Web Hosting

Dedicated Web Hosting – Plan Options

Dedicated web hosting is widely regarded as the most comprehensive and powerful type of web hosting in the industry. Many people praise dedicated servers and their capabilities, but they fail to mention the vast selection of plans and options that one must choose from when investigating prospective hosting providers.

Every web hosting type has many plans to choose from, and each provider is different. Even after you’ve selected a plan there are still options that you have to consider in regards to optimizing your dedicated server for maximum functionality and compatibility with your sites. The following information may help you make some of these crucial decisions if you are in the process of selecting or setting up a dedicated web hosting account.

Managed or Unmanaged

The first decision you have to make is whether you need managed or unmanaged dedicated web hosting. Managed web hosting is perfect for those who have little experience with internet technology and web servers. Since dedicated servers are devoted to sole owners, they need to be maintained by their owners, unless you have managed hosting. If you’re a novice with no technical knowledge then you absolutely need fully manage hosting. If you have technical skills and you’re on a budget then you may want to choose unmanaged hosting.

Operating System

Next you’ll want to choose your operating system, whether it be Linux, Unix or even Windows. Most web hosting companies offer variations of Linux or Unix by default with no additional charge. Dedicated servers usually operate on a corporate network of publicly distributed operating systems known as the Red Hat Network. Some of the operating systems within the Red Hat Network include variations of Linux like FedoreCore, CentOS, Debian and more.

Many times Windows dedicated servers cost slightly more because of the support involved with keeping the operating system running smoothly. Many webmasters simply install virtualization software on their dedicated server that will let them run several partitions of different operating systems. For example, you could install a software like VMware within Linux and then install Windows inside of that virtualization software. You should choose your operating system based on your site’s needs. If you run server-side Microsoft applications then you will need access to Windows in some form, whether it be directly or through a virtualization software.

Server Size

Finally, you’ll need to choose the size of your web server. There are many different configurations and server types available for web hosting providers. Ideally, you should base your decision on your budget and the needs of your web sites. Most webmasters will do fine with a small dedicated server that has about 2GB memory, however, if you plan on running software with your dedicated server then you may want to consider one with 4GB of memory or more. Look for the quad core Xeon servers if you’re a fan of power and functionality. Keep in mind the price difference between a 2GB and 8GB web server is about $150 in most cases. Dedicated hosting plans start at about $120 and go up to around $400, so you definitely have a broad selection to choose from.

Leveraging Social Communities for Successful Reseller Hosting

The web hosting industry represents an opportunity for many online business owners, not just through the service itself, but through the chance to capitalize on the amount of people that are buying new hosting accounts every day. Being an experienced webmaster has it’s advantages, one of them being that you’re in a position to offer advice to other novice webmasters. Your recommendations alone are powerful enough to influence the buying decision of prospective clients that are looking for reputable opinions.

Being a middle man in the hosting industry has it’s challenges, as it can be very difficult to create an image of self-sufficiency and professionalism, without revealing the true nature of your reselling business. The are however ways to create a social stigma that can aid in the development of a successful reseller hosting company.

Leveraging Forums

Perhaps the best way to build a reputation and solicit new customers is to become a valued member of multiple web hosting and webmaster forums. These forums are teeming with other online business owners, and are a perfect platform for the expansion of any online service-based company. Not only will you find plenty of prospective clients on these forums, but you’ll undoubtedly learn a few things from the senior members as well.

Becoming a senior member yourself also has it’s advantages, such as becoming a trusted and reputable source of information. Simply posting a link to your hosting site in your forum signature can bring several clients per day. Obviously the more forums you are a member of, the more visitors your hosting site will receive.

Leveraging the Local Business Market

Another way to gather clients is to utilize the local market. Studies have shown that 90 percent of local business owners would like to bring their business to the worldwide web, but simply don’t have the resources or knowledge to do so. This represents a largely untapped source of reseller clients that would jump at the opportunity to create an online presence. For example, you could offer a service in which you set up a website, run advertising and provide the hosting services in one inclusive package. This kind of all-in-one deal is an excellent way to generate interest in your company on a local level. Advertising in newspapers, phone books and local business directories are just a few of the ways you can begin soliciting local customers. You can even attend business meetups in your area and post ads in the local online classifieds.

Separating Yourself From the Rest

Perhaps the most important thing to remember is that in order to be successful you absolutely must be different than the rest. Even if this means offering plans that are not common or branding your control panel and content management system with a unique logo. Making your services different than the rest will give u a unique advantage over the competition. This is especially true in the web hosting industry which is one of the most competitive industries on the internet.

Shared Hosting and Site Downtime

The reliability of a hosting company is perhaps it’s most important attribute, as every other feature of the hosting account is useless without an active server. Some types of web hosting are more reliable than others, such as dedicated hosting which is considered one of the most reliable kinds of hosting accounts available. With shared hosting your site is hosted on a server with hundreds of other sites simultaneously. While this usually does not present problems, there are times when the server crashes or requires maintenance.

DDoS Attacks

Hacking attacks are prevalent in the hosting community, so it is important to pick a hosting plan that takes adequate security precautions. While most shared hosting accounts are hosted by companies which are generally reliable, there are a lot of independent resellers that are selling hosting accounts that are less than secure.

Since shared hosting accounts are the cheapest, they are more likely to be vulnerable. A DDoS attack is a simple yet effective attack that is capable of bringing down a server in a few minutes. The problem with shared hosting accounts is that a single site could be attacked, and as a result the entire server could go down, affecting all of the other unrelated sites on that server.

Server Maintenance

Shared web servers also require more maintenance, since there are many web sites hosted on the same server. In fact, in many cases the servers can be reset as much as three or four times per month. When the server is being reset the site goes down for about 30 minutes to a half an hour. This can create a very bad impression for site visitors that arrive during this time period. Using a VPS or dedicated server would minimize if not completely eliminate site down time, because the server is not being used by more than one person at a time.

Server Limitations

Aside from the above problems, shared web servers also have significant limitations due to the limited resources and diversified server usage. With so many sites using the same server it can be impossible to predict the reliability of the server. A traffic surge could occur at any time of the day, and that could result in a server crash that could debilitate all sites on the server in just a few seconds. These limitations are not a factor with hosting types such as VPS and dedicated hosting. Any serious site owner may want to consider another option with less limitations and more reliability when investigating prospective web hosting service providers. If you do decide to purchase a shared hosting account, then it is best to purchase from a reputable company.

Conclusion

Shared hosting accounts are perfect for novice webmasters with minimal needs, however they are not recommended for online business owners. If you want to keep your site visitors coming back then you need a reliable site that is online every 24 hours of the day.

Using FreshDrop.net to Find Domain Names That Already Have a High PR

Building the Page Rank of your site requires time, dedication and a lot of backlinks. Contrary to popular belief, the Page Rank (PR) is not the position of your site in the search engine as it relates to a particular keyword. It is actually a score from 0 to 10 given to every website that is indexed by Google. The higher your page rank, the more powerful your site is in the eyes of the search engine. A PR of 0 indicates a brand new site with little to no links (or a penalized site), and a PR of 10 indicates the most powerful kind of site in existence. The higher the PR of the site, the easier it is to have the site listed at the top of the search engines, for any keyword that you may target. The problem is, it can take a very long time to build up a solid PR for your website. Fortunately, you can use many sites to find domains that have recently expired, and that still have valid backlinks and PR.

Backlinks in Yahoo and Google

Aside from the age of the domain, there are a number of factors that contribute to the success and authority of your website in the eye’s of the search engines. In fact, there are many domains that are under a a year old that have higher PR than domains that are 7-10 years old. The leading contributor to the authority of a domain is by far the number of backlinks that are indexed by the search engines. There are two columns in the FreshDrop interface that relate to backlinks, the Yahoo column, and the Google column. Since Yahoo backlinks are difficult to accumulate they signify a greater value than Google backlinks.

Bidding on Domains

There are many sites online that let you bid on domain names with ease. These sites are great for finding rare domain names that could greatly increase your chances of having success in your niche, however it is often difficult to get a decent price on the domain name of your chance. Sites like FreshDrop.com are different, in that they purchase domain name as they expire, and then resell them at a fixed price depending on their value, which is established based on a variety of factors such as backlinks, pagerank, domain age, and the domain extension among others. Most of the domains at FreshDrop.com cost only a few more dollars than the original registration fee, and thus are perfect for using with micro blogging and other concentrated niche endeavors.

Using the Search Function

There is also a search function included within the FreshDrop interface that lets you search for domain names based on a wide range of criteria, including but not limited to domain extension, age, keyword, backlinks, PR, and any combination of these choices. Thus, it is simple to narrow down your choices, and you can even save your domain name hunting projects in your account to continuously find good domains in your niche.

Dedicated Web Hosting – Is it Worth the Price?

Out of all of the web hosting types available, dedicated hosting perhaps costs the most. The only other hosting solution which costs more than dedicated hosting is colocation hosting, which requires you to purchase and maintain your own web server. In a world in which high cost translates into high quality, many people assume that dedicated hosting is simply the best choice, and thus are tempted to purchase a dedicated hosting plan based on the price alone. However, the truth is dedicated hosting may not be the best solution for all webmasters.

Advantages of a Dedicated Server

Dedicated servers are capable of computing huge amounts of data, and are rarely ever met with a challenge that cannot be dealt with efficiently. For this reason there are many software combinations that would run flawlessly on a dedicated server, without hindering the server’s ability to process data. If you frequently run server-based software that consumes a lot of system resources, then you may want to consider a dedicated web server due to their unmatched multitasking capabilities. The added power means that you will never have to worry about downtime, slow page loads, or any other problems that are frequently associated with shared hosting plans.

The Price of a Dedicated Server

Of course, with the above features and capabilities come an increased price tag and more maintenance responsibilities. Instead of the usual $5-$30 that you would pay for a shared hosting plan, you can expect to pay around $100-$150 for your dedicated server, depending upon what kind of server it is and what web hosting company you purchase your plan from. Since dedicated web servers are very complex pieces of machinery they require daily maintenance and support, therefore they represent a greater initial investment on behalf of the hosting company. In order to receive a desirable return on their investment web hosting companies are forced to charge higher prices for dedicated hosting plans.

Choosing a Plan Based on Your Site’s Needs

Dedicated web servers provide a vast amount of server resources, and thus are capable of dealing with massive spikes in traffic and bandwidth. For megasite owners, or people that own hundreds of websites, this kind of server setup is optimal, maybe even essential. However for those that own just a few websites or are just starting out online, it may not be necessary to have this much power at their disposal. In many cases having more than is needed is simply an extra monthly financial burden, and an unwarranted one at that. There are so many expenses involved with keeping an online business running smoothly, and in many cases new webmasters can strive for months before seeing even a small fraction of a return.

Conclusion

Instead of purchasing the best hosting plan on the market, you should consider purchasing the best hosting plan for you. Starting with a simple and convenient hosting plan and then gradually progressing into a more robust hosting setup is undoubtedly the most practical solution for any new webmaster.

Using VMware to Operate Multiple FTP Accounts Simultaneously

When you own a large website, or several websites, one of the ways you can minimize the time and effort involved with uploading files to your site is to use an FTP client. This kind of software can upload multiple files to your website in very large batches, thus making it easier for you to upload  massive directories with the click of a button. Once you have the files created and organized properly, you can then use an FTP client like FileZilla to upload the files to your site. Using an FTP client is very simple, and it facilitates the process of site management and development without the need for individual file uploading.

The Limitations of an FTP Client

Unfortunately FTP clients are limited in what they can do, as far as uploading files to multiple sites at the same time. For those that own several websites, and need to upload many files to multiple sites simultaneously, using a single install of an FTP client is simply not an option. Thus, you either need several different FTP clients, or you need to use a visualization solution, in which you have several operating systems running on the same computer. This can be done with ease using a program called VMware.

The Freedom of VMware

As mentioned, VMware lets you have multiple operating systems on the same computer, which is useful for a variety of reasons. One of the ways you can use this to your advantage in regards to maximizing productivity is to have several virtual machines installed which are all running different installs of your FTP client. This solution is optimal for online business owners that operate many websites, and would like to reduce the amount of time spent uploading files to their sites. VMware separates each operating system, so that they are completely independent and do not share any system files. Thus, you can have one operating system infected with 10 viruses, while the your main operating system is not affected whatsoever.

How to Use VMware to Run FTP Clients Simultaneously

To run several installs of the same FTP client you’ll need to install several operating system. Since this can be quite expensive for the average site owner, this method is not recommended for novice users or those that are on a limited budget. However, for those that are in need of a solution to manage 50-100 or even hundreds of websites, this is a perfect solution. Keep in mind that having several operating systems installed and running on your machine at the same time can be somewhat taxing on system resources, so a computer with more than 8 GB of RAM is recommended. Once the operating systems are installed, simply run the FTP clients as you would in a single OS, and schedule them each to execute tasks simultaneously. At this point you can walk away or do something else with your computer, as the rest of the task will be completed by the numerous operating systems running on your machine.

Content Management Systems and The Importance of Plugins

Content management systems assist you in the creation and maintenance of web sites even if you have very little previous training. Operating a content management system is about as elementary as managing the Windows OS, so if you’re self-assured in your ability to deal with your OS, then you should be skilled enough to construct and maintain your online business correctly utilizing a website CMS.

There are numerous CMS for sale in the internet marketplace at the moment, a handful of which are free. Even though each content management system offers you lots of the same features, there are some particularly notable dissimilarities between each CMS. The most obvious differences are typically found within the graphical GUI, in which most of your site’s administrative tasks can be executed. Ordinarily speaking, just about all site CMS try to provide a simplistic interface, as this tends to make the software a bit more convenient.

What Makes a Quality Content Management System?

The full value of a content management system cannot be seen in it’s root capacities, but somewhat in the ability to interact with plugins to enrich functionality. Without these addons most Content Management Systems would be essentially pointless when attempting to perform more innovative tasks. Aside from their compatibility with plugins, a quality Content management system ought to be effortless to use, as it is the interface you will be working with to control your web pages on a scheduled basis.

What Exactly Do Plugins Do?

In basic terms, plugins let you expand the functionality of the CMS without the need for extra expensive software or programming skills. There are literally hundreds, if not thousands of plugins available that can assist you in nearly every aspect of site management and improvement. Most plugins are free, and can be found by using the search function within the CMS itself. For example, WordPress provides an installation/search module that lets you find and install plugins within one fell swoop. Plugins can do everything from help you organize your site, to improve your search engine ranking. If you’re not currently utilizing plugins within your content management system then you are not receiving the full benefit of your CMS.

Can I Create My Own Plugins?

The reason why so many plugins exist is because people are creating new ones on a daily basis. You can create your own plugins, however, you would need some PHP programming experience. You could also hire a programmer to make the plugin for you, using a freelancing sites. There  are plenty of skilled programmers that are struggling to make a living and would love to help yo with your project for a very nominal fee. If you find that there is a task you would like to automate or improve within your CMS, first try doing a plugin search, as most tasks can be executed using plugins that have already been created. However if you find you need a plugin that is completely unique, then you could easily contract the help of several programmers simultaneously to expedite the plugin development process.

The Ultimate Control Panel Software – Supreme Control Panel

Supreme Control Panel is utilized by many web hosting providers for the mere fact that the software has been developed for both novice and veteran users. Supreme Control Panel offers extensive support, an easy-to-use interface as well as plenty of advanced features and services to ensure all needs are met.

Within the navigational interface lies a horizontal menu bar that offers the user several functions and services. Each of the following areas also contains at least five further options, including email options, web tools, live stats, site management and a help center.

Email Options

The email options category doesn’t contain anything unique. It offers the same choices as other control panels including spam filters and webmail options. The web tools area presents different resources to assist the user with the design and creation of a website utilizing installable scripts. This is a helpful area for new web owners to learn the skills needed to successfully create a site.

Live Stats

The live stats area offers statistics regarding bandwidth, traffic, error logs and databases. These are fairly standard features that can be found with almost all control panel software. A solid statistics reporting area is vital for the maintenance of a website.

Site Management

The site management section displays the settings that deal with the domain and also the file manager. Other features include PHP settings, full database control and an area for FrontPage extensions. Finally, the help center offers interactive video tutorials, frequently asked questions and a ticket archive. The help options within Supreme Control Panel are extensive and effective.

One perk for utilizing this control panel is the language support. Supreme Control Panel is available in 13 different languages to accommodate international needs. Also, services that have traditionally only been available by using the web hosting index page can easily be completed through the control panel. Additionally, users can search for specific domain names, setup new accounts, enable live news feeds and renew web hosting plans.

Furthermore, the actual color and design of Supreme Control Panel can be customized based on personal taste. Unfortunately the structure and displays are set and cannot be changed. These have been optimized by professionals to accommodate all user needs.

Supreme Control Panel offers many features that accommodate new and experienced users in creating and maintaining a website. These options include email options, web tools, live stats, site management and a help center. The primary area that shines within this control panel are the help and support options. With constant updates and continued support, Supreme Control Panel could be one of the best control panels available.

The Benefits of Buying an Existing Domain Name

Domain names come and go, get activated and deactivated, renewed and expired. These processes occur thousands of times per day throughout the year. Domain names are a vital aspect of running an ecommerce business and are one of the first thoughts while beginning to develop a website.

Many new website creators spend a great deal of time and effort thinking of a domain name only to find that it’s unavailable. In many cases the name has been purchased and there isn’t even a website posted, which can be quite frustrating. One alternative to thinking of a domain name is to purchase and existing name.

There is some advantage to searching for and purchasing a deactivated or expired domain name. These benefits include:

• Previous traffic
• Search engine optimization
• Short, targeted keyword domain name

The first advantage is that traffic may have previously flowed to that website. The amount of actual traffic is difficult to estimate, but many customers that may not know the domain name didn’t get renewed, may still visit the site. Any traffic that once flowed to the site is an excellent start as it beats zero initial visitors at a newly-created domain name.

Another benefit is from the potential search engine optimization offered by the domain name. It’s likely the previous owner put some type of effort to optimize the domain name for search engines. Since it takes a decent amount of time for search engines to index specific websites, the previous owner has already been through this so the domain name may still retain a good page rank.

The final benefit is that it’s now difficult to find short, targeted keyword domain names as they’re all registered. By purchasing an existing domain name, you have a decent chance of scooping up a short name that may otherwise be unavailable. Many owners purchase short domain names as an investment and not a long-term project. Therefore, they would be willing to sell the name.

Purchasing an existing domain name is a great method for acquiring a name that still has an immense amount of traffic flowing to it, is search engine optimized and already indexed with potentially good page rank and is short, containing targeted keyword domain names. If you obtain a quality domain name, a lot of the work may have previously been completing leaving extra time for website development.

Under 35: The Top Five CMS Executives

Content management systems (CMS) have become a vital part of the internet for storing large media files like photos and videos as well as text content. Although there are many in existence, a few have exploded and are the most popular in the virtual world.

The top content management system executives have either invented the particular system or have improved it to the success it is today. The top five CMS executive list includes:

1. Arje Cahn
2. David Nuescheler
3. Dries Buytaert
4. Eric Barroca
5. Niels Hartvig

Born near Amsterdam, Netherlands, the current Chief Technology Officer of One Hippo is the intelligence behind Hippo CMS. As the co-founder of One Hippo, he offers a product that appeals to end-users and developers. At the University of Amsterdam, Cahn studied Artificial Intelligence and wrote robotics software for motion controlled cameras. Ironically he never finished his degree and instead started his own business.

David Nuescheler is the Chief Technology Officer of Day Software which is a global content management solution company. Born in Basel, Switzerland and studying computer science at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, he entered the CMS industry through a transition from Interactive CD-ROW manufacturer to an interactive web agency.

Dries Buytaert is the primary brain behind the popular open source Drupal CMS and is also the Chief Technology Officer of Acquia. He started Drupal accidentally when needing an internal message board that evolved into a content management system. The combination of experimentation and intelligence allowed Drupal to evolve into the success it is today.

At age 28, Eric Barroca is the youngest on the list. As the current CEO of Nuxeo, which is an enterprise open source CMS, he started his career as a freelance developer during the dot com boom. A high school dropout, Barroca joined Nuxeo in 2001 and advanced from sales to VP of operations and finally to CEO.

Finally, Niels Hartvig is the founder of Umbraco which is another open source content management system. Umbraco had over 250,000 downloads in 2009 and hosts 7,000 active community members. Hartvig began his career in 1997 as a web developer before content management systems existed; they were referred to as online administrative systems. He enjoyed the job so much, he never left.

As the youngest CMS executives, they all display high intelligence, good programming skills and excellent business sense. These traits allow the five youngest CMS executives to continue to prosper in this ever-growing industry.

Protecting Your Site from DDoS Attacks

Web hosting security is an extremely complex technical field, as it is constantly evolving. Every time someone finds an exploit or a security loophole, the web hosting company has to counteract that action with a security measure. Thus, what is true this year for web hosting security may not be true next year.

Hackers employ tools that are just as complex, if not more complex than the web hosting companies themselves, so it can be almost impossible to be completely immune from a highly skilled hacker. Nonetheless, the risks that are posed by security breeches are extremely serious, especially in the world of eCommerce. A compromised website could mean the loss of thousands of dollars, and several unnecessary lawsuits against the site owner. In fact, some people have even lost their online businesses due to hackers! When it comes to hacking exploits, there is one that does not appear to be going away any time soon.

What is a DDoS Attack?

A DDoS attack is a Distributed Denial of Service attack. These attacks have been known to take down entire corporations, and even entire web hosting companies in some instances. They work because they mimic realistic traffic habits to a certain extent, so there is no way to spot them until it is too late. When a hacker employs a DDoS attack they send a massive influx of artificial traffic to a site or to a web server, so rapidly that the server simply cannot handle the load and shuts itself down. The result is near instant downtime, and the loss of revenue for anyone that is hosting their site on that server. The reason why it is called Distributed Denial of Service is because the hacker is distributing a server load that causes automatic denial of services on behalf of the web server.

Who Gets Hit With DDoS Attacks?

The sad fact is, anyone can get hit with a DDoS attack, and even more alarming is that this attack is usually the direct result of the nefarious actions of a competitor. In other words, if you have a powerful competitor, then you are already at risk for a DDoS attack. Perhaps even more startling is the fact that these attacks happen all the time on sites that are not even business oriented. Hackers use smaller sites with less security to practice their skills, and send out DDoS attacks to these sites in an attempt to perfect their DDoS skills. If you are not properly protected, then you are at risk for a DDoS attack.

How to Protect Yourself form a DDoS Attack

Perhaps the best way to protect yourself from a DDoS attack is to use a web hosting company that emphasizes their ability to counteract such attacks. Some web hosting companies will offer a good price, however their security is lax. In the web hosting industry there is no room for error, especially if you own and operate a thriving online business. One mistake could result in the loss of thousands of dollars, so it is important that you seek out the most qualified web hosting companies.