Web Hosting

Changing Hosts Without Losing Rankings

Ever wonder why so many people stress the importance of choosing a good web hosting company the first time?  Well, there are actually several reasons, but one relates to the fact that switching to a new host is such a headache.  Let’s face it, changing servers without suffering considerable downtime is almost impossible.  If your website is down for too long, you stand the chance of losing visitors, customers and eventually sales.  While you can make arrangements to inform your customers about the move, the same can’t be said for your search engine rankings.

Though it is something you never look forward to, moving to a new web host should be a straightforward process that results in little to no time.  When done correctly, your position in the search engine will not be impacted in the least.  In order to enjoy a seamless transition, you need to follow these critical points:

Check the IP Address of the New Web Host

Though it rarely occurs, there are a few IP addresses that have either been banned or experience major issues.  The worst thing you can do is move from a host that can no longer meet your needs to another one sitting on an unfavorable IP rage.  If your web pages are associated with a troubled IP address, your search engine rankings will suffer greatly.

Perform a Full Backup of Your Website

Having a full backup of your website files makes it much easier to move to a new provider.  Besides, if anything goes wrong with the new service, you can run back to your old host and set up almost instantly.  It’s always better to be safe than sorry.

Test Your Website

When changing web hosts, you will probably hurry to set everything up quickly and get back to business.  Even if the site looks fine on the surface, it is still wise to test all of your forms, applications and databases to ensure that everything is working properly.

Change Your DNS

After all of your files have been transferred to the new server and everything appears to be working correctly, it’s time to flip the switch and make it official.  All you have to do here is change your domain name servers from the old service to the new host.  This can be done easily through the control panel provided by your domain name registrar.   Simply switch out the old nameservers for the new ones and you are ready to go.  Just remember that you must wait for the domain to propagate which lets the internet know that your site has been moved.  This process generally takes anywhere from 24 to 48 hours.

Conclusion

The tips in this article should actually help you kill more than birds with one stone.  Now you know what it takes to move your website to a new server and endure the smallest amount of downtime possible.  Most importantly, you know how to keep your visitors and customers around and your search engine rankings intact.

Do Small Businesses Realize the Benefits of Cloud Hosting?

A recent survey conducted by internal resources at Rackspace show that medium sized businesses are reaping more of the benefits of cloud hosting while most small businesses are missing out.  According to the survey, 57% of medium sizes businesses in the U.S. claim to be aware of cloud hosting with 53% echoing the same sentiments in the U.K.  The survey hints that smaller companies are either confused about the advantages of cloud hosting or not familiar with the technology in general.  Although more organizations have come to realize the benefits, it looks as if this critical business segment is still in the dark.

Lew Moorman, Chief Strategy Officer at Rackspace Hosting, notes that he is surprised more small businesses are not taking advantage of the cloud services currently available.  Moorman says that while relatively new, cloud is a proven technology with the ability to suit the needs of businesses of all sizes.  Even more surprising is that nearly 60% of the survey respondents in the both the U.S. and U.K. reported having no plans to utilize cloud hosting in the future.

Executives at Rackspace believe most small businesses are shying away from the technology because they don’t completely understand the benefits it offers over traditional hosting solutions.  While all that might be true, another reason small organizations may be eluding the cloud is because they feel it is a cost prohibitive solution.  After all, new technologies often are.  If small businesses knew there was a way to enjoy scalability and cost efficiency, they would probably be more intrigued by the concept of cloud hosting.  Ironically enough, Rackspace has the answer with its hybrid hosting solution.

The Rackspace Cloud

Rackspace’s hybrid hosting solution is compromised is three core elements:

Cloud Sites – As the company’s flagship cloud solution, Cloud Sites offer a scalable platform designed for supporting huge traffic spikes on a pay as you go basis.  The environment is cross-platform, compatible with both Linux and Windows systems.

Cloud Files - This is Rackspace’s web-based storage service that provides developers with instant access to an enterprise-class infrastructure that improves scalability.  Through its partnership with Limelight Networks, Rackspace gives developers the ability to distribute content to millions of users across the world all while reducing upfront investment and IT-related costs.  This service comes with an industry leading SLA and competitive pricing model with storage starting from $0.15 per GB and bandwidth from $0.22 per GB.

Cloud Servers – The latest in Rackspace’s cloud hosting solution, Cloud Servers is set to provide server capacity to businesses of all sizes at their request.  This solution will leverage powerful technology developed by Slicehost, a company Rackspace recently acquired.  Known for its Xen virtualization software, Slicehost will stay on for the project and develop new innovative features in conjunction with the creative initiatives of Rackspace.

Rackspace is a global leader in web hosting solutions.  Aside from its cloud technology, the provider also specializes in managed dedicated servers and email hosting.  The company is well known for its award-winning Fanatical Support and recognized by Fortune Magazine as one of the best 100 companies to work for in the U.S.

Do You Need a Merchant Account?

When it comes to e-commerce, businesses large and small require a method that allows them to collect and process credit card payments.  If this sounds like your business, then you need a payment gateway which is generally provided by a merchant account.  Finding a merchant account provider can be somewhat of a challenge yet anything can be overcome when doing a little research.

How Much Will it Cost?

For the most part, merchant account providers will charge you a fixed rate per month along with a certain percentage for each sale.  Keep in mind that there may be other fees as well.  When dealing with a reputable provider, these fees will be for maintaining your shopping cart, verifying customers, processing monthly statement, etc.   Having a merchant account is vital in the realm of e-commerce as most consumers today prefer to shop online with their credit cards.  If you can’t accept this form of payment, you may as well not even open up a storefront.

How Can I Get One?

When searching for a merchant account, you will find that most providers are pretty reasonably priced.  The catch is that you must qualify.  Some of the qualifications for a merchant account include background checks, credit checks and proof that you are actually running a legitimate business.  Additionally, some will require that you commit to their service for a certain amount of time and charge cancellation fees for breaching the contract.  Others do not have stipulations and will allow you to part ways at any given time without taxing on fees.  This is why it is very important to look into a particular merchant account provider before deciding on a service.   As with most web-related processes, it is best to find a company that is in good standings and has been in the industry for a while.  This gives you better assurance that the provider will be around and won’t cause you to miss out on crucial sales.

What Should I Look For?

When comparing merchant account providers, don’t hesitate to grill them with hard questions.  One thing you definitely want to known is the estimated time frame for depositing funds into your account following a sale.  Retail sales generally do not take long to process, therefore, there is no need to wait an ungodly amount of time for your money.  You should look over the merchant account contract with a fine-tooth comb because the sooner you get paid, the better.  Always keep your eyes peeled for all the standard charges such as monthly fees, setup fees and cancellation fees if they apply.  You also want to look for any hidden fees that might deduct from your bottom line.  After all the fees have been tallied, you should then calculate the overall cost of service to find out if this solution actually works for your business.

A merchant account is a vital tool in the world of e-commerce and when signing up with the right service, you will find that it can save you noteworthy fees in comparison to a service like PayPal.   The key is finding a reliable provider that is going to be around and won’t try to nickel and dime you to death.

How to Choose a Good Domain Name

When deciding to create a presence on the web, one of the first steps you need to consider is picking a domain name for your website.  This name will represent you by tagging your website with a label that resonates within the minds of visitors.  The name can be up to 67 characters in length and consist of letters, numbers and hyphens.  One of the most important parts of a domain name is the extension or TLD (Top level domain).  Some of the common TLDs include .com, .net, .biz, .org. .edu. .gov., .mil and the list goes on.  While domain names are not exactly extinct, any observer will tell you that there is a shortage of good ones.

To the current day, well over 128 million domain names have been registered throughout the world.  Research shows that thousands of new registrations are being purchased on a daily basis.  The crave of domain names is what makes it so much harder for the newbie to acquire the name they truly want for their website.  If you came up with something simple and catchy such as Buy.com or Fixit.com, forget about it – those domains were gone a long time ago.   The sad part of it all is that many domains are just sitting there inactive, waiting for someone to come through and make a bid.  It’s a crazy game but no need to fret.  Instead of getting frustrated about the domain name shortage, get creative.

Keep it Short …

Even though you get up to 57 characters, using the maximum amount for your domain just isn’t practical.  In fact, anything over 10 characters is actually pushing it.  You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to know that shorter names are simply easier to remember.  They are also less vulnerable to typing errors.  There are however, exceptions to this rule.  Let’s say the name of your business is sort of long and you want to shorten it up with MWWF.  In this example,

Midwestwritersfoundation.com could be easier to remember than the abbreviated version.

Keep it Simple

If you find that your domain name isn’t available, you may be tempted to get clever and come up with a neat variation.  Let’s say Midwestwritersfoundation.com isn’t available.  In this case, you could decide to go with midwest-writers-foundation.com.  Although symbols can help you get closer to the name you actually want, there are some drawbacks.  For one, symbols hardly ever resonate with internet users. If anything, they will omit the symbols and end up at the site of the website owner who beat you to the original domain. Secondly, your potential visitors could easily forget exactly where the symbols are to be placed in the URL, especially if you use more than one.   If at all possible, refrain from symbols.

Be Unique

Sometimes, finding a good domain is simply all about thinking in ways others don’t.  This means coming up with different combinations of your ideal name, adding or subtracting words like “the” and focusing solely on your business.  The market you’re involved in may consist of thousands of businesses but only few, if any, will have the same name as your company.

Why You Need a Good Control Panel

Regardless of the company, every web host offers some type of control panel.  This software application is what allows a webmaster to manage and control all the essential aspects of their web hosting account.  You generally get administrative control over your domains, email accounts, databases and web stats among other features.  While the functionality varies among programs, most control panels are designed with user-friendliness in mind, allowing you to manage just about everything from a centralized interface.  A good program will give you the ability to manage your account with ease regardless of technical experience.

The main objective of a control panel is to enrich the webmaster’s experience by providing a number of tools that dramatically reduce administrative challenges.  One of the most widely used control panels on the market is cPanel and its counterpart WHM (Web Host Manager).  Both are incredibly easy to use, offering a Graphical User Interface with icons well designed on the main page.  cPanel comes integrated with a variety of features and tools that allow you to control various aspects of your web hosting account and even provides details on bandwidth and other vital statistics.

Similar to most technologies related to the web hosting arena, control panels have evolved tremendously over the years.  Aside from the basic functionality such as creating email accounts and adding domains, most of today’s software offer the ability to transfer files via FTP, database management, marketing tools and backup utilities.  The average control panel typically comes included with pre-designed templates and software that allows you to build your entire site.  Other advanced functionality that has become common is the inclusion of application installers.  For example, cPanel is integrated with Fantastico which enables the easy one-click installation of additional software such as WordPress, Cube Cart and Joomla.

There are several factors that must be considered when looking for web host and the control panel is one of the most important of all.  Although the software for you will largely depend on your personal requirements, a good control panel should offer the following qualities:

Interface: The control panel interface is the main page and the first thing you will see upon logging into your account.  Look for a program that has all the essential features located on the interface as this will make your management tasks much easier.

Platform: In the web hosting world, platform simply refers to the operating system installed on the web host’s server.  The platform is crucial as control panels tend to be designed for one system or another.

Features: Control panels are all about features.  The more features you get, the greater level of control you will have over your website.

There are numerous control panels on the market and taking the time to choose a good one is extremely important.  If you would like to get more hands on, look for a web host that offers a demo version so you can test out the control panel for yourself.

The Dangers of Insecure Web Applications

Software can be used for many great things but there is a gloomy dark side.  It also comes in the form of malicious programs and the web is literally infested with these harmful applications.  Sadly, thousands of internet users download malicious software everyday, blind to the fact that they are essentially inviting threats right into their systems.  These risks have the potential to be even more dangerous when a website is involved.  Any software code running on a web server poses a great threat for the mere fact that it contains an executable file.  This means that it can be executed by anyone in the world with an internet connection.  Just imagine if there was an executable file on your desktop computer that could be executed by anyone at anytime.  If this was the case, that program would have to completely secure in order to prevent the execution of malicious code on your system.  The same goes for programs consisting of PHP or CGI scripts.

What makes executable programs even worse is that many of them accept parameters such as a user name or email address, making them more vulnerable to exploitation.  Needless to say, the web was a lot safer some five to eight years ago when the internet phenomenon wasn’t as huge.  Today, hackers are highly skilled and more determined than ever.  They will do whatever it takes to break into home-based PCs, network servers, and even the applications on your website.  If your scripts are not probably secured, you stand the risk of losing essential data that can stir up all sorts of trouble.

Here are just a few examples of what can happen when your scripts are not properly secured:

Hijacking of your mail server: You may ask, “what’s the point?”.  The answer all boils down to legality.  Although you couldn’t tell on the surface, spam is illegal in most countries and if the authorities catch you doing it, you could find yourself in big trouble.  By hijacking the mail server, a spammer can use your domain to distribute mass mailings of spam.  When the authorities find out, it all leads back to you.

Hijacking of your website: Ever run across a family-friendly site and wondered why is was littered with pornographic images?  This my friend is website hijacking, more commonly known as defacing.  A poorly configured script can invite an intruder into your site, give them enough time to setup their own credentials and leave you out in the cold.

Attacks on other machines: Leave the door open for a hacker and they just might force you to participate in a strike against other machines.  Known as a DDoS attack, the hacker slips through your insecure script and installs a rootkit which opens a backdoor that gives them complete control over the server.  This could eventually cause problems for both you and your web host.

With the responsibility of administering the server, it is up to your web host to provide a secure environment.  As a webmaster however, it is up to you to make sure your web applications are properly scripted and secure.  Software can add instantly functionality to your site but if you’re not careful, it can also be your worst nightmare.

What Makes a Good Domain?

Many people simply do not understand the importance of a good domain name.  Those who do are struck with the harsh reality that a vast majority of the good domains have already been registered.  If you are running a website, not only will your domain be prevalent in the internet world, but in print as well.  It acts as your identity, and is an integral part of any branding strategy.  If you have made the decision to try and establish yourself online, taking the time to find a good domain is an absolute must.

What makes a good domain?  The following tips should sum it all up for you.

Memorable

A domain name isn’t serving its purpose if no one can remember it.  Sure, it would be ideal if everyone bookmarked their favorite websites, but the fact is that most people do not.  For this reason, it is best to choose a domain that resonates and makes an impact.  Avoid complexity by keeping the name straightforward and easy to remember.

Short and Sweet

While the experts say that a good domain should be no more than 20 characters long, 10 is even better.  Having a long domain name will only complicate matters.  Short and sweet is the key here because if you go over the 20 character mark, you could end up burying yourself in the deep dark corners of the web.

A Good Extension

Extensions or TLDs (Top Level Domains) represents the three letters that come after your primary name.  There are several extensions available including .com, .net, .biz, .org and the list goes on.  Keep in mind that some extensions are reserved for certain entities.  For example, .gov is reserved for government sites will .mil is for the military.  As the most popular extension, .com is what you should strive for.  If you can’t find this TLD, then .net would be the next best alternative.

Spelling

When choosing a domain, try to stay away from names that are difficult to spell.  Many people are not good at spelling, thus, if you pick something more complex, your potential visitors could end up at a competitor’s site.

Avoid the Flash

One of the worst things you can do is try to glamorize your domain with fancy symbols.  After all, most web surfers don’t pay attention to symbols anyway, so even if you do pick something that is memorable, your over zealousness could still lead them to another site.

Be Unique

A good domain name is one that is unique, very descriptive and tells a story in just a few characters.  What this means is that the name should instantly strike a cord with visitors and potential customers by giving them an idea of what to expect.  For example, if the website revolves around your business, using your business name for the domain would be a good idea.  If you are marketing yourself rather than a brand, don’t hesitate to go with your given name.  Besides, you have a much better chance of securing a domain under your own name than anything else.

5 Tips for Choosing a CMS

Choosing the right CMS for your website can be a real challenge.  After all, there are literally hundreds of products on the market from open-source to commercial solutions.  While the right system all depends on your individual needs, these five tips should making choosing a CMS much easier.

1. What’s Your Goal?

No two systems are the same.  Some are suited for personal sites, some for publishers while others are specifically designed for corporate solutions.  Before deciding on a particular product, it is best to decide what you plan do with it.  Are you looking for enhanced blog functionality or looking to create a huge news publishing site?  Are you trying to build a corporate intranet or create a social network?  There is a vast selection out there and most systems are geared towards a particular purpose.

2. What Functionality do You Require?

Most CMS software has the ability to be greatly enhanced while others only support limited plugins.  You need to determine the level of functionality you require out of the box as well as flexibility that grants more power in the future.  CMS features range widely but here some of the basics you will find in the more popular products.

Forums – While forums are a common feature, not every CMS supports them.  The good thing is that forums can be incorporated in a number of ways.  For example, they can be custom built into a CMS or implemented via plugin.  If your project requires forums, be sure to do some research and find out how many come included or what method is required to incorporate them.

Polls – Polls are another hot CMS feature.  If you want to allow your users to vote on specific content, you will need a product that supports this feature.

WYSIWYG Editor - Short for What You See Is What You Get, the WYSIWYG editor can make your life as an administrator much easier.  This tool offers a simple word processor interface that gives you the ability to easily add text and pictures.  If you’re not proficient with programming languages, the WYSIWYG editor is one feature you can’t do without.

3. Compatibility

When deciding on a CMS, you need to keep your web host in mind and find out if they actually support the software.  For instance, there are some systems that are entirely based on PHP while others cater to Ruby on Rails and other languages.  Aside from the language, you need to know what database your host supports.  Some products are designed for MySQL, others are designed for MS SQL.  Versions are important as well as a CMS based on PHP 5 may not integrate well on a server equipped with PHP 4.

4. Customization

Depending on your goals, you may want a CMS that is easy to customize.  Rest assured because themes are widely available for most systems.  Drupal, Joomla and Mambo are just three of many products supported by a wide range of additional themes.

5. Support

Whether its open-source or commercial, finding a CMS that offers support is vital.  If you purchase a product, be sure that you can get technical support from the vendor.  If you opt for an open-source product, be sure to select one with an active user community

Helms: The Ultimate Windows Control Panel

For the most part, web hosting control panels are platform specific, meaning they are designed to function with a particular operating system.  While Linux users get the benefit of the industry leading cPanel software, those who prefer Windows are not left out in the cold.  This article will introduce you to Helm, the preferred control panel for the Windows platform.

What is Helm?

Created by software developer Parallels, Helm is a powerful control application that offers numerous benefits to web hosting companies, providing the ability to automate and control their operation with ease.  Its flexibility is able to support companies of all sizes, running seamlessly on a single server or across thousands of machines.  Helm streamlines the server-to server to communication in a secure manner, allowing providers to be more efficient while cutting back tremendously on administrative time.

Scalability

Although most web hosts start out with just a few servers, having the ability to upgrade to hundreds more is crucial.  Helm provides that scalability that enables a hosting company to go from one to hundreds to thousands of servers with no lag in performance.  Its powerfully unique service distribution facility has the ability to run multiple services on any server and is even compatible with services from other providers.

Centralized Interface

Helm is a straightforward control panel that offers all the essential features and services right from the interface.  This allows companies to easily manage their customer base regardless of how many or what types of servers are being used.  Helm allows you to administer sites on everything from mail servers to remote servers.

Built-in Communication System

Helm’s simplistic approach adds ease to the task of customer relations as the integrated communications system is designed in a manner that allows you to stay in touch with your clients.  Helm automates many of these processes including the distribution of invoices and payment reminders.

Advanced Billing System

Helm is perfectly suited for a web hosting business as it providers the ability to sell virtually any type of service.  For example, customers with complex hosting packages consisting of various add-ons can be invoiced for all those services in one simple, itemized invoice.  The software also allows you to automatically bill customers for services used on a weekly, monthly or yearly basis and offers payment options such as credit card, PayPal or bank account.

Customization

Helm gives you the ability to completely brand your business into the control panel.  You can incorporate custom HTML headers and footers as well as helpful links into your customers’ control panels.  What this means is that it allows you to give Helm the look and feel of your business without losing any of its power.

Helm is the ideal control panel for web hosting solutions.  The software is highly functional yet very user-friendly to the savvy administrator.  Helm’s greatest attribute is the fact that it passes along a similar level of power and simplicity down to the end-user.  Whether you’re looking to be a web host or tackle another business, the Helm software makes a great Windows control panel.

Beware of Cheap Web Hosting Practices

At first glance, cheap hosting is an ideal solution for individuals and small businesses looking to create a web presence.  After all, why pay top-dollar when so many hosts are offering the same service for next to nothing?  Yes, cheap hosting appears to be the route for obvious reasons but is it really a reliable solution?  You may find this service questionable after reading about some of the most common cheap hosting practices.

The Ambitious Newcomer

It takes a lot to run a web hosting company.  Providers require servers, bandwidth and a plethora of IT experts to help maintain the infrastructure.  Those who lack the resources and expertise to run the infrastructure outsource their hosting operations to third-party professionals, thus enabling them to elude the hassle and enormous costs.  Aside from financial resources, the cost savings obtained from outsourcing is what allows many companies to offer web hosting packages at competitive prices.

Along comes a new company looking to dabble in the web hosting industry.  Noticing all the low prices on the market, they come up with the bright idea of offering their service at a fraction of the price.  What better way to increase profits and overall growth of the company?  Things usually start out well for the new ambitious web host.  With everyone searching for affordable hosting, customers flock to the cheap service provider.  The veteran hosts even notice some of their clients fleeing for the cheaper service as well.  In the spirit of competition, they also lower their prices in order to keep pace in the market.  Here’s the catch – more than likely, the prominent web hosts have the flexibility and resources that allow them to trim costs without suffering any major financial losses.  The brilliant newcomer?  Well, they usually find themselves in a world of trouble.

Cutting Back Equals More Losses

Despite all the customers, the incredibly low price leads the newcomer to cut corners and make sure the company remains profitable.  They start by relieving some of their IT staff and technical support personnel.  When that isn’t enough, they began to trim away more essential aspects of their infrastructure.  They cut back on the maintenance and security procedures that are vital to any web hosting company.  Next, they overload their servers with customers.  From there, its reducing the number of servers entirely.  The cheap web hosting provider is still in business but in bad shape.  Limited personnel and IT engineers has resulted in horrible customer service.  The lack of preventative measures leads to more hardware failures and excessive downtime.  Overloading and minimizing servers results in poor performance and you’ve guessed it, more downtime.  Now that cheap but reliable web hosting package isn’t nearly what it is was advertised to be.

There is Hope

The cheap practices of an overzealous web hosting company hurts you the most.  Fortunately, not all cheap services are cheaply run as there are several reliable hosts on the market.  There is nothing wrong with trying to save a few dollars with an affordable web hosting service .  Just don’t go too low because you might get less than you paid for.

The Many Faces of Web Hosting

For the most part, what makes choosing a provider so challenging is that there are so many different types of web hosting.  Narrowing down the choices is often as simple as finding one that suits your personal or business needs.  To give you an ideal of what is available, we have provided some details on the most common types of web hosting.

Free Hosting

Yes, free web hosting really does exist.  You can have your very own website without paying anything at all – that is, if you don’t mind being restricted.  What do we mean by restricted?  Well, with a free web hosting service, you generally have little disk space and bandwidth to work with.  Features?  You don’t get too many of those either.  If you’re lucky, you may get a simple control panel along with the ability to upload a few images and integrate a free shopping cart into your site.  How could we forget the advertisements?  When hosting your site with a free service, the provider typically places third-party ads on your site and best of all, you have no say in the matter.  If you can deal with the drawbacks, know that free web hosting is widely available.

Shared Hosting

Shared hosting is the most common type of web hosting today.  After free services, it is also the most cost effective.  With shared hosting, you are literally sharing server space and resources with other web hosting customers.  This arrangement calls for you to share disk storage, bandwidth, CPU, RAM and generally an IP address as well.  Shared hosting allows providers to offer a cheaper service because the customers essentially pay for the cost of the hardware and critical resources.  Although you have no control over the web server, you do have control over your site by way of a control panel application.

VPS Hosting

Short for Virtual Private Server, VPS is similar to shared hosting in the way that it involves hosting multiple websites on a single server.  The major difference is an evolving technology known as virtualization.  This type of software has the ability to simulate multiple servers within a single physical server.  A VPS is partitioned in a manner that isolates you from other customers hosting on the server, providing you with guaranteed resources and enhanced stability.  If you require more flexibility than shared hosting can offer but can’t afford an entire server, VPS could be the right solution.

Dedicated Hosting

Often referred to as dedicated server, dedicated hosting is an arrangement where you have the entire server dedicated exclusively to your personal or business needs.  This means that you don’t have to worry about sharing disk space, bandwidth, RAM and other vital resources.  Dedicated hosting provides the utmost in flexibility, stability and security but is also far more expensive than conventional shared hosting.

Managed Hosting

Managed hosting can be described as dedicated hosting in full turnkey service terms.  Because a dedicated server requires extensive maintenance and administration, managed hosting is often needed for individuals who lack technical knowledge or the time required to keep the machine thriving.  With this type of solution, you usually have the luxury to choose a predefined managed package or select the options and services that best suit your hosting needs.