The Best of The World Wide Web

Posts Tagged ‘Managed servers’

Choosing a new web host can be hard work for an expert or beginner, so you should take care not to rush your choice otherwise you may regret it later on. There are a number of steps that you need to think about and write down to start with.

What do you need a web host for?

To begin we want to know why you need a web host, to start a new company or to represent an existing one, to start a blog or other personal site, or for email. These reasons all need to be taken into account and play a role in how to go about choosing a host. Also what platform you want it hosted on either Linux or Windows. You now know what prime use is for the basis to your needs. If your doing e-commerce then mySQL and PHP are a must. If you’re planning on using a merchant banking process will also need to be able to use an SSL certificate, this is to ensure the card details are secure. With blogs you would need mySQL and PHP, but would not need lots of bandwidth or disk space, if its just for personal stuff, then its down to you to know what your doing. If your primary function is email then you need to make sure you have more than enough accounts for your users as well as disk space and bandwidth. Providers for example as KDA provide business web hosting.

PHP and mySQL are what?

I hear you asking what am I talking about when referring to PHP and MySQL? During everyday internet use these are all things you use without even realising your using them. PHP stands for Hypertext Pre-processor and is used for scripting to create dynamic web pages. MySQL is a Relational Database Management System, and is used to allow data to be stored and accessed dynamically. SSL or Secure Socket Layer is used to encrypt data and send it securely over the internet. TLS or Transport Layer Secruity has replaced the old SSL but does the same job. SSL is still the commonly referred name as this is what people know and understand.

Bandwidth and data allowance

All managed hosting services are supplied with X resources of data transfer. So we have talked about usages and some technical terms used. Now we go onto talk some even more important stuff. Your data allowance or bandwidth also needs considering. Shown typically in gigabytes, it can be hard to work out how much bandwidth you need. So when you find your host ask them what your using the server and how much bandwidth you may need. As if you run out there is normally a charge for the extra bandwidth or your site may be suspended till the end of that month.

How to get your new web host

We know what your server is going to be for, and the spec and bandwidth to along side it, You now need to locate the best web host at once. The best thing I have been told was to get a computer magazine, take out all the nice big glossy web host ads, then see whats left as normally the big companies have low prices but there customer services can be questioned greatly. Personally I would go around the internet and post on some web hosting forums and request recommendations for a package for your hosting. Then you would then get information and reviews back from users about the companies, you would not go too far wrong then.