Computer Advice

Dedicated web hosting is one of three primary web hosting methods. Other types of hosting include virtual hosting, sometimes called shared hosting, which is the most common web hosting method; and clustered web hosting which uses a group of servers that are integrated in order to increase performance and redundancy for a web hosting customer who has unique needs. There are definite advantages and disadvantages to the various web hosting methods. Dedicated web hosting is a hosting method that many internet-based businesses find to be extremely advantageous.

Ownership of a dedicated server can b compared to owning a piece of property. You can put around a little fence and decide how much furniture and equipment you need.

As its name indicates, the client will have complete control over the website with the dedicated hosting service. The client can choose the software, operating system, settings, and multi-media requirements for its website. Dedicated hosting is also practical for clients that want better control of their servers but do not have the money to purchase their own servers.

Dedicated website hosting is also more practical for businesses that have high-traffic websites, but do not have the personnel, security, and resources to maintain, install, and build their in-house IT staff. It can also save a company money since they no longer have to pay for the services of a network administrator. Businesses can save at least 85% monthly just by opting for dedicated hosting.

Domain name servers (DNS) provide the link between your domain name (mysite.com) and its Internet Protocol (IP) address. The IP address is a series of numbers like this: 123.456.78.9. and every web server has its own IP address. For a dedicated server hosting a single domain, the IP address is equivalent to the domain name. A site hosted on a dedicated server can be found on the Web as either 123.456.78.9 or as mysite.com.

Conversely, a server providing shared web hosting contains multiple websites on the same computer but they all have the same IP address. If you were to type in an IP address associated with a shared server, you’d get an error message or possibly would be redirected to the hosting company’s main web site. So domain names are mandatory for websites hosted on shared servers as they are the only way to access those web sites - they cannot be accessed by an IP address alone as they can be with dedicated web hosting.

Tags: Internet

This entry was posted on Wednesday, July 16th, 2008 at 2:48 pm and is filed under Internet. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Responses are currently closed, but you can trackback from your own site.