Posts Tagged ‘Hosting’

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Manage your hosting files with cPanel

Monday, March 9th, 2009

Cpanel is a control panel for web hosting used on various web hosting systems on internet. a big number of hosting companies provide their users with some versions of cpanel so that they can handle functionality and administrate the website very easily.

Basically cpanel is a user friendly interface that helps you to manage your host account environment. It is so simple that even a new user finds it uncomplicated Web Hosting Services and easy to use. its a web interface instead of console, that’s why anyone can use it and complete the tasks faster. cpanel consist of a wide range of features embedded into it. By connecting a web browser to your control panel, you can make any changes you want in your system. It may be ftp server, email configuration, database software etc.

Generally all commercial web hosting companies provide you with an account when you buy any web hosting package from that company. When you log into your account, you are driven to the installation page or sometimes directly the cpanel page. This page gives access to all the features like email, ftp and some other tools so that you can make any changes any where just being connected to the net. Some of the great features are described below:-

Site tools- some very helpful tools like Web Protect, file manager, install/Uninstall FrontPage Extensions and Search engine tool submitting are embedded in a cpanel.

Email- the email program in a cpanel allows a user to add and change passwords to manage email accounts. Auto responders, Forwarders, Mailing Lists, Spam filtering and some more options are also provided in a cpanel.

Back up- back up is a procedure to create copies of account files and database. The back up menu also lets you download any automatic backups that were downloaded by your cpanel administrator.

ftp – using this feature a user can control the ftp accounts by adding, removing or changing passwords, changing ftp login message, anonymous FTP controls.

Stats – the popularity and efficiency of a website can be analyzed by using some tools like Webalizer web stats, Webalizer FTP stats, Analog stats, View latest visitors, View bandwidth usage and View error log modules. These cpanel tools are very helpful in determining how popular the site is.

Advanced stuff and tools – some advanced technical tools are also present in a cpanel. Sub domains can be added or removed. Some pre-defined cgi scripts are java Chat, HTML Chat, phpMyChat, CGI Wrapper, Interchange Cart, CGIEmail, Entropy Search, and Entropy Banner.

Also there are few database management tools like managing MySql database. cpanel is compatible with almost all the popular web browsers like IE, opera, firefox etc. New and inexperienced users those who don’t know command line console programs find a great help in cpanel.

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Understanding the Basics of Web Hosting

Monday, March 9th, 2009

What do you do when you decide that you want to start a website online? You begin your search for a web host. A web host is the basic name that is given to any company or business who hosts your website and makes it available for other people to see on the internet.

On the surface it may seem easy, but when you begin to break it down a bit, you will understand why so many people get confused. You will see terms such as “FTP”, or “data center”, or “Linux hosting”. These terms can make trying to choose a company to host your website much more confusing. If, however, you break it down and know what to look for, you can discover that it isn’t quite so difficult.

The first thing you need to figure out is what type of internet website you would like to start. If you’re looking to start a personal website, for example, you will need much less space on the host’s server and will likely be able to get away with purchasing a less expensive plan.

If, however, you would like to start a business website, you may need to have quite a bit more space on the server which, in turn, means that you will be required to pay a lot more for your hosting. It may seem a bit frustrating, but it makes sense when you remember that a business website will be bringing in income, whereas a personal website most likely will not. But how do you choose your web hosting company? The first thing to look at is prices. You need to make sure that no matter what company you choose, their price will be in your range. However, this doesn’t mean that you should automatically go for the cheapest web hosting company you find. Remember: you get what you pay for, which means that you may pay for cheap web hosting and may get even cheaper customer service.

The next thing to look at is just that: customer service. Check around online and see if the company you are looking at has a good rating among your internet peers. If they do, you may be in business. After all, you don’t want to have to call customer service only to have to deal with technical engineers who have no idea what they are doing, especially if you have to call them late at night or on a weekend.

The next thing to look for is the bandwidth allowance. Every web hosting company has different allowances that you will be able to access, usually on different levels of service. If you have a business you will need to plan for higher volumes of visitor traffic, but if you are looking only for a personal website, you can get away with buying a less expensive, lower bandwidth plan.

Web hosting may seem confusing, especially if you are just beginning your journey, but remember one thing: if you find a good hosting company with excellent customer service, you will be able to get answers to any question that you may have.

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The Advantages Of Linux Server Hosting

Sunday, March 8th, 2009

Even with a huge amount of information about modern technologies as well as our daily use of computer equipment and software, most people are unaware of the differences in scripting languages and the variety of web hosting services available. Many may not even understand what web hosting or scripting languages mean!

In the simplest of terms when a business or individual has decided to create a website they will more than likely require the services of a web hosting company. Web hosts own the server equipment that keeps all of the data and files necessary for the site to run, look and perform as the website owner desires. The data and files are all going to be written with special programs and languages which are recognizable by computers around the world. Currently the two most common platforms are Linux and Windows.

There are reasons that a business or individual will need to know which of the platforms their hosting provider uses including the design of an existing site, the need for certain functions or applications and their own budget constraints.

The advantages of using Linux server hosting will generally include:

Compatibility – Linux web hosting allows for a full range of integration or compatibility with other operating software or applications. The software can run easily on a Windows server, while the reverse is not so easily done. Additionally, many of the most commonly used databases and applications work smoothly in Linux. This also means tons of stability.

Cost – Linux software is totally free for developers to use or modify as they require. This is not just the operating software but all of the other applications that have been written for it. This translates to entire suites of server applications that can be downloaded and put to use on the server at no additional costs.

Ease of Use – Linux initially earned a reputation as a bit more complicated than the familiar Windows OS, but today web developers and software writers have made the Linux applications incredibly easy to use and even modify for customized functions.

Security – The jury is still out on this issue, but most experts acknowledge Linux as the least prone to security issues and also the OS that delivers the most guaranteed amounts of uptime.

There are clearly many advantages for choosing a Linux server hosting provider, but the real key to knowing if it is the right choice for your needs is to simply compare it to the work that may have all ready been done for your site – if it is primarily Windows software or applications you may want to choose a Windows provider, but the beauty of Linux is that is perfectly capable of using the Windows language as well.

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3 Things You Must Know About Cheap Blog Hosting

Sunday, March 8th, 2009

People often say that you get what you pay for, but is it true about cheap blog hosting? Not all hosts are created equal, so you need to be able to decide if the deal on offer is a good one or not. Here are three things you MUST know about cheap blog hosting.

1. Will I Have Enough Resources To Host My Blog?

A blog is usually run by scripts, and those scripts will take up disk space. Using WordPress for example (which is perhaps the best overall choice for a blogging platform), starts at around 5Mb. Once you add a few plug ins to make the blog do what you want, then you are probably looking at another 5mb of disk space.

If you plan to run video on blog as well, then you could be looking at higher bandwidth as well, so in short, you need a reasonable amount of resources just to get started. This pretty much eliminates the free hosts, but most good hosts would cover you easily.

2. Will I have Enough Features To Host My Blog?

Again because blogs are usually scripts, your host needs to allow you to execute scripts from your blog. This is not as scary as it sounds because the top blogging platforms such as WordPress can be automatically installed using Cpanel and something called Fantastico, which makes installation child’s play. As long as Fantastico is available and you are able to run PHP scripts, then you have the features to host your blog.

3. Will I Get Help If I Run Into Trouble When I Host My Blog?

Here is a biggy. Will your host help you if you get into trouble? Despite how much easier these things have been made, many people still come unstuck at some stage of the process. What you need is a web host who will try and go that extra mile for you when things get tough. Not everything is straight forward when you are web hosting, and a good web host understands that and goes of their way to help you. If the support from your cheap blog hosting is poor, then it is too cheap, and you should be looking elsewhere.

I have found that some web hosts will go that extra mile for you and will help you with things like third party scripts for example. Not all will do this of course, and nor should you expect it. However when you do receive this kind of help, it does make that particular host stand out from the crowd.

I have also found that some web hosts pay lip service to support. They answer questions quickly, but usually with more question, using time that would have been better spent answering your query. If your host’s support leads you round in circles, then perhaps it is time to look elsewhere for a cheap web host.

So there we have it. If you cover these three bases with your web host, then you can truly say that you have found cheap blog hosting that is good value for money. Good luck with your blogging!

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Posted in Blogging, Hosting, Website Development | 3 Comments »

The Importance Of Reliable Web Hosting

Sunday, March 8th, 2009

There are many ways that consumers form an opinion about a business or product, and key among them is reliability. Is the customer service honest and reliable? Can you trust the product? Is the quality equal to any guarantees or promises made at the time of purchase? All of these questions have to do with reliability, and when you choose a web hosting service you must consider reliability as well.

As the owner of a website it is crucial to include issues such as “downtime”, customer support, and website speed and security when choosing your hosting provider. This is because such factors will greatly affect how your own visitors measure your reliability.

For example, if your web hosting service makes many allowances for downtime in order to perform services, maintenance of technical issues your customers or visitors may not reach the website. If a consumer has to deal with even a single occurrence of an “unavailable” notice at your site, it is likely that they won’t return.

Additionally, if you choose to sign up with a shared server it is important to understand that an “over sold” server might allow for one or two other sites to gobble up available bandwidth and slow down all of the other sites to the point of making them unreliable for both the site owner and their customers.

Really investigating a wide range of potential providers is the surest way to find a reliable web hosting provider. So, how do you determine the best providers as well as the most reliable for your needs?

Consider the following points before making your decision:

Are there low limits on transfer? This is the amount of information that can be downloaded by visitors each month. You really want an unlimited amount of transfer if possible because exceeding set limits generally comes with additional fees.

Guarantee of 99% uptime, or greater. There is no need for a modern server to be down more than one percent of the business day (or night) and it is too risky to work with any other arrangement.

Does the site provide lots of space? If you are in business you are going to require space for additional information, pages or applications and limits in space mean limits in potential.

Will there be dedicated customer support for you as the owner as well as full time support for those who visit your site? The better web hosting providers offer round the clock support for all visitors and customers, and this is a value added service that should not be overlooked.

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Checklist for Moving Your Site to a New Web Hosting Server

Monday, March 2nd, 2009

Moving your site to a new server is a difficult decision. It involves downtime and there can be technical issues that can give you anxious moments. However, you need to have a checklist to ensure that all critical and small issues are addressed, timely and efficiently. A few points are recommended that you need to ensure during the switchover.

Coordinate with your new and previous hosts

The payment schedule with new host should be planned in such a way that you do not end up paying to two hosts for the same period. Try to begin it just a few days before the contract with previous host expires. It gives you some time to take back up and to clear payment dues, if any.

Back up

You should take back up of working site in your PC, and in a separate disc. Save a backup copy of all instructions, technical specifications that your previous host provided you such as file update details or email accounts. Besides, take back up of all your databases as well.

Update paths

For Linux hosting, update the paths to your script files, or PHP or CGI files. Your new host may have different way of handling SQL creation. So, update the paths of SQL along with all script files, and note down the instructions carefully.

Uploading files

If there are some scripts that call directories, the new directories on new server should be so named that they match. Remember to upload the directories’ contents that you saved as backup from old server.

Testing

The last important step is to test your site at new server. Verify that all hyperlinks, bookmarks, and interactive features are working as required.

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