It is critical that you understand the many types of hosting options available to you before choosing a web host. Every website has unique requirements, and meeting those requirements will contribute to a more pleasant end result. You will most likely find hosting services in one of the following categories:
Free Web Hosting
Free web hosting is without a doubt the cheapest choice available; however, as we all know, there is no such thing as a free meal, and this also applies to so-called “free” hosting services. Free web hosts are frequently ad-supported and have relatively limited functionality, storage space, and bandwidth. In general, this is not a smart choice for any website that serves a business or must provide users with a reliable and efficient environment. Free hosting services are ideal for modest websites that are only designed to communicate a little amount of information with a small group of people.
In the case of shared web hosting, a single computer known as a box or a server will typically host a huge number of websites. The figure will vary depending on the manufacturer, the pricing, and the hardware used to build the machine. Shared hosting is frequently a dependable hosting choice for most websites, even those for small businesses and individuals. The overall quality, speed, and cost will vary substantially from host to host, so conduct your research before choosing a shared hosting facility. Websites that abuse or consume additional resources, such as CPU time or bandwidth, are frequently taken down. If your website takes a large amount of resources, you will most likely need to look into another hosting solution.
Reseller Web Hosting
This is a less prevalent type of hosting, but it allows clients to become their own web hosts. Web design firms that host their clients’ websites are common examples of this. In reality, the only distinction between reseller web hosting and shared hosting is the size of the hosting provider. Bluehost and HostMonster, for example, are simply much larger versions of reseller web hosting.
Virtual Dedicated Server
Except for the way resources are allocated, virtual dedicated servers are quite similar to shared hosting. Unlike shared hosting, where all customers share the same CPU and bandwidth resources, with virtual dedicated servers, each client is guaranteed a certain amount of CPU power and bandwidth. Virtual dedicated servers also provide their clients with “root” access to their virtual machine. This gives them more power over how the machine operates, including the ability to modify the operating system.
Dedicated Hosting Service
With dedicated hosting services the user has full control over the server and is the only client who uses the server. There are normally two types of dedicated hosting options which are managed and unmanaged. With managed hosting the client will have various support-personal or plans in place to assist them with managing the server and ensuring that things such as its security policies are up to date. Unmanaged will leave all the responsibility in the hands of the client which can be less expensive in some cases. In both cases having a dedicated server offers you much more control over what options are available on your server from mail programs to FTP services and so on. Naturally dedicated servers are much more expensive and therefore many webmasters opt for the cheaper shared or virtual private server options. With both types of dedicated hosting the servers are owned by the hosting company.
Colocation Web Hosting Service
Colocation is similar to dedicating hosting services in that the user entirely controls the server and the hosting center only supplies physical space, power, and an internet connection for the customer. In many circumstances, the client receives little or no more assistance beyond verifying that the server has power and the contracted bandwidth. In most circumstances, the server’s owner will have an administrator who must visit the facility or have another type of remote access to the machine with this option.
Clustered Hosting
In some circumstances, having just one server to handle a website’s needs is insufficient. Clustered hosting becomes a viable alternative in these instances. Multiple servers host the same information via clustered hosting, allowing a much bigger user base to access the information at the same time.
Grid Hosting
Grid hosting is a type of distributed hosting in which a server cluster functions as a grid and is made up of several nodes.
Home Server
In some cases webmasters elect to manage their own web servers at home or at their place of business. This can be done on both a consumer-grade broadband connection or in some cases on something more capable. Home servers are much like colocation except for the loss of the expensive facilities which generally have backup power sources, industrial grade cooling systems, and various other benefits. Some ISPs do not allow their users to host their own websites so it is best to investigate this before attempting to setup your own web server.
Which Hosting Option Should I Choose?
Webmasters may choose to maintain their own web servers at home or at their place of work in some instances. This can be accomplished using either a consumer-grade broadband connection or, in some situations, a more competent connection. Home servers are similar to colocation, with the exception of the absence of the pricey facilities, which typically feature backup power sources, industrial grade cooling systems, and a variety of other advantages. Some ISPs do not allow their customers to host their own websites, so do your homework before attempting to set up your own web server.
Hopefully, you now have a clearer notion of what kind of hosting you require. Now comes the exciting part: deciding on the finest webhost!