Web Hosting Guide

Frequently Asked Questions -- And Frequently Provided Answers -- from The Worldwide Web Hosting Leader.

Fortunately, Verio is the know-it-all for domain hosting, dedicated server hosting, shared server hosting, and all the other types of hosting.

As the global Web hosting leader -- with more than 1,000,000 Web sites in over 170 countries -- Verio has compiled this convenient five chapter Web Hosting Guide. It includes basic definitions to answer your most basic questions about what a Web site is, how Web hosting works, what plan is right for you, and more. You can read straight through, or skip to the chapter you want.

Once you find the answers you're seeking, trust Verio to help you register a domain name for your Web site, help you build it, promote it, and watch your online presence grow.

1. What is a Web site?
2. What is Web hosting?
3. What is the procedure for building a Web presence?
4. What is e-commerce?
5. Which hosting plan fits my needs?

What is a Web site?

Not sure you need a Web site? Want to know what it's all about? This is the place to start.

• What is a Web site?
  Essentially, a Web site is a way to present yourself online. Your Web site is a place on the Internet where anyone in the world can visit whenever they want to find out more about you, ask you questions, give you feedback, or even buy your products. Think of the Internet as the world's biggest trade show, and your Web site is your booth.

• What is a Domain Name?
  Your Domain Name is your address on the Web. Just like people use your phone number to call you on the phone, your Domain Name allows people to access your site on the Web. Clever, simple, or easy to remember Domain Names are most desirable as they can play a large part in attracting visitors to your site. Most Domain Names end with ".com" (such as verio.com), but other extensions such as ".net" and ".org" are also available. In addition Domains can be used with your e-mail accounts allowing you to send and receive e-mail with addresses such as "support@yourcompany.com"

• Why do I need a Web site?
  Five years ago having a Web site was a vanity. Two years ago having a Web site was trendy. Today having a Web site is a necessity.

  People are using the Web for everything from researching schoolwork to buying dinner. It's quick, it's convenient, and you never need to leave your desk. Even people who prefer to shop off-line are researching products on the Web. These days when people are trying to find you, the first place they look is on the Web - and if they don't find you, they will probably find someone else!

• What can a Web site do for me?
  Your Web site can be used for a large number of tasks such as:

  - Making public announcements
  - Providing support to your customers
  - Receiving feedback from your visitors
  - Sharing/distributing files and images
  - And, of course, selling your products

  Those might not sound impressive, but don't forget that you'll be able to do those things for people around the world at any time of day or night. You have the potential to become a house-hold name 10,000 miles away.

• How does a Web site work?
  A Web site is simply a collection of files that reside on a computer connected to the Internet. When someone visits your site, they are actually contacting that computer, and that computer (called a Web server) gives the visitor the files they want to see. It sounds very simple, but most normal computers don't have the power or the software needed to constantly respond to all the requests made by all the visitors to a site. And even if they did, they'd need an extremely fast connection to the Internet to keep up with all the requests. Most people and small companies don't have the resources to run a Web server, and that is where Web Hosting comes in.

Back to top

What is Web hosting?

You know what a Web site is, but what is a Web Host? What part does Verio play in your Web presence?

• What is a Web Host?
  To have a Web site on the Internet you first need to have a Web server. Unfortunately, owning a Web server can be very costly and requires technical expertise that most businesses don't have. This is where Web Hosts come in. Web hosting companies provide the equipment and other technical resources that you need without the headaches that come when you have to do it yourself.

  Think of a Web Host as the landlord of a building. A landlord rents out storefronts to various businesses. Each business decorates and runs their store differently, and doesn't worry about the maintenance of the building. In a similar way a Web Host rents out space on a Web server, (or entire Web servers), to various businesses. Each business builds their own Web site and never has to worry about the maintenance of their Web server.

  In other words, the Web Host provides the place on the Internet where your Web site lives. It's a lot cheaper than buying you own server, and you don't have to hire the technical staff to take care of it.

• What kind of server should I choose?

  Shared Server
  Shared servers offer clients the ability to host their Web site on a powerful, professionally managed server, at a low monthly cost. Shared servers provide individual Web sites with redundant connectivity, 99 percent uptime and 24/7 monitoring for a fraction of the cost of a dedicated server.

  • Intended Clients and Uses
    Shared servers are an excellent solution for entry-level hosting needs. Designed to host small scale e-commerce sites and static Web pages, shared servers offer first-time Webmasters a reliable Web presence without advanced technical skills.
  • Server Response Time
    The activity of other sites and the number of other sites on the server can affect shared server performance.
  • Flexibility and Scalability
    As you are restricted to the server box space, upgrade capacity is primarily focused on disk size and throughput.
  • Software
    Shared Servers are limited to the software that is installed by hosting provider.
  • No technical skills required to use a shared server.

  Shared server hosting provides a cost-effective way for entry-level Webmasters to maintain a reliable Web presence without extensive technical resources.

  Virtual Private (VPS) Server
  Virtual Private Servers (VPS) combine the flexibility of a dedicated server with the economical prices of shared server hosting. VPS is a hosting environment that gives you your own Unix virtual machine. Each VPS is a private and protected area that operates as an independent server, maintaining an independent set of applications, allowing the client to share the expenses of hardware and network connections while maintaining a secure allocation of RAM and CPU.

  • Intended Clients and Uses
    Virtual Private Servers are intended to meet entry- to mid-level hosting needs. The potential functions of a VPS are wide and varied. It can be used as a simple FrontPage server or as an advanced, database-driven commerce server.
  • Server Response Time
    Virtual environments are not affected by the activity of other sites on the server, but their allocated resources limit site performance.
  • Flexibility and Scalability
    Upgrade capacity is primarily focused on disk size, number of processors and throughput.
  • Software
    As you maintain your private section of the server, you are able to incorporate many software options. Moderate technical skill level is required. UNIX administration, basic programming, and database capabilities are needed to operate a VPS.

  Virtual Private Servers provide customers with an independent set of Web applications to handle more advanced Web-based applications, without the costs associated with a dedicated server.

  Managed Private (MPS) Server
  Our Managed Private Servers are the perfect solution for companies with high-traffic, resource-intensive Internet sites. The MPS is a dedicated hosting solution comprised of hardware, software, and managed services. By outsourcing your hosting requirements to us, you eliminate costly expenditures for administration teams, security, hardware equipment, bandwidth, data backups, and connectivity. Most important, you'll have the freedom to concentrate on the success of your business rather than worry about disk drives, routers, and switches.

  • Intended Clients and Uses
    Managed Private Servers are designed for mid to advanced-level hosting needs such as "mission critical" and high-traffic sites. The servers can handle heavy data-driven sites, advanced e-commerce programs, video streaming, and multimedia programs. They also allow for all the benefits of the Verio VPS (same software environment, services and support), but the whole machine is dedicated to one customer.
  • Server Response Time
    MPS response time depends solely on the volume of activity on the customer's Web site.
  • Flexibility and Scalability
    All aspects of the platform (disk space, memory, etc.) are upgradeable since MPS's are single client machines.
  • Software
    Unlimited ability to download software programs to your server.
    As you maintain your private section of the server, you are able to incorporate many software options. Moderate technical skill level is required. UNIX administration, basic programming, and database capabilities are needed to operate a VPS.

  Managed Private Servers are a step up in resources over our VPS. You enjoy the benefits of the VPS combined with the advantages of owning all the resources. As you outgrow a Virtual Private Server, you will find the Managed Private Server is the perfect fit for your expanding needs.

  Dedicated Server
  Dedicated servers are a single computer fully devoted to the needs of one customer. They allow for faster access to information and provide the customer with greater flexibility to add advanced database and e-commerce applications. As the customer does not share RAM, disk space or a connection to the router, dedicated servers provide customers with the most advanced Web hosting solutions.

  • Intended Clients and Uses
    Dedicated servers are designed for mid to advanced-level hosting needs such as "mission critical" and high-traffic sites. The servers can handle heavy data-driven sites, advanced e-commerce programs, video streaming, and multimedia programs.
  • Server Response Time
    Dedicated server response time depends solely on the volume of activity on the customer's Web site.
  • Flexibility and Scalability
    All aspects of the platform (disk space, memory, etc.) are upgradeable since dedicated servers are single client machines.
  • Software
    Unlimited ability to download software programs to your server.
  • Advanced technical knowledge is recommended-experienced programming and database capabilities.

  Dedicated servers provide high levels of security, connectivity and scalability, to support high volume and mission critical Web-based applications.

• Why should I choose Verio as my Web Host?
  Because we're the best. Here are a few reasons why:

  Experience - Verio hosts more than 400,000 Web sites in over 170 different countries. More businesses trust their Web sites to us than any other company in the world.

  Service - We strive to provide our customers everything they need, ranging from exclusive products and features that you won't find anywhere else to Customer Service representatives that are there to help you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Just call us at 1-877-874-6265.

  Capacity - From high-speed Cisco®-powered Tier-1 Internet backbones to e-commerce solutions, security services, and Virtual Private Networks, we have the infrastructure, resources, and expertise to give businesses of any size a clear competitive advantage in the emerging Net economy.

Back to top

What is the procedure for building a Web presence?

In this part of the Web Hosting Guide we explain the process you need to follow, from start to finish, to establish a successful presence on the Web.

• Choose a Domain Name for your site
  The first thing you need to do when establishing a Web presence is decide on a Domain Name. Choosing the right Domain Name is very important, as it directly affects how easy it is for potential visitors to find your site. Try for something that's easy to recognize, easy to remember, and to easy to guess. For example, if your business is "Barb's Beach Balls" then "barbsbeachballs.com" would be a good Domain Name since it's logical, easy to remember, and easy to spell. It's also a good idea to think of alternate Domain Names in case the first one you think of is already taken.

  If you are not planning on building your Web site right away, you might still want to consider registering your Domain as soon as possible. Thousands of Domain Names are registered every day, and there's no guarantee that yours will still be around when you decide to build your site.

• Select a Web hosting plan that's right for you
  Most people start by browsing through the hosting plan descriptions on this site. We offer a plan for everyone, but it's not always easy to decide which one is for you. Here are some tips to help narrow down your choices:
  • Consider Hosting 1000 if you are just starting out with the Internet presence and want to build a Web site. It is a snap with Easy Site.
  • Consider the Hosting 2000 - 4000 plans if the site is for a growing business and you need enhanced tools and features.
  • If you plan on selling anything from your Web site, take a look at our e-commerce solutions.
  • If you plan on using Microsoft development tools, Microsoft Office extensions or databases consider the Windows 2003 plans.

  Verio also has many Web site Consultants dedicated to helping you establish your site. You can give them a call at 1-888-438-8374. They can help you decide on a hosting plan, answer any questions you might have, and even walk you though the order process.

  When you have decided which Web hosting plan best meets your need, click on the buy button on that plan's page to start the ordering process. Placing the order is easy and your site will be running in a matter of hours.

• Build and publish your Web site
  Building your own Web site can be very gratifying, but doesn't have to be very difficult. Create your own web site and publish it to the Internet in just a few minutes time with the Easy Site design studio from Verio. This powerful web design program is available free with Unix Shared Hosting 1000 through 4000 plans and the Windows Starter hosting plan. There are other software packages available - such as Microsoft FrontPage 2000 - that make creating and publishing your Web site relatively quick and painless. Verio supports the use of most Web site design and publishing tools.

• Promote your Web site
  To really succeed on the Web, you need more than just a Web site. You need "traffic" - a steady stream of visitors coming to check out your products, services, information, and everything else you offer online. In order to draw people to your site, you need to be listed in the Web's most popular search engines and Web directories. Services like NetAnnounce can help you get traffic to your site by listing your site with search engines and giving you tips for making your Web site more easy to find online.

• Analyze the results
  The success of a Web site is generally measured by how many visitors it gets. Your Web server automatically logs each time someone accesses one of your Web pages. Looking at these logs can tell you how much traffic your site gets, how popular different parts of your site are, and when your site is the busiest. Analyzing your traffic can even give you an idea of which parts of your site may need to be improved or expanded.

  All Verio Web hosting plans come with built-in tools that you can use to help you analyze your traffic. Once you become a Verio customer, it is easy to log into a custom control panel and access current site statistics.

  All Verio web hosting plans come with built-in tools, such as Urchin Web traffic reporting, that you can use to help you analyze your traffic. Once you become a Verio customer, it is easy to log into a custom control panel and access current and historical site statistics.

Back to top

What is e-Commerce?

You've heard about it. You've probably even done it. Ecommerce is the ability to purchase one product or service -- or thousands of items -- with secure shopping software from a Web site's electronic store on the Internet.

Back to top

Which hosting plan fits my needs?

Verio has a Web hosting plan for just about everyone. Unfortunately, that means we have enough different plans that it's not always easy to know which is the best for you. Keep this tip in mind: It's better to over-estimate the popularity of your site than to under-estimate it. Choose the higher capacity plan to ensure that you're not so swamped by your visitors that your web site performance is compromised!

Back to top