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What is web hosting...

A web hosting is a service provided by a company who makes your site accessible via the Internet. The host does this by storing your web site on a powerful computer (a server) which is connected to the Internet via a data connection capable of transmitting and receiving information at a rapid rate.

Files travel through a network of telephone cables, fiber optic cables and satellites. Although the connection to the computer which stores the web site you wish to view may be many thousands miles away, this request only takes milliseconds.

Basic hosting terminology...

Web space/Storage - The amount of disk space your web site files will use.

Usually web sites take less then then 5MB. If you plan to provide many downloadable items than you will need to make a good calculation.

Bandwidth - The amount of data (from files) transferred to web surfers when they visit your web site.

The more visitors you have, more bandwidth will be needed. If you go over the limit your web site will be unavailable for the rest of the month. However many web hosting companies offer additional bandwidth that can be purchased at critical moments.

Hits - It counts the total number of files sent from the server to someone viewing your web page.

This number does not give you a lot of info. Detailed statistical information will be needed to track your visitors.

Domain - The web address used to access your web site

This one can not be changed. Do a research for a domain name before you buy one. Good domain name is like a good brand name.

Mailbox - An email account that receives email for an address at your domain.

You will need at least one account. Be sure that you can access your mail both from web (webmail) and from your email client (POP3), like Outlook or Eudora.

FTP - A method used to transfer files directly to a server.

This is the best way for uploading files to your server. Be sure that you will have this ability. The alternative method, uploading using a web site form is slow and impractical if you often make changes to you web site.

Server Side Scripting - The ability to use programs written using the programming languages PHP, Perl, C++. Message boards, guest books as well as online forms all use scripting.

Most web sites do not need this kind of service. Even the basic web hosting packages have built-in support for email forms and message boards that can be installed without support for scripting. You can also use trird-party services that are hosted at other server.

If you need database-driven web site, autoresponders and other acive webpages than you will need a hosting package with server side scripting.

Things you should ask...

General Questions

• May I know the founder's name and a brief history of his business engagements?

• How long has your company been operating to provide hosting services?

• How many sites have you hosted?

• Could you please send some URL of your customer's website? I would like to determine the web page loading time.

Internet Connection

• Is your data center equipped with redundant network equipments, power grid or storage device?
  

• How fast is your network, and what is your uptime guarantee for this plan?

Security Systems

• How do you protect web sites from spamming, viruses and hijacking?
  

• How do you secure your web servers physically?
  

• Do you use any firewall systems?
  

• Do you monitor site security 24 hours a day?

Plan/Package Issues

• What is the rate for additional disk space?
  

• Can I switch to other hosting plan once I sign up this plan?
  

• Could you please let me know all the software included in this plan?
  

• Do you charge additional fees for hosting a secure site for this plan?

• Can I install additional components and third party software?

Domain Registration and Transfer Issues

• Can I park my domain name on your web server before I order?
  

• Can you transfer my domain name to your host?

• How do I transfer my web site content to your host?
  

Technical Support Handling

• How long does it take for you to answer support requests?

• How do you handle technical support?

Billing Management

• Do you provide 30-day money back guarantee?

• If I want to cancel my hosting account, how long will it take?
  

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