Shared Hosting is a type of web hosting where a single physical server hosts multiple sites. Many users utilize the resources on a single server, which keeps the costs low. Users each get a section of a server in which they can host their website files. Shared servers can hosts hundreds of users. Each customer using the shared hosting platform’s server has access to features like databases, monthly traffic, disk space, email accounts, FTP accounts and other add-ons offered by the host. System resources are shared on-demand by customers on the server, and each gets a percentage of everything from RAM and CPU, and other elements such as the single MySQL server, Apache server, and mail server. Shared hosting offers the most cost-effective way to get a site online since the costs of maintaining a server are split among all the users. This style of hosting is best suited for a small website or blog that doesn’t require advanced configurations or high bandwidth. Since shared hosting is not sufficient for sites with high traffic, high volume sites should look to VPS or dedicated hosting solutions instead.
This is how shared hosting works. The resources on a server are shared with other users, but you can still enjoy many of the resources. Shared hosting is an entry-level service capable of offering the amount of resources that a start up, local business, or personal site require. Many people new to the world of web hosting choose shared hosting. It’s popular because it’s the most cost-effective option. Since many people are sharing the resources of a server, individual user costs are kept low. The majority of shared hosting packages come with easy-to-use features such as a user-friendly control panel that allows you to upload your website files, create an email account and add databases for services that need them. Yes, shared hosting is considered “entry level” by some professionals, but for the majority of sites, it’s more than adequate for their needs.
HOW DOES SHARE WEB HOSTING
As we’ve stated, shared hosting is where a single server hosts multiple sites. The numbers can range from a few hundred to several thousand depending on the available hard drive space, RAM, and processing speed. This hosting is on a machine that’s identical to a dedicated server, but its resources are used by a much greater number of clients. Each website user account’s files and any applications are stored in separate partitions on the server, and each has its own file directory tree. Users don’t have access to either the root or to each other’s files. All accounts on the shared server share computing resources of the web server.
ADVANTAGES OF SHARE WEB HOSTING
There are numerous benefits to opting for shared hosting. Let’s take a look at the fundamental features of shared web hosting:
It’s Less Expensive
Shared hosting provides the most cost-effective hosting solution. With many people contributing towards the costs of the server, the hosting company’s costs are distributed between them. Basic plans start at around $30 a year while you can expect to pay over $100 a year for premium plans with unmetered disk space, unlimited bandwidth, and unlimited websites.
It’s Flexible
New online ventures can begin with a shared plan and upgrade without hassle as their site grows.
It’s Easy To Self-Manage
Shared hosting is simple and straightforward to set up. Most providers offer a control panel to manage your website. This simplified user interface manages the administrative tasks and any monitoring duties associated with running a server.
You Can Host Multiple Domains
You can install numerous websites in your user directory; you just need to make sure the domains you purchase are connected to it. An example would be one person having different domains for their personal website, their hobbyist blog, and their business. Shared hosting is perfect for this.
It’s Professionally Managed
Shared hosting is relatively low maintenance. Your host will take the headache out of running your server by taking care of basic server administrative tasks. Unless you are prepared to run your own server, web management is the most convenient option. Leave it to professionals to worry about your web hosting – With shared hostin
g you can expect professional technical assistance for everything from hardware upgrades and maintenance, software updates, DDoS attacks, network outages, etc.
It Can Host Dynamic Websites
Websites that look different according to who is browsing are known as dynamic. Popular dynamic websites include Facebook, Quora and Twitter, and dynamic content management systems (CMSs) include WordPress and Joomla!. Dynamic sites and CMSs use alternative programming languages such as Perl, Python or PHP, all of which can run on a shared server.
Decision Time
The advantages of shared hosting outweigh the disadvantages for the majority of people. The most significant advantage is hands down the low price tag, a decisive factor for many potential buyers. There’s also the fact that, with shared hosting, you don’t need technical expertise to build a professional site with the most popular web applications. For most websites, shared hosting offers a sound solution. It’s cheaper and doesn’t require Linux administration skills for anyone that’s keen to avoid dabbling in that. Since it’s super low maintenance, shared hosting is the preferred choice for smaller websites. Most people looking for their first web hosting package opt for a shared hosting plan which makes sense. Choosing between hosting providers can be challenging if you are creating a website on a budget, or you’re just starting out online. A VPS or a dedicated server offers additional power and complete control over your own server, but these perks come with a premium price tag, running up to a hundred times the price. So if you are looking for a hassle-free solution that’s cheap to boot, then shared hosting is what you need.
YOUR FIRST ALTERNATIVE: VPS HOSTING
A Virtual Private Server (VPS) is often the first port of call for people looking for an alternative to shared hosting. In fact, if you stray wildly outside of the range your host considers acceptable, chances are they will ask you to calm down or upgrade your hosting package, and it’s most likely they will suggest VPS. A VPS gives you access to your own personal server, one with your own allocated number of resources and a pre-installed operating system of your choice. One computer is subdivided into a number of VPSs. This has many advantages for website owners like having a dedicated amount of disk space and bandwidth. VPS is recommended for sites looking to scale up. If your site’s too big to suit shared hosting but too small to benefit from dedicated server hosting, VPS hosting could well be the right solution for you. Aside from VPS, you might want to think about dedicated hosting, where your site is the only site hosted on a server. A dedicated server offers privacy, security, and dedicated resources. You don’t have to compete with any other websites for bandwidth, storage space, and speed. This is the most expensive route you can go down, and you’ll need IT skills to manage hosting like this, however, if you are looking for great server performance and maximum control, this is the right hosting for your website.
