Web Hosting FAQ

What is web hosting?
Web hosting consists of renting storage space and data transfer (bandwidth) from a company in order to publish a website on the Internet. There are many types of web hosting including, free hosting, shared hosting, dedicated hosting, managed hosting, multiple domain hosting, colocation hosting, Virtual Private Server (VPS) hosting, Windows hosting, Linux hosting and FrontPage hosting.

What makes a good web host?
The best web hosting providers offer reliable service coupled with excellent customer support and a plethora of features for all needs at the lowest possible price. The greatest distinction between good and bad is the amount of allocated resources for your money. Surprisingly, most providers deliver the same monthly plans at different prices.
Which is better large or small hosting companies?
This depends entirely on personal preference and business necessity. Large companies have a much better chance of remaining in business for a long period of time and therefore can negotiate better deals with third-party vendors. However, small companies typically provide more personalize support and have cheaper monthly hosting plans.
What is a webmaster?
The role of the webmaster is to manage a website. Most webmasters oversee the daily functions while maintaining the hosting, developing new pages and content for the site, optimizing those pages and promoting in search engines. The job can be demanding but also extremely rewarding.
What is virtual hosting?
More commonly known as shared hosting, this is the most popular type of hosting in the industry. Virtual hosting is sharing a server with hundreds of other websites. This includes sharing the bandwidth and storage space. Those who pay more monthly will receive more resources. Virtual hosting provides an inexpensive but reliable solution.
What is a domain name?
A domain name is a word or phrase that acts as a specific address on the Internet that identifies your specific website. This is also known as a top-level domain (TLD) and can also be expressed in the form of an IP address. Since an IP address is a string of numbers, this is more difficult to remember.
How can I register a domain name?
Surprisingly, this is an easy task to accomplish. First, you must ensure the domain name you want is available. This is completed using the WHOIS service. Once the name is found to be valid, simply visit a registration site like GoDaddy, DirectNIC, or Register.com to complete the transaction.
What is unlimited bandwidth, disk space and data transfer?
Although many web hosting providers claim to offer unlimited bandwidth, disk space and data transfer, the idea is impossible. These plans are always accompanied by terms and conditions that restrict the amount that can actually be used at a specific moment.
What is disk space and data transfer?
Disk space is the amount of space on the server allocated to your account. All content, video, audio, images and text must be stored somewhere and that is on a server. Each letter consumes a single byte while a megabyte equates to one million bytes. Websites with a large amount of content uses much more disc space than those without.
Data transfer or bandwidth is the amount of data being transferred to and from a site in a single month. This is typically measured in gigabytes which are billions of bytes. If you go over the allocated limit, the host will either issue overage charges or shut down your website. The overage is usually charged by the gigabyte.
What payment options are available for web hosting?
This question completely depends on the web hosting provider. However, most hosts accept credit cards, money orders and checks for the monthly bill. Many hosting providers are beginning to accept the universal method of payment: PayPal.
What is PayPal?
PayPal allows any individual with a checking account and/or credit card and email address to send money to anyone else with a bank account and email address which could be another human being or a company. Users signup and enter the required banking information. Once completed, your email address is the only piece of information needed to make financial transactions.
Are there extra costs for securing a website?
Yes, to secure a website you must go through a third-party verification process which awards a digital certificate once complete. The most common certificate authorities are VeriSign, Equifax Secure and Thawte.
What does “Full-service web hosting” mean?
Full-service web hosting typically indicates that multiple services are provided by the web host such as, around the clock customer support, web design services, a marketplace, website content management services, managed hosting and much more. The company basically is your “one stop shop” for every aspect of web hosting.
What is web mail?
Web mail is the browser version of the email directories found on your server. Almost all web hosting providers offer this service for easy access to email. Also, all emails can be downloaded through a client like Microsoft Outlook. 
Does the type of computer I use have any bearing on web hosting?
No, using a desktop, laptop, Mac or PC will not affect the servers. However, if you wish to create content for you website, a faster computer will help you complete this task. Also, if you wish to develop scripts for your website from our computer, it is better to have faster equipment.
What are ASP, PHP and Perl?
All three are internet programming languages; ASP stands for Active Server Pages, PHP equates to Hypertext Processor and Perl is not an acronym. Each has its respective pros so it is best to conduct extensive research on the three languages prior to selection.
What are MySQL and MS SQL?
MS SQL and MySQL are used with databases that correspond to the Microsoft Windows and Linux operating systems. Depending on your web hosting provider and the monthly plan, you can use databases to keep information organized.
How can visitors view Flash on my website?
Flash is an add-on feature that runs on your local computer, not the host’s servers. The user must simply have the correct plugin in order to view the Flash content. If they don’t an option is always available to download and install the software locally onto the user’s computer.
How can I keep track of the number of visits my sites acquires?
There are two ways to track: server-side and remotely. Server-side statistics create log files which generate guest information. This is typically much more accurate than remote tracking. To track using the server-side method, you need to add JavaScript to your site. To track your visitors remotely, there are a number of software programs program.
If I change web hosting providers, do I have to change my domain name?
Absolutely not, as long as the domain name is registered in your name, you simply change the name servers from your old provider to the new host. Name servers can usually be found in any control panel under your account.
Will forced advertising be on my site?
This depends on the type of hosting you plan to utilize. Most free web hosting providers automatically place ads across the user’s website. This is the primary way in which they generate money. However, almost all paid monthly hosting plans do not force advertisements on your website allowing you to add whatever you wish.
Can you explain the idea of domain parking?
Domain parking allows you to purchase a domain name and literally “park” it on the internet with a coming soon page that appears once clicked. However, this page is not needed as it will simply be inaccessible to anyone. Most domain companies provide this service free of charge.
What are subdomains?
A subdomain is literally an extension of your top-level domain. For instance, if your site is www.domain.com then a subdomain would be my.domain.com. These are typically viewed as separate sites from the main domain.
How do I upload my site to the server?
There are a variety of ways to complete such a task with the most common method being File Transfer Protocol (FTP). When your web hosting account was created, an FTP username and password should have been provided. The best FTP software is CuteFTP and WS_FTP which allows you to log on to your host. Once logged in, you can drag and drop files from your computer directly to the server allowing them to become available immediately.
What is the definition of uptime?
Since uptime is the amount of time a server is functioning correctly over the span of a month, it is one of the most important functions of a web hosting provider. The best possible uptime 100 percent indicating that the servers never stop working. However, since companies are unable to predict the future, it is impossible to have 100 percent uptime. Therefore, most web hosting companies deliver a 99.9 percent uptime guarantee which would state that if the servers are down more than 43 minutes per month, you will be reimbursed.
What is the primary difference between Windows and Linux?
Selecting an operating system to host your site can be difficult. Therefore, it is important to select the software that suites your needs and gives you the most advantage. For instance, if you require products like ASP, MS Access and VBScript, Windows is the best selection. If you need superior stability and lower cost, Linux is the way to go.
Can I host my own site?
Self-hosting is definitely a possibility but not usually recommended. Most internet service providers have strict rules that do not allow you to use the internet connection to host. This typically results in the termination of your account.  Also, self-hosting can provide some major headaches as you must ensure the system is secure, have your computer running around the clock and apply updates constantly. Additionally, you will need to invest in high-powered equipment to maximize performance.
Why would I ever need a dedicated IP address?
The majority of website operators do not need an IP address. However, for those looking to maximize performance due to high traffic, require an anonymous FTP or need to utilize SSL, the dedicated IP address is the best method.
What shouldn’t I choose the cheapest web host available?
Cheap web hosting is great for low-traffic sites, personal pages and start-up businesses. However, it is unlikely you will remain at the free plan forever due to limited performance and allocated resources. Also, more providers will forcibly upload advertisements to your website.
Is there any way to decrease the amount of bandwidth I use each month?
In the majority of instances, this is a possibility. One easy method is to optimize the graphics on your website. Many GIF’s and JPEG’s can be improved by decreasing the amount of colors and implementing a high compression level. Also, analyze the HTML code on your website and remove any excess spaces with links to other pages, utilize relative paths and look for redundant code.
What is SEO?
SEO stands for search engine optimization which is the idea of optimizing a website to increase the amount of traffic generated by search engines. By adding relevant content, keywords and having a large number of links, your website can be optimized.
I see numbers listed under the “space” and “transfer” categories, what do they mean?
Space is the amount of disk space allocated to you to add your website and content. Therefore, the number under space indicates the amount of storage left based on your monthly plan. This is usually expressed in terms of megabytes. Obviously the more content you add, the more disk space will be consumed. 
Similarly, transfer is the amount of data transferred to and from the server across an Internet connection. Therefore the numbers below the transfer category indicate the amount of information that has been sent and received, in gigabytes. Once the monthly transfer rate is reached, extra fees are applied for more.
Do I need statistics?
Websites statistics are a vital function for any successful site. It is usually not necessary to purchase a third-party program when the server provides and analyzes this information. These statistics should be review regularly to look for trends on specific days.
How much data transfer do I need for my website?
The answer to this question really depends. Luckily, there is a mathematical formula to figure this out. Simply estimate your average page size (with graphics) and multiply it by the overall number of page views you expect for the month. For example, an average page size of 50 KB generating approximately 2,000 views per day equates to 3 GB’s per month. To be on the safe side, purchasing a plan of 4 to 5 GB’s is in order.
How do hosting providers make money from high transfer limits at a low price?
These companies specifically rely on the fact that most of the websites on each server will not use a fraction of the entire amount of resources allocated to them. Therefore, this is a simple example of overselling a product. The airlines are another prime example of utilizing this practice.
What should I do if my host is a reseller?
Nothing. In many cases you will receive better support or prices from the reseller as compared to the base company. Resellers are typically smaller companies that have an account with a larger company. The reseller acquires a reseller plan and breaks it down into various accounts allowing them to charge less.
What is a dynamic web page?
Dynamic web pages are typically used with scripting languages such as, ASP or PHP, to adapt the current content to various situations. They can also be utilized to upload information and store it on the server. For instance, web logs, forums, chat rooms and guest books are all dynamic web pages.
What is a static web page?
Static web pages are regular pages written with HTML code so no pre-processing is necessary on the web server. Static web pages differentiate themselves from dynamic web pages as they can contain Flash, Shockwave, JavaScript and traditional Java. Non-HTML code must use browser plug-ins to be functional.
What is a web robot?
Web robots are automated programs that retrieve information from web pages through links that have been clicked in the past. Search engines use these to include in the results of a specific search. Another type of web robot follows the same concept but is maliciously used to harvest email addresses found on web pages which are then sold to spammers.
What is the robot.txt file?
This file is the main directory of your website retrieved by a web robot to learn if any section of your website should be excluded from a search. If no areas need to be restricted, it is vital to leave this file empty in your main directory.
What is an SSI?
SSI stands for Server Side Includes which is directives in HTML pages that are reviewed by your server before being accessed. SSI’s utilize small files for all text on web pages to collaborate all items into a single file. This allows for easy editing and addition of menu items.

Domain Name FAQs

Domain Name FAQs

The domain name is one of the most vital components of your website, and entire web presence. Though often treated as an afterthought, it can be the key to establishing your brand identity, generating traffic, and having success with your online endeavors. For those who use the internet as a business tool, having one is an absolute must.

While the concept of a domain name is pretty straightforward, the lingo and technology associated with it isn’t always cut and dry. The terminology can really be confusing for someone who is just looking into getting up and running with their very first website. To clear the air, this guide will answer some of the most frequently asked questions newcomers tend to have about domain names.

What Exactly is a Domain Name?

A domain name is a set of characters that represent an IP address. Every web address on the internet corresponds to an IP address, which is essentially a block of numbers that represents devices connected to the internet. Because an IP address is long and difficult to recall, domain names are needed to them easy to identify and remember.

How Can I Register a Domain Name?

A domain name can be registered through companies known as domain name registrars. These service providers allow you to register any available name of your choice for anywhere from one to five years. The actual price for registration may vary from one company to another.

What is the ICANN?

The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers, or ICANN, is a nonprofit organization that was founded to oversee the internet’s Domain Name System. With the IANA (Internet Assigned Numbers Authority) and other groups, the ICANN is responsible for assigning domain names, IP addresses, port numbers, and handling various other tasks.

What is ICANN Accreditation?

ICANN accreditation refers to the seal of approval the ICANN gives registrars to register domain names. Looking for accreditation credentials is the most reliable way to ensure that you are dealing with a trusted registrar.

Should I Register a Domain Name with a Non-Accredited Registrar?

You will often see companies offering domain name registration services that are not accredited by the ICANN. These companies are essentially resellers that are selling domains that have been obtained from accredited registrars. While you are free to do business with whomever you please, the ICANN strongly recommends that you only register a name with accredited companies.

What is InterNIC?

InterNIC (internic.com) is a website operated by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers. It exists to provide various publicly available information associated with the Domain Name System. People often visit this site to search records in the Whois database, find contact information for accredited registrars, and file complaints against registrars.

How Much Does it Cost to Register a Domain Name?

The price for domain name registration varies greatly from one registrar to another. For example, you have some companies that offer registration for $10 or less, and others that charge $65 or more. The price could be even higher when you are going after a domain through an auction service or one that is already registered by someone else.

How Long Does it Take for My Domain Name to Become Active?

After paying your registration fee, and updating the nameserver information with your registrar, a domain name can take up to 72 hours to become active. However, it is not uncommon for the entire activation process to be done in two hours or less.

What Other Services Come Included with Domain Name Registration?

This all depends on the registrar, but standard services typically include forwarding, locking, and management. These services may not or may not cost you extra depending on the company.

How Do I Activate My Domain Name?

In order to activate a domain name, you will need to acquire the nameserver information from the company that will be hosting your website. Once you have this information, you must enter it on your registrar’s system, usually through a control panel interface, to make sure the domain is pointed to the web host’s server.

How Long is My Domain Name Registration Active?

ICANN accredited registrars allow you to register a domain name for at least a year. Most have the flexibility to offer two, five or even ten years at a time. Once the registration period has a expired, a renewal fee must be paid in order to keep it.

What is a Domain Registrar?

A registrar is an entity or organization that provides the services for registering a domain name. The best of these organizations are accredited by the ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Name and Numbers), and allow you to register domains with TLDs (top level domains) such as .com, .co, .org, .net, and .biz. While all accredited registrars are required to pay a fixed fee to the ICANN, the actual prices they charge for registration tend to vary considerably.

Who are the Major Domain Name Registrars?

There are currently well over 500 domain name registrars on the market. However, some are much more popular than others. Some of the major registrars include GoDaddy, Network Solutions, Dotster, Fast Domain, and Register.com.

Can I Switch Registrars?

You can indeed switch to another registrar. In most cases, you must wait 60 days from the initial registration date. To learn more about the transfer process, confer with the registrar you want to switch your domain over to.

What is a TLD?

A top level domain or TLD, is the highest level in the hierarchy of the DNS (domain name system). In simple terms, it is the suffix or extension that follows the “dot” in a web address. The most popular example of a TLD is .com. Others include .net, .org, .biz, and .info.

Why is My Domain Name Not Available?

There is a good chance that the domain name you have decided on will not be available when you go to register it. This is especially the case if you chose a generic, catchy, and common name such as cars.com or airplanes.com. If you can easily think of a typical domain, it has probably already been registered. The good ones get more scarce by the day, so you often have to be creative to find something that really works.

What’s the Difference Between a Domain Name and URL?

The terms domain name and URL are often used interchangeably, but they are not one in the same. Short for Uniform Resource Locator, a URL is a protocol that identifies the location of a specific resource on the World Wide Web. In most cases, this resource is a web page, which may resemble something like “http://mywebsite.com.” In this example, the domain name is essentially a part of a URL.

What is a Sub Domain?

A sub domain is the second level of a primary domain. For instance, if your primary domain is “mywebsite.com," you can set up “page.mywebsite.com” as a sub domain. Sub domains are ideal for different areas of a larger website, or separate websites altogether.

What is the UDRP?

Established in 1999 by the ICANN, the UDRP (Uniform Domain Dispute Resolution Policy) is a policy that was put in place to resolve domain name disputes. The UDRP mainly comes into play when issues over ownership and trademarks arise. You must agree to this policy when registering a domain name with any ICANN accredited registrar.

How Many Domain Names am I Allowed to Have?

There is no limit on the number of domain names you are allowed to register. However, there may be a limit on the number you are allowed to have on a single web hosting account. Some providers only allow one, some allow a specific number, others allow an unlimited amount.

What is Whois?

Whois is an online database that contains a wealth of domain name information. These details typically range from the of the name of the registrant and registering company to contact information and expiration date. A totally free service, Whois is often used as a tool to check the ownership and availability of domain names.

What Should I Do If Someone Has the Domain Name I Want?

Once any given domain name has been registered, it is under the control of the registering party. The only thing you can do at this point is contact the owner, and ask if they would like to sell it. There are services available that will track down the owner and even make an offer on your behalf.

Why Do I Receive an Error Message When Typing in My Domain Name?

In most cases, you will receive an error message when your domain has not fully propagated to the new server. This is a process that takes up 72 hours. If your domain name is not active in 72 hours, contact the support department of your web hosting company.

How Can I Find Out if a Domain Name is Available?

You can find out if a domain name is available by visiting a registrar. Most registrars have built-in search engines that allow you to enter the name you want and check its availability. If it is available, you can instantly register it, or check around to see if another registrar has it at a lower rate.

How Do I Transfer a Domain Name?

Transferring a domain name from one registrar to another is a relatively simple and straightforward process. For the most part, you simply request that the old registrar unlock the name, have them confirm the transfer, and have the new registrar approve the transfer. When the process is complete, you can manage the name with the tools provided by the new registrar.

What is the DNS?

Short for domain name system, the DNS is the underlying system that translates IP addresses to the domain names we use to find websites on the internet. The system itself is made of two separate pieces of software: a DNS server, and a DNS client. The DNS is one of the numerous protocols that make up the TCP/IP suite of internet protocols.

What is a Nameserver?

A nameserver is a critical component of the Domain Name System. It stores the IP address data, corresponding domain name, and all the information the internet needs to find a website and  send email to a particular address. When activating a domain name, the primary and secondary nameservers must be adjusted on the new server.

What is Domain Name Parking?

Domain name parking is simply the act of registering a domain name without using it for the common purposes of hosting a website or email address. This is ideal if you are not quite ready to build your website, or simply want to snatch up a good domain name before someone beats you to the punch.

How Can I Park a Domain?

Parking a domain name is a process that can be easily completed through most control panels. In most cases, you simply enter the name of the domain you want to park, and click a button. If you do not use the domain right away, the registrar will often park it for you to generate advertising revenue for themselves.

Who Really Owns a Domain Name?

Although conventional wisdom tells us that the answer to this question is the person who registered it, but in reality, the ownership of a domain name can be compared to ownership of a phone number. It is yours as long as you pay the fee needed to keep it. Once you fail to renew a domain name, it goes back on the market and can then be registered by anyone who wants it.

Can I Register a Domain Name With Any TLD?

A domain name can be registered with most top level domains, including .com, .net, .org, .biz and others. However, some are reserved for special purposes. These include .arpa, which is exclusive to technical infrastructure purposes, and .gov, which is reserved for United States government entities.

What is a Country-Specific Domain Name?

A country-specific domain name refers to a name that is registered with a country-coded top level domain. The most common examples would be .us (United States), .ca ( Canada), and .uk (United Kingdom). Depending on the extension, you may need to register the domain name with certain registrars as not all support country-specific TLDs.

What is a Free Domain for Life?

This is an offering you will often encounter when evaluating web hosting packages. Many hosts will offer a free domain name that you do not have to pay for as long a you have an account. If you want to transfer to a new host and take the name with you, special arrangements may have to be made.

How Much is My Domain Name Worth?

There is no putting a price value on any given domain name. What a certain name means to you, could mean something different to someone else. With that said, domain names can be quite valuable as some have been sold for millions of dollars.

How Do I Renew a Domain Name?

A domain name can be renewed through the registrar you originally registered with in the same manner. Many companies offer an automatic renewal option, which allows you to automatically pay just before the expiration date with the payment method you have on file. This is a convenient option for the busy person who may not remember, but cannot afford to forget to renew their domain name.

How Do I Cancel a Domain Name?

Once your domain name is registered and paid for, there is usually no way to cancel it without still having to pay the full registration fee. For this reason, your best bet would be to let the domain name you no longer want to expire, and then not pay the annual fee when it comes time to renew.

How Much Does it Cost to Renew a Domain Name?

The price of renewing a domain name varies depending on the company. In most cases, you will either pay the exact same rate you paid initially, or whatever the registrar’s rate is at the current time.

Can I buy domain names in bulk?

Domain names can be purchased in bulk. In fact, some registrars encourage that you buy in bulk and even present alternative options that could be useful for your web presence. In the right package, bulk domain names can deliver major cost savings.

What is Whois Privacy?

Whois privacy is a feature that protects your information from the public. When you register a domain name, a good portion of your details are made visible to the public. Whois protection turns this into generic information that keeps others from knowing more than they should.

Is My Domain Name Registrant Info Public?

When you register a domain name, there is certain information that is made available to the public in a database such as Whois. These details may include your name, the domain’s registration and expiration date, contact information, and more. If this is information you do not want publicly available, you can talk to your registrar to discuss an arrangement that protects your personal information.