Website Hosting Types
Website hosting types include: free hosting, virtual (shared) hosting, or dedicated hosting.
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Some service providers offer free website hosting.
Free hosting is suitable for small low-traffic sites, such as personal websites. However, it is not recommended for high-traffic or commercial websites due to technical limitations and limited options.
Usually, you cannot use your own domain name on free hosting. Instead, you have to use an address provided by the host, like this: http://www.freesite/users/~yoursite.htm. Such URLs are difficult to write, remember, and are unprofessional.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Low cost. Free. | No domain name. |
| Suitable for home, hobby, or personal sites. | Very few, restricted, or no software options. |
| Typically includes free email. | Limited security options. |
| Limited or no database support. | |
| Limited technical support. |
Cloud Server
A cloud server (Elastic Compute Service, ECS) is a simple, efficient, secure, and reliable computing service with scalable processing capabilities.
Cloud server management is simpler and more efficient than physical servers. We do not need to purchase expensive hardware in advance, and can quickly create or delete cloud servers. Cloud server costs typically range from tens to hundreds, depending on our configuration needs.
For detailed content on cloud servers, refer to: https://www.tutorialpro.org/linux/linux-cloud-server.html
Shared Hosting (Virtual Hosting)
Virtual hosting is the most common and cost-effective.
With virtual hosting, your website, along with perhaps 100 others, is hosted on a single high-performance server. On a virtual host, each website can use its own domain name.
Virtual hosting usually offers various software solutions, such as email, databases, and many different editing options. Technical support is often good.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Low cost. Share expenses with other users. | Reduced security due to many sites on one server. |
| Suitable for small businesses and medium traffic. | Restrictions on traffic. |
| Various software options. | Limited database support. |
| Own domain name. | Restricted software support. |
| Good service support. |
Dedicated Hosting
You can use dedicated hosting services to store your website on a dedicated server.
Dedicated hosting is the most expensive type of hosting. This solution is suitable for large high-traffic websites and websites using special software.
Dedicated hosting is very powerful and secure, with virtually no software limitations.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Suitable for large commercial websites. | Expensive. |
| Suitable for high-traffic websites. | Requires higher technical skills. |
| Can use multiple domain names. | |
| Powerful email solutions. | |
| Strong database support. | |
| Robust (unrestricted) software support. |
Colocation Hosting
This solution involves placing your own server with a service provider.
This is similar to running your server in your own office, except the server is placed in a facility designed specifically for it.
Providers typically have dedicated room resources, such as high security to prevent vandalism, uninterrupted power supplies, dedicated internet connections, etc.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| High bandwidth. | Expensive. |
| High uptime. | Requires higher technical skills. |
| High security. | Difficult to set up and fix vulnerabilities. |
| Unrestricted software options. |
Your Checklist
Before choosing a website host, first determine the following:
- The type of hosting that meets your current needs
- The cost-effectiveness of the hosting type
- The ability to upgrade to a better server
- The ability to upgrade to a dedicated server if needed
Before signing a contract with a hosting provider, visit other websites on their servers to gauge their speed. Compare these websites with yours to see if they meet your needs. Talking to other users is also a good practice.