Web Hosting 101: The Basics of Web Hosting

Web Hosting is an important issue for aspiring web publishers who wanted to do sites for personal or business use.And it is also important to us to know some things about Web Hosting for us not to be lost and confused about its concepts.
Here are some questions about Web Hosting that will somehow give us a preview of the basics.
- What is Web Hosting?
Hosting, in general, is used to pertain to services required in putting up a website and publishing it in the internet.
- What are Web Hosts?
Web Hosts are companies who offer services to web publishers. It is just saying that they store websites in their computer system. Viewers access your site via the Web hosts.
- What are the requirements needed in Web Hosting?
There are four basic elements needed in Web Hosting. They are:
-hardware (machines)
The hardware needed in web hosting are as follows: lockers (physical racks), SAN or (Storage Area Networks), devices such as wiring, routers and switches, firewall, tape back up, server, Uninterruptible Power Supply and Fire Control System.
-software (programs)
In Web Hosting, software such as operating systems, web server, credit card verifier, databases, traffic reporter, and encryptions are required.
- Internet connection (medium)
A server must have connection in order to provide access to the websites. A cable connection, DSL or T-1 is recommended for this purpose.
- Administrator (controller)
The Administrator configures and installs programs, monitors the web server, does reports on site traffics, prepares backups, utilizes disk space, monitors security, and manages databases.
What are the levels of Web Hosting?
There are four levels of services in Web Hosting:
-Shared Hosting
In this service, all websites use the same hardware, software and connection. This is practical solution to cost, but the great risk is security.
- Co- Location Hosting
In this service, the ISP provides a locker (a physical structure) and connection. The website owners provide their own software and hardware.
-Managed Hosting
In this service, hardware, software and administration will be provided by the ISP.
-Development Hosting
It is Managed Hosting plus full application support.
-What about free Web Hosting?
It is not bad to use free Web Hosting, especially if it is for personal use only. However, for professional or business use, it is advisable to subscribe to professional web hosts who are specialized in handling websites. And because they treat the deal as business, you will get more than what free Web Hosts offer. You also avoid having advertisements in your page that slows down accessing time.
- Can I be a Web Host of my Own Site?
Sure you can! But it is not as easy as one thinks. You may save money by not subscribing to web Hosts, but you have to pay the bills for extended use of Internet connection. DSL, cable, or DSL connection is recommended for this purpose. You also have to dedicate a computer which should be turned on at all times. In this manner, electricity bills become higher, as well as the risk against security.
How about domain names?
Domain names actually are not as necessary as we think it is.
Computers do communicate with IP addresses- series of numbers. Domain names are used for ease in recall.
After choosing a domain name, it is the Web Host’s job to give viewers the access to your site when they type it in the address box of the browser.
With all these facts, it is expected that readers are now equipped with the basics of Web Hosting!