Tag Archives: server
Things to keep in mind while changing your host
You probably ensured that you chose the best web host catering to your website requirements when you designed your website for public or private viewing. If your website does not work out well, it can have a drastic implication to your business with loss of potential clients. Therefore, you must have top quality web hosting solution to maintain your growing business. Nobody would wish to see their business suffer due to wrong choice of web hosting, and if that at all happens to you, there is a procedure to make a right direction.
To start with, you must do some homework, some research work on the available web hosting services in the industry. As the website owner, you must consider every aspect of the site, making sure that nothing is overlooked that can affect your sites performance too. The server space, for instance, is the most crucial aspect that you must look at. The more the storage space is, the more multimedia features like music clips, graphics, streaming videos, games and Flash animation you can upload on your website. And if you are using a shared web server, the server space for your site will be limited due to hundreds of websites sharing the same server space. In case of a dedicated web server, the costs would though be higher but you will have a good amount of storage space to accommodate your website needs.
Thirdly, you must look at the access being offered by your web host. With an FTP access, you can upload new web pages on your website, as and when you need. And you are not required to pay someone every time you make changes to your site. Reliability too needs to be checked thoroughly. If your web hosts server breaks down, it will show a screen that your site is unavailable to your visitors, who may then switch to your competitors website, by the time you are back online. Speed and bandwidth are two other key aspects of your web hosting service you must not ignore. The average connection speeds and security features need to be checked with the web host, if they suit your website needs.
Uncomplicated AD object management on remote server domain
Windows Server 2003 comes with different tools, also known as MMC consoles for managing the Active Directory. The most common of these tools is the Active Directory Users and Computers (ADUC) snap-in which is used for daily management of users and computer objects. With this MMC console, administrators can create, manage and delete user and computer accounts configured with the directory structure. In order to access this console, you have to navigate through Start menu to All Programs/ Administrative Tools and ensure that you are logged into a domain controller since only a DC contains this option.
Under Administrative Tools menu there are other snap-in consoles as well, such as the Active Directory Schema. Schema as we all know contains the attribute definitions of Active Directory objects, but in order to accommodate new definitions in the pool of the already existing ones, schema modification is required. Active Directory Schema MMC console is used for this purpose, although such modifications take place at the forest functional level.
On the other hand, the Active Directory Users and Computers console is strictly a domain level snap-in and does not allow you to work on the Active Directory at the forest level. With this tool, you can only work on the Active Directory objects specific to a domain. Furthermore, the domain which gets listed on the console is the one corresponding to the domain controller on which you will be logged on to. In case you wish to manage a different domain, say a remote domain for a different geographical location, you can take help of the Connect to Domain command. This command lets you search the required domain or enter the domain IP address to access it.
However, this was the case for a remote domain. What if the domain controller itself is situated at a different location? Well, Active Directory users and computers let you to manage domains even if you are not logged in domain controller. ADUC can be easily accessed from a member server by manually loading it on an MMC. This can be carried out by entering the MMC command at the Run prompt of the server to load the console with the tool.
However, for this option, you must have a server at disposal. Otherwise it becomes necessary to establish a Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) session with one of the servers. This protocol allows you to control server remotely, even a domain controller server. This way you can use the ADUC console even from a remote domain controller.
These hassles can however be avoided with the use of Lepide Active Directory Management and Reporting (LADMR) software. This AD management tool eliminates the need of MMC consoles like ADUC or ADS as it provides a single interface for all kinds of tasks like creating, managing and deleting user or computer accounts and viewing or modifying the AD schema. Whether you have to manage objects on a remote domain or local, this software will provide a single console tree where all the domains and their constituent objects can be viewed and managed easily without worrying about RDP sessions or DC server login.
Shared or Dedicated Hosting – What is the Difference?
First of all, the question arises, “What Are Web Hosts?” They are the service provider companies that give a place to the net users on their servers that provide space on their servers for internet users. Web hosts provide online systems for internet connectivity and for storing information, image mediums and other internet content to their users. Most reasonably sized web hosts generally have numerous different hosting packages available with size requirement and a choice of shared or dedicated hosting facilities as different options. If a company wants web as a medium of conducting business, then selection of web host is a crucial first step in any internet marketing strategy.
So, what is the difference between a shared host or a dedicated host then? Shared hosting occurs when you pay a monthly fee to a third-party service provider in order to use their equipment for your web server. The service provider handles everything ranging from backup and security to setting up the server and managing the bandwidth. The sole task of your company, in such a scenario, will simply be website content development.
Dedicated hosting, as opposed to shared server hosting, is mostly used by big corporations and businesses that see a large amount of traffic. Dedicated hosting service simply means that your web server sits on its own box which is partly managed by the service provider. It is the complete opposite of shared server hosting, and means that the server is entirely dedicated to your needs and web traffic alone.
Both types of hosting scenarios come with their own unique features. The most important benefit of shared hosting is the cost factor. Since you are sharing the server with other websites, it is a very economical option. One of the most important considerations is the level and efficiency of the technical support provided. No systems are flawless so when things go wrong, you need to be able to fix the problems as quickly as possible. A good hosting provider will have technical experts available on their support desk who can assist you with any problems. The stability of the server is another important consideration. A well-maintained and managed server should seldom go down and this is what you want from a web host – a website that is accessible 24/7. Security is handled by the service provider and you need not worry about it. The web host also provides the required hardware, so you do not have invest any money there. The only potential problem with shared hosting is that bandwidth is limited, so if your web page becomes very popular you might find yourself running out of bandwidth quickly.
Dedicated hosting can offer increased speed since the server is solely dedicated to your website alone. The response time will be much faster since there are smaller queues that the visitors have to wait in, helping to maintain the level of traffic on your website. With a dedicated host, the entire bandwidth available on the server lies at your disposal. Since you are monitoring and regulating the server yourself, the costs incurred by you will be greater. You will have to invest more on hardware and security and regularly carry out maintenance checks. Dedicated server technology offers you great flexibility, such as the ability to install and run whatever operating system you deem desirable and necessary. Another benefit of dedicated hosting is you may resell the space/bandwidth to people who want to setup their own website.
With websites becoming major marketing tools, hosting companies are offering added features and tools to make websites more efficient. Some of these sets may only be offered on dedicated hosting packages while others are packages specifically for shared servers. There is a vast difference between the two and the one that is right for your business will depend on examining a variety of factors to make the best choice.