Shared web hosting service: Difference between revisions
merging,editing,expanding |
m Reverted edit by 37.238.240.10 (talk) to last version by Ohnoitsjamie |
||
| (978 intermediate revisions by more than 100 users not shown) | |||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
{{Short description|Type of web hosting service}} |
|||
{{refimprove|date=August 2008}} |
|||
{{internet hosting}} |
{{internet hosting}} |
||
A '''shared web hosting service''' is a [[web hosting service]] where many [[Website|websites]] reside on one [[web server]] connected to the [[Internet]]. The overall cost of server maintenance is spread over many customers. By using shared hosting, the website will share a physical server with one or more other websites. |
|||
== Description == |
|||
A '''shared web hosting service''' or '''virtual hosting service''' is a form of [[web hosting service]] where more than one web site is hosted on the same server. It is generally the most economical option for hosting as many people share the overall cost of server maintenance. |
|||
The service usually includes [[System administrator|system administration]] as it is shared by many users. This is a benefit for users who do not want to deal with it, but a hindrance to [[Power user|power users]] who want more control. In general, shared hosting will be inappropriate for users who require extensive [[software development]] outside what the hosting provider supports. Generally, most applications intended to be on a standard web server work well with a shared web hosting service. On the other hand, shared hosting is cheaper than other types of hosting such as [[Dedicated hosting service|dedicated server hosting]]. Shared hosting usually has usage limits and hosting providers should have extensive reliability features in place. Shared hosting services typically offer basic [[Web analytics|web statistics]] support, [[email]] and [[webmail]] services, auto script installations, updated [[PHP]] and [[MySQL]], and basic after-sale [[technical support]] that is included with a monthly subscription. It also typically uses a web-based control panel system. Most of the large hosting companies use their custom-developed control panel or [[cPanel]]. Control panels and web interfaces can cause controversy however since web hosting companies sometimes sell the right to use their control panel system to others. Attempting to recreate the functionality of a specific control panel is common, which leads to many lawsuits over patent infringement. |
|||
==Shared web hosting services== |
|||
The hosting service must include [[system adminstration]] since it is shared by many users; this is a benefit for users that do not want to deal with it, but a hindrance to power users that want more control. |
|||
In shared hosting, the provider is generally responsible for managing servers, installing server software, security updates, technical support, and other aspects of the service. Most servers are based on the [[Linux]] [[operating system]] (OS) and [[LAMP (software bundle)|LAMP]]. Some providers offer [[Microsoft Windows]]-based or FreeBSD-based solutions. Server-side facilities for either operating system have similar functionality (for example: [[MySQL]] (database) and many server-side programming languages (such as the widely used [[PHP]] programming language) under Linux, or the proprietary [[Microsoft SQL Server|SQL Server]] (database) and [[ASP.NET]] programming language under Microsoft Windows.{{citation needed|date=August 2014}} |
|||
| ⚫ | |||
Shared hosting typically uses a web-based control panel system, such as [[cPanel]], [[Plesk]], Ensim, Sphera or one of many other control panel products. |
|||
| ⚫ | |||
In shared hosting, the provider is generally responsible for management of servers, installation of server software, security updates and other aspects of the service. Servers are often based on the [[Linux]] operating systems because more [[Control Panel]] products (see above) are made for Linux. However, some providers offer [[Microsoft Windows]] based solutions. The [[Plesk]] control panel, for instance, has two versions - for [[Linux]] and [[Windows]], both with very similar interfaces and functionality, with the exception of OS-specific differences (for example, supporting [[ASP.NET]], or [[Microsoft SQL Server]] on [[Windows]]). |
|||
==Implementation== |
|||
| ⚫ | There are thousands of shared hosting |
||
Shared web hosting can be accomplished in two ways: name-based and [[Internet Protocol]]-based (IP-based), although some control panels allow a mix of name-based and IP-based on one server. |
|||
| ⚫ | |||
| ⚫ | |||
| ⚫ | In IP-based virtual hosting, also called dedicated IP hosting, each virtual host has a different [[IP address]]. The web server is configured with multiple physical network interfaces or virtual network interfaces on the same physical interface. The web server software uses the IP address the client connects to, to determine which website to show the user. |
||
===Name-based=== |
|||
------------- |
|||
In name-based virtual hosting, also called shared IP hosting, the [[Virtual hosting|virtual hosts]] serve multiple hostnames on a single machine with a single [[IP address]]. This is possible because when a [[web browser]] requests a resource from a [[web server]] using [[Hypertext Transfer Protocol|HTTP/1.1]] it includes the requested hostname as part of the request. The server uses this information to determine which website to show the user. |
|||
===DNS and name servers=== |
|||
'''Virtual hosting''' is a method that [[server]]s such as [[webserver]]s use to host more than one [[domain name]] on the same computer, sometimes on the same [[IP address]]. |
|||
[[File:Showcase of nameservers.png|thumb|Showing how name servers are connected]] |
|||
DNS stands for "[[Domain Name System]]". The domain name system acts like a large [[telephone directory]] and within is the master [[database]], which associates a domain name such with the appropriate [[IP address|IP number]]. When the domain name is registered/purchased on a particular registrar's "name server", the DNS settings are kept on their server, and in most cases point the domain to the name server of the hosting provider. This name server is where the IP number (currently associated with the domain name) resides. |
|||
==See also== |
|||
There are two basic methods of accomplishing virtual hosting: '''name-based''', and [[IP address]] or '''ip-based'''. |
|||
*[[Dedicated hosting service]] |
|||
*[[Virtual machine]] |
|||
*[[Virtual private server]] |
|||
*[[Web hosting service]] |
|||
*[[Web server]] |
|||
== |
==References== |
||
{{reflist}} |
|||
Name based virtual hosts use multiple host names for the same webserver [[IP address]]. |
|||
With web browsers that support [[HTTP]]/1.1 (as most do), upon connecting to a webserver, the browsers send the address that the user typed into their browser's address bar (the [[URL]]). The server can use this information to determine which web site, as well as page, to show the user. |
|||
For instance, a server could be receiving requests for two domains, <tt>www.site1.com</tt> and <tt>www.site2.com</tt>, both of which [[Domain Name System|resolve]] to the same IP address. For <tt>www.site1.com</tt>, the server would send the [[HTML|HTML file]] file from the directory <tt>/www/JoeUser/site1/</tt>, while requests for <tt>www.site2.com</tt> would make the server serve pages from <tt>/www/FrankUser/site2/</tt>. |
|||
| ⚫ | |||
| ⚫ | |||
The webserver uses the IP address from the HTTP request to determine which web site to show the user. |
|||
==Cons== |
|||
If the Domain Name System (DNS) is not properly functioning, it becomes much harder to access a virtually-hosted website. Ordinarily, in this case, the user could try and fall back to using the IP address to contact the system, as in <tt><nowiki>http://12.34.56.78/</nowiki></tt>. However, the web browser doesn't know what hostname to send when this happens, so the server will respond with a default website—often not the site the user expects. This workaround is not really useful for an average web user, but may be of some use to a site administrator while fixing DNS records. |
|||
A workaround in this case is to add the IP address and hostname to the client system's [[hosts]] file. At this point, accessing the server with the domain name should work again. However, users should be careful when doing this, as any changes to the true mapping between hostname and IP address will be overridden by the local setting. |
|||
Another issue with virtual hosting is the inability to host multiple secure websites running [[Secure Sockets Layer]] or SSL. Because the SSL [[handshaking|handshake]] takes place before the expected hostname is sent to the server, the server doesn't know which encryption key to use when the connection is made. One workaround is to run multiple web server programs, each listening to a different incoming [[port (computing)|port]], which still allows the system to just use a single IP address. Another option is to do [[IP alias]]ing, where a single computer listens on more than one IP address. |
|||
| ⚫ | |||
[[Category:Internet hosting]] |
[[Category:Internet hosting]] |
||
[[Category:IT service management]] |
|||
[[Category:Telecommunication services]] |
|||
| ⚫ | |||
Latest revision as of 15:51, 2 November 2024
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (August 2008) |
| Part of a series on |
| Internet hosting service |
|---|
| Full-featured hosting |
| Web hosting |
| Application-specific web hosting |
| By content format |
| Other types |
A shared web hosting service is a web hosting service where many websites reside on one web server connected to the Internet. The overall cost of server maintenance is spread over many customers. By using shared hosting, the website will share a physical server with one or more other websites.
Description
[edit]The service usually includes system administration as it is shared by many users. This is a benefit for users who do not want to deal with it, but a hindrance to power users who want more control. In general, shared hosting will be inappropriate for users who require extensive software development outside what the hosting provider supports. Generally, most applications intended to be on a standard web server work well with a shared web hosting service. On the other hand, shared hosting is cheaper than other types of hosting such as dedicated server hosting. Shared hosting usually has usage limits and hosting providers should have extensive reliability features in place. Shared hosting services typically offer basic web statistics support, email and webmail services, auto script installations, updated PHP and MySQL, and basic after-sale technical support that is included with a monthly subscription. It also typically uses a web-based control panel system. Most of the large hosting companies use their custom-developed control panel or cPanel. Control panels and web interfaces can cause controversy however since web hosting companies sometimes sell the right to use their control panel system to others. Attempting to recreate the functionality of a specific control panel is common, which leads to many lawsuits over patent infringement.
Shared web hosting services
[edit]In shared hosting, the provider is generally responsible for managing servers, installing server software, security updates, technical support, and other aspects of the service. Most servers are based on the Linux operating system (OS) and LAMP. Some providers offer Microsoft Windows-based or FreeBSD-based solutions. Server-side facilities for either operating system have similar functionality (for example: MySQL (database) and many server-side programming languages (such as the widely used PHP programming language) under Linux, or the proprietary SQL Server (database) and ASP.NET programming language under Microsoft Windows.[citation needed]
There are thousands of shared hosting providers in the world.[citation needed] They range from "mom-and-pop shops" and small design firms to multimillion-dollar providers with hundreds of thousands of customers.
Shared web hosting[1] can also be done privately by sharing the cost of running a server in a colocation center; this is called cooperative hosting.
Implementation
[edit]Shared web hosting can be accomplished in two ways: name-based and Internet Protocol-based (IP-based), although some control panels allow a mix of name-based and IP-based on one server.
IP-based
[edit]In IP-based virtual hosting, also called dedicated IP hosting, each virtual host has a different IP address. The web server is configured with multiple physical network interfaces or virtual network interfaces on the same physical interface. The web server software uses the IP address the client connects to, to determine which website to show the user.
Name-based
[edit]In name-based virtual hosting, also called shared IP hosting, the virtual hosts serve multiple hostnames on a single machine with a single IP address. This is possible because when a web browser requests a resource from a web server using HTTP/1.1 it includes the requested hostname as part of the request. The server uses this information to determine which website to show the user.
DNS and name servers
[edit]
DNS stands for "Domain Name System". The domain name system acts like a large telephone directory and within is the master database, which associates a domain name such with the appropriate IP number. When the domain name is registered/purchased on a particular registrar's "name server", the DNS settings are kept on their server, and in most cases point the domain to the name server of the hosting provider. This name server is where the IP number (currently associated with the domain name) resides.