| A lot of web hosts now offer both Shared (which | | | | all types of websites. |
| is also called virtual) hosting and/or dedicated | | | | Dedicated: Having dedicated web hosting is when |
| hosting. There are benefits and drawbacks to | | | | you have your own server in the hosts |
| both. There are also reasons why you should | | | | datacenter. There is no sharing the server space, |
| choose one or the other. Selecting whether to | | | | IP address, or CPU usage. You control everything |
| have dedicated or shared hosting is an important | | | | that happens on the server. Benefits:o Control |
| decision. Lets explore the benefits and drawbacks | | | | Security- There is no one else sharing this server. |
| of both and then I will give you some concluding | | | | Everything that happens on it is something related |
| remarks to help you choose what is right for you. | | | | to your site. You can choose how the server is |
| Shared Hosting: Shared, or virtual, hosting is when | | | | configured. You can host unlimited domains, with |
| your website shares the space on a web hosts | | | | unlimited space, unlimited bandwidth, etc. Another |
| server with other websites. Each server has its | | | | great advantage is the fact you get SSH access |
| own IP address which means if you choose | | | | which allows you to control the server. The whole |
| shared hosting not only are you sharing the | | | | server is yours. |
| space, but you are also sharing the IP address | | | | Benefits:o Fast Response with High Traffic- Since |
| with every other site on that server. | | | | you are not sharing anything with anyone else |
| Benefits:o Price- One of the biggest benefits of | | | | your users dont have to be in the bank line. They |
| shared hosting is the price. Shared hosting is | | | | are always the first in line to be served and this |
| cheap running anywhere from $4.00-$20.00 per | | | | makes for a lot faster load time.o No penalties- |
| month.o Ease of use- Shared hosting is good for | | | | With shared hosting if you use too much of the |
| those just getting into web hosting because most | | | | hosts resources (such as CPU, bandwidth, or |
| web hosts make it very easy to set up and do a | | | | space) there are penalties you have to pay. This |
| lot of work for you. | | | | is not the case with dedicated hosting because it |
| Drawbacks:o Slow Server Response- if your site | | | | all belongs to you. |
| is on web hosts server that has a ton of high | | | | Drawbacks:o Price- Price is about the only |
| traffic websites this will cause yours to load a lot | | | | drawback to dedicated hosting. All the great |
| slower. Think of it like the line at the bank if your | | | | features and security of dedicated hosting cost a |
| 2nd in line youll be served a lot faster, but if your | | | | decent amount of money starting anywhere |
| number 12 in line it is going to take a lot longer | | | | from $75/month to a couple of hundred dollars |
| for you to get served. One thing to do before | | | | per month. You have to make sure that |
| selecting a host is to ask them what types of | | | | dedicated hosting is the right thing for you before |
| sites are allowed on their servers and also how | | | | you select it. |
| many sites are allowed per server. When you get | | | | So, whats the conclusion? Well that is really up to |
| a hosting account try to find out what the other | | | | you. The majority of people choose to go with |
| websites are like that are sharing a server with | | | | shared hosting because it is a lot cheaper. If you |
| you.o Server Crashes- Most web hosts only | | | | are planning on opening a small business, a |
| allows certain types of CGI scripts on their | | | | personal website, or blog you are probably better |
| servers. This is done with good reason because a | | | | off going with shared hosting. If you are going to |
| poorly written one could crash a server and take | | | | have a lot of traffic or your site will need the |
| all the websites it was sharing it with down.o Who | | | | security of dedicated hosting than you need to |
| you are sharing with- If your site is on the same | | | | make sure to go with dedicated hosting to |
| server as a known spam site this can cause | | | | prevent a lot of trouble in the future. Either way |
| problems for you as well. Your site may share | | | | do the research necessary to make the right |
| the same IP address as the spam site which will | | | | choice before you choose which type to go with. |
| cause problems with search engines and could | | | | Good Luck and Get Started! |
| even get you banned from them. This is bad for | | | | |