| When comparing the best Web hosting sites to | | | | dedicated server, you do not have to share server |
| choose the top host for your website, you need to | | | | resources with anyone. Only your domains are |
| consider: | | | | hosted on the dedicated Web server. You also |
| - What operating system you need | | | | generally get full control of the server with |
| - What control panel you prefer | | | | administrator or root access. |
| - What type of hosting will fulfill your needs | | | | You may also want to consider a virtual dedicated |
| - What level of technical support you may need | | | | server. A virtual dedicated server is similar to shared |
| - Where the server is located and how it is | | | | hosting in that more than one user is on a server, |
| connected to the Internet | | | | but each user gets a guaranteed slice of server |
| - Whether past and present customers are satisfied | | | | resources. If another user has a busy site, it should |
| with a host | | | | not affect your Web sites. |
| Operating Systems | | | | If you would prefer to own your own server |
| The two most common operating systems for Web | | | | hardware, consider colocation. With colocation, you |
| servers are Linux and Windows. Linux Web servers | | | | own the server and the Web host simply provides |
| running Apache for the Web server, MySQL for | | | | rack space, network connectivity and bandwidth, and |
| databases, and PHP and Perl as programming | | | | hardware support for the server. |
| languages are the most common. There are a wide | | | | Technical Support |
| number of applications and scripts available for Linux | | | | With shared hosting and reseller hosting, your Web |
| Web servers. If you need to use ASP pages or you | | | | host is usually responsible for managing the server, |
| need to use Microsoft SQL server as a database | | | | installing server software, applying security updates, |
| rather than MySQL, however, you should get a | | | | and providing technical support (for you, not your |
| Windows-based server. | | | | customers). |
| Control Panels | | | | With dedicated or virtual dedicated hosting, a Web |
| Most of the best Web hosting sites will provide a | | | | server may be managed or unmanaged. Unmanaged |
| control panel to allow you to easily control your site | | | | is the most common, which means that you are |
| hosting account. Control panels allow you to easily | | | | responsible for all server maintenance, upgrades, and |
| see web site statistics, administer databases, check | | | | patches with the exception of hardware support |
| on server status, and manage email accounts, Web | | | | such as new boards or new drives. Managed support |
| site updates, and access. | | | | means that the Web host (or a third party |
| Unless you prefer a different control panel, cPanel is | | | | management service) will help manage or partially |
| probably your best choice. It is the most popular and | | | | manage the server. |
| many Webmasters feel it is the easiest to use. Most | | | | Different hosts provide technical support in various |
| of the best web hosting sites offer cPanel as an | | | | ways. Some require that you email about an issue, |
| option. | | | | some have a support ticket system, and some have |
| Types of Hosting | | | | a toll-free phone number. Even among the best Web |
| There are a number of different types of hosting: | | | | hosting sites, not all offer phone support. But if your |
| - Shared hosting, | | | | Web site is ever down, you may wish you could call |
| - Reseller hosting, | | | | and talk to a live human! |
| - Virtual dedicated hosting (a.k.a., virtual private | | | | Different hosts also provide differing Service Level |
| servers), | | | | Agreements (SLA's). Some guarantee uptime. Some |
| - Dedicated hosting, and | | | | guarantee response time on support issues. |
| - Colocation | | | | Server Location and Network Connectivity |
| Most of the best web hosting sites will offer some | | | | Be sure to consider the physical location of the |
| or all of these types of hosting, so you need to | | | | server and the network details as well. Some servers |
| decide what best suits your needs. | | | | may literally be in someone's basement. The best |
| If you want to host a single domain that does not | | | | Web hosting sites locate their servers within |
| have huge demands for disk space or bandwidth, | | | | professional data centers with dedicated support |
| shared hosting is the most economical. With shared | | | | people and multiple redundant Internet connections. |
| web hosting, your site shares server space and | | | | Customer Feedback |
| resources with many other websites. | | | | You should now have a very short list of the best |
| While you may be able to host multiple domains with | | | | Web hosting sites for your needs. But before making |
| a shared hosting account, if you need to host multiple | | | | your final decision, there is one last step: perform a |
| domains of your own or want to resell Web hosting, | | | | Web search to look for complaints from old |
| reseller hosting may better suit your needs. Reseller | | | | customers. Your list may have only the best web |
| hosting is generally shared hosting with more | | | | hosting sites listed, but a few hours spent surfing |
| resources and an additional control panel to easily | | | | Web hosting forums and asking a few questions may |
| configure additional domains. | | | | turn up some surprises and could save you years of |
| If you have a high need for bandwidth or server | | | | frustration! |
| resources, you may need a dedicated server. With a | | | | |