Your company is planning to launch an interactive website. In the initial stages, various options have been discussed. The final proposal is now being drafted and you are required to write a note for inclusion therein, consisting of the following:
(a) Explanation of website hosting and types of services usually provided by web hosting companies.
(b) Brief explanation of the following types of web hosting:
(i) Shared Web Hosting
(ii) Virtual Dedicated Server
(iii) Dedicated Hosting
(iv) Co-location Web Hosting
A website hosting service is a type of Internet hosting service that allows individuals and organizations to host their own website, and users with online systems for storing information, images, video or other contents accessible via the World Wide Web.
Following services are usually offered by web hosting companies:
- Web Interface / Control Panel to manage the website.
- Storage space.
- Database service.
- Application platforms to run various applications.
- Security services.
- E-mail accounts.
- Mailing lists.
- Monitoring and statistics.
- Bandwidth for accessing website.
(b) Here is the answer for type of hosting services;
Shared Web Hosting
One’s website is placed on the same server as many other sites, ranging from a few to hundreds or thousands. All domains may share a common pool of server resources, such as RAM and the CPU. It is the most economical web hosting solution which offers slowest speed as compared to other solutions.
Virtual Dedicated Server
It involves slicing up a server into virtual servers. Each user feels like they are on their own dedicated server but they are actually sharing a server with many other users. It is a faster but expensive solution than shared web hosting solution.
Dedicated Hosting
The user gets his own web server and gains full administrative control over it. However, the user typically does not own the server. It is the fastest but costly than shared and virtual dedicated web hosting solutions.
Co-location Web Hosting Service
The user has his/her own web server and has full administrative control over it. The hosting company provides physical space that the server takes up and takes care of the server. In most cases, the co-location provider may provide little to no support directly for their client’s machine. It provides only the electrical, Internet access and storage facilities for the server. It is the fastest but most expensive web hosting solution.
