Choosing
The Wrong Server Will Literally Make Or Break You
by: Rich Hamilton, Jr
Choosing the right web server will be one of the most
important decisions you will ever make with your online
business. Why? Because the web server you choose will
literally make or break your online business.
Today I am going to talk about two types of servers,
one is Virtual Web Hosting and the other is Virtual
Private Servers.
Over the last couple of years Virtual Web Hosting
has been the only way to go when choosing a web server.
One of the reasons that Virtual Web Hosting became
so popular was because they supported the necessary
files and allowed you to have more freedom than other
conventional web hosts. But now you can have more
freedom than ever before with Virtual Private Servers.
Moreover, Virtual Private Servers should not be confused
with Virtual Hosts, because they are completely different.
Before I go any further I must explain what the difference
is between a Virtual Host and a Virtual Private Server,
so that you can fully understand. In this article
I will also go over the advantages and disadvantages
of both types of servers, to help you decide which
is right for you and your business. Let's get started
with Virtual Hosting.
Virtual Hosting
Virtual Hosting is also known as Shared Web Hosting,
where you are sharing the physical server and a single
set of software applications with other users. Virtual
Hosting has been extremely popular in the past for
it's fast deployment, strong resources, and most importantly
for having a very reasonable price. Another advantage
to Virtual Hosting is that you have a powerful, reliable,
and professionally managed server without having to
have advanced technical skills, making it ideal for
an individual, small business, or even a beginner
webmaster.
The disadvantage of Virtual Hosting is that you are
sharing the server with other users, which are configured
and controlled by an administrator, not you. So basically
you have your hands tied behind your back, because
you have to contact the administrator everytime you
have to adjust or change your configuration settings.
Even if you managed to get a hold of the administrator,
they may not fulfill your request. It's up to them,
they are the administrator. If you were the administrator
you wouldn't have these limitations and would have
full control.
Virtual Private Servers
Virtual Private Servers are a hot topic these days
and for a good reason. Before I get into the advantages
of a Virtual Private Server, let explain what it is
first. A Virtual Private Server is a single server
that is partitioned at the root into multiple dedicated
servers. This allows you to share the cost of the
network connectivity, hardware, and system maintenance
with other hosting customers, while maintaining your
flexibility and freedom.
The real advantage of Virtual Private Servers is that
they allow you to have complete control and they have
the security advantages of a dedicated server at the
fraction of the cost. You have access to the virtual
root, Telnet, web configuration files, and full CGI-BIN
access. I can't forget to mention that you also have
access to your password, aliases file, and sendmail
configuaration file. For many reasons you can see
that a Virtual Private Server is an excellent solution
for small to medium size businesses that have an increasingly
complex needs.
Moreover, there is one disadvantage with Virtual Private
Servers, you need to have some program knowledge to
control and configure the settings. Sounds overwhelming,
most businesses that offer Virtual Private Servers
have very detailed manuals making them easier to configure
and control no matter what your program level is.
Which one is right for you? Well, that all depends
on you and the size of your network.
If you have or plan on having just one web site and
have absolutely no programing knowledge, then Virtual
Hosting is the recommended and economical way for
you to go. A Virtual Host can cost anywhere from $20
- $50 a month for an account, rather than a $100 or
more for a Virtual Private Server.
On the other hand, if you have a larger network that
requires multiple web sites, like ours, and you have
some programing knowledge, then a Virtual Private
Server is ideal for you. You can host up to 50 web
sites on a Virtual Private Server account, instead
of having multiple Virtual Hosting accounts, which
is not as economical.
When it comes time to get a web server, make sure
that the server fits your needs and that it supports
the essential software for a prosperous online business.
About The Author
Rich Hamilton, Jr is the CEO/President of www.ElitesMarketing.com
a.k.a. Elites Marketing, Inc and the Author of: "Inside
Internet Marketing" www.InsideNetMarketing.com.
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