Web hosting services are companies that provide businesses and individuals the opportunity to have their own websites on the Internet. The Web hosting service has a large server or multiple servers that allow them space on the web, and they rent this space to clients who use it to park their domain names on the World Wide Web so that Internet surfers can access them.

Who Can Use Web Hosting Services?

Anyone can use a web hosting service if he or she can pay the monthly fee and have a domain name. The domain name provides the URL that people will type into their Internet web browser to be directed to your site. You will have to pay to register your domain name, although some web hosting services may offer free domain name registration as part of a promotion to give you incentive to use their service. If you cannot afford the monthly fee, there are free web hosting services. However, there tend to be serious limitations on how you can operate your website with a free service, and many people find it necessary to upgrade to a paid service if they continue their website for an extended length of time. Another option may be shared web hosting, where a number of people agree to operate their websites off the same server and costs are shared.

What Should One Look for in a Web Hosting Service?

Price may be your first consideration, although many web hosting services, especially for personal websites, are quite affordable, only a few dollars a month in some cases. You will be looking out for storage space size and bandwidth size. These measurements, usually calculated in gigabytes, will tell you how much information in files you can store on your website and how much data your visitors can access per month, respectively. You should be able to make a rough estimation of how much storage space you will need and how much bandwidth you will require while you are planning your website. If you find you are running out of bandwidth, you are probably getting enough traffic that you can advertise on your site and use the money you earn to rent more bandwidth. There are also additional services that your web host may provide, so be sure to compare a few different web hosts and see all the options offered before making a decision.

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When you talk about Webmail you’re referring to email that you access via you web browser. Your e-mail isn’t limited to one computer. As long as you have access to the Internet you’ll able to read your mail. Many count the year of 1997 as the year when Webmail was introduced to the public, via the release of Hotmail. If you want to read more about the phenomenon that is Webmail we have a great article about this issue on our site.

SquirrelMail

The Squirrel Webmail is a standard-based e-mail written in PHP. Of, Course it’s free to sign up with this client and here’s why you really should consider it. Everything from the message list to the address book is greatly designed and easy navigated.

If you want to personalize your mail you have every possibility in the world to do it with Squirrel. With various themes the look of your Webmail can be adjusted to what you like. There are several plugins available if you feel like adding some extra details. For example you have the possibility add a calendar, extend the functionality of your address book and add filters to battle spam. Truly a great Webmail! SquirrelMail is available with Web Hosting UK cPanel Linux hosting packages.

Horde

Access your emails anywhere in the world through the Horde webmail program. With Horde you’ll easily be able compose emails and handle incoming messages. To make it easier for there is an excellent address book structuring your contacts. If you have some unfinished work you can save it as draft on the Horde Webmail Hosting.

RoundCube

RoundCube is a free Webmail software and it’s probably the most well-known of the three listed here. Offering great inbox options, such as drag and & drop, privacy protection, integrated address book and HTML and multipart support this is a top-notch Webmail.

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Video tutorials and Wizards
To make sure that the user find everything and is 100% pleased with the cPanel interface the user have complete access to the control panel preferences and know-how. Video tutorials and wizard to get started and editable style, language and profile settings to give user full control.

MySQL and PHPMyAdmin Databases
User can access, add, remove and manage databases in MySQL both directly through cPanel but also by using the Remote MySQL function. phpMyAdmin is also available.

Manage E-mail accounts
Not only can user create email accounts but manage them and prevent SPAM with Spam Assassin, access email though webmail function and several more functions to complete the user’s email experience.

Limited Stats
With over 8 statistical applications such as Webalizer, Bandwidth monitoring, Latest Visitors and Analog Stats and Error Log the user can monitor all aspects of the website. Statistics graphics are quite simple reporting according to basic values like monthly hits, files and hits they fill the need of the common user. cPanel logs section is thus a bit limited in giving information about the website.

Easy Blog and CMS installation
One of the most valuable functions are found under Software/Services, add-ons offering pre-installed CGI Scripts allowing users to display anything from a counter, clock, countdown timer, formMail to a search engine and banners. Probably the most known service is Fantastico available to help the user install blogs, content management (Joomla, PHP-Nuke, Drupal etc.), forums, ecommerce, image galleries and much more. PHP configuration is also available.

Access Files with web based FTP
Devoted to the security and importance of website files cPanel offer a backup function with a wizard to help safely copy and store files in case they are lost or destroyed. Furthermore user has a direct connection to files with a FTP function allowing the user to manage, upload or download files directly from the web browser.

Your website on Your terms
cPanel user has a variety of secure settings to choose between. Offering secure file transfer and remote logins with SSH, IP Blocking, Password Protection, message encryption and decryption using private key with GnuPG Keys.

But Wait There’s More
Furthermore the user can choose to customize control panel and website further. Personal error pages can be created, image display can be managed and command and scripts can be set to activate and deactivate at specific times.

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Simple Control Panel Main Page

It’s a simple control panel with a strong relation to the user’s registered web host account. Manage domains, account settings and use wizards for help. That’s basically the options the user gets when entering the control panel’s index page.

Looks Can Be Deceiving

But don’t let the lack of content on the index page fool you. There is more. The user just have to find it. This is one of Helm’s biggest flaws. A complicated interface. Rather than figuring out what the user might want to use the index page remains unappealing icons leading to undesired functions. In order to get their hands on the good stuff, users first must figure out that they have to click on the registered domain name under My Domains.

Good Web Host Services But Hard to Find

When the user finally finds the spot he/she has access to most desired functions. Email accounts, stats, databases, backup functions, domain setting, Ftp accounts etc. But Helm also proves that additional services/add-ons like CGI scripts are a rare occurrence amongst control panels. Helm draws the line by only offering exactly what is needed. Perhaps that is what some users want, in order not to make the control panel experience to confusing. But to offer users the possibility to create blogs, javascript applications and advanced website platform with a simple mouse click is the ultimate control panel.

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Bottom line is that control panels are a must for web hosting uk clients. Depending on what you need and want there a many web hosting deals to choose between. Most offer just about the same thing, but with more or less emphasis on certain applications. Important to think about when actually choosing a web hosting uk plan according to their available control panel is this.

Interface graphics

See if you can get a peek on the interface graphics. The structure and design of the control panel is extremely important and maybe the feature that differs the most control panel to control panel. Remember, this is the place you will spend most time managing your website. Most control panels also offer different skins and the possibility to customize, fonts, colors and structure.

Supported Operative Systems

Make sure that the operative system you’re using is supported and optimized for. Most web hosts support Windows but if you’re devoting your website to e.g. graphic design and use an Apple computer a control panel that is made for Mac Os X is should be your preference.

Control panel for Linux/Windows:

We recommend cPanel for Linux hosting and Plesk for Windows hosting. Plesk control panel is compatible with both Linux as well as Windows.

cPanel control panel is the most user friendly web hosting control panel and it will make your task of hosting multiple domains easier and convenient.  cPanel is fast and easy to use and you will be quick to pick up the ropes with it.  It’s fast and allows lots of control and the fantastico is great.

Plesk control panel is a comprehensive hosting management software. Through plesk control panel you can create Subdomain, domain aliases, email aliases, email account, set autoresponder, manage SQL database,  DNS, crontab manager, managing FPAdmin etc.

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Almost all web hosts include control panels in their offers, giving customers the ultimate solution for managing domains, email accounts, design templates, site statistics, data bases, marketing tools and much more. Realizing most web host clients lack the knowledge required for a more technical interface control panels are essential to the web hosts. For a website owner and web hosting customers control panels are a godsend. Lacking the knowledge and interest web host users still can make the necessary adjustments through the control panel’s user friendly interface. And with a strong demand comes great supply that could fill five sky scrapes.

Even though control panels are primarily used by web hosting clients, many web hosts also offer management, administration and maintenance to web host resellers and their clients.

Optimal Web Hosting Experience

The purpose with control panels is thus to make the web hosting experience more controllable and user friendly. Nowadays control panels like cPanel and WHM has developed their interfaces to make sure just about anything can be done through an easy to use GUI. You’ll not only have simple control over your domains and storage space but will find all applications and services you need to optimize your website. Traditional features have also been upgraded with accessibility and excitability directly in the web browser. Many control panels include site builders, ftp connection, video tutorials, backup wizards, advance statistics, MySQL management, image managers and more. Some of these applications might cost extra to exercise.

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Choosing a Hosting Provider 
Anyone using web applications for business purposes knows that choosing a hosting provider is crucial to the success and execution of those apps. If your hosting provider is unreliable, the results can be disastrous for small business owners. Prevent unrecoverable mistakes by arming yourself with the knowledge of what to look for in a hosting provider.

24×7x365 Support
Make sure your provider has tech support on hand at all times available by phone or chat to take care of any issues that might arise with your server. Hardware isn’t infallible. Excellent customer care and quick attention to issues will make the difference between a few hours and a few days of downtime.

Name Brand Hardware 
Name brands are recognizable for a reason. If a brand is known for quality and dependability, the product you purchase from that brand will usually follow suit. Look for companies who say what brand of servers and products they use in their datacenters. If they aren’t telling you, chances are you’ve never heard of the brand.

Redundant Network
The network is the heart of any IT Infrastructure provider. Without a redundant network, you’re exponentially increasing your risk of downtime. A fully redundant network means that your network can lose any one piece of networking gear at any one level and data will continue to flow uninterrupted.

Tier 1 Bandwidth Providers
In addition to a fully redundant network you also need great bandwidth providers. Tier 1 bandwidth providers typically own their entire network and it either stretches a continent or the entire globe. A few examples of Tier 1 providers include Level3, NTT, AT&T, Global Crossing & Savvis. Tier 1 providers ensure that your content gets to your visitor using the most efficient route possible.

Quick Provisioning of Servers 
Typically when people order a product or service of any kind it’s because they need it. Don’t settle for waiting days for your server to be ready. Find a provider that guarantees quick provisioning, getting you online and working in no time.

Automated reboots and automated Operating System reloads
Insisting on an IT Infrastructure provider who has invested in self-service systems will save you time and money over the duration of your hosting deployment. Rebooting servers yourself when they fail and being able to install a fresh Operating System on your hardware at the click of a mouse is indispensible. Choosing a provider may seem like a daunting task given the vast array of providers these days. Knowing what to look for will make the decision easier and help to keep your online business needs running smoothly.

Please visit Web Hosting UK to see how the “The WebHosting.UK.com Difference” can make a difference in your business.

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Before even beginning your search, analyze what your needs are. What features would you like your site to have? What Internet programming languages do you anticipate using? Be sure to take under consideration any feedback form features, database connectivity or any other site virtue that is simply too advanced for pure HTML. Would you like e-mail addresses? Do you have a domain name? How much traffic do you expect to receive? All these questions and more help in the final decision for that one glorious hosting company.

In the midst of your search, you’ll probably run across hosting services that offer ‘unlimited bandwidth’. This is simply not true. The term ‘bandwidth’ refers to the amount of information that is past between the hosting servers and the end user. Most hosting companies are connected to high-speed Internet backbones (UUNET, Sprint, AT&T, etc) which charge the hosting company based on their monthly bandwidth from customers. Needless to say, if you rack up upwards of 25Gigs of bandwidth a month, that lacks financial prosperity for your hosting company. Be sure to read the terms of service very carefully with each hosting company that you are considering, especially if they advertise ‘free’ or ‘unlimited’ site features.

A hosting company’s support services often goes untested, especially with beginners in the site design and hosting world. A skilled and prompt support staff should be one of the most important decision breakers in your mind. If you run into trouble getting a perl script to work, or perhaps your database permissions are not setup correctly on the hosting company’s side. You want those problems corrected, and fast. One way to test a service’s support staff is to simply send them an e-mail and see how long it takes for a response to be sent. Try to send an inquiry to support and sales and any other department you deem necessary. Ask support if they offer a web language that you like, or ask the sales department if they charge your credit card or hire another company to do it for them. If you receive a response the same day, you can probably rest assured you will receive timely help with any inquiries you have. They should not take more than one complete day to get back to you.

Perform research away from the company’s web site. Ask questions through e-mail lists and other mediums to try and get some feedback. If the company lists a testimonials section, look into contacting the authors of the testimonials and start asking questions. The more comments you have, the better understanding you’ll have on how that hosting service treats its customers.

Pay attention to how long they have been online. A well-established hosting company of many years will most likely yield the greatest chances of customer successes. Click on the about page if they have one and read it all; after all, you may very well be giving this company your credit card number.

Now, let’s get down to the nitty gritty: Does the service offer what you want? Although you may expect your site to remain fairly small, allow yourself some room to grow, represented in megabytes (Mbs). If you’re using 5Mbs, look for 10. If you’re using 20Mbs, look for 30 or 40. If you are a photographer and want to use your site as a portfolio, you better opt for a more powerful account with more space and bandwidth, as images take more of both. Depending on how many images you have and how popular your site is, look for at least 50Mbs of space and 5Gigs of bandwidth. However, a regular, average size site with mostly html pages should be fine with 15 or 20Mbs and 1 or 2gigs of bandwidth and paying no more than $15 a month, depending on other features.

If you have purchased your own domain name, be sure the hosting company supports them (most do), and be sure they give you at least 1 e-mail address (you@yourdomain.com). A lot of companies offer 10 or more custom pop e-mail accounts with unlimited forwarding address at little or no additional cost, which is a nice feature.

Let’s look at a few features and offerings you might find with a Windows and Linux based hosting services.

Linux

* Cheaper than Windows in general
* Should offer PHP and MySQL (at least and PHP)
* May offer telnet accounts at little or no additional cost

Since the Linux operating system and all Linux based languages and databases are free to install and offer for the hosting company, prices are usually lower than Windows. Perl should be supported with sendmail support for any formmail scripts. SSI is nice, along with .htaccess. Linux is the choice of most budget web designers and is also much more secure than Windows. In general, more configuration options and advanced customizations are available with Linux based hosting services.

Windows

* Usually more expensive than Linux
* Should support ASP
* Could support Cold Fusion, Access, SQL Server at an additional cost

Windows based servers are flat out expensive for the hosting company to purchase, so prices are usually a bit higher. Cold Fusion is fairly expensive and is purchased through Allaire, now merged with Macromedia. SQL Server is also purchased for a high price through Microsoft, while Access is almost free. Any important database work should be done through SQL Server. If you want the extra features through a Windows host, be prepared to pay extra. In case you are wondering, WebSiteGravy.com rests on Linux based web servers.

The decision rests in your hands. If you are completely new to the design world and know next to nothing about hosting options and features, you may find a Linux based hosting service more to your liking, and for a lower price. If you are using Microsoft Access databases for the web, a Windows based hosting service with Access support would be required for you. Take your time when looking for a hosting company. Test their support services, gather comments from others and weigh your requirements to the company’s features and offerings. Remember to leave yourself some room to grow and expand.

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