Web Hosting blog from Just Host

Many people often confuse the similarities and differences surrounding both web hosting and cloud computing. In a tech savvy society, most people have familiarized themselves with the concept of web hosting companies and how they assist budding webmasters in making their websites available over the Internet. The web hosting company will permit the webmaster to store their web site files and data on their server, when a specific code is requested online the server will then forward the data over the World Wide Web.

There are several distinct differences between web hosting and cloud computing. In a clouded environment the hosting provider maintains greater control, but given the elasticity of a virtualized environment the server is much more capable of meeting rapid influxes in traffic than it would be in a regular hosting scenario. That elasticity amounts for one of the most advantageous benefits of a clustered hosting environment. Previously a rapid influx in traffic had the potential to crowd a server to the point of failure, making it a distinct possibility that the website would crash.

Cloud computing, or cluster hosting as it is more commonly being referred to enables a single server to be virtually divided into a multitude of individual virtual servers. Data or information stored on each clouded server can be backed up with greater CPU power than would have been available by conventional means.

Cluster hosting works by taking advantage of the virtually connected servers to meet the fluctuating demands of the websites housed on the server.  Overcrowding is unlikely to become a problem in a clouded environment, since there is little chance that each website on the server will experience high traffic simultaneously.

Some of the most common problems associated with web hosting can be mitigated by electing to deploy a cluster hosting solution. Not only does it provide the confidence that comes with knowing that a website will receive optimal uptime and resiliency it also enables webmasters to take advantage of the power, space and security of the websites of their peers since everyone shares the process and features virtually – while still having their own personal server allocation.

For webmasters electing to host an e-commerce based website, selecting the most appropriate web hosting company is bound to prove daunting without a well thought out road map and some basic understanding of the complex requirements in the e-commerce hosting world.

Simply put, e-commerce web hosting refers to the ‘technology of storing and maintaining file for one or more websites dedicated to selling products or services online.; the webmasters of e-commerce websites often procure services from a web hosting company so that they may upload their website content to the hosts server. It is the responsibility of the chosen web hosting company to ensure that the server is in optimal condition and provides fast and continuous connectivity. In an e-commerce environment, webmasters demand security, flexibility and high quality of service from their chosen providers. Since e-commerce websites not only contain but also store sensitive and often confidential information security is of utmost concern.

The principle of e-commerce hosting can be broken down into two main elements; the site and the web hosting company. Web hosting companies provide servers that house storage space and aid in Internet connectivity. In the case of online businesses it is essential that the website receives optimum uptime availability in order for potential consumers to be able to purchase goods or services from the webmasters website.

Any web hosting company chosen to host an e-commerce website must be capable of supporting the tools and features necessary in business environments. The most notable web hosting companies will provide webmasters with software and tools necessary for supporting online transactions and payment processing.  It is important to remember, however, that there are situations where the webmaster may be responsible for purchasing their own e-commerce software and the licenses required to use the product. The most common e-commerce hosting tools are items like shopping carts, business services, secure socket layers, transaction tools and marketing tools.

Prior to selecting a web hosting company to support a business based website, it is recommended that webmasters first determine how much storage they will require along with their estimate data transfer rate. Since the web hosting company will provide the physical location for the website, the webmaster must be entirely confident in the security measures provided on the server. Paying attention to reviews and case studies will provide a stable estimate into the capabilities of the web hosting company. It is essential that the web host provides a backup system so that the website’s information can be rapidly rerouted in the event of a critical failure.  A solid disaster recovery plan should also be drafted and tested.

Disaster recovery and security measures are essential components of e-commerce hosting. Private information and financial records must be protected from unauthorized viewing. Secure socket layer encryption is beneficial and therefore web hosting companies providing this technology should be examined further.  When selecting a web hosting company for an e-commerce website it is