The Experience Factor

While some customers have the experience needed to maintain a dedicated server, others do not.  If you have a capable in-house team, you should be able to thrive just fine in this more complex environment.  For the more technically inclined user, managing an entire web server is usually no problem at all.  For those that have no experience or knowledgeable administrator, a managed solution may be the best option for their dedicated server.  With a managed service, the hosting provider handles the bulk of the maintenance and is often responsible for making sure the server stays up and running.  This generally includes taking care of the operating system, web server, applications and the hardware itself.  While an unmanaged server is usually the cheaper route, managed hosting is often the best way to go if you lack the knowledge and experience needed to maintain the system.

Is it the Right Move for You?

Whether or not you have the resources needed to manage a dedicated server is a critical factor to determining if this type of hosting is right for you.  If you are have the budget to take on the cost associated with leasing the hardware and feel that the hosting firm can provide you with an acceptable level of support, this could be the best move.  Regardless of where you stand in terms of experience, it is critical to first determine whether your website or business demands the power of a dedicated server.  If not, you could taking on an unnecessary expense and complexity that makes it more difficult for you to succeed.  As long as you warrant the need, a dedicated server can be a viable option whether you possess the technical abilities or not.  With the market for managed hosting services growing rapidly, you do not have to let the lack of experience deter your plans because solutions are widely available.

In today’s internet driven world, the website often reflects on the credibility of the company behind it.  A dedicated server can help you a establish and maintain a credible online presence while providing your business with the best possible chance to succeed.  If you are not sure of how to proceed, reach out to a few service providers for a little guidance.  This way, you can gather the information you need and perhaps find yourself a good partner in the process.

]]> http://webhostinggeeks.com/blog/2009/11/17/can-you-handle-a-dedicated-server/feed/ 0 http://webhostinggeeks.com/blog/2009/11/11/introducing-hms-panel/ http://webhostinggeeks.com/blog/2009/11/11/introducing-hms-panel/#comments Wed, 11 Nov 2009 16:13:49 +0000 CommunicateBetter http://webhostinggeeks.com/blog/?p=613 HMS Panel is an all-in-one control panel designed for Linux server platforms.  A multi-server solution, it offers a number of advantages to both the web hosting provider or the customer who needs a more efficient way to manage their dedicated or virtual private server.  HMS Panel is secure, easy to use and loaded with an arsenal of features that will surely come in handy for administrators at all levels.  Here is the rundown:

Complete Domain Management

HMS Panel provides a complete system for managing domains.  Users can add domains and sub-domains to the IP address of their choosing whether it is located on or off the server.  Wildcards can be added so that all sub-domains for a particular domain point to a specific IP address.  You can also modify domain zone files along with CNAME records, A records and MX records.

Email Management System

Web hosting customers on the client side benefit greatly from features such as HMS Panel’s robust email management system.  Users can easily create email accounts and customize their communications with forwarders, catch-all addresses and auto-responders.  While customers have access to their messages via the control panel interface with SquirrelMail, they can also integrate Microsoft Outlook Express or their preferred mail client.

.htaccess Management

HMS Panel offers a robust .htaccess management tools that can be used to apply various settings to directories within a particular domain.  This includes error handling with custom 401, 403, 404, and 505 redirects, IP and domain blocking, file and directory redirects, hotlink protection, directory browsing and much more.  The .htaccess management console utilizes AJAX technology, making it a dynamic and very flexible system.  While this system is very convenient, experienced administrators also have the ability to modify .htaccess via the standard control panel interface.

Web Application Management

Similar to most control panels on the market today, HMS Panel is integrated with a facility that enables customers to perform one-click installations of various pre-installed software applications.  The software management console makes it easy to incorporate programs such as WordPress, phpBB, phpAdsNew, Gallery, Drupal and osCommerce among several others.  These applications are mainly available due to user request, but the HMS Panel control panel offers the ability to install many more third-party scripts.

Advanced Security

HMS Panel was developed with advanced web technologies and security mechanisms.  The software utilizes sophisticated API authorization to ensure that server communications remain protected.  By leveraging an enterprise-grade authentication system, HMS Panel is able to better assure that web applications and network security features are properly configured.  The software also uses process isolation, a technology that allows administrators to isolate web applications from one another, making it so that potential issues with one application do not affect others running on the server.

A Complete Control Panel Solution

Now on version 3.5.1, HMS Panel is quickly evolving to be one of the most remarkable control panels on the market.  It has all the basic capabilities offered by other panels with a few qualities that make it stand out from rest.  If you are in search of a new control panel for your server, give HMS Panel a shot with the free 30-day trial license.

Affiliate Program – An affiliate program refers to a revenue sharing program where webmasters can earn commission by generating leads, traffic or sales of a web hosting service.  If you feel that have signed up with a respectable hosting provider, you may be interested in their affiliate program to earn some extra cash.

ASP - Active Server Pages is a technology that allows developers to create dynamic, database-driven websites.  The web server processes the ASP code and then translates it into HTML for your visitors to view.

Auto Responder – An auto responder is an automated program that can be configured to acknowledge the receipt of an email, and automatically sends a reply to the sender.  This is an effective tool for keeping base with clients when you’re away from the desk or on vacation.

Backbone - A backbone refers to a single high-speed line or a series of connections that enable a pathway to a network such as the internet.  The more backbones or the higher the capacity, the higher level of availability your site will enjoy.

CGI Scripts - Common Gateway Interface scripts are small programs installed into a web server.  They are designed to perform specific tasks and enable functionality that a simple HTML document cannot.

Control Panel – A control panel is a software package that allows hosting providers and customers to simplify various web server tasks.  This type of application gives you the ability to easily maintain your mailboxes, files, manage domains and more even if you have little to no experience.

Dedicated Server – Also called dedicated hosting, a dedicated server describes a situation where you lease service from a hosting provider and get the entire server to yourself.  This in contrast to shared hosting, which hence, calls for you to share the server with other customers.

IP Address – An IP address is a unique numerical code used to specify hosts (computers) and networks.  Every machine connected to the internet has its own IP address.

Reseller Hosting – Reseller hosting is a type of hosting where a customer purchases service from a provider and then sells hosting package to customers of their own.  This has become a popular and affordable way for entrepreneurs and small businesses to profit from the web hosting market.

Shared Hosting - Shared hosting refers to a hosting arrangement where multiple websites are stored on a single server.  This is the most affordable and common type of web hosting there is.

Web Host – The web host is the company who provides you with the e-commerce hosting solution.  They run computers known as severs that have dedicated lines to the internet.  The purpose of a web host is to serve your pages to internet users and assure its availability.

The Cost Aspect

While it is true that managed web hosting has traditionally been more expensive than leasing a dedicated server, if you look a little closer, you will see that there are tremendous cost savings to be obtained.  The cost benefits of managed service can be observed from the ability it provides to dramatically cut down on the resources needed to power your website or business.  With this type of solution, you can start saving by subtracting from your staffing requirements as you will not need anywhere near the amount of physical resources.  In addition, you can pocket substantial savings on operating costs, office space requirements and all the expenses needed to ensure that your business continues to run smoothly on a day-to-day basis.  Aside from saving money, a managed hosting service also spares you valuable time.  All the time-consuming tasks will be shifted the shoulders of the hosting provider while you set your focus on the less technical aspects.

Less Control, More Freedom

Indeed, a dedicated server provides you with added flexibility and complete control of your entire web-based operation.  However, with this option, maintaining your presence can become a full-time job in its own right.  For those who do not have the time or expertise to deal with the hassles that come along with a dedicated server, managed hosting providers step in to lift the burden, allowing you to expand and grow your website.  Over the years, these services have gained a reputation for being hassle free and rather cost efficient when compared to trying to maintain the same systems in-house.  In addition, there are many companies that will allow you to choose only the services you need, providing you with a comfortable level of control and the freedom to focus your efforts in other areas.

Conclusion

In theory, your job as a website or business owner should be to continuously develop new ways to increase your visibility and bottom line.  However, this is much more difficult when you are scrambling to hire a competent IT staff and trying to ensure that the systems remain available.  By opting for managed hosting service, you will have the time and freedom needed to focus on the tasks necessary to ensure the growth and stability of your web presence.  Sometimes it takes a little help to truly succeed online and a reliable managed hosting service can be that assisting crutch.

The Benefits of Database Hosting

A database server is an intriguing piece of software as it has the ability to store tons of information.  Unlike the average web server application, this type of server stores information in tables, which consists of columns and rows.  Through the use of a database, users can get the information they need in a matter of minutes.  For example, Google aims to keep its online searches below a half a second, all made possible by the more 3 trillion pages in its extensive database.  What makes a database such a good source of retrieval is that it mainly pulls data out of memory opposed to a hard disk drive, something it does up to 10 times faster.  Since the database is the core of the entire application, it tends to have more RAM and therefore, functions much faster than the typical web server.

Downside of Database Hosting

Similar to the software application side of a dedicated server, a database server calls for heavy administration.  For this reason, it may be a good idea to go with a managed service if you lack the experience this type of hosting requires.  A managed service will get you a package where the hosting provider handles some or even all of the database server administration on your behalf.  These services generally range from simple management operations to more demanding tasks such as system security patching.  If your plans call for a complete database server but you do not have time or skill needed to maintain it, you might be interested in a managed solution or at least one that allows you to purchase some sort of service upgrades to ease the pain of administration.

Do You Really Need Database Hosting?

While there are tremendous benefits involved, database hosting is not made for everyone.  For example, if you simply have a need to run a small online business with shopping carts and other e-commerce features, you can probably get by with a normal web hosting package that provides you with access to multiple databases opposed to the entire server.  It is imperative to keep in mind that there are significant differences between database hosting and simply having access to one, or even multiple databases.  In this type of arrangement, the database system is the most essential element of the entire application as this is where all the processing is handled.   True, there are similarities, but the MySQL database server is an entirely different animal than the Apache web server.

Uncovering the Truth

As a customer, it is important to understand that web hosting is a major industry with a terminology all its own.  What a particular term means to you can have an entirely different meaning in this environment, as is the case with unlimited in regard to domains.  Although several companies will lead you to believe that you can launch websites until your heart is content, you can probably host up to 5 domains before things go haywire.  Anything more increases the likelihood of draining critical resources such as bandwidth, memory and CPU.  When this happens, you might not have a single website available let alone 5 of them.  Therefore, you should look at unlimited domain hosting as another clever tactic similar to the incredible disk space and transfer offerings used to entice unknowing customers.

Instead of allowing you to broaden your web presence, an unlimited domain hosting solution could end up creating unlimited ways to get your sites shut down.  Despite the advertisements, some of these plans come attached with complex stipulations and restrictions that typically don’t work in your favor.  Beneath the technical jargon and fine print you will discover limitations on CPU and RAM usage, file size, FTP uploads and the list goes on.  All these complications in an arrangement that is supposed to offer the freedom of unlimited.  Go out of bounds and you could find yourself trapped at the mercy of an unruly web host.

Save Yourself

It may not be fair, but it is pretty easy to understand why companies heavily promote unlimited domain hosting packages.  It is just another way to sell a service to customers who simply don’t know enough about how the technology works to realize the ploy.  In most cases, no harm, no foul.  Others however, turn out be disastrous.  The truth is that some of the industry’s leading providers are making their names off of these misleading yet ingenuous marketing gimmicks.  It is up to you to know the game and read between the lines.  There is a great chance that unlimited domain hosting will continue or eventually be replaced by offerings promising even more irresistible capabilities.  While you can’t change the hosting market, you can prevent yourself from getting stuck in a jam.

]]> http://webhostinggeeks.com/blog/2009/05/19/avoiding-the-pitfalls-of-unlimited-domains/feed/ 0 http://webhostinggeeks.com/blog/2009/05/01/free-control-panel-software-for-your-server/ http://webhostinggeeks.com/blog/2009/05/01/free-control-panel-software-for-your-server/#comments Fri, 01 May 2009 16:50:49 +0000 CommunicateBetter http://webhostinggeeks.com/blog/?p=313 If you need a control panel program for your server, it is important to know that the options span much further than commercial versions such as cPanel and Plesk.  In fact, there are some free control panels on the market that make excellent choices for a dedicated server.  The options discussed in this article will be GNUPanel, SysCP and Webmin.

GNUPanel

A relatively new option, the GNUPanel is an application scripted in the PHP5 programming language and designed to run on the Debian distribution of Linux.  The standout features of this software include domain and FTP management, mail management and database administration.  This control panel lets you control popular applications such as the Apache web server as well packages like PHP and MySQL among others.  The software also enables the automatic installation of various third-party programs including Joomla, phpBB, osCommerce and Wordpress among others.  Hence the name, GNUPanel has an open-source license under the GPL.  Although this control panel is currently restricted to the Debian platform, its developers say the application is currently being designed to support other operating systems.

SysCP

The SysCP control panel allows you to manage your web space, mail, CGI scripts, DNS settings, create custom error pages, view statistics and more.  The features integrated into the software provide you with the ability to control a wide variety of applications including Apache, BIND, Courier and ProFTPD.  While there are numerous modules built-in into the control panel, there are even more extensions available for download that enable you to administer other aspects of the server.  Some of the third-party modules for SysCP include tools that allow you to manage applications such as Fetchmail and SpamAssassin, perform backups of your critical data and more.  This control panel supports five major Unix-like distributions with the most notable being Debian, Gentoo, FreeBSD, OpenSuSe and Ubuntu.  Under the GNU GPL, SysCP can be freely distributed and modified.  Before installing SysCP, be sure to check for compatibility as it supports certain versions of the afore mentioned operating systems.

Webmin

The Webmin control panel is becoming an increasingly popular option for dedicated server customers.  This software is incredibly easy to use and loaded with a number of features, which are primarily modules that provide the ability to administer the server.  It comes standard with modules for Apache and BIND, a BSD firewall, bandwidth monitoring, a cron job manager and much more.  Aside from the built-in modules, Webmin  supports a variety of third-party extensions that can be downloaded from the web.  It also gives you the option to develop your modules.  Webmin currently supports more than 80 different operating systems including Unix, FreeBDS and several variations of Linux.   Because it is under the GNU GPL as open-source software, many developers from all over the world have contributed to the code and improved the software.  The most recent versions of Webmin have been released under a license similar to that of BSD, basically meaning that it can be freely distributed and modified for both commercial and non-commercial use.

This article will go over the factors you must consider when looking for Cold Fusion hosting.

Available Version

When it comes to Cold Fusion hosting, it is always best to choose a web hosting provider that offers the most recent version of the language.  This will allow you to benefit from the latest features to create powerful, user-friendly web pages and applications.  It also makes it much easier to integrate the language with the database system you prefer to work with.

Possible Limitations

Choosing the right Cold Fusion solution is very important as some environments prevent you from getting its full potential.  For example, there are a few shared hosting providers that will limit the use of its tags because they are often viewed as security risks.  This is mainly due to the  mere structure of a shared server.  This is very understandable as the vulnerability of your site opens potential threats to everyone else hosting on the server.  You can get around these limitations by opting for dedicated server hosting.  Though it is considerably more expensive, dedicated hosting gives you complete control over which tags can or cannot be used on the server.

Cold Fusion Features

Cold Fusion is a powerful feature in its own right but there are some minimal requirements.  Most web hosting providers will set you up with everything required to get the maximum use out of this dynamic programming language.  All that is really needed to excel with Cold Fusion is a complimenting database to provide back-end in support for your web applications.  This shouldn’t be a problem as Cold Fusion integrates seamlessly with popular databases such as MySQL, Postgre SQL and MS SQL.

Cost Factor

Lastly, you need to consider the budget you have available to put towards a Cold Fusion hosting package.  Because it is one of the oldest languages around, you can find Cold Fusion offered in many low cost hosting packages.  However, some companies charge a pretty penny for all the advanced functionality it offers, especially when bundled with compatible Microsoft products.

In the end, it is mainly the complimenting features such as bandwidth and software add-ons that will impact the cost of Cold Fusion hosting solution.

While it goes without saying, Cold Fusion hosting is something you should only seek when having a specific need for the functionality it offers.  Though it may not be as popular as ASP or PHP, the language is widely available.  As with any hosting service, the most important aspects of this niche are reliability and quality technical support.  A stable platform will give you all the ammunition you need to thrive with a Cold Fusion website.

]]> http://webhostinggeeks.com/blog/2009/03/24/introducing-cold-fusion-hosting/feed/ 0 http://webhostinggeeks.com/blog/2009/03/16/34sp-recognized-by-netcraft/ http://webhostinggeeks.com/blog/2009/03/16/34sp-recognized-by-netcraft/#comments Mon, 16 Mar 2009 18:27:19 +0000 CommunicateBetter http://webhostinggeeks.com/blog/?p=243 Leading web hosting provider 34SP, recently added another notch to its belt by debuting in Netcraft’s Top 50 Most Reliable Hosting Provider’s Network Performance list.  The induction is attributed to the provider’s commitment to ensuring that its customers enjoy the best performance possible.

Netcraft is well known throughout the web hosting industry for measuring and publishing the response times of the top 50 leading hosting company’s servers.  The firm’s measurements are made at 15 minute intervals from individual points around the web while the averages are calculated immediately over the following 24-hour period.  According to the data compiled by Netcraft, 34SP is currently ranked as 25^th amongst the world’s top 50 web hosting providers.

Stuart Melling, 34SP cofounder, stressed the importance of upholding server uptime for their customers in a recent interview.  Melling states that 34SP was founded on the core values of high availability and reliability, qualities that enable every individual, developer and small business owner to get the most out of their hosting solution at a reasonable price.  34SP has been able to thrive in the industry by utilizing the best server hardware and software technologies coupled with an expert support staff that works tirelessly to make the customers happy.   Now recognized on a global scale by Netcraft for its network reliability, it is clear to see that these investments have paid off.

According to a recent statement, 34SP dramatically enhanced the reliability and overall performance of its network and hosting services by investing in an extensive infrastructure upgrade.  This upgrade was powered by the substantial increase in sales for the provider’s hosting solutions, an impressive lineup that features personal hosting, business hosting, VPS hosting, dedicated servers, reseller hosting and add-on products that range from SSL certificates to additional scripting technologies.  34PS has also made significant improvements to its customer service and technical support system.  Investments have been recently made toward hiring additional support staff members, upgrading local office and data center hardware, and expanding the customer support operations within the 34SP global headquarters.

The reasoning behind the additional support investments came as the result of an active client survey 34SP conducted early 2009.  This survey involved a large number of approximately 15,000 34SP hosting clients with personal, business, VPS and dedicated server accounts.  The provider revealed some intriguing statistics from the survey regarding its referral rates.  When presented with the question of whether or not they would recommend 34SP’s hosting services, 98% of the clients involved responded with a definite “Yes”.  The host points to this finding as confirmation of the positive impact its reliability and quality customer support has on referral rates.

About 34SP

Based in Manchester England, 34SP is an award winning web hosting provider that specializes in solutions designed for individuals, web designers, seasoned developers and small to medium sized businesses.  The company puts an emphasis on delivering industry leading reliability, personalized support and world-class service.  34SP compliments these qualities with generous incentives and a money back guarantee to assure customer satisfaction.

Urvish Vashin, dedicated hosting General Manager for The Planet, says the provider is more than happy to give its loyal customers such a tremendous account.  Vashin notes that web hosting is a highly competitive market and this special promotion will give The Planet’s customers a wide variety of options with an excellent value for their money.  With the bulk discount offerings, resellers have the benefit of upgrading their customers to a dedicated environment in a cost effective manner.

The recent promotion allows resellers to take of advantage of significant discounts on the purchase of five or more high performance servers.  The hardware options include the Celeron 2.0+, the Dual Xeon 2.4, Dual Xeon 2.8 and Dual Xeon 3.2, the Pentium 4.2.4+ and the Xeon 5130.

Discounts on The Planet’s bulk servers are structured as follows:

The price on five to nine servers ranges from $69 to $119 a month per server

The price on 10 to 19 servers are greatly reduced, ranging from $59 to $109 a month per server.

The price on 20 or more servers is the best deal, dropping from $49 to $99 a month per server.

According to The Planet, resellers also have the option of enjoying additional savings by leveraging the provider’s Unmetered Servers promotion, a special offer that was recently announced.  For a limited time, The Planet is giving away its popular unmetered bandwidth solutions for no cost on reduced priced servers.  The packages are regularly priced at $200 for 10 Mbps and $1,800 for 100 Mbps of bandwidth each month.  This is how the deal works – the Dual Xeon 3.2, which is regularly priced at $299, can now be purchased at the discounted price of just $144 per month and comes bundled with 10 Mbps of unmetered bandwidth.   The same server with 100 Mbps of unmetered bandwidth is only $544 a month.  The Planet is expecting its customers to take of advantage while these amazing offers last.

About The Planet

The Planet is a worldwide leading provider of on-demand IT solutions, currently servicing well over 20,000 businesses and 15 million websites.  This company gives its customers a wide variety of options to choose from with dedicated servers in Planet Alpha and managed hosting with Planet Northstar.  The Planet utilizes world-class data centers, the best in server hardware and software tools.  Its enterprise-class network infrastructure allows customers to enjoy that competitive edge needed to succeed in today’s business environment.