Types of Web Hosting

Not all web hosting services are created equal. While one service may be just the right thing for one business, it may be totally inadequate for another. Web hosting is actually a very broad description of several very different types of services. While no single type of hosting service is best for all users, it pays to understand just what is out there, and how the different types of web hosting differ.

Shared Web Hosting

Shared web hosting is a highly popular kind of web hosting service that is most commonly used by small businesses. This kind of web hosting is minimally priced, and that makes it ideal for small business web site hosting and email domains.

As the name suggests, shared web hosting occurs when different website owners share a single server at the hosting company?s site. Software-based barriers are erected to isolate each client?s site, so there is no possibility of snooping, and it is generally considered very secure. The hosting provider will offer maintenance support, adequate uptime, and administration. Although you will have no control of the server itself, you can still manage your website a control panel interface. Shared hosting is well-suited for smaller web sites and small ecommerce sites, but those looking for extremely high uptime guarantees for a transaction-oriented environment would do better with another option. One potential downside would be inconsistent availability due to peak traffic from other sites hosted on the same server.

Virtual Private Server (VPS) Hosting

Web hosting through a virtual private server creates multiple, dedicated software-based servers on a single hardware server. It appears as though each virtual private server is running on its own hardware, even though it is not. It therefore gives the client the best of both worlds. The inconsistent availability that may be present in a shared environment is overcome in a virtual environment because resources are allotted to each virtual server on an absolute basis. As a result, there is no possibility of another user on the server consuming more than their share of resources and causing you to have poor throughput. In addition, this kind of web hosting is more secure compared to shared web hosting services, as the barriers between clients is absolute, with each client running on its own instance of the server software. The virtual environment is less costly than a dedicated physical server.

Dedicated Web Hosting

In a dedicated web hosting service, you get to enjoy complete control of one physical computer, compared with shared web hosting, where multiple users are hosted on the same physical hardware. As the name suggests, this kind of web hosting service is dedicated solely to your website. If you are looking for complete control of the server environment and the additional resources that come with it, dedicated web hosting is your best bet. Although this would usually be overkill for a small business, dedicated web hosting services are perfect when you are looking for a high rate of uptime or have a high volume of traffic. The downside to this kind of web hosting is its cost, which is much more than the virtual option. This kind of web hosting might also require you to perform technical maintenance as well as system administration tasks. You may for example, need to provide and manage the operating system and security on your own.

Managed Web Hosting

Managed web hosting is similar to dedicated web hosting with one significant difference?your hosting service fully manages your dedicated server for you, taking care of the technical and administration aspects of the server. The services that come with a managed web hosting service include software updates, security setup, load balancing, monitoring, and reporting. This is an ideal web hosting solution if you don?t want to constantly get tied up with server maintenance. While choosing this type of web hosting solution make sure that the provider offers a dedicated staff highly skilled in the technical aspects of server maintenance. Users are also recommended to go for managed web host service providers who offer 24/7 customer support. One of the only downsides to this type of web hosting is its price, which is naturally higher than the dedicated web hosting service due to the increased level of support.

Co-located Web Hosting

In co-located web hosting you custom build your own physical server, load your own software on it, and place it in your hosting company?s data center. The provider will plug in your server at the data center, allowing you to access its network and resources. You have full control over your server through remote access. This type of web hosting is ideal for highly customized websites with unusual software requirements, which may call for an intensive transaction-oriented environment. With co-located web hosting you can enjoy complete control over the server and its resources.

Reseller Web Hosting

Reseller web hosting is when an individual or business buys server space from a hosting provider and then goes about parceling it out and reselling it under a different brand name. If you wish to get into reseller web hosting, it could be a rewarding option as you get a chance to generate an income. This type of web hosting is ideal for multiple domain hosting. Although a reseller web hosting package can be more expensive than a shared web hosting service, it generally comes with useful control panels to help you take care of all your sites.

Free Web Hosting

Free web hosting is an ideal option for those who do not want to spend money on web hosting services, or for those who wish to launch a personal, hobby site. Some users also opt for free web hosting as a testing platform before they move on to more serious options, while some users choose to use it as a back up for other sites. Whatever your reason might be for choosing free web hosting, this kind of web hosting certainly does not hurt your budget. However the downside is if you are looking at small business web site hosting, this kind of web hosting service does not give a very professional impression. Moreover, users are left with very little resources and features, unable to enjoy the flexibility and freedom to upload all kinds of files and content.

Choosing the right web hosting service is crucial for your success on the internet and this calls for proper, in-depth research of the various kinds of web hosting services.

Return to Article Summary Page