Types and Features of Different Web Hosting Plans

When it’s time to take your vision for a website public, you need to find a great web hosting plan. Finding the plan that best suits your needs isn’t the hardest thing to do, as long as you have some idea of what you’re looking for.  For instance I have changed hosts for this blog several times over the last four years, finally settling on wiredtree because their customer service is brilliant.  I originally started this blog on free hosting, then moved to a VPS, and I’m now with my third Dedicated Server provider.

If you want to avoid migrating your sites as often as me, then here are some things to keep in mind when you begin your search about the various forms of web hosting available.

Dedicated Server Hosting

Dedicated server hosting is set up so that your domain name is matched to a full server that only handles web traffic for your site. Some configurations allow for servers to be split up, which will be discussed later, but dedicated hosting means one server for one web property. There are some obvious benefits to this, such as the large capacity to handle traffic. If your website is expected to garner a lot of visitors, and especially if your web business depends on quick, reliable responses to file requests, then it might be a good a idea to get a dedicated server. Doing so will help ensure a stable online presence that is crucial for success. Other advantages include the ability to change the operating system or file structure on your server at will, allowing for greater customization.

Virtual Private Servers

A virtual private server is another option that caters to a clientele that has less demanding needs than someone who needs a dedicated server. A virtual private server gives you many of the same functionalities as a dedicated server, but not all of the ability to customize and tweak traffic controls as you would with a dedicated one. Also called a VPS, the virtual private server actually runs off of multiple servers but acts as single server to provide a close alternative to dedicated hosting.

Shared Server Web Hosting

This is one of the most widespread forms of web hosting available. It’s easy to buy and easy to use. With shared web hosting, you are not leasing space on one particular server or virtual private server, rather, you are leasing server space from a large bank of servers at the hosting provider’s data center. There, your website’s files and requests are managed in a decentralized way and, most importantly, the server space is shared with many other websites. This does pose some problems in terms of being able to change operating systems or customize your services, but for most small personal websites and businesses, a shared hosting plan is a cheap and reasonable way to go.

Cloud Computing Style

Another, newer way of buying a hosting plan is cloud computing. In this setup, services and bandwidth can be purchased on an as-needed basis and on a sliding pay scale. Like a salad bar where you take what you want and weigh it out, a cloud sharing situation makes it easy to pay only for what you take, which is great for sites just getting off the ground.

Those are some of the most frequently used styles of web hosting, so choose wisely. Just remember that other things matter besides price, such as expansion capabilities, customer service and ease of use. Look for consumer reviews and online examples before you make a final decision.

Read Related Posts

1. The Truth About Shared Hosting
2. Feedback: How Much Traffic Before Dedicated Hosting Becomes Necessary?
3. Site Growth And Hosting Options
4. Revisited: How Much Traffic Warrants Dedicated Hosting?
5. Monster List Of Free File Hosting Services

Subscribe To RSS Feed Updates (What is RSS??)