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What is web hosting?

Web hosting is the service in which the storage of a website files (e.g. html files) is made accessible via the Internet.
Website files live on a web server, which receives requests from site visitors for specific information and then sends the desired page to the user’s browser.
Each website hosted on a web server has a domain name that functions like a digital address.

What is a web server?

A web server is a server with an “app” that handles HTTP and HTTPS requests.
usually these requests are sent via a browser or a web crawler of sort and and they are called URL (Universal Resource Locator):

https://example.com/blogs/index.html

  1. The protocol:
    A protocol in a  URL in regards to this article can be HTTP or HTTPS that are responsible for handling requests. HTTP is not secure and is sent as plain text and HTTPS is secure and is sent via encrypted tunnels (SSL).

  2. The domain:
    A domain is a unique user-friendly address representing a web server's numeric IP via a DNS server (In our case usually AAAA, A records), in short instead of using the actual IP address we are using a TEXT based approach to make it easier to find online and make it possible to store multiple websites with one IP address.

  3. The path:
    The path is the requested resource from the server.

Types of web servers

There are different types of web servers, each with its advantages and disadvantages.
The most common ones are Nginx, Apache and Litespeed:

                                                                                     

Apache:

The Apache HTTP Server Project is an effort to develop and maintain an open-source HTTP server for modern operating systems including UNIX and Windows. The goal of this project is to provide a secure, efficient and extensible server that provides HTTP services in sync with the current HTTP standards.

Nginx:

NGINX is a free, open-source, high-performance HTTP server and reverse proxy, as well as an IMAP/POP3 proxy server. NGINX is known for its high performance, stability, rich feature set, simple configuration, and low resource consumption.

LiteSpeed:

LiteSpeed Web Server (LSWS) is a proprietary, lightweight web server software that provides fast performance and resource conservation without compromising server security.

Types of hosting solutions


Shared hosting:

Shared hosting is a type of web hosting where multiple websites share resources on a single server. Here are the advantages and disadvantages:

Advantages:

  1. Cost-Effective:
    Shared hosting is generally more affordable than other hosting options like VPS or dedicated hosting. This makes it an excellent choice for individuals or small businesses with budget constraints.

  2. Ease of Use:
    Shared hosting providers typically offer user-friendly interfaces and tools, making it easy for beginners to set up and manage their websites without extensive technical knowledge.

  3. Maintenance:
    The hosting provider is responsible for server maintenance, security, and updates. This means users don't have to worry about the technical aspects of server management.

  4. Technical Support:
    Shared hosting providers often offer customer support to assist users with any issues or questions they may have regarding their hosting accounts.

Disadvantages:

  1. Limited Resources:
    Since multiple websites share the same server resources, there's a limit to the amount of CPU, RAM, and storage space each website can use. If one site experiences high traffic, it may affect the performance of others on the same server.

  2. Performance Issues:
    The performance of your website can be impacted by the activities of other websites on the same server. If another site on the server experiences a traffic spike, it may affect the loading speed of your site.

  3. Less Control:
    Shared hosting users have limited control over server configurations. Advanced settings and customizations are often restricted to ensure stability for all users on the shared server.

  4. Security Concerns:
    While hosting providers implement security measures, the shared nature of the environment means that if one site on the server is compromised, there is a potential risk to others.

  5. Not Suitable for High-Traffic Sites:
    Shared hosting is generally not recommended for websites with high traffic or resource-intensive applications as the shared resources may not be sufficient to handle the load.

In summary, shared hosting is a cost-effective and user-friendly option, but it comes with limitations in terms of resources, performance, and control.
It's well-suited for small to medium-sized websites with moderate traffic and minimal technical requirements.

 

What is a VPS / Dedicated hosting?

Virtual Private Server (VPS) Hosting:

A VPS, or Virtual Private Server, is a type of web hosting that provides users with a virtualized server environment.
It involves partitioning a physical server into multiple virtual servers, each having its own dedicated resources, operating system, and isolated environment.

Here are the key points:

Advantages:

  1. Dedicated Resources:
    VPS hosting offers dedicated resources, including CPU, RAM, and storage, providing better performance and reliability compared to shared hosting.

  2. Customization:
    Users have more control over the server environment, allowing them to install and configure software, and make customizations based on their specific needs.

  3. Scalability:
    VPS hosting allows for easy scalability. Users can upgrade their resources as their website or application grows, ensuring sufficient resources to handle increased traffic or additional functionalities.

  4. Isolation
    Each VPS operates in its own isolated environment, which means activities or issues on one VPS do not directly affect others. This provides a higher level of security and stability.

  5. Root Access:
    Users often have root or administrative access, giving them full control over the server and the ability to manage advanced configurations.

Disadvantages:

  1. Cost:
    VPS hosting is generally more expensive than shared hosting, as users get dedicated resources and greater control over the server environment.

  2. Technical Knowledge Required:
    Managing a VPS may require more technical expertise compared to shared hosting. Users should be comfortable with server administration tasks.

  3. Server Maintenance:
    While the hosting provider handles the physical server, users are responsible for managing the virtual server, including software updates, security, and other maintenance tasks.

Dedicated Hosting:

Dedicated hosting involves renting an entire physical server exclusively for one user. The user has complete control over the server, including resources and configurations.

Advantages:

  1. Maximum Performance:
    Dedicated hosting provides the highest level of performance, as the entire server is dedicated to one user, eliminating resource-sharing issues.

  2. Full Control:
    Users have full root or administrative access to the server, allowing complete customization and control over server settings.

  3. Security:
    The isolated environment of a dedicated server enhances security, reducing the risk of security vulnerabilities associated with shared or virtual environments.

  4. Customization:
    Users can install any software, configure server settings, and tailor the environment to meet specific requirements.

Disadvantages:

  1. Cost: Dedicated hosting is more expensive than both shared hosting and VPS hosting due to the exclusive use of an entire physical server.

  2. Technical Expertise Required: Managing a dedicated server requires advanced technical skills or hiring a system administrator.

  3. Responsibility for Maintenance: Users are responsible for the maintenance, security, and overall management of the dedicated server.

In summary, VPS hosting provides a balance between cost, control, and performance, making it suitable for businesses with growing or moderate resource needs.
Dedicated hosting, on the other hand, offers maximum performance and control at a higher cost, making it ideal for large websites or applications with high resource requirements.




cPanel & WHM

cPanel and WHM (WebHost Manager) are components of a web hosting control panel that offer different functionalities for resellers and regular users.

cPanel (for normal accounts):

  • User-Friendly Interface:
    cPanel is designed to provide a user-friendly interface for individual website owners. It allows users to manage various aspects of their hosting account, such as files, databases, email accounts, and domains, through a graphical interface.

  • Single Account Management:
    Regular cPanel accounts are intended for individual website owners who want to manage their own websites without the need for server-level configurations.

WHM (for resellers):

  • Reseller Management:
    WHM is the administrative interface for resellers, allowing them to manage multiple cPanel accounts under their reseller hosting plan.

  • Server-Level Control:
    With WHM, resellers can perform server-level configurations, create and manage cPanel accounts for their clients, allocate resources, and set hosting packages.

  • Custom Branding:
    Resellers using WHM can often customize the branding of cPanel interfaces for their clients, providing a more personalized experience.

In summary, cPanel is tailored for individual website owners, offering a simplified interface for managing their hosting accounts. On the other hand, WHM is designed for resellers who need to manage multiple cPanel accounts, have server-level control, and provide hosting services to their clients.

Bandwidth and traffic:

Bandwidth and traffic are terms commonly used in the context of web hosting and network management. Let's clarify these concepts:

Bandwidth:

  1. Definition:
    Bandwidth refers to the maximum rate of data transfer across a network. It is often measured in bits per second (bps) or bytes per second (Bps).

  2. Usage in Hosting:
    In web hosting, bandwidth represents the amount of data that can be transferred between a website and its visitors within a specific time frame. It's essentially the capacity of the network connection.

Traffic:

  1. Definition:
    Traffic, in the context of websites, generally refers to the volume of data sent and received by a website or a network. It can be measured in terms of the number of visitors, page views, or data transferred.

  2. Usage in Hosting:
    Website traffic is the sum total of all interactions and data exchanges between a website and its visitors. It includes not only page views but also file downloads, uploads, and any other data transferred.

Relationship:
Bandwidth and traffic are related but distinct concepts.
Bandwidth is the capacity, while traffic is the actual data transferred.
Hosting plans often come with a specified amount of bandwidth limiting the amount of data that can be transferred in a given period, High-traffic websites may use more bandwidth.
YouTube video

What is DNS server?

Think of DNS like a phone book for the internet, when you type a website name (like www.example.com) into your browser DNS helps your computer find the correct phone number (IP address) for that website. (i.e. resolving the domain name)
It's like translating easy-to-remember names into the numbers computers use to connect with each other.

How?

DNS servers use records as their way to map values to names (e.g. for the domain example.com the name in an A record is example.com and the value is 1.2.3.4 i.e. an IP address).

Types of records:

  1. A (Address) Record:
    Associates a domain name with an IPv4 address.

  2. AAAA (IPv6 Address) Record:
    Similar to the A record but used for IPv6 addresses.

  3. CNAME (Canonical Name) Record:
    Creates an alias for a domain, pointing it to another domain's A record.

  4. MX (Mail Exchange) Record:
    Specifies the mail servers responsible for receiving emails on behalf of the domain.

  5. TXT (Text) Record:
    Allows for the inclusion of text data, often used for domain verification or providing additional information.

Refer this YouTube video for more detailed explanation.

What is a CDN server?

A CDN, or Content Delivery Network, is a system of distributed servers that work together to deliver web content, such as images, videos, stylesheets, and scripts, to users based on their geographical location. The primary goal of a CDN is to improve the performance, reliability, and speed of delivering content to end-users.

Here's a simple breakdown:

  1. Distribution of Content:
    DNs store copies of your website's static content on multiple servers located in various data centers around the world.

  2.  Reduced Latency:
    When a user requests a particular piece of content, the CDN delivers it from the server that is geographically closest to the user. This reduces latency and speeds up the content delivery process.

  3. Load Balancing:
    CDNs distribute the incoming web traffic across multiple servers, ensuring that no single server bears too much load. This helps in preventing server overload and improves overall performance.

  4. Caching:
    CDNs use caching to store copies of static content. When a user requests a piece of content that is already cached, the CDN delivers it from the cache, reducing the load on the origin server.

  5. Security:
    CDNs can provide additional security features, such as DDoS protection and Web Application Firewall (WAF), helping to protect websites from various online threats.

A popular CDN for example is CloudFlare, “Cloudflare is a global cloud platform designed to make everything you connect to the Internet secure, private, fast, and reliable.”

For a visual explanation.

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