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Frequently Asked Web Hosting Questions

What is managed hosting?

Managed hosting is a type of outsourced web hosting where we own, install, configure, maintain, secure and monitor the network, operating system, servers, firewalls and other infrastructure components. Although we own the infrastructure, you will have complete control over administrative access. This solution is perfect for businesses with high traffic, confidential data and intricate web applications. It frees up your time to concentrate on running your business, rather than wasting valuable time building and managing your technical infrastructure.

What is dedicated hosting?

Dedicated hosting is a type of outsourced web hosting where we exclusively rent out a web server to you. That server is not shared with anyone else. We will maintain the server but you have complete control over the software applications and content. This solution is ideal for businesses that require high website performance. This is because other high traffic websites would negatively affect that performance by using up a lot of bandwidth in a shared hosting arrangement.

What is shared hosting?

Shared hosting is a type of outsourced web hosting where we rent out a single web server to host multiple websites. Each website can have its own internet domain name. All the websites on that server will share that server's resources. Shared hosting is a cost-effective way of getting your website online quickly and simply. You will have complete control over the software applications and content. It suits most personal and small business websites that do not have high traffic.

What does the 95th percentile represent?

The 95th percentile is a method of calculating your bandwidth usage. Bandwidth usage is calculated from the router or switch and logged. These usage statistics are then collated every month and the top 5% is discarded. The remainder represents your actual bandwidth used.

What is inbound versus outbound traffic?

Inbound traffic refers to the amount of data going to your website from the Internet and outbound traffic refers to the amount of data going from your website to the Internet. For example, when a user submits in an online form, this generates both inbound (completed form data to the web server) and outbound (confirmation page acknowledging form submission) traffic.

What is Mbps?

Mbps stands for megabits per second. A megabit is one million bits of data. It represents the speed at which data is transferred, usually across networks such as the internet. Hardware devices such as wireless firewall routers and network interface cards are usually rated in mbps. Note that many people confuse mbps (megabits per second) with MB/second (megabytes per second). The difference is that 1 MB/second = 8 mbps.

What is an IP address?

IP stands for Internet Protocol. The Internet recognizes websites by their numerical IP addresses, for example 183.392.332.1. So, when you type in your domain name into a web browser, the Domain Name System (DNS) converts it into the IP address and returns the correct website for you to view.

What is DNS?

DNS stands for Domain Name System/Service/Server. This system was devised to translate domain names into IP addresses. So, if you typed in www.examplesite.com into your web browser, the DNS system may translate that to 183.392.332.1 and return the correct website for you to view.

What is FTP?

FTP stands for File Transfer Protocol. It is a method of transferring files between computers across the Internet. FTP transfers can be anonymous or secured by a login or password. An anonymous FTP is not secure because anyone on the Internet can use or access it. Businesses that need to send or receive files will find FTP a useful tool.

What is unmetered bandwidth?

Unmetered bandwidth means there is no limitation on the amount of traffic visiting your website. This does not mean unlimited bandwidth because the maximum data transfer permitted is limited by the plan you have signed up for.

What is CPanel?

CPanel stands for Control Panel. It is a graphical website administration tool which allows the administrator to manage operations such as email accounts and cron jobs through a user-friendly interface.

What is MRTG?

MRTG stands for Multi Router Traffic Grapher. It is a tool that monitors network traffic, e.g. bandwidth. This data is then converted into graphical images that provide you with a live visual representation of the traffic.

What is a rack?

A rack is a shelving frame used to store hardware devices such as servers, modems and routers. Racks are normally 19 inches wide and have metal strips with spaced holes. Rack height is measured in U (1.75 inches), which refers to the height between shelves. Items are stacked and secured vertically using screws. So, a 10U rack has 10 rack spaces for devices and 17.5 inches of vertical space.

What is a 1U server?

A 1U server is a server that fits into a rack and is 1.75 inches high. Its small size makes it the ideal choice for compact spaces.

What is a server side scripting language?

A server side scripting language is one whose code can run a script directly on the web server thereby generating dynamic HTML pages that meet the user's request. These languages enable businesses to provide a customized and interactive experience to their website visitors. Examples of server side scripting languages include PHP and Perl.
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