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Web Hosting Made Simple

by Tem Balanco

A web host is a service provider that places your web site on a computer which is connected to the internet. This then gives people who surf the internet a way to access your website. The computer that the web hosting company uses is typically just like the computer you have at home, the only difference being that it is set up to serve up web sites and is therefore called a server.

Web hosts usually host thousands of websites, using many servers, and typically have very fast connections to the Internet. Basically, they function by renting out space to users who want users to be able to access their websites through the World Wide Web.

While some large web hosting companies have their own servers, other companies will rent servers from larger companies and sell space on these under their own name. In such cases the web space will actually belong to another much bigger company although the web host you are dealing with will be the one managing your account on the server.

There are different kinds of web-hosting setups and dependent upon your website and budget, any of these may be the right type. Bandwidth is always stated as a monthly limit in either MB or GB. This is the amount of actual data that can be transferred from the web server that holds your website, to the browser of the person who is looking at your website.

If you go over the limit, then either you will have to be an extra fee, or your website will not be available. The amount of bandwidth you use is obviously related to the amount of traffic that you receive.

Unlimited bandwidth for free from certain web hosting companies certainly sounds like an amazing deal which is too good to be true. Indeed, it is too good to be true. These claims amount to bait and switch marketing schemes that one would be well advised to steer clear of. After all, bandwidth costs the web hosting company money. Unlimited bandwidth for free, if true, would therefore cost the web hosting company an infinite amount of money.

The best web hosting for you is really up to your own personal preferences. If you are a computer expert who created your own web site from the ground up, you probably know just what you need to do in order to get the performance you want from your site. In that case, you may be most comfortable with an Internet business, allowing you to control everything about your site with only the minimal assistance you need. However, if you are not as comfortable working with computers, you may need someone who can help you throughout the entire process.

Published August 17th, 2008

Filed in Business, Computer, Home Business, Internet