Dedicated Hosting or Shared Hosting?
February 21, 2006
Deciding whether you want dedicated hosting or shared hosting for your domain is simple once you understand the differences between the two. Below are the answers to a few commonly asked questions about dedicated hosting or shared hosting.
What is a Shared Hosting Plan?
When you purchase shared hosting, your web hosting account is assigned to a specific server along with multiple other domain names. Most websites you visit are on shared hosting accounts, and therefore, share the same IP address.
What is an IP Address?
Each web server has a specific IP address assigned to it; this IP address is a series of numbers (239.61.126.24) and functions much like a physical address - it is that server’s address on the world wide web.
At one time each domain name was assigned to its own server. As internet traffic increased web hosts began to offer shared hosting (or shared IP addresses). Servers can now determine what account is being requested, even with hundreds of hosting accounts assigned to a single IP, by the registered domain name entered in the browser bar.
What is a Dedicated Hosting Plan?
When you purchase dedicated hosting, you are paying to have your registered domain name point to your own dedicated hosting server (your own IP address).
Why Would I Need a Dedicated Hosting Plan?
Generally, dedicated web hosting is purchased by large or growing websites; specifically, those with a desire to create an identity of their own and for specific secure e-commerce requirements.
Shared Hosting accounts may or may not offer a shared SSL certificate, but if you want to have your own SSL certificate applied to your website, you MUST purchase a dedicated hosting plan. SSL certificates are needed for those companies that want to accept credit cards online. If your web host offers a shared SSL certificate you do not NEED an SSL certificate, however, if you are a growing company with the desire to professionalize, you will want to purchase your own SSL certificate and a dedicated hosting account so your customers will not see your web host’s names in the secure browser bar at check-out.
Should I Be Concerned About Other Users on my Shared Hosting Plan?
The concern for whether or not search engines will ban an entire IP address, affecting all the domains on that particular shared hosting server, due to the activities of one site is bunk. There is no need to be concerned about shared hosting plans being blocked by search engines for spam activity.
Search engines recognize that banning one IP address could block hundreds of sites unrelated to any specific spam incident. Search engines are smart and use modern technology to distinguish between domain names instead of IP addresses (shared hosting servers).
However, if you want complete control over what is on your server space, then obviously a dedicated hosting plan is what you will desire; however, it is unnecessary unless you require your own SSL certificate; otherwise, it will save you money to stick with shared hosting plans.
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I am Ready for a Web Site. What Now?
- Select a Domain Name.
- Register your Domain Name.
- Decide if you need a Shopping Cart.
- Purchase a Web Hosting Plan.