An explanation of hosting
As its name implies, web hosting is a service, which entails hosting web content. There are various forms and types of hosting, based on the mission and on the usage. Even so, they all refer to hosting files, which, once hosted, are made available throughout the Internet. A host is actually a server that is connected to the World Wide Web and has its very own Internet Protocol address, which allows people to gain access to it through the World Wide Web. The web hosting server's architecture and its resources are subject to the type of hosting service it will be used for.
What are the various forms of hosting?
Based on the usage, the web hosting solution may be:
File Storage Web Hosting - this type of hosting allows the users to stash their files on a certain hosting server. With the classic file web hosting service, the files that are deposited may only be accessed by the client that's utilizing the service. This hosting solution mainly applies to backups of computers , docs, private files and even other web hosting servers. This solution may also impose given limitations in relation to the server space and the root-level access. There may also be bandwidth quota limits, but that is dependent on the given host.
Warez Hosting - the so-called warez web hosting solution is resembling the previous web hosting service type. Still, in contrast with the file storage hosting service, the warez web hosting solution is used for propagating copyrighted work without the authorization of the patent keeper. In brief - it is associated with the unlawful dissemination of files and docs. There are a lot of approaches for this to be accomplished, but the two chief ways are - through simple Hypertext Transfer Protocol downloading and via P2P connections. The first approach involves either some web page, or, most typically, just a directory on a web server that's been made available for everybody to access it and thereby download proprietary materials for free. The second way involves a P2P connection, availing of the so-called Torrent web servers, via which people share files between each other. There are a few hosting firms that allow such type of hosting on their hosting servers, mainly due to all the judicial troubles that it entails. Usually such web sites are hosted on private dedicated hosting servers that are registered by 3rd party companies either in the Middle East or in Asia.
Email Web Hosting - this solution is utilized with both shared site hosting and dedicated hosting servers, based on the user's wish. If you desire to launch your own personal SMTP electronic mail server, then you will require either a private virtual web hosting server or a dedicated server that offers the access level needed to execute such a task. For traditional e-mail hosting ends, though, you can utilize an ordinary shared web hosting account, to which you can point the mail exchanger records of your domain. This is not a service that's widely used, because the website hosting and the mail hosting services are being served by 2 different servers, often owned by different companies.
Web Site Hosting - the most widespread and vastly utilized hosting service as of now. It's used for hosting website files, whose sort is determined by the OS the web server is running - Linux or Windows. Different types of files require different web server OSs, otherwise they won't be shown correctly on the World Wide Web. This kind of hosting may have storage space and bandwidth restrictions, root-level access and CPU usage limitations.
Depending on the aims and on the functions, the user should choose the type of web hosting server that he demands for his work, and, of course, the hosting firm that's going to supply it. There are different kinds of web hosting servers, based on the specs and the site hosting services that they offer. These are:
Shared Web Hosting Server - a shared webspace hosting server provides a smaller amount of system resources, which, of course, is reflected on the price of the service. It can be utilized for hosting small size and middle scale web sites, which do not demand enormous quantities of web storage space and bandwidth.
Semi-Dedicated Servers Hosting - they perform on the very same principle as the shared hosting servers. Nevertheless, there are much less customers sharing the same web hosting server. For that reason, each of them will enjoy a greater quota of the web server's resources like RAM, web storage, web traffic and CPU. Excellent for hosting big sites that do not demand root access.
VPS - the private virtual web servers are perfect for middle sized websites, which do demand root-level access to the hosting server's config files. Traditionally, there are a few Virtual Private Server web hosting accounts hosted on the same physical server. Nonetheless, each of them is isolated from the others and has its own Operating System.
Dedicated Servers - a fully dedicated web hosting server configured and accessed by you and solely you. It ensures a gigantic amount of resources. It also includes full root privileges, which renders it a perfect environment for any type of web site that necessitates a webspace hosting service.
The sole question that remains is:
Which web site hosting firm should I select?
As mentioned above, there are very few hosts providing warez web hosting services due to judicial troubles. Such web hosts are being shut down practically every month. Because of that, if you would like to provide such a service, you should do it on your very own PC. The shared website hosting service is the most famous type of web hosting service. Hence, each and every web site hosting provider provides it. Not all of them, however, provide services such as Virtual Private Servers, semi-dedicated servers and dedicated servers. Most of the small sized site hosting vendors do not have the means needed for offering those solutions. Because of that it's invariably best to opt for a bigger web host that can provide its clients with all the services that they require. You can easily ID such web hosts by the types of solutions that they are providing and by the manner in which they introduce them to the clients. For example, certain web hosting providers allow you to begin with a smaller webspace hosting plan and afterwards move to a bigger one, if you deem it necessary to do so. This is quite suitable, since you do not need to transfer web portals between web hosting servers and there is no possibility of suffering downtime due to all the problems that may occur. Providers such as Rai Hosting are offering all sorts of solutions and have the needed web server resources and personnel to guarantee that their clients will not experience any troubles when swapping services, which is what a top hosting vendor is in fact all about.