A free web hosting service is offered free of cost to the users. This service is normally supported by advertisements and has limited functions. The free web hosting facility provides either a directory or a subdomain. In contrast to this, the web hosting services that are paid, usually give a second level domain to the users along with the service of hosting.
Some of the services that are offered for free allow the use of domains that are separately purchased. The free web hosting service rarely operates as the domain name register. Amazingly, the registry services of such services are expensive than the other services.
Features and Limitations of the Service:
Some of the free services of web hosting offer free basic packages and the enhanced packages, having more features for a basic cost. This helps the users to take an initial trial of the service for comparing it with the other hosting services and then, elevate the service as and when required.
The limitations of the free hosting services are mentioned below.
• There is a limitation on the size of every file that is hosted here.
• It gives a small bandwidth for a month as compared to the other services.
• It prevents the hotlinking of the files.
• Certain types of files are not allowed on it.
• It requires the mandatory placement of the banner of web host and the pop up ads on all the web pages.
• It does not provide uptime guarantee.
There are several webmasters who wants to start their own web hosting company. The first thing one needs to do is he should know that from where he should start. The next important question, which arises in the mind of the user, is from which source he will get the required information. This article will present the basic things that one requires in order to become a successful web-hosting provider.
Before starting, user should be very sure that becoming a successful web host is not possible by just reading the books rather it needs practical experience. It really sounds easy to run servers but actually running it is a damn difficult job. In many cases people who have taken good precautions while choosing an experienced server but still they should know by their own how to deal with security threats, downtime and fixing program errors, then only they can work properly else they have to face big problems.
Starting ones own hosting services is not an easy task rather it is very challenging and some times even irritating. One option to think about is reseller-hosting plans. There are many good web hosting companies offering paid reseller hosting and relieving user form wasting time in maintaining servers. One may consider this option to get a customer base going.
One can rent, lease or buy the servers, if he decides to buy the servers, he should get it custom made according to his specific needs, if user is having sufficient money, he can try to get a server that best fits into his plans. He will need a place to keep the server. He can find local building to do this or he can also keep it at home. But utmost care is required if user chooses the option to keep server as home as else it can lead to problem which one even cant imagine.
After crossing all these steps its time to choose the operating system. Now the next question that arises in oneâs mind is-which operating system to be used i.e. Windows, Unix, etc., the next step is to opt the control panel like Cpanel, Plesk, etc., which security to use and many more. All these steps should be followed by proper research and care should be taken before finalizing anything. User should also keep in mind that if everything is going according to his requirements or not. User must also consider that there is several programming languages that can only run on certain operating systems, most web site owners want programming languages such as PHP or PERL.
There are many actions that should compulsorily be performed by the user and one of them is he should always keep his servers up to date with the latest security patches. He will need a good firewall; the firewall is first protection one has and most probably the best one. It’s also very important to monitor the servers full time for any errors, hackers or virus, one slight carelessness can lead to hacking of oneâs server and result can be loosing all customers.
If any one desires to get the highest possible server uptime then he will require multiple Internet connections. Depending on the area in which one resides, it may be tough to find an Internet connection provider. One will need a fixed IP address, that won’t change after each use. All providers donât offer this; so it is the responsibility of the users to check before he chooses.
Another point to consider is the pricing issue i.e. what are the charges one should ask for his web hosting services? If he is charging too high people will leave as being expensive, at the same time if the charges are quite low then too people will leave thinking servers are overcrowded with another web sites and that the services offered will be terrible. Now the question is what kind of plans to offer? Shared, reseller or dedicated hosting or maybe all of them.
When anyone really thinks about all these points, then he knows how difficult it is to become a successful web host and then the option which he considers best is to go with a reseller hosting plan, this will at least give one the taste of what he needs to do and help build him building a customer database
For the purpose of multiple webs hosting customers the role of providing features of a dedicated server is done by Virtual Private Server (VPS), or also known as Virtual Dedicated Server (VDS). At first look it may possess a contradictory appeal; how one can have a dedicated server which is being served by multiple users? Isn’t it looking like a regular shared or virtual hosting environment? There is nothing to contradict in the statement that, with a Virtual Private Server the user has to share system resources for e.g. CPU and RAM with other users but the resources are owed and modified in such a manner that it is impossible to predict that the system possess someone besides the user on it, to a large extent ideally like a dedicated server. Thus resources are modified and arranged in such a way that each hosting client is allowed to exploit an allocated percent, means the resources assigned to a particular user will always be there all time ready to serve him/her.
Merits of Virtual Private Server (VPS) web hosting
Majority of users prefer complete command of their server environments and do not wish to share the server with several other users, who could easily exploit all the available resources and can cause problem to other users by creating unbalance. But at the same time several websites do not require a dedicated server. The Virtual Private Server (VPS) alternative is a very fabulous slot hosting solution for a fairly large lump of web hosting clients who prefer the stability of a dedicated server however on a smaller scale. With the resources setup in such a way that each person can only use what is in his/her own share, one’s site will be more steady because it will always have the same amount of access to the CPU, memory, as well as to the bandwidth. Virtual Private Servers are preferably more safe since even as the user share the memory and CPU time, he/she are allocated his/her own file system. For an instance, if a website on the server is hacked, the hackers will be able to admit to that particular file system only and can not harm the other existing websites. Besides all these advantages, A VPS is also affordable as compared to a dedicated server.
Demerits of Virtual Private Server (VPS) web hosting
As till now discussion was on the pros of a VPS and one might think that this is the finest thing .But there is another side of the coin as well as, not all providers setup or define Virtual Private Servers, also known as Virtual Dedicated Servers, the exact same way. One should ensure that provider guarantees the user that their setup is robust enough to knob the operations at a peak level. A commonly prevailing trick generally put into use by the providers in the field of reselling and shared space is ‘overselling’. It denotes selling more in terms of services than what is physically available, with the gamble that the end users wouldn’t exhaust up all the service that were advertised in front of them. In the dominion of VPS this can be a bit more severe, as at least the expectation is that one is working in a more vigorous environment and there are many clients running more intensive applications like message boards or custom web applications. A shortage of resources could result in causing problems for each one hosted on such a server, therefore evading the benefits of a VPS. In a mutual or dedicated environment the user might be able to access more quantity of resources during peak or spike periods but since the VPS environment restricts the user to use his/her own piece of server resources, it can come in front as a drawback.
With dynamic and changing technology web hosting is not sufficient, in the same manner there are some problems with VPS services also. The user has to tackle with the problems of CPU cycles and RAM distant for storing of space and bandwidth. So the user will see advertisements for hosting that might include MHz and MB RAM to go with the usual hosting related features. It is something difficult to calculate out how much CPU time or RAM the user might require, so one must look for a hosting provider that will provide him/her with some benchmarks and the ability to upgrade or downgrade the VPS service as and when required.
JUDGMENT:
- Permits complete control of user’s virtual server and its resources
- Permits the user to run web applications without unfavorably affecting other clients
- Flexible – cheaper than dedicated hosting, more expensive than shared
So Go ahead and best of luck!!!
