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For Beginners

Choosing a host can be a frustrating process, especially if you are new to the Internet.  Not only do you have to determine which of the many hosting companies you can trust with the well-being of your website, but you are also faced with a whole confusing new world of hosting terminology.  How can you choose between hosting companies when you don't understand many of the very hosting features that they seem so proud of?

Below is a list of common hosting terms.  It will serve as good basis for further learning about hosting and will help you to better understand what different packages and hosting companies are offering.  If you have any further questions, please don't hesitate to call us at 1-800-754-2072 or use our contact form to reach us online. 

  
Terminology 101

  • Ad-free hosting.  Unless you don't mind other people's ads popping-up in front of your website, it is important that you make sure you are receiving ad-free hosting.  Mostly only free hosting services will ask you to agree to allow advertising on (or in front of) your website, but it never hurts to double-check.  
  • Backups.  A backup is a saved copy of your website.  A good host will ensure that backups of your site are done regularly.  If backups aren't being done, you risk loosing your entire site if there is a problem with the computer on which your site is being stored.
  • CGI-bin.  CGI is short of Common Gateway Interface.  A CGI-bin is simply a directory where executable scripts can be run from your website.  These scripts can do anything from changing a graphic when you roll-over it with a mouse to actively allowing the user to search a database on your computer.  In other words, when your website is asked to do something rather than just display pages, it will usually need to run a program located in the CGI-bin.
  • Database Solutions.  A database is a place where information is stored.  Companies and individuals have databases for countless reasons.  One common use for a database is to store product information--prices, color, amount in stock, etc.  Some websites will allow the user to search through a database.  For example, a website may allow a user to search a car dealer's website for red, two-door Hondas.  Such a search function on a website would be considered a database solution.  In order to support database solutions, a host needs to be able to provide enough space to allow for adequate bandwidth (amount of information sent over the connection per second), and be able to support the types of programs that will be used to query your database.   
  • E-commerce Solutions.  E-commerce is short for Electronic Commerce.  An e-commerce solution is an element of a website that helps you to sell online.  For example, an e-commerce solution could be a shopping cart, a secure order form, or a way to accept credit cards.  If you are planning on selling items on your website, you will want to make sure that the host you are using is able to support the programs you will need to run in order to conduct e-commerce.
  • FrontPage Extensions.  FrontPage is a program that can be used to design websites.  Websites created in FrontPage will be easier to upload (move onto the host-computer) if the host accepts FrontPage extensions. 
  • FTP Support.  FTP is short for File Transfer Protocol.  FTP is a very widely used protocol for uploading (moving sites to host computers).  If your host supports FTP, it means that you will be able to use FTP programs (such as CuteFTP) to upload your site.
  • Hard Disk Storage.  This is the amount of space you are allowed to use to store your website on the host's computer.  A normal web page without flash animations or extensive scripting will take up between 2 and 40 KB (.002 to .040 MB) of space.    
  • Host.  Without a host, the only person that could see your website would be you (and anyone else you physically brought to your computer and showed it to).  When a website is transferred to a host, however, the host can make your website accessible on the world-wide web.  A host will house and maintain your website's files and will provide them with a connection to the Internet.  
  • Log Files (Traffic Analysis Software).  A good host will provide you with access to some sort of log files or traffic analysis software.  This software will help you better understand the people that are coming to your website.  The actual log software can vary widely, but the log files can help you understand such things as:  who is visiting your website, when they are visiting your website, how often they are visiting your website and what pages or directories they are requesting the most.  Good traffic analysis software is an absolute must for anyone who is serious about their website. 
  • Monthly Data Transfer (Bandwidth).  Bandwidth is the amount of packets of data that can be sent to and from your website in a fixed amount of time.  Each time a web page is requested, everything on the page (text and graphics) must be transferred to the Internet user's computer.  If you have a very large or complicated site or expect a lot of hits you will need more bandwidth.  
  • Password Protected Directories.  A password protected directory, as its name implies, is a directory that requires a user to have a password to gain access.  If you have come across a website that asked for your password before you went any further, then you have seen a password protected directory in action.  This is a very good security feature to have available from your host.
  • POP3 Email Accounts.  POP3 stands for Post Office Protocol, 3rd version.  POP3 email accounts are offered by virtually all reputable hosts.  If the POP3 is confusing to you, just ignore it.  These are regular email accounts.  POP3 is specified only to distinguish it from web-based email such as Hotmail or Yahoo Mail.
  • Secure Server.  If you plan on doing any sort of e-commerce (selling online) with your website, then you must demand a secure server.  A secure server will encrypt packets of data--information--as it is being sent from the user to the host computer.  This is extremely important when credit cards or bank account numbers are being provided online.  Non-encrypted data can be stolen by hackers midway!
  • Server.  A web server is the program that hands over the requested website files when a an Internet browser (such as Internet Explorer) asks for them.  The term server can be slightly confusing, because it is also used to mean the computer from which the server program is run.  So, when you hear, "the server is down," someone is usually talking about the computer that is responsible for handing-up requested files to an Internet user's computer.  
  • Static/Dynamic IP.  For the purposes of hosting, an IP address is a 32-bit number assigned to a website.  You may type the IP into the address bar of a web browser instead of a domain name to get to the site.  An IP address will look something like:  216.239.51.100 (Google's IP Address).  In the case of a static IP, your website will always have the same IP address, or 32-bit identifying number, associated with it. With a dynamic IP address, this number can change.  Static IPs are better for the stability of your website's presence.  
  • Telnet.  A Telnet program is a program that is used to remotely access one computer from another computer.  You can think of a Telnet program as your remote control for your computer.  Just as you can operate your TV from the remote instead of walking up to the TV and pressing the buttons, so will Telnet allow you operate your computer from another computer anywhere in the world as if you were actually there typing on the keyboard.  As long as your host is set up correctly, with a Telnet program you will be able to make changes to your site and check your email from any computer in the world.
  • Upload/Download.  To upload is to hand-up or give files to a host computer.  When you 'upload your site,' you are simply transferring website files from your computer to the host computer where your website is housed.  Conversely, to download is to copy files from the host computer to your computer.  If someone else is working on your site (such as a web designer) you will always want to download a complete, updated copy of your site before you make any changes.  
  • Uptime/Downtime.  You will want to ask your host how much uptime you can expect.  This is the amount of time people will be able to type in your website address and will be able to see your site.  Uptime is how your website should work 99.9% of the time.  Unfortunately, all hosts, no matter how good, will have some small percentage of downtime.  This is time when something has gone wrong with the host's server or system or time that the host's system  needs to be shut down for routine maintenance.  During this time your website will not be able to be viewed and web users searching for your site may receive an error message.  Obviously, you want downtime to be very very low.
 

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