Linux is a prime example of how the open-source revolution has reached the pinnacle of software development. Based off the Unix operating system, its source code is freely available, meaning it can be used, modified and redistributed at no cost. The main kernel at the heart of every Linux system today was developed by Linus Torvalds, a student who attended the University of Helsinki in Finland. In the beginning, the system was primarily but sparingly used by die hard fans and experienced users due to its complexity. However, it was not long before it was adopted and used in server hardware produced by IBM, Hewlett Packard, Novel and Microsystems. Today, Linux is a dominant force in the web hosting industry and steadily gaining a sizable marketing share as a PC operating system.
The Flexibility of Linux
Throughout the years, Linux has established itself as a cost effective, highly configurable and flexible operating system that is currently used in everything from television set top boxes to cell phones as an embedded platform. Some of the common hardware components it programs include Linkysys routers, switches and firewalls, the popular TiVo digital video recorder and most notably in 2005, two of the worlds fastest supercomputers. In fact, a whopping 88.6% (443) out of 500 supercomputers rated use the Linux operating system as their platform as of June, 2009. This system has built up such an impressive track record that it has become the preferred choice for servers in the business environment. Its popularity can be attributed to processing power and availability many other systems have a difficult time competing with.
Linux and Web Hosting
Linux web hosting came about due to a need for enhanced stability, performance and reliability for servicing a domain. When it comes to hosting a website, there are very few operating systems that can compare to the power and reliability of this platform. The internet itself is based on interconnected networking computers, something that comes naturally for Linux. This is mainly because a large majority of the networking protocols and technologies used to enable the internet are based on Unix, the system from which Linux gets most of its traits. The incorporation of these protocols and technologies has resulted in the unrivaled adaptability, stability and security that has made Linux one of the most powerful operating systems available today. In addition, its seamless compatibility with Apache and MySQL are more examples of how it helped to power and lead the way in the open-source software phenomenon.
Perhaps the greatest advantage of Linux hosting is that software has been developed to support the platform at an explosive rate. This again, is coupled with the fact that is capable of running just about any protocol or web service, which makes it an ideal choice for hosting. The market for server operating systems is growing fast and while Microsoft Windows will likely continue to be a worthy competitor, Linux will always be a major player in the world of web hosting.
Friday, December 4, 2009
Benefitting from Fully Managed Hosting
Information Technology has become the crutch for the modern day business owner. These days, the business that lacks a strong IT base and web presence will have a very difficult time remaining in existence. The major hurdle is that unless your company is well versed in the IT field, keeping up with the intricacies of web servers and networking can be next to impossible. Unfortunately, an alarming number of companies find themselves spending a lot of money trying to maintain a full fledged IT operation in-house. After exhausting budgets on equipment and staff, many find that entire process is often more trouble than it is actually worth. There is an alternative to the complexities of in-house set ups and that solution is known as fully managed hosting.
What is Fully Managed Hosting?
Fully managed hosting is a type of arrangement that gives you the opportunity to outsource your IT needs to a professional staff of trained experts. The mere structure of the service allows your IT team to free up the time needed to focus on the core aspects of the business. In some organizations, it may eliminate the need for an IT department altogether. Although such a service is not exactly cheap to obtain, many businesses find it well worth the price as it helps them save tremendously over the long run in comparison to establishing and maintaining the same environment in-house.
How Fully Managed Hosting Works
When contracting a service provider for a fully managed hosting solution, you are typically provided with daily administration and maintenance of your IT infrastructure. This may include web servers, web applications and database servers among other vital components. All of the data that would normally be stored in-house is transferred to the provider’s servers, which has a few advantages in its own right. If you are dealing with a reputable firm, you can rest assured of a solution that is up to date with the latest advancements in web technology and information security. Since you no longer have to spend money investing in and maintaining new technology, your business will be able to scale much easier as it grows and technology continues to evolve. Fully managed hosting is one of the best ways to help your company reach its fully potential.
This type of managed hosting also gives you a tremendous advantage from a support aspect. A reputable provider will make sure you can reach its support staff 24/7 to deal with any problems that may arise at any given time. In addition to this, you generally get the benefit of around the clock monitoring to ensure that if issues do crop up, they will not go undetected for long. The extensive support features alone are enough for many companies to consider a managed hosting service.
Grasping the Invaluable Benefits
Fully managed hosting is ideal for companies of various sizes, especially those that are small but growing at a steady rate. The benefits are plentiful, but perhaps the greatest attribute to these services is the peace of mind they offer. When opting for a managed hosting provider that is capable of handing all of your IT needs, you can rest comfortably by knowing things will be taken care of without having to endure an internal disaster.
What is Fully Managed Hosting?
Fully managed hosting is a type of arrangement that gives you the opportunity to outsource your IT needs to a professional staff of trained experts. The mere structure of the service allows your IT team to free up the time needed to focus on the core aspects of the business. In some organizations, it may eliminate the need for an IT department altogether. Although such a service is not exactly cheap to obtain, many businesses find it well worth the price as it helps them save tremendously over the long run in comparison to establishing and maintaining the same environment in-house.
How Fully Managed Hosting Works
When contracting a service provider for a fully managed hosting solution, you are typically provided with daily administration and maintenance of your IT infrastructure. This may include web servers, web applications and database servers among other vital components. All of the data that would normally be stored in-house is transferred to the provider’s servers, which has a few advantages in its own right. If you are dealing with a reputable firm, you can rest assured of a solution that is up to date with the latest advancements in web technology and information security. Since you no longer have to spend money investing in and maintaining new technology, your business will be able to scale much easier as it grows and technology continues to evolve. Fully managed hosting is one of the best ways to help your company reach its fully potential.
This type of managed hosting also gives you a tremendous advantage from a support aspect. A reputable provider will make sure you can reach its support staff 24/7 to deal with any problems that may arise at any given time. In addition to this, you generally get the benefit of around the clock monitoring to ensure that if issues do crop up, they will not go undetected for long. The extensive support features alone are enough for many companies to consider a managed hosting service.
Grasping the Invaluable Benefits
Fully managed hosting is ideal for companies of various sizes, especially those that are small but growing at a steady rate. The benefits are plentiful, but perhaps the greatest attribute to these services is the peace of mind they offer. When opting for a managed hosting provider that is capable of handing all of your IT needs, you can rest comfortably by knowing things will be taken care of without having to endure an internal disaster.
Choosing a Linux Platform for Your Hosting Needs
If you are the least bit familiar with the web hosting business, then you have probably heard of a piece of software called Linux. Originally created in 1991, Linux quickly became one of the most widely used operating systems on the market, emerging as a viable alternative to popular options such as Microsoft Windows and Mac OS X. Linux is adored by its fan base for many reasons, and among them is an open-source license that makes it cost efficient and highly customizable. A global community of developers are constantly working to improve the software, which adds to its power and stability. There are a number of Linux distributions available, and below we will examine some you might encounter when looking for a hosting package.
Ubuntu Hosting
The first distribution we will discuss is Ubuntu. This flavor of Linux is very popular because it offers several features that are comparable to Windows web hosting, which makes the system much easier to use. The biggest downside to Ubuntu is that it is better suited as a personal desktop operating system rather than a server platform. Therefore, this particular distribution is not as widely used as its counterparts in the hosting environment. That does not mean it cannot be used because Ubuntu makes a viable option for various types of server configurations.
Kubuntu Hosting
Just by the name, you can probably tell that the Kubuntu distribution is quite similar to Ubuntu. In fact, these two platforms are nearly identical in terms of operation and functionality. The most notable distinction is that they utilize two different types of file systems. Apart from that, these operating systems offer the same level of stability, performance and reliability, making both ideal for website hosting and desktop use as well.
Debian Hosting
Debian hosting revolves around a server platform based on both the Ubuntu and Kubuntu operating systems. It is currently the most widely used Linux distribution in the web hosting industry. While it is considerably more complex and difficult, Debian offers the superior flexibility and reliability needed to keep a multitude of websites up and running. Despite its complexities, this software is ideal as both a server and desktop operating system.
Fedora Hosting
Fedora is another common Linux distribution and one that is often bundled with dedicated server hosting plans. It is based on RedHat Linux, which is a commercial distribution and the Linux platform designed to compete with Microsoft Windows. Though prevalent on the hosting marketplace, Fedora is primarily used as a server platform for older machines due to its limitations and ability to thrive exceptionally well by using fewer system resources.
Ubuntu Hosting
The first distribution we will discuss is Ubuntu. This flavor of Linux is very popular because it offers several features that are comparable to Windows web hosting, which makes the system much easier to use. The biggest downside to Ubuntu is that it is better suited as a personal desktop operating system rather than a server platform. Therefore, this particular distribution is not as widely used as its counterparts in the hosting environment. That does not mean it cannot be used because Ubuntu makes a viable option for various types of server configurations.
Kubuntu Hosting
Just by the name, you can probably tell that the Kubuntu distribution is quite similar to Ubuntu. In fact, these two platforms are nearly identical in terms of operation and functionality. The most notable distinction is that they utilize two different types of file systems. Apart from that, these operating systems offer the same level of stability, performance and reliability, making both ideal for website hosting and desktop use as well.
Debian Hosting
Debian hosting revolves around a server platform based on both the Ubuntu and Kubuntu operating systems. It is currently the most widely used Linux distribution in the web hosting industry. While it is considerably more complex and difficult, Debian offers the superior flexibility and reliability needed to keep a multitude of websites up and running. Despite its complexities, this software is ideal as both a server and desktop operating system.
Fedora Hosting
Fedora is another common Linux distribution and one that is often bundled with dedicated server hosting plans. It is based on RedHat Linux, which is a commercial distribution and the Linux platform designed to compete with Microsoft Windows. Though prevalent on the hosting marketplace, Fedora is primarily used as a server platform for older machines due to its limitations and ability to thrive exceptionally well by using fewer system resources.
Does Your Web Host Live Up to Expectations?
Web hosting providers come a dime a dozen these days, but finding one you can count is never as easy as it should be. While technical problems occur from time to time, there are some mishaps that simply cannot be tolerated. Below we have listed some of the most telling signs that should let you know that your web host is not up to par.
Your Site Always Goes Down
This one should be pretty obvious. If your website is constantly unavailable or keeps giving you errors, the chances of keeping visitors around are slim to none. Even a loyal following will inevitably flea if your site cannot put out an optimal performance or is never available. If these are problems you are experiencing, your web host is likely suffering from overcrowded servers or an inadequate network. In many cases, a company will start off on the right foot, but grow progressively worse once it becomes more popular and acquires more customers, essentially becoming a victim of its very own success. Of course having a large amount of traffic is a good thing, but if your web host’s infrastructure cannot keep up with the demand, your website is simply doomed to fail.
Support is a Letdown
A web host that provides excellent support will inevitably attract more loyal customers. On the same note, a host that provides horrible support will lose customers very quickly. With the hosting business being such an expansive industry, one would think that good support would be easy to come by. Unfortunately, this factor only makes it more difficult to find. The best web hosting firms deliver support around the clock on a 24 hour basis, allowing their customers to get help by phone, email, live chat, FAQs, knowledge bases and other resources. If you are stuck with horrible support, your web host is failing to meet your needs and that means it is time to search for something better.
Inadequate Security Puts You at Risk
Many webmasters are not aware of it, but websites are hacked into and compromised all the time. For instance, they are defaced, used to host malicious phishing and pharming sites, distribute spam mail and even launch attacks on other computers. A server and its associated web applications have many points of entry so if your host is not on top of things, your site can be exploited with ease. A responsible hosting provider will take various measures to ensure security such as installing firewalls, running DDoS protection software and performing penetrating to discover vulnerabilities.
Conclusion
One must consider a number factors when choosing a host for their website needs. Performance, availability, support and security are just a few of numerous factors that must be taken into account before you sign up for service. We recommend doing your research, reading reviews, asking friends and more in order to get the best service possible. The last thing you want to do is rush into things because this is the easiest way to end up with a web host that fails live up to the required expectations.
Your Site Always Goes Down
This one should be pretty obvious. If your website is constantly unavailable or keeps giving you errors, the chances of keeping visitors around are slim to none. Even a loyal following will inevitably flea if your site cannot put out an optimal performance or is never available. If these are problems you are experiencing, your web host is likely suffering from overcrowded servers or an inadequate network. In many cases, a company will start off on the right foot, but grow progressively worse once it becomes more popular and acquires more customers, essentially becoming a victim of its very own success. Of course having a large amount of traffic is a good thing, but if your web host’s infrastructure cannot keep up with the demand, your website is simply doomed to fail.
Support is a Letdown
A web host that provides excellent support will inevitably attract more loyal customers. On the same note, a host that provides horrible support will lose customers very quickly. With the hosting business being such an expansive industry, one would think that good support would be easy to come by. Unfortunately, this factor only makes it more difficult to find. The best web hosting firms deliver support around the clock on a 24 hour basis, allowing their customers to get help by phone, email, live chat, FAQs, knowledge bases and other resources. If you are stuck with horrible support, your web host is failing to meet your needs and that means it is time to search for something better.
Inadequate Security Puts You at Risk
Many webmasters are not aware of it, but websites are hacked into and compromised all the time. For instance, they are defaced, used to host malicious phishing and pharming sites, distribute spam mail and even launch attacks on other computers. A server and its associated web applications have many points of entry so if your host is not on top of things, your site can be exploited with ease. A responsible hosting provider will take various measures to ensure security such as installing firewalls, running DDoS protection software and performing penetrating to discover vulnerabilities.
Conclusion
One must consider a number factors when choosing a host for their website needs. Performance, availability, support and security are just a few of numerous factors that must be taken into account before you sign up for service. We recommend doing your research, reading reviews, asking friends and more in order to get the best service possible. The last thing you want to do is rush into things because this is the easiest way to end up with a web host that fails live up to the required expectations.
Five Ways to Improve the Shopping Experience on Your E-commerce Site
Before buying anything online, customers want to be assured of a safe and easy experience. If this process becomes too time consuming or difficult to complete, most will have no problem finding their way to another website and spending their money with the competition. The design of your storefront goes a long way in determining its success, and the five tips in this article will help you create an experience that results in satisfied, repeat customers.
1.) Do Not Hide Your Products – There are several ways to make your products easier to find and one of them involves integrating search functionality into your store. You can make the experience even more customer-friendly with a feature that allows visitors to search by criteria such as category and price. A comprehensive navigation scheme is also imperative as customers should be able to locate any product they want to buy in a matter of a few clicks.
2.) Do Not Ask Too Much of Your Customers – It is no secret that a large number of online shoppers are turned off by being asked to divulge too much information when trying to purchase something. This is even the case with valuable marketing tools such as registration forms. Allowing your customers to add their items to the shopping carts without having to register for something simply makes for a more enjoyable experience. If you must collect information for registration purposes, these details can easily gathered at checkout.
3.) Clearly Define Your Products – You could lose many potential sales if your products do not give enough detail to the customer. For this reason, you should provide a detailed description of the product as well as a quality image. In addition, be sure to include other essentials such as the price and stock quantities in the beginning of the ordering process so potential customers will not be disappointed upon reaching checkout.
4.) Give Your Customers Options – In order to accommodate the needs of different customers, you should configure your shopping cart to offer multiple options for payment and shipping as well. You may also want to consider implementing a feature that allows them to add items to a wish list. For varying reasons, your customers may not be prepared to make a purchase during the first visit to your site, but this feature will allow them save those desired items and buy them at a later time.
5) Keep it Simple – Web technologies have advanced tremendously over the years and this means that you can add a lot of flair and flash to your online store. At the same time, you should keep in mind that internet users shop online because it is easier and faster than shopping out in the real world. Therefore, do not make the mistake of overwhelming potential customers with glamorous features or by requesting unnecessary information on their way to checkout. If this process requires multiple steps, be sure to use accurate headings or a comprehensive breadcrumb navigation to help customers find their way and make it through to checkout.
1.) Do Not Hide Your Products – There are several ways to make your products easier to find and one of them involves integrating search functionality into your store. You can make the experience even more customer-friendly with a feature that allows visitors to search by criteria such as category and price. A comprehensive navigation scheme is also imperative as customers should be able to locate any product they want to buy in a matter of a few clicks.
2.) Do Not Ask Too Much of Your Customers – It is no secret that a large number of online shoppers are turned off by being asked to divulge too much information when trying to purchase something. This is even the case with valuable marketing tools such as registration forms. Allowing your customers to add their items to the shopping carts without having to register for something simply makes for a more enjoyable experience. If you must collect information for registration purposes, these details can easily gathered at checkout.
3.) Clearly Define Your Products – You could lose many potential sales if your products do not give enough detail to the customer. For this reason, you should provide a detailed description of the product as well as a quality image. In addition, be sure to include other essentials such as the price and stock quantities in the beginning of the ordering process so potential customers will not be disappointed upon reaching checkout.
4.) Give Your Customers Options – In order to accommodate the needs of different customers, you should configure your shopping cart to offer multiple options for payment and shipping as well. You may also want to consider implementing a feature that allows them to add items to a wish list. For varying reasons, your customers may not be prepared to make a purchase during the first visit to your site, but this feature will allow them save those desired items and buy them at a later time.
5) Keep it Simple – Web technologies have advanced tremendously over the years and this means that you can add a lot of flair and flash to your online store. At the same time, you should keep in mind that internet users shop online because it is easier and faster than shopping out in the real world. Therefore, do not make the mistake of overwhelming potential customers with glamorous features or by requesting unnecessary information on their way to checkout. If this process requires multiple steps, be sure to use accurate headings or a comprehensive breadcrumb navigation to help customers find their way and make it through to checkout.
How to Evaluate a Managed Hosting Provider
Several businesses opt for managed hosting services because they do not have the physical resources or time to maintain their own IT infrastructure. Instead of hosting their own internet-based business, they outsource the technical challenges to a firm that is much better equipped to handle them. In a perfect scenario, a managed host will take care of all the complicated tasks while making sure everything stays up and running. However, such benefits can only be reaped when taking the time to evaluate your options and find a reliable company able to meet your IT needs.
Know What to Look For
Before you begin your search for managed hosting, it is important that you know what to look for. The actual features and services will depend on the situation and the needs of your business, but you certainly want to keep an eye out for must-haves such as quality customer service, technical support and regular data backups. At the same time, you must ensure that the firm’s top priority is managed hosting. This is should not be merely something the company offers on the side, but a field they specialize in and know inside and out. If not, there is no way they will be able to make your IT requirements their top priority.
Follow Through on the Evaluation Process
After discovering what a particular host has to offer, you should then do your homework and take a look into their credentials. This can actually be done in numerous ways, including checking with the BBB (Better Business Bureau), reading managed hosting reviews and simply gathering feedback from other businesses that are familiar with the service. It may also be a good idea to find out if the company offers some sort of evaluation period. This will allow you to give the service a try to determine if the service is up to par with your expectations and requirements. If it is not, then you will know then that there is no reason to continue service with the host following the evaluation period. It also gives you an opportunity to find a company that is better suited for your needs instead of remaining in a no-win situation.
Never Settle for Less
You will find that deciding whether or not to lease service from a particular managed hosting firm is much easier after conducting a thorough evaluation. In the end, only you understand what your business truly requires to be successful. Because the requirements of one company differs from the next, it is vital to make sure you sign up with a provider that can deliver everything you need. This is a very important factor as some providers will try to offer every feature and service on the menu instead of focusing on the essentials, which can really send the cost soaring. You may want to look for a company that permits you to build a custom package that is designed to suit the needs of your business to a tee. Rest assured that are many suitors on the market so if one provider cannot deliver, keep on and continue the search until you find another that can.
Know What to Look For
Before you begin your search for managed hosting, it is important that you know what to look for. The actual features and services will depend on the situation and the needs of your business, but you certainly want to keep an eye out for must-haves such as quality customer service, technical support and regular data backups. At the same time, you must ensure that the firm’s top priority is managed hosting. This is should not be merely something the company offers on the side, but a field they specialize in and know inside and out. If not, there is no way they will be able to make your IT requirements their top priority.
Follow Through on the Evaluation Process
After discovering what a particular host has to offer, you should then do your homework and take a look into their credentials. This can actually be done in numerous ways, including checking with the BBB (Better Business Bureau), reading managed hosting reviews and simply gathering feedback from other businesses that are familiar with the service. It may also be a good idea to find out if the company offers some sort of evaluation period. This will allow you to give the service a try to determine if the service is up to par with your expectations and requirements. If it is not, then you will know then that there is no reason to continue service with the host following the evaluation period. It also gives you an opportunity to find a company that is better suited for your needs instead of remaining in a no-win situation.
Never Settle for Less
You will find that deciding whether or not to lease service from a particular managed hosting firm is much easier after conducting a thorough evaluation. In the end, only you understand what your business truly requires to be successful. Because the requirements of one company differs from the next, it is vital to make sure you sign up with a provider that can deliver everything you need. This is a very important factor as some providers will try to offer every feature and service on the menu instead of focusing on the essentials, which can really send the cost soaring. You may want to look for a company that permits you to build a custom package that is designed to suit the needs of your business to a tee. Rest assured that are many suitors on the market so if one provider cannot deliver, keep on and continue the search until you find another that can.
Essential Tips for the New Reseller
Becoming successful in any industry is not easy, but thanks to reseller hosting, making it in the web hosting business is a greater possibility than it has ever been before. This concept has soared to popularity over the years simply because it directly aids in the establishment of several more online businesses. If you are someone who is considering profiting with a reseller account, the following tips should do you some good when you set out to find a suitable provider.
Invest Your Time in Research
In order to make it as a reseller, you must really make an effort to find a host that can be relied on to support your needs. This may take a bit of time but in the end, you will discover that it was worth every minute. Just like when shopping for almost anything, it is good to compare service to determine which is best for you. Most hosting providers market many of the same offerings, but no two companies are the same. Conducting the recommended research will help you find the solution best suited for your needs and once you land a reliable partner, you have already won half the battle.
Acquire a Solid Control Panel
When it comes to reseller hosting, it is important to know that the control panel will be one of the most essential features needed for your new business. In fact, this little piece of software can actually determine how many packages you sell and your overall success as a reseller. A quality control panel will be the key element that distinguishes you from your competitors regardless of its popularity and how many resellers use the software. It will enable you to easily create hosting packages and effectively run your business from a streamlined, centralized virtual office headquarters. While control panels typically come included with a reseller account, you want to put emphasis on finding a software package you feel comfortable using and actually enjoy.
Look at the Profit Potential
The great thing about reseller hosting is a flexibility that allows you to make profits or use the solution for your own needs. What you choose to do with the plan is totally up to you. If you choose to use the package to make money, rest assured that this concept is designed for you to succeed. If you are paying $50 per month for hosting, all you would have to do is sell five packages at $10 a piece each month and you’re covered. There also other ways you can maximize your profits and make the most of a reseller account. For example, you could charge your customers for web design and other services you may be offering. A good hosting company will provide an environment that allows you to do so with efficiency.
Reseller hosting offers a tremendous opportunity to anyone who wants to generate money online. It is an effective and easy way for even the startup business to tap into what has quickly become a very prevalent market. Most importantly, it serves as solid proof that anything is possible in the realm of web hosting.
Invest Your Time in Research
In order to make it as a reseller, you must really make an effort to find a host that can be relied on to support your needs. This may take a bit of time but in the end, you will discover that it was worth every minute. Just like when shopping for almost anything, it is good to compare service to determine which is best for you. Most hosting providers market many of the same offerings, but no two companies are the same. Conducting the recommended research will help you find the solution best suited for your needs and once you land a reliable partner, you have already won half the battle.
Acquire a Solid Control Panel
When it comes to reseller hosting, it is important to know that the control panel will be one of the most essential features needed for your new business. In fact, this little piece of software can actually determine how many packages you sell and your overall success as a reseller. A quality control panel will be the key element that distinguishes you from your competitors regardless of its popularity and how many resellers use the software. It will enable you to easily create hosting packages and effectively run your business from a streamlined, centralized virtual office headquarters. While control panels typically come included with a reseller account, you want to put emphasis on finding a software package you feel comfortable using and actually enjoy.
Look at the Profit Potential
The great thing about reseller hosting is a flexibility that allows you to make profits or use the solution for your own needs. What you choose to do with the plan is totally up to you. If you choose to use the package to make money, rest assured that this concept is designed for you to succeed. If you are paying $50 per month for hosting, all you would have to do is sell five packages at $10 a piece each month and you’re covered. There also other ways you can maximize your profits and make the most of a reseller account. For example, you could charge your customers for web design and other services you may be offering. A good hosting company will provide an environment that allows you to do so with efficiency.
Reseller hosting offers a tremendous opportunity to anyone who wants to generate money online. It is an effective and easy way for even the startup business to tap into what has quickly become a very prevalent market. Most importantly, it serves as solid proof that anything is possible in the realm of web hosting.
Multiple Domain Hosting for Niche Marketers
Online business owners who have a multitude of websites to accommodate their niches often run into problems with substantially high web hosting fees. Whether you are paying on a monthly or yearly basis, the cost for hosting can add up pretty quickly when trying to run more than one website. Fortunately, there is a solution that can help you dramatically reduce the costs. By opting for multiple domain hosting, you can host all of your niche websites under a single account and literally save hundreds of dollars each year.
Multiple domain name hosting is not to be confused with domain forwarding, which lets you direct different domains to one particular website. For example, let’s say you have a domain and create content for a website at yoursite.com. You then purchase similar domains but instead, use extensions such as .net, .org and .biz. Domain forwarding allows you to take these domains and point them to the original domain at yoursite.com. This way, whenever some types in yoursite.net, yoursite.org or yoursite.biz, they are still taken to a location that displays the content from yoursite.com. Multiple domain hosting does not operate in this fashion. Instead of being forwarded or redirected to the same website, this type of arrangement allows you to have a number of different sites that contain their own specific content.
Multiple Domain Hosting in Action
As an example, let’s assume that you have targeted a total of five niches to make money online. Your existing domain is myserversite.com, which you transfer to a provider that offers multiple domain hosting. After uploading the content and composing your main website, you then add on the four additional domains to your account. During this process, the system creates a folder for the add on domains, which will actually look a lot like sub-domains. For instance, when adding mysoftware.com to your primary domain, the system might create a “software” folder, thus resulting in a sub-domain that reads something like mysoftware.myserversite.com. The key factor to remember is that when a user types in the mysoftware.com URL, they will be taken to an entire website rather than a sub-domain. In simple terms, these sub-domains end up taking the form of top level domains for your add on domains.
Maximizing the Potential of Multiple Domains
There are quite a few ways multiple domain hosting can help you save money apart from the obvious. Aside from directly cutting the cost of web hosting by more than half, there is a wide variety of features and options that typically come included free in hosting packages that will ultimately allow you to save even more. These offerings generally include powerful e-commerce tools, marketing services, free online advertising credits and pre-installed software scripts to name a few. While these features have become standard on the market, they still are not guaranteed, so finding a host that bundles them in a multiple domain hosting plan could result in a steal for you.
Multiple domain name hosting is not to be confused with domain forwarding, which lets you direct different domains to one particular website. For example, let’s say you have a domain and create content for a website at yoursite.com. You then purchase similar domains but instead, use extensions such as .net, .org and .biz. Domain forwarding allows you to take these domains and point them to the original domain at yoursite.com. This way, whenever some types in yoursite.net, yoursite.org or yoursite.biz, they are still taken to a location that displays the content from yoursite.com. Multiple domain hosting does not operate in this fashion. Instead of being forwarded or redirected to the same website, this type of arrangement allows you to have a number of different sites that contain their own specific content.
Multiple Domain Hosting in Action
As an example, let’s assume that you have targeted a total of five niches to make money online. Your existing domain is myserversite.com, which you transfer to a provider that offers multiple domain hosting. After uploading the content and composing your main website, you then add on the four additional domains to your account. During this process, the system creates a folder for the add on domains, which will actually look a lot like sub-domains. For instance, when adding mysoftware.com to your primary domain, the system might create a “software” folder, thus resulting in a sub-domain that reads something like mysoftware.myserversite.com. The key factor to remember is that when a user types in the mysoftware.com URL, they will be taken to an entire website rather than a sub-domain. In simple terms, these sub-domains end up taking the form of top level domains for your add on domains.
Maximizing the Potential of Multiple Domains
There are quite a few ways multiple domain hosting can help you save money apart from the obvious. Aside from directly cutting the cost of web hosting by more than half, there is a wide variety of features and options that typically come included free in hosting packages that will ultimately allow you to save even more. These offerings generally include powerful e-commerce tools, marketing services, free online advertising credits and pre-installed software scripts to name a few. While these features have become standard on the market, they still are not guaranteed, so finding a host that bundles them in a multiple domain hosting plan could result in a steal for you.
Reselling Hosting on Linux
The Linux operating system has become a very popular option for those looking to enter the reseller web hosting market. In fact, this platform can help you land one of the most cost effective solutions available. Linux reseller hosting is affordable and in most cases, incredibly simple to manage. In this article we will discuss why Linux has become such an ideal choice for resellers all around the world.
Powerful and Reliable
When it comes to the world of web hosting, very few operating systems can match up to the power and durability of Linux. Naturally, the system is just as beloved in the reselling segment of the business. One of the best advantages of using Linux as your business platform is the speed and reliability it offers. In addition to high performance output, the system is rich in the features and functionality needed to help your business excel. For example, the platform supports the PHP programming language, which gives you the ability to incorporate a wide variety of useful scripts. It is also compatible with the powerful MySQL database system. Best of all, when choosing a Linux reseller hosting package, you get the peace of mind that comes from running your business on a platform that is by default, more secure than much of the competition.
Due to the high level of dependability associated with the Linux server, a large number of businesses and individuals have come to embrace it is a viable platform for reseller hosting. This is mainly because the system itself has gained universal appeal among business professionals from various industries and walks of life. With a reliable provider and infrastructure, Linux could give you the best opportunity for achieving success with your reseller hosting account.
Simple and Affordable
Linux itself is a cost effective operating system that is usually significantly cheaper than similar solutions hosted on a Windows platform. This is because the software is open-source and can be obtained freely or for next to nothing. And while it has a reputation for being more complex than other systems, Linux becomes more user-friendly every year. A preferred choice among web developers and designers, many hosting companies provide graphic management consoles and intuitive control panel interfaces to make the system much easier to work with. This means that you can excel with a reseller account minus all the technical challenges Linux is so well known for.
Finding the Ideal Solution
When searching for a reseller hosting package, it is advisable to do your research and first determine whether you require the open-source technologies supported by Linux or those specific to Microsoft Windows. For example, if you have heard about all the benefits of ASP.NET and would prefer to use it personally or offer it to your customers, you would be best suited for a Windows-based package as Linux does not support this technology. However, if you need more commonly used tools such as PHP, Python and Perl, the Linux platform could be the affordable and flexible option you need to make it with your reseller hosting account
Powerful and Reliable
When it comes to the world of web hosting, very few operating systems can match up to the power and durability of Linux. Naturally, the system is just as beloved in the reselling segment of the business. One of the best advantages of using Linux as your business platform is the speed and reliability it offers. In addition to high performance output, the system is rich in the features and functionality needed to help your business excel. For example, the platform supports the PHP programming language, which gives you the ability to incorporate a wide variety of useful scripts. It is also compatible with the powerful MySQL database system. Best of all, when choosing a Linux reseller hosting package, you get the peace of mind that comes from running your business on a platform that is by default, more secure than much of the competition.
Due to the high level of dependability associated with the Linux server, a large number of businesses and individuals have come to embrace it is a viable platform for reseller hosting. This is mainly because the system itself has gained universal appeal among business professionals from various industries and walks of life. With a reliable provider and infrastructure, Linux could give you the best opportunity for achieving success with your reseller hosting account.
Simple and Affordable
Linux itself is a cost effective operating system that is usually significantly cheaper than similar solutions hosted on a Windows platform. This is because the software is open-source and can be obtained freely or for next to nothing. And while it has a reputation for being more complex than other systems, Linux becomes more user-friendly every year. A preferred choice among web developers and designers, many hosting companies provide graphic management consoles and intuitive control panel interfaces to make the system much easier to work with. This means that you can excel with a reseller account minus all the technical challenges Linux is so well known for.
Finding the Ideal Solution
When searching for a reseller hosting package, it is advisable to do your research and first determine whether you require the open-source technologies supported by Linux or those specific to Microsoft Windows. For example, if you have heard about all the benefits of ASP.NET and would prefer to use it personally or offer it to your customers, you would be best suited for a Windows-based package as Linux does not support this technology. However, if you need more commonly used tools such as PHP, Python and Perl, the Linux platform could be the affordable and flexible option you need to make it with your reseller hosting account
cPanel Rolls out RC Version of Windows Control Panel
Last month, web hosting automation software provider cPanel, launched an RC (release candidate) version control panel product to support the Microsoft Windows Server 2008 platform. Known as Enkompass, the software is a step away from the company’s traditional panels based on Linux, FreeBSD and other Unix-like operating systems. cPanel is currently working with Microsoft to accommodate customers who prefer a wider range of platforms offering the power of IIS 7 and Windows Server 2008.
In a recent statement, J. Nick Koston, Chief Executive Officer at cPanel, spoke of Microsoft’s dedication and involvement in the web hosting industry over the last few years. He said that the cPanel Windows development believes IIS 7 is a flexible, scalable, high performance web server that offers the improved security the industry will rapidly adopt. According to Koston, Windows’ modern architecture and extensive support for legacy products was the major selling point that prompted cPanel to expand its offerings.
Boasting a decade of experience in the field of automation software, the cPanel development team built the Enkompass panel from the ground up, designing the application in native Microsoft technologies to ensure the best in performance and flexibility. Koston noted that the product was specifically designed to be run in the distributed server environment, allowing one or more Enkompass servers to manage a multitude of servers over a Windows domain. This enables simplified automation and administration of a server farm or an entire data center facility.
To no surprise, the Enkompass user interface is very reminiscent of cPanel and WHM designed for the Linux platform. This familiarity was emphasized to help users and end customers better understand the software without having to rediscover the functions needed to maintain their daily operations. In fact, Enkompass offers many of the same features found in the cPanel and WHM environment, including tools and options designed for administrators and resellers. It is worth mentioning that cPanel has removed several unnecessary Windows components and included a few Windows-only features as well. Enkompass supports both the MailEnable and SmarterMail email programs. To support the new panel, SmarterTools developed a new lite version of the mail program that supports unlimited domains and is only compatible with Enkompass. In addition, cPanel’s Windows control panel supports Microsoft SQL Server 2005 and 2008 as well as MySQL 5.
cPanel has also made security a priority for its Windows control panel. This is done by using AD (Active Directory), which makes sure user data and reseller privileges are stored in a secure manner. In addition, the reseller platform has received notable enhancements, now boasting multi-level reselling capabilities that essentially allows resellers to service other resellers.
The people at cPanel revealed that the Enkompass control panel is to be installed on a single Windows server and then extends to provision accounts across multiple web, mail, FTP and database servers, thus allowing hosting providers to easily add new capacity by incorporating additional servers as their needs increase.
The Enkompass control panel is currently available in a test version. This license is valid for 45 days and will expire thereafter or when the product becomes available for sale.
In a recent statement, J. Nick Koston, Chief Executive Officer at cPanel, spoke of Microsoft’s dedication and involvement in the web hosting industry over the last few years. He said that the cPanel Windows development believes IIS 7 is a flexible, scalable, high performance web server that offers the improved security the industry will rapidly adopt. According to Koston, Windows’ modern architecture and extensive support for legacy products was the major selling point that prompted cPanel to expand its offerings.
Boasting a decade of experience in the field of automation software, the cPanel development team built the Enkompass panel from the ground up, designing the application in native Microsoft technologies to ensure the best in performance and flexibility. Koston noted that the product was specifically designed to be run in the distributed server environment, allowing one or more Enkompass servers to manage a multitude of servers over a Windows domain. This enables simplified automation and administration of a server farm or an entire data center facility.
To no surprise, the Enkompass user interface is very reminiscent of cPanel and WHM designed for the Linux platform. This familiarity was emphasized to help users and end customers better understand the software without having to rediscover the functions needed to maintain their daily operations. In fact, Enkompass offers many of the same features found in the cPanel and WHM environment, including tools and options designed for administrators and resellers. It is worth mentioning that cPanel has removed several unnecessary Windows components and included a few Windows-only features as well. Enkompass supports both the MailEnable and SmarterMail email programs. To support the new panel, SmarterTools developed a new lite version of the mail program that supports unlimited domains and is only compatible with Enkompass. In addition, cPanel’s Windows control panel supports Microsoft SQL Server 2005 and 2008 as well as MySQL 5.
cPanel has also made security a priority for its Windows control panel. This is done by using AD (Active Directory), which makes sure user data and reseller privileges are stored in a secure manner. In addition, the reseller platform has received notable enhancements, now boasting multi-level reselling capabilities that essentially allows resellers to service other resellers.
The people at cPanel revealed that the Enkompass control panel is to be installed on a single Windows server and then extends to provision accounts across multiple web, mail, FTP and database servers, thus allowing hosting providers to easily add new capacity by incorporating additional servers as their needs increase.
The Enkompass control panel is currently available in a test version. This license is valid for 45 days and will expire thereafter or when the product becomes available for sale.
Multiple Domains and Search Engines
There are several website owners who are making inappropriate use of multiple domain hosting. Unfortunately for them, they are also crippling their very own search engine rankings by blatantly violating the guidelines established by the search engines that matter the most. Site owners today choose to register multiple domains for various reasons, including the following:
- They want to secure a brand name or trademark from competitors.
- They want to expand their web presence across different niche markets.
- Domain names are incredibly affordable.
Some people also register more than one domain for misguided reasons, including the belief that pointing multiple domains to the same location will result in higher search engine rankings. What many do not understand is that search engines despise duplicate content and the automated programs they send out to index your pages cannot determine whether you fall under the category of innocent and uninformed, or deliberate and blatantly manipulative. Those websites that ride this line should expect to be treated equally and to your disadvantage, you can be heavily penalized or even banned from the search engines for not knowing right from wrong.
Understanding the Guidelines
As someone trying to promote a website, you should know that search engines do not openly publish their guidelines as they do not want to give away too much information. However, there are a few rules that have been established which are directly related to multiple domains. These guidelines are quite simple: do not try to manipulate the index through sneaky redirects and cloaking and do not create multiple pages or domains that contain overwhelming duplicate content. So, what does this mean to you? Well, it should at least you know that there are some notable disadvantages to having multiple domains, especially if you do not remain cautious of duplicate content. Should you make the mistake of having the exact same content on multiple domains on the same server, you could be in serious violation of search engine guidelines. When this occurs, it does not matter what your intentions were, because you could still find yourself banned from the index. This not a great way to starting building your web presence at all.
Check Your Content
When it comes to questionable SEO practices, not knowing about the search engine guidelines is no excuse. Sadly, an alarming number of web hosting firms and designers are not aware of how to properly use multiple domains. This results in numerous website owners who unknowingly hinder their site’s ability to be indexed and placed in the rankings. Our advice to anyone who has more than one domain is to investigate and find out how they have been set up. If you have two similar but slightly different domains showing the same content, you could have a problem on your hands. In the end, your quest to maintain visitors could prevent you from leveraging some of the most significant potential traffic of all – the millions of web surfers that find what they need via the search engines.
- They want to secure a brand name or trademark from competitors.
- They want to expand their web presence across different niche markets.
- Domain names are incredibly affordable.
Some people also register more than one domain for misguided reasons, including the belief that pointing multiple domains to the same location will result in higher search engine rankings. What many do not understand is that search engines despise duplicate content and the automated programs they send out to index your pages cannot determine whether you fall under the category of innocent and uninformed, or deliberate and blatantly manipulative. Those websites that ride this line should expect to be treated equally and to your disadvantage, you can be heavily penalized or even banned from the search engines for not knowing right from wrong.
Understanding the Guidelines
As someone trying to promote a website, you should know that search engines do not openly publish their guidelines as they do not want to give away too much information. However, there are a few rules that have been established which are directly related to multiple domains. These guidelines are quite simple: do not try to manipulate the index through sneaky redirects and cloaking and do not create multiple pages or domains that contain overwhelming duplicate content. So, what does this mean to you? Well, it should at least you know that there are some notable disadvantages to having multiple domains, especially if you do not remain cautious of duplicate content. Should you make the mistake of having the exact same content on multiple domains on the same server, you could be in serious violation of search engine guidelines. When this occurs, it does not matter what your intentions were, because you could still find yourself banned from the index. This not a great way to starting building your web presence at all.
Check Your Content
When it comes to questionable SEO practices, not knowing about the search engine guidelines is no excuse. Sadly, an alarming number of web hosting firms and designers are not aware of how to properly use multiple domains. This results in numerous website owners who unknowingly hinder their site’s ability to be indexed and placed in the rankings. Our advice to anyone who has more than one domain is to investigate and find out how they have been set up. If you have two similar but slightly different domains showing the same content, you could have a problem on your hands. In the end, your quest to maintain visitors could prevent you from leveraging some of the most significant potential traffic of all – the millions of web surfers that find what they need via the search engines.
Experimenting with HTML
If you want to be a good web developer or just a webmaster with moderate programming skills, HTML is a technology you need to familiarize yourself with. In actuality, HTML is a very simple language, one that ties in code for virtually every website and communicates with every browser in order to display content to the user. Here are a few tips to help you get more familiar with HTML and start comfortably working with the language on your own.
How to Learn HTML
There are a couple of ways you can learn HTML. You can start by obtaining a piece of code from the web, saving it to your computer and doing a little experimenting. Many suggest selecting a simple page, such as your home page and starting with that.
Using a browser such as Microsoft Internet Explorer or Mozilla FireFox, you can view the source code for just about any web page by right-clicking the page and choosing “View Source” or “View Page Source” from the sub-menu. Once the code is visible on the screen, you can then save the entire page by clicking “File”, selecting “Save As” and giving the file a name. You can also highlight snippets of the code, manually insert it into a blank document and then save it. After doing this, you may want to insert the file in a folder to bring organization to your learning project. When opening the page locally, you might notice that some of the graphics are missing because they were not saved with the HTML code. If you want to work with these graphics, go back to the web page, right-click it and select “Save Image.” You can then save it in the same folder you created earlier that contains the HTML file.
Now that you have the web page on your local drive, you can learn HTML by simply observing and editing the code. You can get the results of these edits by keeping the page open in your browser and word processing application. While you could use Word, Notepad is perfectly suitable. If your browser is equipped with tabbed viewing, open a new tab for the project so you can go back to the original document on the web. You may also want to arrange things where both the browser and Notepad windows are positioned where you can easily see both. After making edits in the Notepad HTML file, save it and then refresh your browser. The Notepad window will minimize automatically and give you just enough time to view the changes in the browser display.
Conclusion
This article is not intended to act as an HTML tutorial . Rather, we just want to express that the language is easy to work with and can be mastered by anyone who is willing to learn. Most programmers learn HTML through trial and error. With a little patience, you can do the same.
How to Learn HTML
There are a couple of ways you can learn HTML. You can start by obtaining a piece of code from the web, saving it to your computer and doing a little experimenting. Many suggest selecting a simple page, such as your home page and starting with that.
Using a browser such as Microsoft Internet Explorer or Mozilla FireFox, you can view the source code for just about any web page by right-clicking the page and choosing “View Source” or “View Page Source” from the sub-menu. Once the code is visible on the screen, you can then save the entire page by clicking “File”, selecting “Save As” and giving the file a name. You can also highlight snippets of the code, manually insert it into a blank document and then save it. After doing this, you may want to insert the file in a folder to bring organization to your learning project. When opening the page locally, you might notice that some of the graphics are missing because they were not saved with the HTML code. If you want to work with these graphics, go back to the web page, right-click it and select “Save Image.” You can then save it in the same folder you created earlier that contains the HTML file.
Now that you have the web page on your local drive, you can learn HTML by simply observing and editing the code. You can get the results of these edits by keeping the page open in your browser and word processing application. While you could use Word, Notepad is perfectly suitable. If your browser is equipped with tabbed viewing, open a new tab for the project so you can go back to the original document on the web. You may also want to arrange things where both the browser and Notepad windows are positioned where you can easily see both. After making edits in the Notepad HTML file, save it and then refresh your browser. The Notepad window will minimize automatically and give you just enough time to view the changes in the browser display.
Conclusion
This article is not intended to act as an HTML tutorial . Rather, we just want to express that the language is easy to work with and can be mastered by anyone who is willing to learn. Most programmers learn HTML through trial and error. With a little patience, you can do the same.
Windows Hosting with Silverlight
For some time now, the Microsoft brand has been synonymous with information technology and more recently, formed close ties with the web hosting industry. Over the years, Windows hosting has made a name for itself with powerful features such as ASP, ASP.NET, FrontPage and MS SQL among several others. One of the most highly sought after features these days is a Microsoft technology known as Silverlight.
What is Silverlight?
Silverlight is a browser plugin that supports major web browsers such as Internet Explorer, FireFox, Safari and many others. As a cross-platform technology, it is not only compatible with Windows, but other operating systems such as Mac OS X, Linux and Unix. Silverlight is viewed as Microsoft’s alternative to Adobe’s Flash technology. This is because similar to Flash, it allows users to view media applications directly from their web browser in a streaming fashion that lets you listen to music and watch videos in near real-time. Perhaps the greatest advantage of Silverlight is its ability to be integrated with existing web applications thanks to a robust development framework that supports a number of programming languages. Whereas using Flash on the .NET Framework is messy at best, Silverlight was made for this powerful environment, giving it the ability to deliver unrivaled results.
Silverlight 3 Features and Benefits
Silverlight 3 was officially released on July 9, 2009. This version is bundled with many improvements and new features that enable developers to take the rich media experience to the next level.
Enhanced User Experience – The newest version of Silverlight comes included with new 3D graphics, text enhancement, font support and animation features, all of which provide developers and designers with a way to create next-generation web browsing experiences for the end-user.
Deep Linking Capability – Silverlight 3 offers support for deep linking, allowing for the bookmarking of pages within rich internet applications.
SEO-Friendly - With Silverlight 3, users can deal with a number of SEO-related tasks dues to its seamless compatibility with a number of different tools. By combining business objects on the server with site maps and ASP.NET controls, you can mirror the content of your applications into HTML format that can be indexed by the search engine bots, thus providing for better ranking in the SERPs.
Giving Silverlight a Test Drive
These features and benefits do not even scratch the surface because Silverlight has much more to offer. Hosting this amazing technology is incredibly easy since there are no significant requirements due to its cross-platform capabilities. However, there are some factors you want to keep in mind. Silverlight can be a resource hogging feature, particularly if your plans require a large entertainment or multimedia site. For this reason, you may want to consider hosting it on a virtual private server or dedicated server. If you want to give Silverlight a test run, you can try it out with Microsoft Silverlight Streaming. This is a free alternative that allows you to experience Silverlight for yourself before giving up your existing rich media technology.
What is Silverlight?
Silverlight is a browser plugin that supports major web browsers such as Internet Explorer, FireFox, Safari and many others. As a cross-platform technology, it is not only compatible with Windows, but other operating systems such as Mac OS X, Linux and Unix. Silverlight is viewed as Microsoft’s alternative to Adobe’s Flash technology. This is because similar to Flash, it allows users to view media applications directly from their web browser in a streaming fashion that lets you listen to music and watch videos in near real-time. Perhaps the greatest advantage of Silverlight is its ability to be integrated with existing web applications thanks to a robust development framework that supports a number of programming languages. Whereas using Flash on the .NET Framework is messy at best, Silverlight was made for this powerful environment, giving it the ability to deliver unrivaled results.
Silverlight 3 Features and Benefits
Silverlight 3 was officially released on July 9, 2009. This version is bundled with many improvements and new features that enable developers to take the rich media experience to the next level.
Enhanced User Experience – The newest version of Silverlight comes included with new 3D graphics, text enhancement, font support and animation features, all of which provide developers and designers with a way to create next-generation web browsing experiences for the end-user.
Deep Linking Capability – Silverlight 3 offers support for deep linking, allowing for the bookmarking of pages within rich internet applications.
SEO-Friendly - With Silverlight 3, users can deal with a number of SEO-related tasks dues to its seamless compatibility with a number of different tools. By combining business objects on the server with site maps and ASP.NET controls, you can mirror the content of your applications into HTML format that can be indexed by the search engine bots, thus providing for better ranking in the SERPs.
Giving Silverlight a Test Drive
These features and benefits do not even scratch the surface because Silverlight has much more to offer. Hosting this amazing technology is incredibly easy since there are no significant requirements due to its cross-platform capabilities. However, there are some factors you want to keep in mind. Silverlight can be a resource hogging feature, particularly if your plans require a large entertainment or multimedia site. For this reason, you may want to consider hosting it on a virtual private server or dedicated server. If you want to give Silverlight a test run, you can try it out with Microsoft Silverlight Streaming. This is a free alternative that allows you to experience Silverlight for yourself before giving up your existing rich media technology.
Web Hosting Provider Celebrates Anniversary with Special Giveaway
Last week marked the ninth anniversary for highly touted UK web hosting provider 34SP.com. The company is celebrating this momentous occasion by giving back to its loyal customers. To commensurate with the anniversary, 34SP is giving away nine great prizes clients are sure to love.
34SP.com was founded by Daniel Foster and Stuart Melling, two colleagues who attended Manchester University. Despite its tremendous growth and profitability, the web hosting industry is still a fairly new business segment. Throughout the years, the market has seen its fair share of merger and acquisitions along with the continuous threat of competition that seems to get more fierce every year. When looking at factors such as these, as well as the current state of the global economy, it is truly remarkable that 34SP has been able to not only remain afloat for nine years, while maintaining its status as one of the UK’s major players.
According to 34PS.com co-founder Stuart Melling, the company thought it was an excellent idea to reward their customers with a great prize for each year 34SP has been in the web hosting industry. He spoke of the hard road traveled and all the challenges the firm has had to deal with over the last few years, persevering through it all to continuously provide its customers with high quality service and world-class support. Melling let it be known that the company is looking forward to its next nine years in the business.
The 34SP.com special give away is currently in full swing. Any customer that purchases any of its products or services during the month of October qualifies to win a great prize from the company’s “9 Years of Hosting, 9 Great Prizes” contest. 34SP reported that the lucky customers will be determined by way of a random drawing schedule to take place at the end of October.
Here is the list of prizes up for grabs in the giveaway:
- 8 GB Apple iPod nano with a built-in camera.
- 17-inch Toshiba Satellite Laptop
- 12.MegaPixel Cannon Powershot Camera
- 1 Terabyte Western Digital Elements USB External Hard Drive
- 7-inch Sony Portable DVD Player
- 8 GB Memory Flip Video Ultra HD Camcorder
- Canon Selply ES40, Portable Talking Printer
- 19-inch Toshiba Widescreen HD Ready LCD TV
- The Beatles Rock Band – Limited Edition Bundle
About 34SP.com
Located in Manchester, England, 34SP.com was founded in 2000. The company was established with the intent of helping customers obtain advanced web hosting solutions at affordable prices. Both the owners and core technical staff have been with the firm since its inception, giving it the ability tp provide the personalized service and support customers desire. Specializing in a wide variety of solutions geared towards web designers and developers, it portfolio consists of web hosting, dedicated servers and UK domain names. In June of 2009, 34SP.com was rated the world’s most reliable web hosting firm by independent UK monitoring service, Netcraft. A recent internal survey showed that an astounding 98% of its clients would recommend the company’s services to other customers.
34SP.com was founded by Daniel Foster and Stuart Melling, two colleagues who attended Manchester University. Despite its tremendous growth and profitability, the web hosting industry is still a fairly new business segment. Throughout the years, the market has seen its fair share of merger and acquisitions along with the continuous threat of competition that seems to get more fierce every year. When looking at factors such as these, as well as the current state of the global economy, it is truly remarkable that 34SP has been able to not only remain afloat for nine years, while maintaining its status as one of the UK’s major players.
According to 34PS.com co-founder Stuart Melling, the company thought it was an excellent idea to reward their customers with a great prize for each year 34SP has been in the web hosting industry. He spoke of the hard road traveled and all the challenges the firm has had to deal with over the last few years, persevering through it all to continuously provide its customers with high quality service and world-class support. Melling let it be known that the company is looking forward to its next nine years in the business.
The 34SP.com special give away is currently in full swing. Any customer that purchases any of its products or services during the month of October qualifies to win a great prize from the company’s “9 Years of Hosting, 9 Great Prizes” contest. 34SP reported that the lucky customers will be determined by way of a random drawing schedule to take place at the end of October.
Here is the list of prizes up for grabs in the giveaway:
- 8 GB Apple iPod nano with a built-in camera.
- 17-inch Toshiba Satellite Laptop
- 12.MegaPixel Cannon Powershot Camera
- 1 Terabyte Western Digital Elements USB External Hard Drive
- 7-inch Sony Portable DVD Player
- 8 GB Memory Flip Video Ultra HD Camcorder
- Canon Selply ES40, Portable Talking Printer
- 19-inch Toshiba Widescreen HD Ready LCD TV
- The Beatles Rock Band – Limited Edition Bundle
About 34SP.com
Located in Manchester, England, 34SP.com was founded in 2000. The company was established with the intent of helping customers obtain advanced web hosting solutions at affordable prices. Both the owners and core technical staff have been with the firm since its inception, giving it the ability tp provide the personalized service and support customers desire. Specializing in a wide variety of solutions geared towards web designers and developers, it portfolio consists of web hosting, dedicated servers and UK domain names. In June of 2009, 34SP.com was rated the world’s most reliable web hosting firm by independent UK monitoring service, Netcraft. A recent internal survey showed that an astounding 98% of its clients would recommend the company’s services to other customers.
Migrating from Shared Hosting to VPS
Many customers are interested in upgrading from a shared hosting account to a VPS, but they are often uncertain on how their website will perform in the virtual environment. While we can tell you that a better performance is almost guaranteed, there are also a couple of factors that must be considered to ensure a successful deployment. This article will discuss some key areas you need to take into account before abandoning your existing shared hosting arrangement.
Control Panel Software
The control panel is one of the most important features in any type of hosting solution and VPS is no different. Most shared hosting providers use popular applications like cPanel and Plesk. thus if you want the benefit of a smooth transition, you may want to look for a VPS plan that comes with the same control panel you were using previously. Since you are already familiar with the software, you can get settled in quickly and have little to no trouble managing your account.
Guaranteed RAM
In the shared hosting environment, you don’t have to worry much about RAM. Even though you must share this resource other customers and have it capped at a certain level, most hosting companies tend to provide you with more than enough. This is not the case with VPS hosting because in most instances, you get what you pay for. However, it is critical to make sure you understand the amount of RAM you are allocated as memory is one of the most important factors to consider for a virtual private server. Without enough of it, you will likely notice that many of your services often fail and your entire site runs slow.
Basic Computing and Server Knowledge
Managing a VPS account is notably easier than keeping up a dedicated server. At the same time, it does require a bit of technical knowledge on your part, which could be a challenge depending on your experience. For example, if you choose a plan based on the Linux or Unix platform, it would be wise to learn a few basic commands so that you will be able to perform configurations by yourself. This cannot be stressed enough because most hosting firms will not be willing to help you optimize your VPS whether you are engaged in managed service agreement or not.
Cost of Service
Another factor you must consider before signing up for a VPS hosting account is the overall cost of service. While this type of solution is generally marketed as affordable, you should know that it is often considerably more expensive than your typical shared hosting plan. In fact, a VPS package could end up costing you more than $100 per month depending on the provider. With asking prices like this, you may be inclined to pay a few more dollars for a dedicated server or decide that virtualization is just too costly for your budget.
Conclusion
Upgrading to a VPS is a major move that should not be taken lightly. When considering all the challenges, you might conclude like many others that shared hosting is the easiest and most affordable way to get your site up and running. That is not to take away from the power of VPS because it makes an ideal solution for those who warrant the need and are serious about their web presence.
Control Panel Software
The control panel is one of the most important features in any type of hosting solution and VPS is no different. Most shared hosting providers use popular applications like cPanel and Plesk. thus if you want the benefit of a smooth transition, you may want to look for a VPS plan that comes with the same control panel you were using previously. Since you are already familiar with the software, you can get settled in quickly and have little to no trouble managing your account.
Guaranteed RAM
In the shared hosting environment, you don’t have to worry much about RAM. Even though you must share this resource other customers and have it capped at a certain level, most hosting companies tend to provide you with more than enough. This is not the case with VPS hosting because in most instances, you get what you pay for. However, it is critical to make sure you understand the amount of RAM you are allocated as memory is one of the most important factors to consider for a virtual private server. Without enough of it, you will likely notice that many of your services often fail and your entire site runs slow.
Basic Computing and Server Knowledge
Managing a VPS account is notably easier than keeping up a dedicated server. At the same time, it does require a bit of technical knowledge on your part, which could be a challenge depending on your experience. For example, if you choose a plan based on the Linux or Unix platform, it would be wise to learn a few basic commands so that you will be able to perform configurations by yourself. This cannot be stressed enough because most hosting firms will not be willing to help you optimize your VPS whether you are engaged in managed service agreement or not.
Cost of Service
Another factor you must consider before signing up for a VPS hosting account is the overall cost of service. While this type of solution is generally marketed as affordable, you should know that it is often considerably more expensive than your typical shared hosting plan. In fact, a VPS package could end up costing you more than $100 per month depending on the provider. With asking prices like this, you may be inclined to pay a few more dollars for a dedicated server or decide that virtualization is just too costly for your budget.
Conclusion
Upgrading to a VPS is a major move that should not be taken lightly. When considering all the challenges, you might conclude like many others that shared hosting is the easiest and most affordable way to get your site up and running. That is not to take away from the power of VPS because it makes an ideal solution for those who warrant the need and are serious about their web presence.
The Basics of XHTML Programming
Many of the pages that comprise internet websites are poorly written. The main reason webmasters do not realize this is because even though syntactically inadequate HTML code may exist, it could still work in most web browsers despite not following the rules. While today’s browsers are designed to deal with these inadequacies, the same cannot be said for the growing number of web-enabled mobile devices. One technology that helps to promote the clean code and compliance needed to integrate the web and mobile environment is a technology known as XHTML.
XHTML Background
As the name implies, XHTML is essentially a combination of HTML and XML. It represents a set of existing and future document types and modules that include all the elements of HTML combined with XML syntax. The first version, XHTML 1.0, was recommended by the WC3 (World Wide Web Consortium) on January 26, 2000. XHTML 1.1 was initially recommended on May 31, 20001. As of now, XHTML 5.0 is currently in development under the HTML 5.0 specification. Unlike HTML, these documents must be well structured and can therefore, actually be processed with basic XML tools. Andrew S. Tanenbaum, a professor of computer science best known for authoring the Minix operating system, said that XHTML is a “very picky” language that distinguishes itself from HTML by way of a much more strict syntax. This is assessment is right on point.
XHTML Syntax
One thing you should keep in mind is that XHTML is merely an extended version of HTML. What this means is that writing XHTML code is essentially similar to writing in HTML. The major difference is that XHTML is far more structured and more strict than its predecessor. One of the best ways to learn this language is to experiment with some old HTML code and then work to bring it up to XHTML standards. When working with the code, there are several important rules you need to remember, including the following:
- All elements must be nested correctly.
- All elements must be closed out correctly.
- All tag names must be entered in lower case characters.
- All attribute names must be entered in lower case characters.
- All attribute values must be quoted correctly.
- The name attribute is to be replaced by the id attribute
- All images and graphics must have alt (alternate) text.
- All XHTML documents require a DOCTYPE declaration along with an HTML head and body header elements.
- The title element must be included in the head element.
Learning XHTML is all about practicing and embracing discipline. If you keep this in mind, you should be able to master it in a relatively short amount of time. On the other hand, if you do not want to try manually converting an existing HTML to XHTML, you can use a software tool to perform the conversion for you. HTML Tidy is a highly recommended program because it is a free tool that helps clean your web pages. With such a handy tool at your disposal, you can get a handle on XHTML and use that knowledge to bring success to your projects.
XHTML Background
As the name implies, XHTML is essentially a combination of HTML and XML. It represents a set of existing and future document types and modules that include all the elements of HTML combined with XML syntax. The first version, XHTML 1.0, was recommended by the WC3 (World Wide Web Consortium) on January 26, 2000. XHTML 1.1 was initially recommended on May 31, 20001. As of now, XHTML 5.0 is currently in development under the HTML 5.0 specification. Unlike HTML, these documents must be well structured and can therefore, actually be processed with basic XML tools. Andrew S. Tanenbaum, a professor of computer science best known for authoring the Minix operating system, said that XHTML is a “very picky” language that distinguishes itself from HTML by way of a much more strict syntax. This is assessment is right on point.
XHTML Syntax
One thing you should keep in mind is that XHTML is merely an extended version of HTML. What this means is that writing XHTML code is essentially similar to writing in HTML. The major difference is that XHTML is far more structured and more strict than its predecessor. One of the best ways to learn this language is to experiment with some old HTML code and then work to bring it up to XHTML standards. When working with the code, there are several important rules you need to remember, including the following:
- All elements must be nested correctly.
- All elements must be closed out correctly.
- All tag names must be entered in lower case characters.
- All attribute names must be entered in lower case characters.
- All attribute values must be quoted correctly.
- The name attribute is to be replaced by the id attribute
- All images and graphics must have alt (alternate) text.
- All XHTML documents require a DOCTYPE declaration along with an HTML head and body header elements.
- The title element must be included in the head element.
Learning XHTML is all about practicing and embracing discipline. If you keep this in mind, you should be able to master it in a relatively short amount of time. On the other hand, if you do not want to try manually converting an existing HTML to XHTML, you can use a software tool to perform the conversion for you. HTML Tidy is a highly recommended program because it is a free tool that helps clean your web pages. With such a handy tool at your disposal, you can get a handle on XHTML and use that knowledge to bring success to your projects.
Dynamic Websites with Windows Hosting
Today, individuals and businesses have to invest a lot of time and energy into creating and maintaining dynamic websites that are truly visually effective. Those looking for an easier and more efficient way to deal with their content are increasingly turning to Windows hosting. The availability of Microsoft’s Active Server Pages technology in Windows hosting solutions provides for dynamic web pages that can help give your website the best possible presentation and performance. ASP is a powerful and flexible technology that can provide your site users with a range of interactive page options and functionality that surpasses the norm. When opting for a Windows hosting package equipped with this dynamic programming technology, you will then have the tools needed to gain an edge on the competition. .
The ASP Advantage
There are numerous advantages to building your website with ASP. Perhaps the most obvious is the presence of dynamic elements that will make your site look more appealing to visitors. This is a winning quality for the online business owner who wants to enhance the browsing experience while trying to entice potential customers with their products or services. In fact, more and more businesses are investing in Windows hosting merely because of its ability to help them better engage the consumer and market their products. This is not only made possible from the use of ASP, but several other Microsoft technologies bundled in the Windows Server operating system and IIS web server.
A dynamic, content-rich website is generally easier to maintain, and this is especially true when your pages and applications are powered by ASP. The ASP framework encourages good programming practices, which empowers the knowledgeable developer to work with clean code that produces compliant output. Due to the fact that it is tightly integrated with IIS and the Windows platform, your visitors will be able to enjoy feature loaded web pages in the way they were meant to be viewed regardless of what type of browser they use. ASP makes one of the best options for providing rich, dynamic content that jumps off the screen at your visitors.
Getting the Best ASP Solution
As with any type of solution, there are many factors that must be considering when opting for a Windows host that supports ASP. Any server, regardless of the technology it uses, it is susceptible to downtime and other technical issues. For this reason, you want to seek out a provider that provides a reliable service able to assure you as little downtime as possible. It is also highly recommended that you find a host using the latest version of software applications and dependable hardware. Old software and equipment often have vulnerabilities that can result in security breaches and other problems you don’t need. For this reason, you may also want to consider using ASP.NET as it is the most current of Microsoft’s Active Server Pages technology. Paying attention to these factors will help to ensure that your site stays up and running online and your dynamic can be viewed in the manner it was meant to be.
The ASP Advantage
There are numerous advantages to building your website with ASP. Perhaps the most obvious is the presence of dynamic elements that will make your site look more appealing to visitors. This is a winning quality for the online business owner who wants to enhance the browsing experience while trying to entice potential customers with their products or services. In fact, more and more businesses are investing in Windows hosting merely because of its ability to help them better engage the consumer and market their products. This is not only made possible from the use of ASP, but several other Microsoft technologies bundled in the Windows Server operating system and IIS web server.
A dynamic, content-rich website is generally easier to maintain, and this is especially true when your pages and applications are powered by ASP. The ASP framework encourages good programming practices, which empowers the knowledgeable developer to work with clean code that produces compliant output. Due to the fact that it is tightly integrated with IIS and the Windows platform, your visitors will be able to enjoy feature loaded web pages in the way they were meant to be viewed regardless of what type of browser they use. ASP makes one of the best options for providing rich, dynamic content that jumps off the screen at your visitors.
Getting the Best ASP Solution
As with any type of solution, there are many factors that must be considering when opting for a Windows host that supports ASP. Any server, regardless of the technology it uses, it is susceptible to downtime and other technical issues. For this reason, you want to seek out a provider that provides a reliable service able to assure you as little downtime as possible. It is also highly recommended that you find a host using the latest version of software applications and dependable hardware. Old software and equipment often have vulnerabilities that can result in security breaches and other problems you don’t need. For this reason, you may also want to consider using ASP.NET as it is the most current of Microsoft’s Active Server Pages technology. Paying attention to these factors will help to ensure that your site stays up and running online and your dynamic can be viewed in the manner it was meant to be.
Four Ways to Minimize Exposure from SQL Injection
The average personal site owner has no idea of what it feels like to come under attack. In fact, web criminals tend to stay away from hacking projects that serve little benefit to them. That does not mean that the sites of those owners are safe because they are probably more vulnerable than most. One of the most probable and dangerous threats your site may be susceptible to is an inference attack, more commonly referred to as the dreaded SQL injection. With this particular attack, the hacker typically inserts SQL code into a web form to either change or access critical information residing on a back-end database. It has a become a significant problem for dynamic websites as successful execution could provide an attacker with access to an entire database or more. This attack is very real and has directly aided in the exploitation of some of the most well known sites on the internet.
Viable SQL Injection Prevention Methods
To help keep you protected, we have listed four proven methods to enhance your website’s security against SQL injection.
1.) Make sure your forms and other web applications are designed with up to date, secure, compliant code. Also keep in mind that the web forms on your site should not accept user input to SQL queries without being thoroughly tested and challenged for security purposes. You can start by reducing the number and types of characters that can be accepted by a form. Do not leave yourself open to exposure like so many other website owners who do not have anything in place to prevent malicious or unexpected input. If a hacker enters SQL commands rather than the expected username and password, those commands could be executed and lead to a lot of trouble for your vulnerable system.
2.) To ensure better protection against SQL injection, you should avoid dynamic queries where ever possible. These queries are placed over the internet in plaintext, which means they are likely exposing sensitive information such as login IDs, passwords and other confidential details. Because of the potential security risk, some experts recommend not using dynamic queries at all.
3.) Take advantage of data encryption technology. If your site involves the sharing of sensitive data such as credit card numbers, social security numbers or bank account details, this information should be protected with an encryption protocol like SSL or TSL. If a hacker is able to breach security, the information they capture will be rendered useless since encryption ensures that they cannot read it.
4.) Keep your systems up to date. Security is a full time job these days but fortunately, most software vendors patch the bugs and vulnerabilities in their products as soon as they become known. You can ensure better protection against SQL injection by making sure your SQL database and operating systems are regularly patched an updated. If you do not have your own server, these are tasks you need to make sure are being handled by your web hosting provider.
Viable SQL Injection Prevention Methods
To help keep you protected, we have listed four proven methods to enhance your website’s security against SQL injection.
1.) Make sure your forms and other web applications are designed with up to date, secure, compliant code. Also keep in mind that the web forms on your site should not accept user input to SQL queries without being thoroughly tested and challenged for security purposes. You can start by reducing the number and types of characters that can be accepted by a form. Do not leave yourself open to exposure like so many other website owners who do not have anything in place to prevent malicious or unexpected input. If a hacker enters SQL commands rather than the expected username and password, those commands could be executed and lead to a lot of trouble for your vulnerable system.
2.) To ensure better protection against SQL injection, you should avoid dynamic queries where ever possible. These queries are placed over the internet in plaintext, which means they are likely exposing sensitive information such as login IDs, passwords and other confidential details. Because of the potential security risk, some experts recommend not using dynamic queries at all.
3.) Take advantage of data encryption technology. If your site involves the sharing of sensitive data such as credit card numbers, social security numbers or bank account details, this information should be protected with an encryption protocol like SSL or TSL. If a hacker is able to breach security, the information they capture will be rendered useless since encryption ensures that they cannot read it.
4.) Keep your systems up to date. Security is a full time job these days but fortunately, most software vendors patch the bugs and vulnerabilities in their products as soon as they become known. You can ensure better protection against SQL injection by making sure your SQL database and operating systems are regularly patched an updated. If you do not have your own server, these are tasks you need to make sure are being handled by your web hosting provider.
Three Tips for Maintaining The Presentation of a Dynamic Website
In theory, a dynamic website constantly changes based on user input while enabling extensive and more efficient management by administrators. Regardless of the amount of content or elements on the web page, it should always maintain a consistent and professional presentation. If your plans call for a dynamic website, keep these tips in mind.
1.) Solid Structural Foundation
In order to be successful, a dynamic website must have solid base. Encasing your content in a height-flexible container could turn out to make the ideal foundation for your site. Something simple like a border that has consistent width will separate your inner content from the background of the page. This foundation can be expanded or contracted with ease to accommodate your content requirements.
2.) Simple Navigation and Usability
One of the most effective methods for having a dynamic site and maintaining its functionality is to incorporate a navigation scheme with drop down menus. These menus will allow for specific navigation from any page on your site. In addition, they are simple to dynamically produce and work exceptionally well when applying the same approach as with the site foundation. Your main categories can be concealed within a “div”, which will allow them to have an absolute position along with hidden submenus that appear when your visitors roll their mouse over them. This method is highly recommended as it allows the height of your site to comfortably adjust in accordance to the number of submenus without impacting the overall layout.
3.) Accurate Content Containment
A major hurdle developers face when dealing with dynamic sites is the presence of far too much content on every single web page. In many cases, layouts are specifically designed to support a certain amount of content. Should that amount be exceeded, the page often looks jumbled and way too crowded. There are methods that can be used to overcome this problem and one of the best of all involves combining DHTML and JavaScript technologies to enable tabbed browsing within your pages. This powerful combination also helps to ensure greater usability and SEO-friendliness that will come in handy in terms of your search engine rankings. By incorporating JavaScript and DHTML into your navigation, your dynamic will be better organized with more space that allows visitors to browse through products, portfolio and other elements of the site without having to wait as the page reloads.
Conclusion
It is clear to see that maintaining a dynamic website can be a full-time job, or at least a very tedious one if you have to perform a decent portion of design and administration. Fortunately, keeping up with it can be simplified by taking advantage of a few advanced design techniques, which will ultimately result in less stress down the road for you. Using the methods in this article will not only give your site a more efficient and comprehensive design, but one that carries the consistent look and feel you need to reach out to your audience.
1.) Solid Structural Foundation
In order to be successful, a dynamic website must have solid base. Encasing your content in a height-flexible container could turn out to make the ideal foundation for your site. Something simple like a border that has consistent width will separate your inner content from the background of the page. This foundation can be expanded or contracted with ease to accommodate your content requirements.
2.) Simple Navigation and Usability
One of the most effective methods for having a dynamic site and maintaining its functionality is to incorporate a navigation scheme with drop down menus. These menus will allow for specific navigation from any page on your site. In addition, they are simple to dynamically produce and work exceptionally well when applying the same approach as with the site foundation. Your main categories can be concealed within a “div”, which will allow them to have an absolute position along with hidden submenus that appear when your visitors roll their mouse over them. This method is highly recommended as it allows the height of your site to comfortably adjust in accordance to the number of submenus without impacting the overall layout.
3.) Accurate Content Containment
A major hurdle developers face when dealing with dynamic sites is the presence of far too much content on every single web page. In many cases, layouts are specifically designed to support a certain amount of content. Should that amount be exceeded, the page often looks jumbled and way too crowded. There are methods that can be used to overcome this problem and one of the best of all involves combining DHTML and JavaScript technologies to enable tabbed browsing within your pages. This powerful combination also helps to ensure greater usability and SEO-friendliness that will come in handy in terms of your search engine rankings. By incorporating JavaScript and DHTML into your navigation, your dynamic will be better organized with more space that allows visitors to browse through products, portfolio and other elements of the site without having to wait as the page reloads.
Conclusion
It is clear to see that maintaining a dynamic website can be a full-time job, or at least a very tedious one if you have to perform a decent portion of design and administration. Fortunately, keeping up with it can be simplified by taking advantage of a few advanced design techniques, which will ultimately result in less stress down the road for you. Using the methods in this article will not only give your site a more efficient and comprehensive design, but one that carries the consistent look and feel you need to reach out to your audience.
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