Tag Archives: server
Is HostGators Hosting Service A Good Choice For Newbies?
HostGators hosting services are frequently recommended as they are one of the top hosting companies. There are located in Texas but have customers throughout the world. Founded in 2002 they have grown to the point where they host four million domains.
A range of hosting packages are on offer starting with basic shared hosting and including reseller hosting, virtual private server hosting and dedicated server hosting. This means that there is an upgrade path as a site gets busier and that HostGators service is good for personal and business users.
It should be noted that until you get to the dedicated server level HostGators service is Linux based. Generally it is best to go for Linux unless there is a particular reason to use Windows based hosting (such as having a site developed that uses Microsoft technologies).
HostGators entry level plan is available from $4.95 per month (which requires payment for 36 months upfront). However, one key attraction of HostGator is that they do actually allow monthly payments, at a higher price, and you can still cancel at any time.
Like most hosting companies these days HostGators packages include resources such as bandwidth, disk space, email accounts etc. on an “unlimited” basis, which at least keeps it simple. The only limitation of the entry level plan is that only one domain can be hosted.
Most new users of hosting are seeking a service that:
* Is user friendly – HostGators service offers cPanel with Fantastico which makes it was to install software such as WordPress.
* Is always available – a 99.9% uptime guarantee is provided, some maintenance is always required so no host will offer 100%. Whilst maintenance is generally undertaken at night local time this can occasionally be at inconvenient times in other parts of the world.
* Loads pages quickly – In my experience this is no problem with HostGator.
* Provides excellent support – This is an area where HostGators reputation is good and my own experience has been very positive. They offer support 24/7 by phone, chat and email. This may not seem like a top priority to a new user of hosting but I can tell you from past experience how frustrating it is to have problems and be unable to get proper support.
HostGators service meets the above criteria and I would recommend it to new users. I have noticed that HostGator seems to be the choice of many internet marketers and if it is good enough for them.
Is HostGators Hosting Service A Good Choice For Newbies?
HostGators hosting services are frequently recommended as they are one of the top hosting companies. There are located in Texas but have customers throughout the world. Founded in 2002 they have grown to the point where they host four million domains.
A range of hosting packages are on offer starting with basic shared hosting and including reseller hosting, virtual private server hosting and dedicated server hosting. This means that there is an upgrade path as a site gets busier and that HostGators service is good for personal and business users.
It should be noted that until you get to the dedicated server level HostGators service is Linux based. Generally it is best to go for Linux unless there is a particular reason to use Windows based hosting (such as having a site developed that uses Microsoft technologies).
HostGators entry level plan is available from $4.95 per month (which requires payment for 36 months upfront). However, one key attraction of HostGator is that they do actually allow monthly payments, at a higher price, and you can still cancel at any time.
Like most hosting companies these days HostGators packages include resources such as bandwidth, disk space, email accounts etc. on an “unlimited” basis, which at least keeps it simple. The only limitation of the entry level plan is that only one domain can be hosted.
Most new users of hosting are seeking a service that:
* Is user friendly – HostGators service offers cPanel with Fantastico which makes it was to install software such as WordPress.
* Is always available – a 99.9% uptime guarantee is provided, some maintenance is always required so no host will offer 100%. Whilst maintenance is generally undertaken at night local time this can occasionally be at inconvenient times in other parts of the world.
* Loads pages quickly – In my experience this is no problem with HostGator.
* Provides excellent support – This is an area where HostGators reputation is good and my own experience has been very positive. They offer support 24/7 by phone, chat and email. This may not seem like a top priority to a new user of hosting but I can tell you from past experience how frustrating it is to have problems and be unable to get proper support.
HostGators service meets the above criteria and I would recommend it to new users. I have noticed that HostGator seems to be the choice of many internet marketers and if it is good enough for them.
The Disadvantages of Windows Hosting
Windows hosting certainly has its advantages; it’s easy to use, and is compatible with Microsoft Access, Microsoft Frontpage, .NET and Visual Basic. However, there are some disadvantages to Windows hosting, too. While this doesn’t necessarily mean you shouldn’t use a Windows hosting package, there are significant drawbacks to using one that you will need to know about before you choose. Let’s take a look at some of the best advantages that come with using a Windows hosting package; then, you’ll be able to make an informed decision.
Instability
Unfortunately, Windows is not as stable as, for example, UNIX. Therefore, if you are planning on running Windows instead of UNIX, you can count on having some downtime, perhaps significant. Most Windows servers will have some issues, because the platform itself is not particularly stable. If at all possible, it’s much more desirable from a stability standpoint to go with UNIX.
Slow performance
UNIX servers run much more quickly than do Windows servers. Therefore, if you want your content to come up quickly, you’re better off using UNIX. The slowness of a Windows server relates to the programming, and it’s not something you can easily fix.
System resources hog
Unfortunately, most Windows servers use many more resources than servers running on UNIX do. This means you’ll need more RAM, more bandwidth, and more disk space, likely, which can cost you significantly more money than if you were to go with a UNIX server.
Frequent reboots
You’ll need to reboot your Windows server more often than you will your UNIX server, which can mean your site will be down significantly more than if it were run on UNIX.
Incompatibility with Perl and CGI
Perl or CGI applications can cause Windows compatibility issues. These were developed in UNIX, which means that many scripts are going to be incompatible as written and you’ll need to be able to work around them. Many Perl and CGI scripts do indeed function correctly on Windows, but you have to do some research to find them, and they’re not particularly common.
No SSH or Telnet administration
You won’t be able to administer your site using SSH or Telnet, since these are UNIX based. If you’re used to being able to do so, you’re out of luck if you decide to go with a Windows server.
No “free lunch”
Because Windows is not a platform that is free operating, your Windows hosting package will likely cost more than if it’s based in UNIX. Very few free applications will also run on Windows server, which means you’ll have significant out-of-pocket expenses, likely, because you’ll need to pay for applications you could get free with a UNIX server.
What do these disadvantages mean?
Do these disadvantages mean you shouldn’t use Windows hosting? Not necessarily, but you most certainly need to look at the drawbacks a Windows server will give you versus one that runs on UNIX — as well as the advantages.
If your website is relatively basic AND you use FrontPage and/or Microsoft Access on your website, then Windows hosting may indeed be your best fit. For anything more complicated than that, though (and if you don’t need the “perfect fit” that Windows hosting provides FrontPage or Microsoft Access users), consider going with UNIX instead. UNIX provides you so much more flexibility and stability that it’s well worth your time.