The Essentials of Web Hosting

The internet has become a common way of life for many of us, and every day, more users are starting to realize the benefits. This global network has opened the doors for users around the world to communicate, seek entertainment, shop and conduct business online. Many are leveraging the internet as their medium for connecting with the world – and the same opportunities exist for you. If your plans require a website, then you will need web hosting to accomplish those goal.

What is Web Hosting?

Web hosting is a common service designed to serve websites to internet users. Operated by companies known as web hosting providers, or simply web hosts, these services are managed out of data center facilities and made available to personal and business customers in various regions throughout the world. Web hosting is composed of numerous elements, and four of the most essential of all are the server hardware, web server, operating system and the hosting provider itself.

Server Hardware

Though technically a computer, a server is very different from your typical PC. The standard home-based computer has a single processor and limited capacity, while a web hosting server usually contains at least two processors, a robust hard drive and larger capacities of other vital hardware components. This allows the machine to execute much faster and simultaneously process more applications. When set up in most environments, this high-powered computer can run one or dozens upon dozens of websites with relative ease. In theory, a server keeps your website available 24/7 with redundant dedicated connections to the internet.

Web Server

Often confused with its hardware counterpart, a web server is a software application that plays a critical role in the web hosting process. As the name indicates, it helps the server hardware serve your web pages when they are requested by a visitor’s web browser.

Web servers run a method known as HTTP (HyperText Transfer Protocol), a standard communications procedure that utilizes the client-server model to facilitate communication between remote computers. For example, when a visitor opens your website in their browser, which is a client program, a request is sent to the server hosting your site. The server application then processes that request and responds accordingly, displaying your web page to the visitor. There are many types of web servers, but the most prominent on the web hosting market are Apache and Microsoft IIS (Internet Information Services).

Server Operating System

The operating system is the most important piece of software for a server or any computer. Often referred to as a platform in the web hosting environment, this software is responsible starting and shutting down the server, communicating with computer hardware and allowing the installation of various other software packages. If you are like most users, the operating system you are familiar with is Windows, the popular software developed and distributed by Microsoft. In the hosting arena however, several platforms exist, with Unix and the open-source Linux operating system being among the most widely used. Although the web server application is extremely important, the operating system is the heart of the server hardware. Because the platform acts as the core of the computer, it must be installed and configured before implementing any other applications.

The Hosting Provider

As a customer, the most essential element of web hosting is the company providing the service. The web host must be able to ensure quality and reliability in order to make sure that your website will be available to internet users. This is made possible by running their network operations out of data centers, complete with state of the art electrical and backup power systems, environmental controls and advanced security measures. They must also deliver a superb level of customer service and technical support to make sure you have a way to present your questions or concerns 24/7/365. Collectively, these features better assure that your website is secure and running smoothly with minimal downtime.

There are many aspects that go into a web hosting operation, and these are just a few of the key ingredients. You don’t need to be a technical wizard just to run a website, but knowing what makes this business ticks can result in a less frustrating experience.