” access to the server itself.
3) Dedicated Hosting:
Dedicated Hosting means that the computer which is used to serve web site is used by users only. Dedicated hosting allocates a Web site to its own server. This is more flexible because it has full control over the back end of the server including choice of OS.
4) Colocated Hosting (Colocation) :
Colocation provides ultimate degree of flexibility. This hosting consist of buying and installing own server on the web hosting provider’s premises.
5) Managed hosting :
It is accompanied by a full suite of technical support, maintenance and monitoring services. In managed hosting, customers are provided with their own servers but are still responsible for virtually all administrative and maintenance duties.
Web Hosting Server Technologies :
The different hosting technologies are as follows:
1) Windows Hosting:
Windows hosting means hosting of web services that use Windows operating system. User should choose Windows hosting if he want to use Active Server Pages as server scripting or if he want to use a database like Microsoft Access or Microsoft SQL Server. Windows hosting is also the best choice if user want to develop web site using Microsoft Front Page.
2) Unix Hosting:
UNIX hosting means hosting of web services that uses UNIX operating system.
UNIX was the first reliable and stable web server operating system.
3) Linux Hosting:
Linux hosting means hosting of web services that uses Linux operating system.
4) ASP – Active Server Pages
Microsoft developed Active Server Pages as a server-side scripting technology.
With ASP dynamic web pages can be created by embedding scripting code inside HTML pages. The code is run by the web server before the page is returned to the browser. Both Visual Basic and JavaScript can be used for ASP code.
5) JSP
JSP is a server-side technology developed by Sun. With JSP dynamic web pages can be created by embedding Java code inside HTML pages. The code is run by the web server before the page is returned to the browser. Since JSP uses Java, the technology is not limited to any server-specific platform.
6) FrontPage
Microsoft developed FrontPage as web site design tool. FrontPage provides users easy way to develop a web site without any deep knowledge of web development. Most Windows hosting solutions maintain FrontPage server for users that use FrontPage to develop their web site.
7) PHP
PHP is a server-side scripting language which allows creating dynamic web pages by embedding script code inside HTML pages. The code is run by the web server before the page is returned to the browser.
8) Cold Fusion
Macromedia developed Cold Fusion, which is another server-side scripting language used to develop dynamic web pages.
