An explanation of hosting

As its name hints, web hosting is a service, which involves hosting online content. There are different varieties and types of web hosting, depending on the mission and on the functions. Nevertheless, they all pertain to hosting files, which, once hosted, are made available through the Internet. A host is actually a server that is connected to the Internet and has its very own Internet Protocol address, which allows users to access it via the Web. The web server's architecture and its system resources are dependent on the sort of web hosting service it's going to be used for.

What are the different types of web hosting?

Based on the purpose, the professional web hosting service may be:

File Hosting - this type of hosting allows the customers to host their files on a certain web server. With the common file hosting solution, the files that are accommodated may only be accessed by the customer that's availing of the service. This hosting solution usually applies to backups of personal computers , documents, personal files and even other servers. This solution may also include certain restrictions when it comes to the disk space and the root-level access. There may also be traffic limitations, but that is dependent on the actual hosting service provider.

Warez Hosting - the so-called warez web hosting solution is quite similar to the previous web hosting service form. In spite of that, unlike the file storage web hosting solution, the warez hosting solution is used for circulating licensed work without being given the okay to do so by the license proprietor. To put it briefly - it is connected with the illegal dissemination of files and documents. There are numerous approaches for this to be carried out, but the 2 essential methods are - through simple HTTP downloading and via P2P connections. The first way involves either a given web page, or, most often, simply a directory on a web server that's been made available for everybody to access it and thus download patented documents free of cost. The second approach entails a P2P connection, utilizing the so-called Torrent web servers, via which users share files between each other. There are a few web site hosting suppliers that permit such form of hosting on their web servers, chiefly due to all the judicial entanglements that it entails. Usually such web sites are hosted on personal dedicated web hosting servers that are registered by third-party firms either in the Middle East or in Asia.

Mail Web Hosting - this service is applicable with both shared webspace hosting and dedicated servers, based on the user's desire. If you would like to build your very own personal SMTP server, then you will require either a virtual private web server or a dedicated server that offers the access level needed to perform such a task. For typical e-mail web hosting ends, though, you can utilize a conventional shared site hosting account, to which you can point the MX records of your domain name. This is not a solution that's very famous, since the website hosting and the email hosting services are being served by two separate servers, usually belonging to different companies.

Web Page Hosting - the most famous and extensively utilized hosting service today. It's used for hosting web site files, whose sort is determined by the Operating System the web server is utilizing - Linux or Windows. Different kinds of files necessitate concrete web server OSs, or else they won't be exhibited appropriately on the World Wide Web. This type of web hosting may include data storage and traffic limits, root-level access and CPU usage limitations.

Depending on the goals and on the usage, the user should pick the type of hosting server that he requires for his project, and, of course, the web site hosting vendor that's going to supply it. There are different kinds of web servers, based on the specs and the site hosting solutions that they offer. These are:

Shared Website Hosting Server - a shared web page hosting server supplies a smaller amount of resources, which, of course, is reflected on the price of the service. It can be used for hosting small size and middle size web sites, which do not need huge quantities of disk space and traffic.

Semi-Dedicated Servers - they are based on the same principle as the shared web hosting servers. In spite of that, there are much less clients hosted on the same server. That is why, each of them will have a greater quota of the server's resources like RAM, web space, bandwidth and CPU. Ideal for hosting bulky sites that do not demand full server root access.

Virtual Private Server - the virtual web hosting servers are perfect for middle sized online portals, which do demand root access to the web server's config files. Normally, there are several virtual web server accounts hosted on the same physical server. Still, each of them is isolated from the other ones and runs its own Operating System.

Dedicated Server Hosting - a fully dedicated physical server configured and accessed by you and only you. It guarantees a big quantity of system resources. It also gives root privileges, which makes it a perfect environment for any type of website that demands a webspace hosting solution.

The sole question that's left is:

Which web space hosting vendor should I select?

As mentioned, there aren't many hosts offering warez web hosting solutions due to judicial entanglements. Such web hosts are being closed down almost every month. Because of that, if you want to establish such a service, you should do it on your own computer. The shared webspace hosting service is the most widespread type of web hosting service. Therefore, every webspace hosting corporation provides it. Not all of them, though, provide services such as private virtual servers, semi-dedicated web hosting servers and dedicated web servers. Most of the smaller website hosting corporations do not have the means needed for maintaining those solutions. Therefore it's always best to select a larger web host that can furnish its clients with all the services that they are looking for. You can quickly identify such web hosts by the types of solutions that they are making available and by the way that they present them to the customers. For instance, certain hosts permit you to start with a low-end web hosting account and then shift to a more advanced one, if you deem it necessary to do so. This is very suitable, because you do not have to migrate web sites between web hosting servers and there is no risk of facing downtime due to all the complications that may occur. Web hosts like AIDA Host are offering all sorts of services and have the adequate server resources and personnel to guarantee that their clients will not experience any complications when swapping services, which is what a top hosting provider is in fact all about.