Archive for Web Hosting Types
InMotion Hosting In-Depth Analysis
Posted by: | CommentsWhen it comes to web hosting, there are easily as many options available as there are stars in the sky. In fact, without a little bit of prior information on either the business, functions, or classes of hosting one might be looking to purchase, we haven’t a clue at all how a conscientious web master could ever make an optimal decision. With that in mind, we feel it’s our duty to bring you the absolute best and the absolute worst on the most popular web hosting providers in town: And falling squarely into the former category, may we now present InMotion Hosting, a long standing industry leader and innovator within the field.
InMotion Hosting is one of our favorite options for personal, business, and dedicated hosting, offering a wealth of plans, features, and support designed to keep your Web presence running smoothly. But then again, all of that stuff can be ascribed to just about every web hosting business in the book. So, when the quick hits the bone, who in the heck really are InMotion? Read our InMotion Hosting user reviews.
Who They Really Are
InMotion first took on its name and business way back when in 2001, arriving out of a merger between business and Internet capability. As such, the provider offers a unique focus to the business consumer, bringing an unparalleled level of services and support aimed at keeping Web-necessary content online at any and all times—even during periods of extreme stress.
Todd Robinson, president of InMotion Hosting.
InMotion Hosting Awards
 |  |  |  |
The company has been winning awards for these stellar services since as early as 2003, racking up a truly astonishing number of commendations since. Among these are the Drupal Association “Organization Member” aware, a CNET Certified Service Provider, an A-Rated Accredited Business with the BBB, the “Best Business Web Hosting“, the “Best Ecommerce Web Hosting“, the “Best VPS Hosting” awards from WebHostingGeeks.com, and the “Best Business Hosting” award from 100WebHosting.com—all of these given in the latest 2011 year. In other words, the company has existed for more than a decade, but has not slacked off on its duties during any time in that period.
To see all awards of InMotion Hosting click here.
InMotion Hosting Customers
Backed by a team of experts with diverse technical backgrounds, the company claims to be committed to its customer base, and according to its continued growth, it seems to be living up to all the talk.
As mentioned before, InMotion comes absolutely loaded to the gills with all kinds of awards, commendations, customer testimonials, and general pats on the back. The company has been turning heads since its initial inception a decade ago, and now supports a track record few—if any—other web hosting providers can match.
That all might be well and grand, but when it comes down to things, what in fact are those services that are so award-winning? Is it possible to knock them down into only a few bullets? In fact yes, yes it is!
Blazing Fast Hosting
One of the things we love most about InMotion is that it allows the user to choose their server of origin, an unprecedented level of control that we can’t match to any other web host. Typically, a shared hosting experience assigns the user a databank somewhere in the country. This datacenter may or may not be closest to the user’s home demographic, potentially stripping the consumer’s site of all useable performance. In comparison, InMotion offers two East and West coast oriented options, based on their Max Speed Zones system.
West Coast Data Center
East Coast Data Center
This system provides unparalleled protection and performance across the board, no matter what market you’re attempting to reach within the continental United States. In addition, for those hard to reach spots (like our native Denver) InMotion offers peer-based connectivity to give extra boosts as needed.
Green Like A City-Slicker Rancher
Believe it or not, server banks are actually one of the premier causes of pollution in modern times. InMotion is one of only a few select companies to recognize this fact, and to have taken measures to lessen their initial impact. For example, the company now runs its technology and cutting-edge cooling systems that reduce server grid drain by as much as 70%. There’s also the fact that InMotion plants 5,000 trees a year to offset any negative impact it may put into the ecosystem. All in all, InMotion is green as it gets, and that’s an incredible thing.
InMotion Hosting Support
However, it isn’t just features, or general overviews, that get our goat about the web hosting company. In fact, almost more than anything else, it’s their unique dedication to solving and preventing customer complications as they arise. InMotion offers a fully operational 24/7 chat line for customers to call, day or night, for resolutions to their web hosting conundrums as they appear.
Should you find yourself without a telephone, there’s absolutely no reason to panic. In fact, InMotion offers more than enough additional ways to get the job done, and have your website back up and running in no time. This includes a dedicated email support ticket system, live chat to aide you day-or-night directly from your computer, traditional email, and of course, the social networks.
Telephone Sales: 888-321-4678 x1 or 757-416-6575 x1
Telephone Support: 888-321-4678 x2 or 757-416-6575 x2
Email Sales: sales@inmotionhosting.com
Email Support: support@inmotionhosting.com
Live Chat: click here
Google+: https://plus.google.com/109777154476249834137/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/inmotionhosting
Twitter: https://twitter.com/inmotionhosting
More ways to contact InMotion Hosting: http://www.inmotionhosting.com/contact.html.
InMotion Hosting Help Center
In addition, InMotion also offers a full support center that’s loaded with a knowledge base of Alexandrian proportions. There’s website and email tutorials, as well as domain name set-up information, and even tutorials on general website education. It’s as if InMotion secretly has an hidden agenda, and it’s to make you smarter than you were when you went in! And when all else fails, there’s also a community support forum where you’re free to ask other customers for their time-earned and trial-and-error advice.
All in all, InMotion offers quite an impressive package on paper. They’re award-winning, have lasted over a decade, and offer a set of features that can be boiled down into a simple list, yet still strike the reader with a sense of overwhelming pizzazz. But don’t think we’re done with the company just yet: In fact, we’re only just warming up! Stick around, as we now change gears, and head directly into the hosting plans themselves to look for even more reasons why InMotion is one of the premier choices in online Web hosting.
Web Hosting Plans
We have detailed a few of the ways in which InMotion might appeal to the carefully selective web master, and we have given a few of the ways in which InMotion is prepared to help its customers with any technical problems, should they arise. However, what we have not yet discussed was perhaps the most crucial part of the whole scheme—the hosting plans themselves! To this end, we are now prepared to dish the full details on the topic. So without further ado, dive on below to peep the full details on what makes InMotion’s web hosting plans absolutely essential for the conscientious business with a desire for a firmer Web presence.
Shared Hosting (For Personal or Business Use)
Without a doubt, shared web hosting is certainly the largest part of the market, and we have a feeling most of our readers will be looking for a quality package in this category. Shared web hosting is, after all, a great way to save on initial overhead while still garnering an incredible level of performance and Net presence. But how does InMotion stack up? Is it possible to achieve this level of success with the web host? The short answer: Totally yeah!
Right off the bat, InMotion promises to deliver the performance you want at the price you need. Just take this quote, which we’ve pulled directly from the company’s shared hosting page:
“Rest assured, you will get the best quality hosting from InMotion – even if you are shopping for cheap hosting.”
We’re willing to take InMotion at face value, but the facts are all there to support exactly this sort of claim. Consider the fact that the company offers not one, but two different shared hosting plans.
One, the Value Class Hosting is fast, offers SPAM protection, 2 MB attachment size, and even a web site builder. Should you need a little more oomph, there’s also the Business Class Hosting tier, which offers 50% faster server speeds, thanks to the Max Speed Zone capability, as well as increased attachment size, daily backups, 5 bandwidth providers, and a premium-style website creation tool.
And across the board, InMotion offers a mammoth amount of functionality, including MySQL support, dedicated email accounts, FTP access, shared SSL, additional sub domains, and even support for popular coding and development platforms like WordPress, PHP, HTML5, and CSS. All in all, it’s an impressive package, and one that starts at as little as $3.00 a month.
Visit http://www.inmotionhosting.com for more information.
VPS Hosting (For Ecommerce Websites)
But what if you’d like just a step-up, but aren’t quite ready to commit to a full-on dedicated server with your business? What if you’d prefer to have your data physically separated from all the other tenants of the server, but can’t quite cough up the budget to get it done with a unique hardware set? With InMotion, it’s no trouble at all! The hosting provider offers a wealth of comprehensive and powerful virtual private server hosting options that are guaranteed to meet your needs and then some. Best of all, these plans start at only $39.95 a month—a cheaper price than we’ve seen just about anywhere else on the market.
For that money, users can enjoy a bevy of ground-breaking features. These include 24×7 managed support, exactly as we mentioned in the previous articles. This means that, day-or-night, InMotion is available via phone, live chat, or email to help you with your virtual hosting needs. In addition, the company also offers burstable RAM for when peak periods creep up, as well as full data backups to preserve and protect your site from unwanted down-time. Not to mention a full cPanel and WHM license, granting you unparalleled access to the inner workings of your site—without even any need for complex HTML or CSS coding knowledge!
To throw some last numbers into the mix, consider this: A virtual private server hosting experience with InMotion comes stock with up to 1024 MB of RAM, 3 GB of burstable memory, 1500 GB transfer limits, and 160 GB in RAID 10 Fault Tolerant Disc Space. And if that doesn’t sound like a bargain to you, we don’t know what else we can say (except move on to the next category, Soldier).
More information: http://www.inmotionhosting.com/vps_hosting.html.
Dedicated Servers (For Large Portals)
And finally, the big one. If you’re looking for the utmost in performance, security, and personal web power, there’s no better option than dedicated server hosting. Typically, this kind of hosting would run you a quick bundle to own. But with InMotion, it’s nearly a walk in the park! Starting at as little as $199.95 a month, you can own and operate your very own server without even having to lift a finger. This process is made even more powerful by the fully-capable 24×7 support mentioned earlier, which guarantees your server is managed and operated personally by trained professionals. Should you be dissatisfied with the server’s performance, though, the company offers a full, 30-day money back guarantee: An offer we have not seen anywhere else but InMotion for dedicated hosting.
To round out this part of our InMotion overview, have a look at some of the raw statistics (and power) behind the servers. A dedicated server with the company earns you up to 2.53 GHz, Intel Xeon Quad Core performance, tied to an 8 MB CPU Cache, and 8 GB RAM. In addition, pans max out at a whopping 500 GB disc space, and a 2500 GB monthly transfer limit. Add to this a full cPanel license, 2-Hour hardware replacement, and no set-up fee, and you’re looking at a solidly budget way to experience top-end performance.
More information: http://www.inmotionhosting.com/dedicated_servers.html.
InMotion Hosting Reviews
Whether you require a simple personal or business website, a more powerful virtualized environment, or your own dedicated server, InMotion Hosting definitely makes a fine choice for your web hosting needs and our visitors have confirmed that over the years. If you are still not sure about signing up with InMotion, check our user written reviews at http://webhostinggeeks.com/user-reviews/inmotion-hosting/.
I hope you liked this review. Stay tuned, more hosting reviews coming soon!
Related posts:
WordPress Website and WordPress Hosting
Posted by: | CommentsIf we had known WordPress was going to be as popular as it is now, we would have made sure to buy some stock back in the day, assuming the company was public. That being said, nothing is hotter than the content management software right now, especially for bloggers and news-based websites.
And why shouldn’t it be? WordPress makes it incredibly simple to manage, produce, and distribute content on the Internet through your site. And at the heart of things, that’s really what the Web is all about, right? Here are some stats about what people do on wordpress:
Philosophical pander aside, though, there are a few things you’ll want to really look for in a web host when you’re shopping for WordPress compliance. In fact, if you don’t snag just the right features, you may find your CMS blog in high water before the ink is even dry on your contract. With that in mind, here are a few of the top features you want in a web host with WordPress in mind, as well as a few quality places to find WordPress hosting, beginning with:
In-House WordPress Transfers. Often times, we see webmasters start a blog on the traditional WordPress site, only to suddenly find their content inundated with fans and adoring readers. If you’re in a similar boat, and are looking to make the swap to a truly dedicated domain and website, you’ll want to be sure of a few things. First and foremost, you’ll want to be sure your new web host can directly transfer your domain from WordPress, establishing it as a proprietary DNS. From there, you’ll also want to ensure they can port most (if not all) of your content. You worked hard to create it, so why should you have to leave it behind on that old, stuffy WordPress blog? If your new web host can’t help you with your baggage, it’s time to shop more.
Speed and Performance. On a similar note, if you’re swapping your old WordPress account for a dedicated number—or even if you’re just starting from scratch—you’ll want to find a web host that offers totally comprehensive performance and top-notch hardware. WordPress is a lightweight web application, but you’re still running an additional software engine over the server’s operating system. This requires processing power, and if you go with an anemic web host, you may find your blog is no better off with a dedicated location than with your original WordPress spot. And besides, signing to a web host is like buying a new car. If you have the money, why not spring for that souped-up model that packs a real punch? Get the most bang for your dollar and look for speed in a web host.
Easy Installation. Lastly, you’ll want to be sure your web host can provide an easy WordPress installation for your site. A good web host makes this a one or two click process, max. If your web host instead wants you to do a long string of complicated terminal commands that may jeopardize the entire system, it’s time to move elsewhere and cancel the contract.
That’s by no means a survival guide for WordPress shopping where web hosts are concerned, but instead of talking about finding a web host until the cows come home, we thought we might instead offer up a few of our choice suggestions. Beginning with:
InMotion Web Hosting
Customer Ratings & Reviews
As an industry leading web hosting provider, InMotion Hosting provides all of the features we mentioned above and more. With the company your WordPress installation takes only a click, thanks to the brilliantly inventive, server-side gem Fantastico. Furthermore, InMotion also boasts secure suPHP, the latest versions of both MySQL 5 and PHP 5, as well as free domain transfer. If you’re looking to port over your old WordPress account, like we talked about earlier, InMotion also makes it a smooth process, bringing along your old content and name without any additional hassle on your part. All in all, InMotion is a brilliant (and cheap, clocking in at $5.95 a month) option for your WordPress-based site.
Visit www.inmotionhosting.com or read our Inmotion Hosting review.
HostGator
Customer Ratings & Reviews
Another industry veteran, HostGator offers even more features than InMotion, and at a lower price, to boot. Plans with the provider begin at only $3.96 a month, and come loaded with 100% WordPress compatibility, a one-click installation of the latest WordPress software, 99.9% up-time, and a full 45 day money back guarantee. Another feature unique to HostGator is its focus on unlimited features. With the provider, users can enjoy fully unlimited disc space and bandwidth, even at the lowest possible plan. And, of course, signing with the provider also earns you the latest versions of Apache, MySQL and PHP. Best of all, transferring your old WordPress site to the provider is easy-peasy using their ready made transfer service.
Visit www.hostgator.com or read our HostGator review.
WebHostingHub
Customer Ratings & Reviews
Last, though certainly not least, is WebHostingHub. The provider offers unparalleled support for the modern WordPress blogger, besting both HostGator and InMotion in our user review polls. First and foremost, those who choose to sign with the provider gain the full benefits of the latest software, including Apache, MySQL 5, and PHP5. And, of course, all of this technology comes ready loaded with a one-click WordPress installation that requires no additional effort on your part. Add to this about 1,000 unique and custom-made WordPress themes to choose from, as well as simple transfer of old WordPress materials, and you’re looking at a truly impressive offering. However, WebHostingHub is also notable for its unique dedication to hardware optimization. The provider has taken great pains to fully prepare its systems for WordPress, including a full PHP caching overhaul that maximizes available RAM, a reduction in overall I/O requests, and blazing fast base connectivity. All in all, if you’re looking for an incredible, simple, and efficient way to host your new WordPress site, there’s no better option than WebHostingHub.
Visit www.webhostinghub.com or read our WebHostingHub review.
Related posts:
HostGator In-Depth Analysis
Posted by: | CommentsWhen friends ask us for a good web hosting provider (and believe us, they surely do) we have a very solid suggestion for them: WebHostingHub.com or InmotionHosting.com. Both of these hosting companies provide unparalleled support for all of our web hosting needs, and make it easier than ever for us to realize our Internet dreams, turning them into profitable realities.
But today we wanted to talk about HostGator.com (read our HostGator user reviews), another great web host with pretty solid background. All of this excellence begins with their lineage starting in 2002, the year of HostGator’s birth. Since that first initial step in Houston, Texas, the company has grown to support a whopping 12,000 servers, all under direct, controlled management. In addition, HostGator proudly services and aides a network of some 400,000 customers in more than 200 countries. No other web hosting provider can claim to support such a varied network of people, much less put their name to half the global presence HostGator offers. All in all, the company’s track record alone is enough for us to hand over our digital keys. However, we know you might need a bit more convincing. With that in mind, below you’ll find a few of our choice reasons to sign with HostGator, though its hardly a comprehensive list: With HostGator, its hard to find an end to all the pros!
Varied Web Hosting Solutions
First and foremost, HostGator offers every kind of hosting imaginable and then some. Furthermore, if you’re a bit lost about which hosting variety is best for your needs, HostGator can help with that, too. For example, let’s say your business already has a shared hosting plan (that’s a plan in which you share a server with potentially thousands of other users) and needs a more stable environment. As such, HostGator offers, and will suggest, their dedicated hosting plan, which provides you with a fully managed server of your very own to place your website on. Though, if you require traditional shared hosting, HostGator is more than happy to provide this level of service as well. Likewise, should you need the localized control and stability of a virtual private server, which blocks your content off from outside abuse through operating system virtualization, HostGator is ready out-of-the-box to help. Not to mention the company’s extensive support for reseller hosting, which allows you to take a chunk of the HostGator network, and redistribute it for a profit to others.
Support When You Need It
HostGator also offers 24/7, round-the-clock technical support for any and all problems you may encounter. This support can not only be reached when you need, but also where you need it: With phone lines, chat rooms, and email inboxes open all day long, HostGator is sure to return any complaints with a speedy solution—every time!
Bookmark http://www.hostgator.com/contact.shtml just in case you ever need to contact HostGator.
One of the Best Shared Hosting Around
In terms of sheer quality and performance, no one out does HostGator’s shared hosting plans. To begin with, choosing to sign with HostGator will only cost you $3.71 a month with a new contract. That is a special offer for WebHostingGeeks.com visitors! And for that low price of less than four dollars a month, HostGator offers truly unlimited service from the ground up.
HostGator 25% OFF Coupon Code: “GEEKS“.
With unlimited disc space and unlimited bandwidth, you will never again have to worry about size or data transfer limitations. In fact, at the next price range—which begins at only $6.36 per mont—you can also enjoy unlimited domains, making shared hosting a definitive reality for your multi-domain business.
Lastly, HostGator’s shared hosting plan comes stock with a wealth of additional features including a 99.9% up-time guarantee, as well as a no contract 45-day money back guarantee. Add to this a world-class cPanel experience, a free website builder, and almost 5,000 free Website templates, and you’ve got one seriously incredible shared hosting plan on your hands.
Unbeatable Reseller Options
If you’re a new web hosting provider looking to take a superior chunk out of your peers, HostGator’s reselling options will give you an instant leg-up on the competition. The provider works hard to make your reselling experience an easy and efficient one, providing you with the tools you need to please clients and turn a profit. For starters, HostGator provides each and every one of its reseller accounts with fully functional client management and billing software. These tools are indispensable when it comes to managing your growing business, and make the difference in your livelihood as a reseller.
In addition, HostGator also offers a bevy of unlimited options, including unlimited domains, sub domains, email accounts, MySQL databases, cPanels, and FTP accounts. And with plans starting at only $19.96, becoming a reseller host has never been cheaper, as well as easier.
Visit HostGator.com for more information about their reseller hosting services.
Virtual Private Servers With a Punch
If you’re looking for a dedicated server experience without the budget bite of the real thing, there’s no better option than virtual private servers. And if you’re looking for a quality VPS host, there’s no name worthier than HostGator. The provider’s comprehensive VPS plans start at only $15.96 a month, earning you a wealth of additional features for far less the cost of a physical dedicated server.
As with its other hosting plans, HostGator offers a menagerie of unlimited options for its VPS costumers. These include unlimited domains, sub domains, email accounts, MySQL databases, and FTP accounts. HostGator’s VPS accounts are also fully managed with cPanel or Plesk, and support several different levels of experience, working to meet your needs where they are.
Yes, the list continued and don’t turn that dial just yet! there is much to say about HostGator. Thus far we have not quite covered all of the critical elements, a fact that should come as no surprise, considering the mountain of features and feature sets that HostGator offers. With that in mind, let us continue to examine the host and offer you, the reader, a deeper look into the incredible services the company offers.
If you’re considering a quality VPS host, shared host, dedicated host, or even reseller host, HostGator is one of the best in the business, and we’re about to show you how! Starting with one of our favorite aspects about the provider, its incredible dedicated hosting potential.
Visit HostGator.com for more information about their VPS hosting solutions.
Linux Based Dedicated Hosting
Within the realm of dedicated server hosting, HostGator splits its services across two unique operating systems. The first of which is Linux. All HostGator dedicated servers in this category come stock with a free and secure, server edition of CentOS that’s guaranteed to manage your files easily and with the tightest possible safety. Best of all, those with the technical knowledge can benefit from HostGator’s full root access that’s allowed to the webmaster, as well as the available choice between either a 32-bit or 64-bit hosting experience. Even better, all HostGator dedicated servers with a Linux flavoring come loaded to the gills with the latest in web hosting software: This includes cPanel with WHM, Apache Web Server access, MySQL 5, PHP5, Perl support, Python ready hosting, Ruby on Rails, FFMpeg support, and even free WHMCS or WHM client management and billing software. All in all, signing with HostGator for your Linux-oriented dedicated server needs is a great way to get the most bang for your buck, right out of the box.
HostGator’s Linux dedicated server plans begin at only $139 a month, a rock-solid bargain for the business or personal user looking to form a dedicated presence on the Internet. For that money, users can enjoy a full Intel Xeon Quad Core processing experience, 2 GB DDR3 memory, a dual 250 GB hard drive, and 10 TB in bandwidth. At a lowly one-hundred and forty dollars a month, that much functionality is an incredible steal, regardless of the budget you’re operating on.
Visit HostGator.com for more information about their linux dedicated servers.
Windows Dedicated Servers
Like HostGator’s Linux dedicated server hosting, the Windows side of the company’s dedicated options sports an impressive array of features and hooks designed to obtain your business and trust. For example, all HostGator Windows servers come stock with Windows Server 2008 R2, complete with remote desktop and a 64-bit system on demand. Likewise, the latest in Parallels Plesk is offered here in conjunction with IIS Web Server, MSSSQL, MySQL, FTP Server, DNS Server, and even a SmarterMail Professional Mail Server. All of this functionality, of course, is kept under guard by a secure Firewall and IPsec Policy. And like HostGator’s Linux servers, all Windows dedicated offerings are fully managed, requiring no additional overhead for you or your board to worry about. All in all, HostGator is simply one of the best places to find secure, stable, and up-to-date Windows dedicated hosting.
Visit HostGator.com for more information about their windows dedicated servers.
HostGator Superior Control Panels
And it’s not just server excellence that HostGator is offering: The company is also responsible for some seriously killer control panels, too! With every Linux-based shared hosting account, users are given full, unrestricted access to the latest edition of the popular cPanel platform. This platform comes totally loaded with Website statistics thanks to such quality plug-ins as AWStats, Webalizer, Raw Log Manager, Referrer and Error Logs. There’s also support for popular services like Fantastico, password protected directories, and custom error pages for all of your sites. In addition, users who choose such an account can benefit from an easy-to-use and graphic file manager that makes moving and creating files a cinch.
If you recently purchased a new account with HostGator, you should type the following information into the address bar of your browser:
http://yoursitesIPaddress/cpanel (For example, type http://50.22.22.170/cpanel).
If your domain name is already pointing to HostGator, then you can use the domain name to log into cPanel. Here is an example:
http://www.yourdomainname.com/cpanel or http://cpanel.yourdomainname.com/
Try HostGator’s cPanel Demo.
HostGator Web Host Manager
For everyone else (Reseller accounts, VPS hosting, and Dedicated subscribers) the same cPanel quality can be obtained, even with many of the same features. This includes the latest WHM Control Panel with multi-language support, server status monitoring, package limiting, disc space distribution, and complete control over passwords, DNS accounts, tenant restrictions, and even branded materials like client panels. And, of course, the Windows side of this server coin comes loaded with the extremely popular Plesk control panel, offering all of the above features and more, including an application vault and redirected URLs.
There are a few ways to log into WHM. The best way depends on if your domain name has propagated yet.
If you recently purchased a new account with HostGator or have run out of bandwidth, you will type the following information into the address bar of your browser:
http://yourIPaddress/whm (For example, type http://50.22.22.170/whm).
If the domain name is already propagated, then you can use the domain name to log into WHM. Here is an example:
http://www.yourdomainname.com/whm or http://whm.yourdomainname.com/
Extensive Application Support
Lastly, we’re blown away by HostGator’s unprecedented support for popular dynamic web applications like WordPress, Joomla, Magento, Wiki Hosting, and phpBB Hosting. Specifically, they’re unprecedented appreciation for the power and potential of WordPress is to be applauded. The company makes it quick, easy, and affordable to create a WordPress-powered website in only minutes, even allowing users to port their old WordPress blog along, adding it to a dedicated space with no additional wrangling. The same applies to other content management systems like Joomla and Drupal, allowing the blossoming blogger to fully realize their potential with hardly a scratch on their budget.
HostGator Awards & Reviews
 |  |  |  |  |
All in all, HostGator looks to be one of the largest, most trusted, and most feature rich hosts around. If you’re looking for quality shared, VPS, dedicated or reseller hosting, there’s (on paper) hardly a better choice. The plans are cheaper, the features unbeatable, and the customer support truly rock-solid. The performance itself also looks to be absolutely superb, when compared to other industry leaders. The company has won hundreds of awards over the years, including some of the most prestigious from WebHostingMagazine, FindMyHost, and WebHostDir.
However, our users here at Web Hosting Geeks have had some other things to add. If you’re looking for a quality web host, HostGator looks a fit to us, but before diving into the provider, be sure to check some of our quality, user written reviews at http://webhostinggeeks.com/user-reviews/hostgator/.
Feel free to inspect the provider yourself at HostGator.com. And, of course, their trained representatives are always standing by, at the ready to field your questions as they arise. In other words, don’t just take our word for it: Let HostGator dazzle you as it’s dazzled us.
If you decide to sign up with HostGator, don’t forget to use our 25% Off Coupon Code “GEEKS“.
Related posts:
Battle of the Giants: Linux and Windows Compared
Posted by: | CommentsIn the world of superior web hosting, there’s really only two main competitors as far as your operating system goes—unless you’re willing to be some kind of mad scientist, that is. Essentially, every webmaster must face the same battle during the earliest span of their career, staring at that blank server box while wondering, “Should I load this up with Windows, or will Linux get the job done?” We’re unabashedly pro-Linux, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t points for both. In fact, the uninitiated among us may quickly find themselves in over their heads without a little guidance. So with that in mind, we’d like to present our unbiased review of the major differences between a Windows-based and Linux-based server experience, starting from the ground up and arriving at the frilly stuff on top. And when putting the two head to head, there’s really no better place to start than with:
Security – Winner: Linux
In terms of raw security, it’s really quite hard to do better than any available Linux distribution. This has to do with the very way in which Linux is coded—including Unix branches of the operating system, if you were wondering. Unlike Windows, Linux has a superuser known simply as “root.” To access this level of control, a webmaster must have a direct connection to the server shell, as well as the password of the server itself. Once this link has been established, an administrator can do basically anything they’d like to the server, including the hacking and stealing of precious data. However, because this level of authority requires root access—and simply cannot be had any other way—it’s nearly impossible for an artificial-intelligence based virus to “hack” into a Linux system. The probe would first need to tunnel into the server, establishing itself as a secure connection. Next, it would need to know the master password, which theoretically could be hacked, though to little purpose. Once inside the server, the bug would still need to pass several security checks to access privileged folders, guaranteeing a much harder fight than with Windows.
Windows, it’s worth noting, features little to no administrative control, a la the “root” user. Rather, the server establishes a single account as its admin, and then ties a password to that user. However, because of the registry that lies at the heart of a Windows system, it’s relatively easy for a digital worm to wind its way into the heart of the hardware, accessing files as it pleases and relaying the found data back to another server: Or worse! All in all, Linux simply cannot be bested in terms of its superior security from outside threats.
Support – Winner: Windows
However, Windows does have the upper hand in terms of technical assistance and support. Because Windows is a proprietary operating system, it comes fully backed by a team of Microsoft specialists that will help and guide you through any unexpected errors or struggles. These lines and forums are available 24/7, 365 days a year, and can assist with any and all malfunctions. They will typically even perform some of the procedure for you, saving you the need to get your hands dirty with code.
Linux, on the other hand, historically comes with no dedicated technical assistance, save the community itself. And though the world of Linux troubleshooting is alive and well across hundreds of forums spread out across the globe, there’s simply no solid body to deal with the thousands of Linux variations and distributions that float freely in existence. Rather, it is ultimately the webmaster who must deal first-hand with technical complications, and if no quick solution is available, that webmaster’s server may be in real steep stuff.
Cost – Winner: Linux
That being said, Linux easily takes the cake in terms of raw overhead investment. Rare is a Linux distribution that costs anything, as most are available for free via the GNU public commons agreement. Furthermore, should some enterprising webmaster wish to create their own variation of the operating system, they’re fully licensed to do so, as Linux is typically available in its entirety for free redistribution. Windows, however, must be purchased with a server license, which can be quite expensive. Further, technical assistance and software come at a premium, where Linux is loaded to the gills with freeware packages optimized for the system. But as mentioned, this corner cutting in a budgetary sense also comes with a lack of dedicated problem solving support. The difference is really like buying a used car, as opposed to leasing one: Should a problem arise with the used automobile, you’re very likely up a certain creek without a means of locomotion. Should the leased vehicle fail, there’s always an helping hand nearby, ready to handle your needs.
Performance and Up-Time – Winner: Linux
Lastly, if you’re looking for the final word in performance and up-time, Linux is hands down your top pick. A Linux system absolutely never requires a reboot because of a software update, nor does it ever necessitate a restart to unclog the processes. The operating system has been designed from the ground up to create dedicated threads for each open application, activating these threads when needed and closing them when unneeded. This not only preserves processing power, but ensures that no program can “go rogue” behind the scenes, eating away at your server’s resources and potentially causing a meltdown. Windows, on the other hand, typically faults at the background level, leaving software doors open with the lights running. To keep a Windows server clean, a frequent tune-up and maintenance sweep is typically required, in addition to an occasional system reboot. Each of these requires down-time, and without a backup server on-hand to deal with the lost connectivity, you’re potentially facing irritated end-consumers. All in all, there’s simply no more efficient way to run your server for extended periods of time—Linux up-time is typically measured in years—than with a Linux distribution.
Related posts:
Comparison of Popular Web Hosting Methods
Posted by: | CommentsIn the world of web hosting, there are literally more options than one could shake a stick at—assuming it’s an extremely broad stick, and one with a full three-hundred and sixty degree turning radius, that is. If our metaphor is too vague, what we’re getting at here is that one can literally find hundreds (likely even thousands) of web hosting options out there in the wild blue yonder. With that in mind, how on earth is a discerning webmaster to understand them all, much less make an informed decision about which pricing scheme, functional platform, or feature set is right for his site? To be certain, it’s like putting yourself up a certain creek without a paddle. However, that does not mean picking the right web hosting method for your blog, business, or institution is an impossible task. In fact, using our comparison guide below to the various popular web hosting methods, you may find the task far easier than first expected.
With that in mind, we’d like to start our exploration of the various popular web hosting methods off with:
Shared Hosting
This is a basic one, but one we feel you should be (at least) familiar with. Nine times out of ten, when one is talking about budget or low-end hosting, what one is really discussing is shared hosting. The idea behind the technology is simple, and certainly lends itself to cutting corners in the name of saving dollars. In our eyes, it’s best to think of shared hosting in this way:
Consider your average storage unit complex. There’s only one location that houses all the various units, but at that site you’ll find dozens and dozens of individual storage locations. Tenants come and go, depositing and removing their items at will, but all from a single address: Though their individual unit is, of course, blocked off from the others. In much the same way, shared hosting allows users to access a single server—or sometimes a single block of servers—while still utilizing only their individual space. This is made possible by partitioning a server into hundreds of smaller chunks, which can then be sold to a client. The client uploads their data via FTP to their personal directory, and is then free to mangle, change, or edit their website at will.
Obviously, there are a few drawbacks to this style of web hosting. Primarily, speed and performance are often compromised, as hundreds of users drawing from the same location can reduce bandwidth availability across the board. Likewise, these arrangements typically come with some level of data cap, giving only a set number of gigabytes to the user in both storage and transfer. A good way to think about these limitations is to imagine a shared web hosting server as an apartment complex: If a dozen tenants arrive at once, the elevators will be running slowly, as they’re capacity is quickly met, requiring a slight wait. So is it the same for shared hosting, which is why our next category is so important for business sites.
Based on our experience and reviews WHG recommends WebHostingHub as a reliable shared hosting provider.
Dedicated Server Hosting
In this method of web hosting, the need for shared space and bandwidth contentions is thrown out the window, as a single entity controls the entire server. This is in direct contrast to the previously mentioned shared hosting method, which divides a central server or databank into hundreds (or sometimes thousands) of shared units. With dedicated hosting, whichever organization owns the lease also owns all of the server’s power, space, and performance.
There are several benefits and costs to hosting your website in this manner, but no drawback is more noticeable than the overhead cost. If you decide to purchase a dedicated server space from a third-party, your monthly rates will be much higher than with a shared hosting provider. However, as you own the entire server, you will experience drastically improved performance and disc availability over a shared host. Should you decide to purchase a server yourself, your costs will also increase, as you’ll have to invest in a professional to manage the hardware for you. Also, should any problems arise with the hardware, all of the repair and maintenance costs rest on your shoulders, as the sole proprietor of the unit.
Based on our experience and reviews WHG recommends InMotion Hosting as a reliable dedicated hosting provider.
Cloud Hosting
Cloud hosting is a newer service, and one that operates on a completely different scale than both dedicated and shared hosting. In cloud hosting (which is currently trumpeted by companies like Laughing Squid and Amazon Web Services) your data and site are spread out across a network of peer-connected server banks and computers. In other words, rather than storing all of your information at a single location, whether that location is wholly owned by you or a third-party, cloud hosting instead spreads your data out across the “cloud.” By doing so, cloud hosts can avoid a number of complications inherent to more traditional hosting methods.
For instance, bandwidth constraints and a lack of scalability are no problem with a cloud-based provider. If your content is suddenly put on high demand due to an unprecedented number of media requests, a cloud host can simply scale up the number of available points your data can be reached from. This is called scalability, and is a service that a single server simply cannot provide. Likewise, as your site is stored across an entire network of computers, there’s no need to worry about space limitations. Should you require more disc space to work with, your provider can simply open up a few more locations, ensuring your media—no matter how large—is open for distribution.
With cloud hosting, you are also guaranteed a near perfect uptime. Because your site is available at a multitude of locations around the globe, there’s little to no chance your data will disappear with an unexpected power failure. Should a single IP location go down, another will be added to the network map, delivering your media as if nothing had happened.
Based on our experience and reviews WHG recommends Rackspace as a reliable cloud hosting provider.
Related posts:
Windows Hosts with the Mosts
Posted by: | CommentsEven today not everyone is looking for the cheapest web host. If you are a serious web developer you may want a wide variety of features at your fingertips without having to pay the fees associated with a dedicated server.
For those focusing their attention on Windows web development there are a number of quality, reliable, web hosts that provide an extensive library of development, support and security applications. Here is a list of 5 of them that should provide you with everything that you’ll need:
1. iPage
iPage has a little bit of everything, or maybe quite a bit of everything. Three photo galleries applications, 3 forum apps, 3 blogging apps, 4 content management apps, lots of multimedia and E-commerce support (including PayPal integration) all make their feature list. We’re not focusing on cheap here either, but at $2.95 month for their most economical accounts it’s hard to ignore it. It also doesn’t hurt that for many of these features iPage offers setup wizards that will guide you through the process.
Read iPage Customer Reviews.
2. JustHost
JustHost not only has a great list of features but makes working with them easy as well. Many of their applications, especially their content management applications, are 1-click install. Add on to that all types of scripting support, streaming support, several shopping carts, and in case you are still using them they still support the last few version of Frontpage extensions.
Read JustHost Customer Reviews.
3. IX Web Hosting
IX’s list of features goes on and on. Extensive multilmedia streaming support, chat support (not common, especially on Windows servers), and Cold Fusion scripting are among their offerings. For the latter, you have to appreciate a host that tells it like it is: explaining why it’s more expensive than Linux, they point out the increased costs of Windows licensing and asks “Don’t blame us, blame Bill!” Can’t say they’re not giving you truth in advertising.
Read IX Web Hosting Customer Reviews.
4. Celeres Web
This professionally outfitted host has many software packages for each category of need. Need content management? Celeres Web gives you eight options, from the common Drupal and Joomla to the not-so-common anyInventory. If you need project management Celeres gives you five options. They have three E-commerce solutions, four messaging board applications and three wikis. Even though we’re focusing less on cost in this article, you still can’t complain about a list of shared hosting plans that run $3.99 to $14.99 a month.
5. Applied Innovations
This host often gets skipped by those looking for a discount host, and proves why that isn’t always such a good idea. Their Windows support is one of the most comprehensive we’ve seen. They support five versions of ASP.NET all the way up to 4.0, MSSQL 2005 and 2008, several different web analysis tools, multiple email protocols, and lots of database support, including a PHP driver to interact with your SQL 2005 or 2008 database.
We forget often in talking about Microsoft that one of their prime advantages as a operating system tool is just how much software exists for it. Someone who is serious about web development would do well to stop and take a look at how much is available and what good hosts exist for making use of it.