Posts Tagged ‘php web hosting’

Benefits of Linux Web Hosting

Tuesday, August 10th, 2010

Linux web hosting services are the most popular around and are offered by a large number of web hosting providers due to the fact that Linux web hosting packages are fairly cheap to offer and if done correctly can offer large profit margins. Linux is an open source operating system meaning that web hosting providers don’t have to pay a penny to use the operating system and if you choose to go for a Linux VPS server or Linux dedicated server then you will realize that you won’t be required to pay extra for the operating system. As well as being cost effective, Linux web hosting services can also provide you with a greater level of uptime that will allow you to focus on more important business activities without having to worry about the availability of your website or any of the other services that you may be running off your Linux web hosting account. Security is likely to be one of your major concerns but as a user of Linux web hosting you won’t have to worry about viruses infecting the server that your account is hosted on as similarly to Mac OSX on the desktop, Linux servers are immune to Windows based viruses and the number of Linux-specific viruses around is fairly low.

Affordability is one of the major attractions to Linux web hosting for most web hosting customers. Those who have the most basic requirements aren’t going to be wanting to spend any large amounts of money on web hosting services meaning that they are going to be searching for the cheapest web hosting package available. Due to the fact that Linux is an open source operating system, it allows most web hosting providers to be competitive with their offerings of low cost web hosting services. Even though Linux web hosting services may be cheap, you will always be offered feature rich web hosting services that have support for PHP based websites as well as the facility to host at least one MySQL database.

Uptime (sometimes referred to as reliability) is one of the biggest benefits of using Linux web hosting as Linux web hosting servers are generally more reliable than Windows web hosting servers. Some of the reasons for this increased level of reliability include:

  • Software updates and patches – with a Windows server the chances are that you are going to be required to restart the hosting server every time you install a new application or application update and all of these restarts can collectively add up to a large amount of downtime – the difference with Linux servers is that you probably won’t be required to restart your server every time you install a new application or update to an existing application, although you may be required to for larger updates that affect how the operating system itself interacts with the hardware and/or the software that you are running
  • Better use of server resources – Linux as an operating system is generally more conservative of the system resources that it has available to use meaning that there are going to be more spare resources available for the applications that you use the most to use – a larger amount of free system resources will also mean that if there does happen to be a load spike at any time, there are still the resources there to be able to cope with this spike whilst maintaining the server and a low load constantly to help ensure stability overall
  • Better control of web hosting accounts – reliability is also something that can be affected by the number of web hosting accounts that are hosted on a single server – the software available for Linux servers such as the cPanel control panel can provide web hosting providers with a much better way of managing individual web hosting accounts to make sure that a single web hosting account isn’t able to overload the entire server using a single, badly coded PHP script or website.

The reliability available to you is likely to influence how visitors respond to your website as a website that is constantly down isn’t going to get a second visit in the eyes of most internet users. However, if you are able to offer a content rich website that is always available then you will be able to build up a good base of returning visitors.

Regardless of whether you are going to be using your website to handle sensitive information of any type, you should still be concerned about the level of security that your web hosting provider will be able to offer you. The main security features of a Linux web hosting package are likely to include:

  • CSF firewall – this is one of the most widely used firewall applications for Linux servers for the simple fact that it is open source and therefore free to use, but at the same time it is also effective in fulfilling its primary purpose as a firewall – most web hosting companies use CSF to block the IP addresses of any servers or computers that try to hack into them, thus meaning that this firewall application plays a large role in keeping your Linux web hosting account and the data stored in your web space safe
  • Mod_security – this is an additional module to the Apache web server and can be highly effective in the prevention of web based attacks through compromised PHP scripts and MySQL databases – any web hosting company offering Linux web hosting is going to be using mod_security to a good extent to help keep their servers safe from any SQL injections or other forms of web based attack that could take place – in order for mod_security to be effective, a large rule set needs to be used
  • Your own scripts – if you are going to be hosting a dynamic website that you have scripted yourself on your Linux web hosting account then you may wish to double check your coding for any possible loopholes prior to publishing it in an active hosting environment – when developing a website quickly it can be very easy to use coding methods that are either outdated or insecure when compared to other methods that are available and for the most part it is important for you to be using code that can’t be compromised by potential hackers.

Security is something that you won’t have to worry about with a Linux web hosting service, although in order to receive the highest levels of security possible you should consider using a highly reputable web hosting provider that has a good track record with security.

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MySQL Web Hosting

Tuesday, April 13th, 2010

MySQL is an open source database server and is one of the most popular database servers available due to the support that it can offer for both Windows web hosting servers and Linux web hosting servers. When developing a website it is always a good idea to use open source technologies as they can save you time and money in the long term; for example, PHP is a very popular scripting language for developing dynamic websites as it is open source and MySQL databases can be integrated seamlessly into PHP websites and web applications. MySQL web hosting is something that can be achieved when using either Windows or Linux servers, but to help save money you may wish to consider Linux web hosting package for your MySQL web hosting requirements.

Advantages of MySQL Web Hosting

MySQL web hosting can provide web developers with many benefits when it comes to hosting their database driven websites if they choose the right web hosting package. Some of the main advantages of using MySQL web hosting include:

  • Low cost – if you choose to go for a Linux web hosting service that can provide you with the facility to host MySQL databases, you will find that you won’t need to spend a large amount of money on your web hosting package as Linux is an open source operating system, thus reducing the costs that web hosting providers need to factor into the overall prices of their Linux web hosting services – cheap web hosting may be seen as cheap and nasty by some, but for the most part you can be sure that you will receive good value for money, granted that you choose the right web hosting provider to use from the outset
  • No limits – as MySQL is an open source database server you can be sure that you will be able to use the application fully without having to worry about any limitations as would be the case if you were using a free edition of Microsoft SQL Server – this means that if you are running a high traffic website that will be putting a high load on the database server, you can be sure that the database server will be able to handle all of the requests thrown at it and can process the data appropriately – however, the only limit there is to be found will be the physical resources of the database server that you are using and a high specification server may be needed to handle the highest loads
  • Ideal for PHP web hosting – MySQL web hosting services are usually specially optimized to handle the hosting of PHP websites that make use of MySQL databases to power their backend – regardless of whether you choose a Windows web hosting service or a Linux web hosting service, the chances are that you will be able to host your PHP based website on your web hosting package without facing any issues – any web hosting service capable of hosting a MySQL database will have the necessary PHP modules installed to allow you to host a website that will need to connect to a MySQL database on a constant basis.

The advantages of MySQL web hosting will allow you to make the most of the web hosting services that are available today. However, in some situations MySQL web hosting may not be what you require as you may choose to use another database server or application as the backend for your website.

Disadvantages of MySQL Web Hosting

There are some disadvantages to using MySQL web hosting services that are worth considering before you commit to purchasing a web hosting service. Such disadvantages could include:

  • Limit of number of databases – depending on the web hosting service that you choose to use, there may be a limit on the number of MySQL databases that you are able to host under your web hosting account – for most people this shouldn’t be an issue as a single MySQL database will normally fulfil most people’s requirements – if you require a large number of MySQL databases then some web hosting providers will be able to provide you with the facility to host an unlimited number, but you do need to be aware of the fact that your database usage will contribute towards your overall disk space usage
  • Features – in some situations you may find that certain features you require of MySQL server may not be available which could cause compatibility issues if you have developed your website in a particular way – if you require specific features of MySQL server that may not be available in some situations then VPS server hosting or dedicated server hosting would be a recommended choice for you.

In conclusion, MySQL web hosting services are a good choice for web developers who create websites using both PHP and MySQL. If you choose a Windows web hosting service then your web hosting package will also provide you with support for ASP scripts and Microsoft SQL Server databases, although Linux web hosting is recommended as a more cost effective form of MySQL web hosting.

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PHP Web Hosting

Thursday, April 8th, 2010

PHP is probably one of the most popular scripting languages available and has been used for the development of some of the largest websites on the internet. As PHP is an open source scripting language you can use it for free; you will also be able to modify the core code of the system if you wish to have PHP run in a certain way. As PHP is open source it can be used on any platform and is supported by both Windows and Linux; this provides you with a wide variety of web hosting services to choose from if you require PHP web hosting. However, PHP functions best when used in a Linux web hosting environment and so LAMP (Linux, Apache MySQL and PHP) setups are popular with both individuals that have small budgets but also for larger businesses that want the most cost effective solution available.

What should I look for in a PHP web hosting package?

There is a combination of factors that will help to produce the best PHP web hosting package for your requirements and so it is important for you to take into consideration the different factors that could affect a PHP web hosting service. It is important for you to look for the following:

  • Support for MySQL – MySQL is the main database application used in conjunction with PHP and if you wish to create dynamic websites using PHP then using MySQL as your database backend is going to be a wise move – MySQL is an open source database server that will function well on both Windows and Linux servers – MySQL performs best with PHP and is used by some of the world’s largest websites to power their operations, although in such situations the likelihood is that the core of the application has been modified to use less system resources
  • cPanel hosting – if you are looking to make the most of PHP web hosting then it is recommended that you choose a web hosting provider that is offering cPanel web hosting services – cPanel is the most popular control panel for Linux shared hosting services and can provide you with advance support for PHP by providing you with various features related to the scripting language including a script editor that is part of the File Manager – cPanel will also be able to tell you which version of PHP is running on the server that your web hosting account is hosted on as some applications are only able to function with certain versions of PHP
  • Third-party components – in some situations you may wish to make use of third-party components that can be integrated into PHP scripts with ease, or the use of the components may be a requirement if you wish to use an applications that has already been developed – some web hosting providers will be able to offer you premium components as a free extra with some of their web hosting services, but if you have a specific component or PHP module that you need to use but isn’t available then you may have to consider your own VPS server or dedicated server in order for your web hosting requirements to be met.

What are the disadvantages that could affect the functionality of a PHP web hosting package?

It is important for you to take into consideration the factors that could affect the functionality of PHP based websites. It is a good idea to consider the following disadvantages of some web hosting services as they could have a negative impact on you:

  • Security measures – the security measures implemented by some web hosting providers could have an adverse effect on the functionality of your PHP based website – some web hosting providers may choose to disable specific PHP modules that your website may require if it is to be able to function correctly – mod_security is another security measure that could restrict your ability to accept certain data that is entered into forms on your website, although on the other hand this is something that can be disabled by request with most web hosting providers
  • Disk space – the disk space that you have available to use could greatly limit you if you wish to create a website that relies upon a large database as the amount of disk space that your databases use will eat into your overall disk space allowance – it is a good idea to go with a PHP web hosting package that will be able to offer you a disk space allowance that doesn’t put the hosting package out of your budget but will still be able to sustain the growth of your website.

In conclusion, PHP web hosting services are available for a low cost and will offer you the resources that you require to sustain the growth of your website on a budget. Most PHP web hosting services are feature-packed which will help you to ensure that you are getting good value for money.

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Linux Hosting

Sunday, December 20th, 2009

Linux hosting services are the most common and popular web hosting services available from most web hosting providers. Linux web hosting packages are generally the cheapest available in most situations, and this helps to make Linux hosting services popular with beginners and those who are looking for web hosting on a budget. Linux web hosting services are usually able to meet the requirements of most users, although in some cases you may need to consider Windows hosting if you have more complex web hosting requirements.

Linux is available with all forms of web hosting that are available, and Linux shared hosting packages are regarded as the most cost effective web hosting solutions available. If you are going to be considering a VPS server or dedicated server then you may be interested in the different distributions of Linux that are available; most versions (or ‘distributions’) of Linux are designed for a specific purpose, and you may find that there is one Linux distribution which is able to meet your requirements much more effectively than any others that are available.

What are the advantages of using Linux hosting?

There can be many advantages to using a Linux hosting service, regardless of whether you are a business or individual requiring web hosting. You will find that the main advantages of using a Linux hosting service include:

  • Cost – Linux hosting packages are generally at the cheaper end of the spectrum, but this does mean that most Linux web hosting packages can offer excellent value for money if you purchase your web hosting services from a reputable web hosting provider
  • Reliable web hosting – Linux hosting services are well known for being highly reliable and in an age where businesses in particular are taking the reliability of a web hosting package seriously it is important for web hosting providers to be able to guarantee high levels of uptime
  • Secure hosting environment – Linux web hosting servers are able to offer one of the most secure web hosting environments available, and if you are going to be handling the personal information of your visitors or customers in any way then it is important that you are able to guarantee them a secure web hosting environment.

In summary, the advantages of using Linux hosting services mean that a Linux web hosting package is able to offer businesses the web hosting environment that they require in order to engage visitor and customer trust, whilst individuals are provided with a web hosting service which will be easy for them to use.

How can a Linux web hosting package benefit me?

A Linux web hosting package will be able to benefit you in many ways, especially if you have never used a web hosting package before and are using your Linux web hosting service for the first time. For most users, a Linux web hosting package will be able to benefit them in the following ways:

  • cPanel hosting – if you choose a Linux web hosting package then the likelihood is that you will be provided with access to the cPanel control panel so that you are able to effectively manage your web hosting account – cPanel web hosting services are amongst the most popular available
  • PHP web hosting – Linux web hosting packages offer you the best hosting environment if you wish to host a website which has been developed using a combination of MySQL and PHP to create a dynamic web application.

The features of your average Linux web hosting package help to ensure that you will be able to make the most of your Linux web hosting service. The features that are available with your chosen Linux web hosting service are entirely dependent on the form of web hosting that you are considering for your requirements as well as your chosen web hosting provider.

In conclusion, Linux hosting services are recommended if you require a basic web hosting package and have no need for a more complex Windows web hosting package. Linux hosting services are available from most web hosting providers which helps to ensure competition and therefore low pricing; however, it is important for you to make sure that you purchase your web hosting services from a hosting provider that can offer you reliable web hosting so that you can be sure that you are receiving good value for money.

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