Service Level Agreement And Reliable Web Hosting

For anyone who has an online business, especially one with high traffic, it is important to choose the most reliable web hosting possible in order to keep their business running smoothly. For a large business, a dedicated server may be a necessity to have the resources and capacities which are essential to a thriving business.

When selecting a web hosting company, it is always wise to check that you are going to receive all the services necessary in order to help you run your business without the extra problems caused by a less than adequate hosting provider. A reputable company will give you a guarantee of what you will receive with your dedicated server hosting as part of your contract and this is called a Service Level Agreement.

Here at CWCS, we offer a level of service that we feel is essential to help you make your business successful. If any component of the hardware fails we agree to replace it within one hour, which will ensure that your website doesn't suffer. We also think it is imperative to reboot the server within twenty five minutes if it stops responding at any time. Again, this will mean minimal disruption to your website.

A high level of service is essential when the success of your business depends upon the performance of the dedicated server hosting and a company that wants to help you become a success will happily provide a high level of service.

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Shared, Dedicated Or Managed Web Hosting?

There are advantages and disadvantages to all types of web hosting and really the final choice depends upon the specific purpose of your website and your budget.

If you have a website solely for personal use, you will be fine with shared web hosting. As long as you choose a reputable web hosting company and you know exactly what you will receive from your host then you will be able to use your website without any major problems.

If you have a small online business you may be looking for more resources to cope with the demand of a high traffic website plus the high security factor. This again depends upon your monthly budget and the amount of technical knowledge you have. Dedicated server hosting may be the preferred option, but you may not actually require all the resources provided and paid for each month.

If your business is still developing and you still don't require unlimited bandwidth and storage then a virtual dedicated server could be the best option for you. With a virtual dedicated server you will have all the resources but will pay a lower cost.

Here at CWCS, we have managed hosting as an option. It is slightly more expensive, but you won't waste time struggling to understand the technical knowledge as you will have a manager to do that for you, making sure that your server is operational at all times. We are fully experienced professionals who are here to make your life much easier in terms of addressing your website hosting requirements.

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Operating System Options

Once you have made a decision to opt for a dedicated server you will then have to decide whether you will use a Linux based system or Windows. A large part of the choice depends upon whether you are already familiar with Windows. If so, then you may want to stay with an operating system that is familiar to you and therefore easier for you to deal with.

Linux is slightly more complicated and will need some instruction to enable you to become familiar with it, but has many benefits to make it an attractive possibility. For instance, Linux is a lower cost option than Windows. This is because Linux doesn't have a security licence to pay for and can pass on the savings to customers.

Windows provides a much larger range of software than Linux, although these do cost more. Linux has a reputation for being more reliable than Windows which will be an important consideration for anyone with a business to manage. Windows on the other hand is a far more popular company and therefore is compatible with a larger selection of hardware manufacturers.

Whichever operating system you choose for your dedicated server, the web hosting company should be able to offer a range of solutions for your business and also a twenty four hour support for any difficulties you may experience. Here at CWCS, we have the option for you to choose managed hosting to help you through any difficulties with a Linux or Windows operating system. Basically the choice of operating system comes down to a cost benefit analysis.Contact us today to learn more about our dedicated Windows servers or dedicated Linux servers.

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When Should You Move To Dedicated Hosting?

Shared web hosting is perfectly adequate for anyone with a personal website or who is just building a business. With a personal website or a new business the daily traffic probably won't be too high and you won't use many of your available resources. If you have shared web hosting you could be affected by problems with other websites, but initially that won't be too much of a significant problem, and with a reputable company such as us at CWCS, any down time will be minimal.

Eventually, the traffic volumes to your website will increase and as your business becomes more successful you will require more memory and storage than previously. You will also be thinking more about security options, especially if you have payment options on your website or are collecting sensitive personal details from your customers.

A dedicated server becomes an option at this point as it has higher security levels plus unlimited resources as you aren't sharing with any other websites. However, depending upon the development of your business you may not be at the point where you can justify the cost of dedicated server hosting or managed hosting. This is where a virtual dedicated server will be a viable option. By splitting a server into several virtual servers you have your own resources within a larger unit. However, because you are still part of a physical server the cost is shared by all the virtual servers in the unit. A virtual dedicated server could be the perfect solution for your website hosting.

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Do You Need Web Hosting Support?

Whether you are building a website for personal use or building a business site, web hosting can be confusing to most people, whatever technical knowledge they may have. From the simplest of queries to the most complex problem, it is better to have a support network to help you find the optimum solution as soon as possible. This is of the utmost importance to anyone with an online business as time is money and down time is wasting your valuable resources.

The type and amount of support received will depend upon the web hosting provider and should be a large factor in who you choose to provide your web hosting. One of the crucial aspects of a support system is the person you will speak to if you telephone with a problem. If you can only contact a call centre then you should be prepared to speak to a different person each time you call and explain from scratch about your system. Here at CWCS, we provide each client with a project manager as well as having a team of dedicated experts to assist you on a twenty-four hour basis. We guarantee to respond to emergency emails within ninety minutes during business hours along with a team who have knowledge of all aspects of your dedicated server hosting in order to assist you as quickly as possible.

Without a full support service, you may find that your dedicated server hosting experiences security problems and down time which will inevitably have a negative affect on your business.

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Is Managed Hosting An Affordable Solution?

Large business owners will usually benefit from having a dedicated server for their hosting requirements as they will need large resources such as memory and storage with added security for their website. Managed hosting can be a cost-effective solution for a business to enable the technological aspects to be dealt with by someone who is an expert in IT.

With managed hosting you will receive many benefits including a team of experts which are available twenty four hours a day to assist with any problems, full data back up to avoid the loss of important data and a hardware replacement guarantee.

Deciding to upgrade from shared hosting to a dedicated server hosting is essential for a business with large traffic volumes and expanding custom, but it be complicated to deal with all the technical issues, and whilst you are still learning you may experience downtime. This will, in turn, affect your business as customers expect you to be available around the clock. You can solve this problem by employing your own team of experts who will look after the dedicated server hosting but you won't have any guarantee of their expertise and may have to provide training which is expensive and time consuming.

With managed hosting here at CWCS, we have a team of people who are all fully trained to deal with all aspects of a dedicated server and we also provide a full support team to assist you with any queries you may have. We welcome contact from everyone to enable us to help you succeed.

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Which Type Of Web Hosting?

One of the largest factors when selecting web hosting is the cost, whether paid monthly or yearly. It is also important when selecting a cheap web hosting company that you are paying for all the essential services you will require, but not paying for anything superfluous to your requirements.

If you have a website which is solely for your own personal use then you won't need lots of resources such as unlimited bandwidth or storage, and shared web hosting on one of the low priced plans will serve you perfectly well. However, if you are building a business you may need more resources and will probably need to upgrade your web hosting package after a few months. In this case it would be wise to choose a cheap web hosting company that is flexible and will allow you to upgrade to a package which is better suited to a business with high traffic.

If you have an established business with a high volume of traffic you are going to have to consider whether a dedicated server will better suit your hosting requirements. A dedicated server will enable you to have unlimited resources which you won't be sharing with anyone else. Managed hosting is an option as you will have someone to take care of all the technical side of your business, while leaving you free to continue building your business.

Here at CWCS, we have many options that will suit a range of situations from someone with a personal website to a large business which requires extra resources and support.

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Managed Hosting Is A Positive Option

There are many benefits to managed hosting - an option which is unfortunately often overlooked. There are many reasons why you would benefit from this type of website hosting, with advantages for anyone who wants to spend less time looking after the hosting of his website and more time on the necessities of the business itself.

One of the main advantages of managed hosting is the time aspect. By having someone to take care of the management aspects you are able to spend more time on your business, such as dealing with your customer queries and the day-to-day maintenance of your business, knowing that your hosting is being taken care of.

Managed hosting can be a cost-effective solution because it does give you so much more time as well as having high performance hardware which will provide numerous benefits as you are not sharing the web site hosting with anyone else.

You receive personalised support which means that you will have access to your own technical support team when you need them, usually around the clock. This constant support also gives a guarantee of minimal downtime and higher security levels as you will receive system updates and data back up.

Here at CWCS, we have two UK data centres owned and managed by us, offering twentyfour hour support for your hosting. Our managed hosting has a team of experts all fully trained in all aspects of information technology in order to leave you free to build your online business without worry.

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How Secure Is Your Website?

Building an online business is a time of hard work whilst you are building your website, perhaps learning as you go along, and also about you trying to build an online reputation as someone that can be trusted by potential customers. Keeping your website free from harmful viruses and protecting customers' data is a very serious practice. The Data Protection Act is there to protect a person’s identity and all details should be kept confidential. The leaking of any personal details could not only result in trouble for you but also lose the trust of your customers.

When you sign up for a contract with a web hosting company you should ask questions about the security provided and ensure that you are protected. If you are going to be taking payments on your website you will need to double check security against the possibility of unscrupulous hackers. When a weakness or loophole has been found, hackers could take advantage and obtain your customers' credit card details and therefore, money. Even though you are not personally responsible for the theft of personal details, your customers will understandably blame you as you should have made sure your website hosting was secure.

The web hosting company's server should be housed in a secure environment free from all security risks so that you are able to concentrate on building your online business knowing that you are safe from security issues. Here at CWCS, we believe that web hosting security should always be a number one priority and house our servers in totally secure web site hosting environments.

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The Price You Pay For Web Hosting

Selecting a reputable web hosting company can be a complex task, especially if you are learning how to build a website and the technology that accompanies it. Even if you are an expert in the world of online business it is important to know what to look for in a web hosting company. There are many different prices on offer from low cost to expensive, but how do you know what you are paying for?

It is always necessary to do some research into different web hosting companies and what they are offering you before signing any contract with them. If you are not familiar with technology and online business, perhaps because you are only just building a business, it may a good idea to obtain advice from someone who is familiar with the necessities of hosting.

Here at CWCS, we advise you to contact us with your website hosting requirements and we will be able to help you choose the hosting package that will best suit your needs. We have a range of different web site hosting packages at different prices so we are confident that you will find what you need without paying more than you have to.

Sometimes you will see price plans that are much cheaper if you sign up to a contract of a year or more. These can be very good value but you should never sign up to a long contract in order to save money unless you are sure the package will be satisfactory for the life of the contract or you could end up out of pocket.

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Benefits Of Managed Hosting

Managed hosting can be beneficial to websites of all sizes, from the small online business to a large company with several websites. Choosing managed hosting will give you peace of mind and security as your website will be managed by a team of professionals around the clock to make sure that there are no problems. This leaves you free to concentrate on actually running your business without having to worry about problems with the maintenance of your website.

If you are new to internet business and you have little or no knowledge of the technology then this would be a cost-effective option for you. Basically the company who provide your managed hosting take care of all the running of the actual website on your behalf. When you initially build a website you really have to spend time learning about the intricacies of how web site hosting works, about the security aspects and about all the other factors relevant to a website.

Choosing managed website hosting with a company such as us at CWCS will mean that you are receiving affordable hosting with someone to run your website far more efficiently than if you had to gain technical knowledge from scratch. We also provide twenty-four hour support by email or telephone seven days a week with someone to answer your queries.

Select a company that has a guarantee of almost total operational time as this is an important factor in the smooth running of your business. The company that supplies your managed hosting should be maximising your return on your investment.

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How Much Bandwidth Is Enough?

Choosing a web hosting company is a complicated task which can easily end up with you paying excess money out each month for a poor service. There is so much competition on the internet that finding a cheap web hosting company isn't difficult, in fact you can easily find companies that offer unlimited services at a reasonable price. However, before signing a contract with a web site hosting company it is important to look a little bit deeper into what you actually receive for your money.

Bandwidth and storage are the two main factors when selecting your web hosting company. It is difficult to work out how much bandwidth and storage you will use, especially if you are new to the Internet but it is essential that you try to decide on an estimate. You can work out a rough estimate of required bandwidth by calculating the average page views multiplied by the average page size, multiply this by the average number of daily visitors and then again by the number of days in a month. You should multiply this total by an emergency amount of bandwidth, for example 1.5. This will give you a rough idea of your requirements on a monthly basis.

However, what happens if your website traffic goes up and you need more bandwidth? You may find that you are charged extra money for going over a certain amount, even with unlimited plans. Here at CWCS we believe that you should be totally aware of what you are paying for and we can advise you of the website hosting that will best suit your specific needs.

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Virtually The Answer

Most operating servers have to be available 24/7. If they are running for such a period but not always being utilised, then it's a waste of computing resources and operational costs. A possible solution could be to own a virtual server environment to reduce the amount of physical servers actually needed, thus greatly reducing overall costs.

Virtual dedicated server hosting is a product that is designed to allow the creation of multiple virtual servers on a single Windows server. Each of these virtual servers is stored as a hard drive image file and functions as an independent computer running its own operating system and individual set of applications. Virtual dedicated server hosting can be ideal for numerous reasons. Primarily, though, they are used in development environments and are used for server consolidation. The reason why the virtual dedicated server works so well in development environments is because it allows developers to test potentially ‘buggy’ software on a variety of different operating systems without having to worry about crashing the system.

Imagine an old Windows NT Server running an application that won't run under any other version of Windows. If the hardware the application is running on stops running, a possible solution might be to create a Windows NT virtual machine on an existing dedicated server and run the application from there.

Should a crash occur and, heaven forbid, a virtual machine destroyed then it would be a matter of recovering a single file. Virtualisation ultimately saves money and space.

CWCS provides a selection of virtual dedicated servers at highly competitive prices.

Who's The Host?

One question for someone new to web hosting may be what platform their server should operate around. There are a number of choices available and it can steal away many of hours of the day doing research on the topic. The crux of the matter is, there are two main web servers: Linux and Windows.

Microsoft developed and owns the Windows operating system. Linux is generally free. The cost of running a server does not affect the overall cost of a web hosting package. Buying a Windows hosting package can prove to be just as cheap as or even cheaper than a Linux web hosting package. It just depends what is available from the providing host.

A lot of people automatically assume that because a PC comes with Windows that a Windows website hosting package is the obvious choice. Not so. The web account will most likely be accessed through FTP or a control panel that both platforms support, even though some of the FTP commands differ slightly for each.

The debate over reliability and stability seems to find favour with Linux. The main reason being that Windows is the most widely-used operating system for the PC so hackers tend to go for the larger target. Linux is reported to perform faster because it is not bogged down with tons of extras. At the end of the day, web hosting will partly dictate goods speeds and reliability.

CWCS provide website hosting options for both Windows and Linux at competitive rates.

Moving To A New Web Host

There may come a time when the decision migrate to a new web host will be made. Maybe the current web hosting isn't providing adequate enough management or technical support is just not up to scratch. Most web hosting promises support on a 24/7 basis, but not all have the experience to back it up.

So the decision has been made to move, but there are concerns in the camp that problems could occur. One of the issues is the possible change of IP address. If the IP is static then the transition between old and new is relatively hassle free, providing that there are not major concerns about leaving the web site down for a day or two. If the process involves dynamic sites with databases, it can prove to be a little bit more difficult, but it is the same principle.

Firstly, find good web hosting and sign up for an account. Secondly, make a back-up of the site at the new website hosting server by copying over the whole structure. Thirdly, the crucial part involves changing the DNS to point to whichever of the new web hosts has been chosen. After this, it would be a logical step to wait until the DNS change has filtered through the net. If Google is relevant to your plan and they are fetching from the new webhost/IP address, then it's all been a great success.

We at CWCS provide a range of website hosting packages to suit anyone wishing to change to a new improved system.

Internet Protocol Addresses

Every server on the internet is assigned a unique number - an IP (Internet Protocol) address. Think of the number as a telephone number which allows other computers to find and gain access to files no matter where they are. An IP address is 4 bytes, and each byte is an octet which can have a value between 0 and 255. There are billions of possible addresses.

There are plans to expand the number of IP addresses with the introduction of version 6 of the Internet Protocol. IPv6 has IP addresses which are 128 bits wide. This provides the potential for an unlimited number of unique addresses. It will, however, take several years to implement because of the heavy cost of upgrading the i infrastructure.

In the web hosting industry there are two types of IP address:

- Dedicated IP address (also called static IP) means that a website has its own IP address

- Shared IP address means that multiple websites share the same address

Due to the rapid increase of the number of registered domain names and the finite number of IP addresses, web hosting providers are forced to use shared addresses where it is possible. In fact, hundreds of websites quite often share the same address. Static IP website hosting is no longer the norm and usually is less cost effective in this age of increasing users.

CWCS provides three different web hosting plans for both Windows and Linux at very competitive prices. Visit our site to see our range of website hosting packages that we offer.

The Key Information Relating To Reseller Web Hosting

Reseller hosting is a particular form of web hosting that has grown in popularity over the past few years. The owner of a reseller account has the ability to split their hard drive space or available bandwidth to host websites on behalf of third parties. The reseller will purchases the host's services at wholesale prices and then sell them on to customers for a profit. This type of web hosting is especially popular among web designers and developers as it is a great way to offer clients a complete package which incorporates the entire finished product.

The typical web hosting reseller might be a web design firm, web developer or systems integrator who offers web site hosting as an add-on service. Reseller hosting is also an inexpensive way for website hosting entrepreneurs to start a company. Most reseller hosting plans allow resellers to create their own service plans and choose their specific individual pricing structure. Many web hosting resellers are able to establish their own brand name by simply customising the control panels and the name servers.

The owner of the reseller hosting is usually not responsible for the maintenance of the web server. This is often the work of the web host. The reseller will normally communicate directly with the customer, but any hardware, software or connectivity issues are forwarded to the server provider.

CWCS provides reseller packages for both Windows and Linux at competitive rates. We also offer 24/7 expert first-class technical support by both telephone and email.

Firewall Protection For Dedicated Servers

Anyone who has had a bad experience with a virus, worms or any other malicious software will really appreciate the potential importance of a firewall. More so if the person or company is running a server which provides a service to internet clients (not Virtual Private Networks), which could potentially support over one million users per month via the web. The firewall is used in conjunction with a web server purely as a security measure. The function of the firewall is to accept or deny the transfer of data to and from external sources.

The dedicated server firewall is established and operates around a particular set of rules or criteria that forces the data being transferred to adhere to them. If the criteria are not met then the data does not pass through. The ‘trust level’ of the internet is generally regarded as extremely low, due to the fact that worms and viruses can be easily sent over the internet through emails or websites visited. These worms or viruses can be extremely harmful to a computer and dedicated server hosting, and may even render it inoperable.

There are two types of firewall - software and hardware. The software firewall, although effective, can use up a lot of resources if the dedicated server is hosting a busy website. The hardware firewall takes a lot of stress off the work, allowing the dedicated server to use its own resources and thus not compromising performance.

CWCS provides high-quality dedicated server hosting with dependable firewalls.

Virtual Hosting

Anyone requiring to host more than one domain name on a single computer will quite often use the option of virtual web hosting, sometimes on the same IP address. Virtual web hosting is one of the most popular options available for hosting at the moment. This is mainly due to it being one of the most reasonable forms of web hosting available in today’s market.

Virtual web site hosting is also known as shared web hosting and it allows the owner of a website to host his/her site on a web server that will be shared with other websites. In other words, the server of the virtual web site hosting company will allocate its services and bandwidth to more than one website. This makes the costs slightly cheaper than that of a dedicated server and thus an ideal solution for the small to medium sized website;, especially if they don't experience heavy traffic on their site.

Many small-to-medium sized businesses opt for virtual servers for internal purposes, where there is a technological or administrative reason to keep several separate websites, such as customer extranet website, employee extranet, internal intranet or intranets for different departments. If no security concerns are present in the website architectures, they can be merged into one complete server using virtual hosting technology, which can reduce the management and administrative overheads and the number of individual servers required to support the business.

At CWCS we offer a range of packages to suit the budgets of small and large businesses at very competitive rates.

The Name Of The Game

With an ever-increasing number of interactive games being released that allow the player to go online and explore a whole new vast world of entertainment, dedicated servers to support the games are always eagerly anticipated. Online gaming brings the additional benefit of playing someone real, not just a generated character.

The dedicated servers, commonly known as dedicated game servers, collect data from players and distribute it to other players. This process is more efficient than peer-to-peer, but it requires a separate computer to host the server application. This is where the dedicated server comes in. There are, of course, professional servers that read data and transmit enormous amounts of data, feeding the players as fast as they need it. The luxury of such a setup did not come cheap at $200-$700 a month. Eventually prices came down as subscribers increased 1,000 fold.

Game servers can be either listen servers or dedicated server hosting.

- Listen servers typically run in the same process as the game client, allowing a player to host games and participate in them at the same time. Unfortunately the server is usually terminated when the client does, and they usually involve a low number of players.

- Dedicated server hosting runs totally independent of the client, and are quite often run on dedicated hardware in data centres. These provide more bandwidth and processing power and are the preferred choice for most PC-base multiplayer games.

We at CWCS provide dedicated servers that satisfy the demands of modern computing.

Wonder Web

There are many questions to be asked and indeed answered before the decision is made to invest in web hosting. Often people ask if they need to change their domain if they get a new host?. How do they upload their site online? How does one register a domain name or even what is a domain name? There are as many answers as there are questions but there are perhaps a few essentials that should be addressed before finally deciding on a web host.

There are certain distinctions between the various types of web hosting. Shared hosting means sharing a server with other clients and this can mean a slow server if some have heavy traffic. There is also colocated web hosting which is where a server is purchased from a hardware vendor, such as Dell or HP, and the server is then supplied to the host and plugged into its own network. The web host is responsible for the availability and access of the network whereas the owner is responsible for any support or maintenance that may be required should anything unforeseen crop up.

Unmanaged web site hosting is similar to colocation except the server is leased from the host and not purchased by the business or user. There is also a limited amount of support included with such a deal.

Prices of each web site hosting option vary from supplier to supplier and it's not always a good idea to shop on the cheap. We at CWCS provide problem-free solutions to web hosting in the UK and each package comes with comprehensive support.

Who's Managing To Web Host?

Sometimes it's just not possible to set the time aside to maintain a website, but they won't maintain themselves. The easiest solution would be to opt for managed hosting where various services are offered such as management of operating systems and core applications, assistance with the migration of sites and applications, regular off-site backups as well as consultancy and advice on applications.

At CWCS we provide first class web hosting services to suit the needs of any business or user. Various packages are available to meet the requirements of most companies but should there arise the need for a specific solution, we will always to provide reliable on the spot technical support.

Friendly customer service should come with reputable managed web hosting packages twenty-four hours a day, 7 days a week, and this can be an invaluable asset should anything go wrong. The chances of something going wrong with any given computer system at any given time are quite high. Computer systems are good when they are working but when they go wrong they can be a headache, and that's why managed website hosting could be the perfect solution to the business or user needing that extra bit of help.

Another crucial element of managed website hosting is data backup; this is why managed web hosting is so dependable. No-one wants to risk losing a whole day's or even a whole week's data if anything goes wrong with the system. Most managed hosting incorporates daily backups ensuring nothing is lost.

Benefits Of Dedicated Servers

Many companies started off with a simple website that provided the customer, or whoever the target was, with just a little information, access and support. Gradually over time the site experienced more and more hits. The meagre website that once got two hundred hits per month now gets thousands upon thousands per month and things start to run very slowly. The next step to keep up the momentum and prevent everything from coming apart at the seams is to look at the web hosting.

A dedicated server is one option perhaps worth investigating for anyone serious about
developing their website’s profile. Dedicated servers have their own processor, hard drive, RAM and bandwidth and do exactly what they’re told. The ownership of dedicated servers also means that you can control who accesses the content of your website.

Dedicated server hosting can, however, cost that little bit more than shared web hosting, but the extra money spent on dedicated servers ensures significant benefits over other options. For one, server providers usually allow you to customise your own dedicated server hosting, meaning you select and pay only for the features you want.

In this fast-moving, competitive world of technological advancements that seem to be progressing at an accelerated rate, how are companies expected to keep up the pace at a cost effective price? Here at CWCS we provide a cost-effective solution to the growing choice of dedicated server providers. It's a choice that will help you reach the rest of the world, not reach deep into your pockets.

Dangers Of Cheap Web Hosting

Once you've decided to go all out on the web hosting front, the first thing you need to do is decide how much to spend on the new system or even how little to spend. The problem with the latter is that spending too little on the cheapest web hosting company can turn out to be a false economy. It can be very tempting to scrimp on the spending to save some money. However, without spending a decent amount on web hosting, the chances of problems arising in the future are high. With lack of spending comes lack of support and this can be a crucial element of web hosting should a spanner appear in the works.

Some problems with opting for cheap website hosting services is that you will probably be sharing the server space with other companies that have probably opted for the same reduced package. This may lead to complications if the other company or companies use mailing lists to send spam, for example. If this is the case then there is a very high possibility that each and every domain hosted by the server could end up being blocked by anti-spam software, resulting in your company also being blocked.

We at CWCS provide affordable website hosting packages that suit all clients' needs. We also provide reliable support without the need to break the bank. So, before deciding on a cheap web hosting company, think about whether it's worth saving pounds at the start only to be hit with a large hike in costs later. In today's business, false economy is not an option.

Why use a developer solutions provider?

Why be anything other than passionate about your business? You want to do well, make money and expand – otherwise you wouldn't be reading this. As your business grows, your web presence also needs to develop; to grow and expand alongside your real-world expansion. This means that you will need to innovate, find new ways of displaying information and interacting with clients and customers, while providing a cutting-edge commerce-enabled site that looks good. All this takes time, and time is money.

Using new technology can sometimes entail a sharp learning-curve. Developing web applications and creating dynamic, good looking and powerful websites is a lot easier if you can liaise with knowledgeable staff who know what they are doing and can solve common problems quickly. You need people who can provide solutions to aid in your development.

It makes a great deal of sense to use a web hosting, virtual or dedicated server provider who are as passionate about their business as you are about yours. This means having staff who are skilled in the provision of solutions to your developer problems, who can iron-out hiccups and keep your web site or server running smoothly and efficiently.

Here at CWCS we are proud to call ourselves a developer solutions provider. Our support staff are not only friendly, but also passionate about web hosting and server provision. This means that you can spend more time being passionate about what you do well, secure in the knowledge our passion will keep you online and productive.

Take control – use web based control panels

Modern web hosting plans do more than just serve up web pages. They are powerful business tools which can add considerable value to your online business presence. The control panel which comes as part of your web hosting plan can be used for day-to-day management of your site, but also to do things like set up and administer e-mail accounts, enable FTP access for staff and customers, automate regular tasks, add MySQL databases and users and automatically respond to emails to certain addresses.

There are a variety of control panel applications around – but the industry is dominated by one name which has become the de facto standard: Plesk. The Plesk control panel is used by web hosting companies world wide and is very powerful whilst remaining easy to use.

Managing your web hosting plan is now not just a job for experts. The web-based control panel has an interface which is easy to learn and allows for complex tasks to be handled with a few mouse clicks. Want to add a blog to your site and allow customers and staff to comment on your goods or services? This can be done easily and quickly using the control panel application. You can also set up forwarding for e-mail addresses or arrange new e-mail accounts with the minimum amount of bother.

At CWCS, our web hosting plans allow you to control your online business. We can arrange for upgrade paths between plans without loss of data or service. We use the Plesk web-based control panel to allow you, the customer, to have the maximum amount of control over the service you are paying for.

The cost benefits of virtual dedicated servers

Virtual dedicated servers hosting is very popular because it is a cost-effective solution to a potentially expensive problem. A single piece of hardware (the managed hosting company's server) is partitioned into multiple virtual servers, all capable of running a variety of operating systems and software. One server can then be allocated to several customers – but because the hardware is shared, the costs of running a server dedicated to your web presence are minimised.

Small and medium sized websites which have reasonable bandwidth needs and do not expect a very large amount of traffic will benefit from the savings – and will be able to have full root access to the operating system, allowing them to install the software they need to make their web sites productive.

When looking for a virtual dedicated servers provider, it makes sense to choose a company that has specialist knowledge and experience in making these package work effectively for you – and have technically competent support staff to ensure that your site stays up and running for the longest possible time.

It is no accident that VDS hosting is used by the majority of customer websites all over the world. Virtual server hosting technology is a robust and affordable way of taking more control of your web hosting environment, without the expense of providing your own hardware and infrastructure.

At CWCS we are specialists in providing virtual dedicated servers. Our support staff are experts in their field and fully trained to assist you with queries or solve technical problems. Our virtual servers come with full root access and you can choose from a variety of Linux distributions to fully customise your server environment.

Starting your own website

When you’re just starting on the road to a web-based business presence you might be a little confused about which managed hosting plan is right for you. Do you go for the cheapest, or do you need one with a few more bells and whistles? Then there are things like PHP5 and MySQL. Do you really need them? What do they do?

If you have a simple website, then a starter package is affordable and will probably cover your needs. However, if you would like to develop your site, commerce enable it and make it easier to manage, then you should think about a plan that includes access to PHP5 and MySQL.

PHP stands for PHP: Hypertext Preprocessor, a powerful scripting language that can create dynamic content and can be embedded within standard HTML code. This means, for example, that the content of a text file can be read and inserted into a web page, providing a very easy way of changing and updating content or blog entries. If you’ve ever looked at websites like Facebook or YouTube you will have seen the power of PHP in action.

MySQL (My Structured Query Language) is a relational database management system that allows for the display of database queries on web pages. For example, a database containing information about products, prices, discounts and stock levels displayed in an online catalogue, allowing customers to browse through goods and make informed purchasing decisions.

Here at CWCS managed hosting we provide a variety of affordable and powerful plans for all levels of e-commerce and web site development. If you are unsure of which managed hosting plan is right for you, please call one of our friendly customer service representatives.

You may know the cost, but what's the value?

There's an old saying about short-sighted business people: “They know the cost of everything, but the value of nothing”. When you are making the decision to use a web hosting service, or deciding on a dedicated server or virtual server solution, then cost is, of course, important as you will want to minimise your outlay. However, don't lose sight of the value that is added to your web hosting or server plan by other very important factors.

Technical support is something you don't miss until you need it – and if the company you are using does not give you guaranteed uptime and friendly and efficient technical support whenever you need it, you will end up paying more than just a financial cost. The damage to your business may impact adversely on your profitability and your image.

Having a provider offering web hosting in the UK, in a UK based data-centre with 24/7 technical support via telephone and e-mail is just as important as saving money on your web hosting or server plan – and sometimes more so! If your website is critical to the success of your business, ensuring that your plan includes a dedicated in-house project manager can add incredible value to your day-to-day operations.

CWCS web hosting and dedicated and virtual server plans include a variety of options which allow your site to remain productive. Our state-of-the-art UK based data centres have features which add value to any of the plans you select. If you need to speak to a real, live person in order to get a problem resolved quickly, our support staff are both efficient and approachable. Mission critical hosting includes a dedicated, in-house project manager to help out. The cost is affordable: the value is superb.

Your hardware, but who's giving you infrastructure?

Deciding to take the plunge and purchasing your own dedicated server hardware gives you more control over your internet presence. Getting your own dedicated servers is relatively easy – you can make the comparisons you need to source the exact specification to suit the development of your site. Once you've done that, you need to sort out the connectivity, access, security and support. That can be harder – and if you are going it alone, very expensive.

Colocation dedicated servers offer a great solution – you can keep your very own server hardware in a secure data storage location that offers a variety of bandwidth options, and also allows you to choose other important details like the number of IP addresses your business requires, switchable port requirements and the amount of power your server will need.

CWCS colocation offers plans to suit a variety of business sizes. We already have the infrastructure that can provide your business with everything you need for a successful web presence – your hardware just plugs in and we look after the rest. You also get physical and virtual access to your hardware 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Our data centres are secure and protected from man-made and natural disasters, ensuring that your data is safe and your web site stays up.

Colocation dedicated servers provide you with the best of both worlds – your own hardware, configured the way you want, running the software you need – tied into the unparalleled infrastructure of an existing secure and modern data centre. This is an affordable and efficient method of expanding your business operations.

Making a success of e-commerce

Is it time for your business to start to take advantage of the plethora of available customers out there in cyberspace? The decision to commerce enable your website should not be taken lightly, and there are some pitfalls you should try your hardest to avoid. Choosing a web hosting plan from a company with a reputation for reliability and excellent support can minimise the chances of things going horribly wrong.

Your e-commerce platform is only going to be as reliable as the web hosting company you use, so look for both experience and an infrastructure that will support your needs. You should choose your web hosting plan wisely – there is nothing more off-putting to prospective customers than pages loading slowly due to insufficient bandwidth, or transactions taking too long to process because your payment processing package is inadequate. The worst thing of all is when your site goes down and everything grinds to a halt.

Good design can make your site easy to use – but try to get the balance right when providing information: too much can be off-putting, too little can make your site seem lightweight. The more professional your site looks and the easier it is to use, the more sales you will achieve.

CWCS web hosting plans offer 99.9% guaranteed uptime, a variety of bandwidth options to suit your needs and all plans include friendly, fast and reliable technical support. Running a commerce enabled site can provide your business with huge benefits. Start in the right direction by using a web hosting provider that has a proven track record where it matters most.

Which SQL is good for me?

When you're considering starting or upgrading a web hosting plan, you may want to consider the benefits of using databases to manage and structure the data you are collecting or displaying on your website. Using a database in conjunction with a web hosting plan can provide significant benefits. To use databases within a web hosting plan requires the use of structured query language (SQL) and you will see that different plans allow the use of MySQL and MS SQL.

What is the difference between the two and which is right for me?

MySQL is open source software – freely available to use without restriction. MS SQL is proprietary software, owned and licensed for use by Microsoft. Some would argue that this gives a benefit in that MS SQL is well supported and frequently updated. MySQL benefits from the fact that it costs nothing, and that a host of support is available on the web.

Both kinds of SQL are great for creating dynamic web content – and if you have ever visited commerce-enabled sites then you have probably interacted with web databases using these technologies. If you are using a Windows based server and you are familiar with products like Access, then MS SQL will probably make your life easier. If you are familiar with Linux and the operation of MySQL already, you will know the benefits this powerful application can bring you.

CWCS web hosting plans provide for the use of both MySQL or MS SQL, so you can choose a plan that is going to be suitable for you. If you have any doubts about which version of SQL is the best for you, our customer services representatives can help give you the information you require to make an informed decision.

Location, location, colocation

Things are going really well. Your website has taken off and your business is expanding. You are thinking of taking the next step. You've even purchased your own server and are contemplating setting up your own data centre. How much will it all cost? Can you really afford to do it? What are the things you need?

There are a host of things you need to consider, apart from the expense and infrastructure required for the physical building and connectivity. Security, back-up power supplies, access, technical support and fire and flood protection, to name just a few! Luckily, colocation web hosting services can give you peace of mind while providing you with everything you need to keep your hardware up and running, your data safe, secure access to your server 24 hours per day, 7 day per week, while also protecting you from the kind of disasters that could seriously impact on the survival of your business.

With colocation web hosting you are spared the expense of setting up the infrastructure to support your server. It has been proven to be an extremely cost effective way of gaining the benefits derived from owning and operating your own hardware, with the added benefits of security, access, safety and support being provided by the colocation service.

CWCS colocation web hosting provides a service that keeps your hardware secure in a state-of-the-art secure data centre in Nottingham featuring the best modern security and safety provisions, while also allowing you full access to your hardware 24/7. If you are considering further expansion of this kind, give us a call.

Why would I use Tomcat?

You may have noticed that CWCS virtual dedicated servers come with a host of functional software, including the most popular web server in the world – Apache. Tomcat is also available and can be installed on request – but what is Tomcat and why would you use it?

If you want to use JSP pages or servlets on your website, you must use a servlet container such as Tomcat because Apache does not support these. Servlets are Java technologies that extend the usefulness of web servers. They are platform and server independent – meaning that you can choose specific servlets to enhance the usability and functionality of your site. Servlets are generally thought of as one of the best ways of creating interactive web-based applications such as browsing online catalogues, and commerce enabling applications like shopping carts and checkouts. Many example servlets are freely available on the web – java.sun.com is a good place to start.

Apache is written in the C/C++ programming language, which makes it blindingly fast at doing what it does best – serving up web pages. Tomcat, on the other hand, is written in Java, interpreted at runtime, and therefore somewhat slower. The good news is you can link both servers together, so gaining the functionality of Tomcat to parse servlets and JSP pages, while retaining the speed of Apache when serving standard HTML and PHP pages.

CWCS web hosting will install Tomcat on your Virtual dedicated servers on request. Full functionality is achieved by the use of recommended operating systems and some additional software.

Avoiding the common mistakes

If you are new to web design and are making use of a web hosting plan to give your business a net presence for the first time, it is easy to fall into the trap of trying too hard. Yes, you want your website to be eye-catching and modern, and you want to take advantage of the latest technologies to show that you are at the cutting edge of technology, but you don't want the whole thing to look like a design disaster.

One of the most common mistakes that new designers make is to take advantage of all the 'bells and whistles' that are available, regardless of whether they are suitable to your specific situation. Rotating icons and flashing banners are a good example of things which can look great for ten seconds, but become very annoying after a very short period of time.

The best designers use web hosting to try to balance functionality, usability and aesthetics. Functionality assumes that interfaces to online queries, forms or database functions are easy and simple. Usability means that users should be able to access the information and features they require without a problem. Finally, aesthetics is the imperative to give your site a professional look which remains in keeping with your branding and sales requirements.

CWCS web hosting plans give you access to a wide variety of professional web creation tools, operating system software and bandwidth choices, allowing you to create good looking sites that will add cachet to your business and increase your sales of goods and services.

Essentials of good web design

What is it that people want to see when they access your business online? Obviously they would like to be able to gain the information that they need to make informed decisions about the goods or services that you offer. To that extent your website needs to contain this information in a way which is accessible – but more than that, your site needs also to be well designed. A professional looking site will say a lot about you to your existing and future customers.

There are also requirements that you need for selfish reasons. Having a graphics-heavy site which looks good, but which is very difficult to update without relying on a design team to do the work may be counter productive. On the other hand, a site which is easy to update but which looks less than compelling will not draw new customers. Getting the right balance between these is not always an easy task.

These are some of the things you should bear in mind when thinking about a new site, or if you are upgrading an existing web presence. Technologies are now available that can make your web pages look good, while also allowing ease of maintenance. Three of the most useful of these web technologies are PHP, ASP and MySQL. You should ensure that any web hosting package gives you full access to these useful features.

CWCS web hosting plans provide access to the widest range of tools, allowing your designers to get just the right balance between functionality, ease of use and eye-catching design. Come to CWCS for your web hosting needs.

Professional Web Hosting

The web hosting market is very competitive and, for this, reason professional web hosting providers are offering higher levels of services and support.

The benefits of professional web hosting:

• A professional web hosting provider usually dedicates their core business to this. In this way
they can focus their attention on higher quality.

• They are better equipped to keep their finger on the pulse of technological advances. In a fast paced market it is vital that their offerings include up to date technology and expertise.

• They will never offer more than they are able to deliver. Instead, they focus on long term benefits and offer quality of service which attracts repeat business. Overselling leads to unreliable service and damaged reputations.

• Technical support is crucial for professional web hosting providers. For this reason they offer resources with technical backgrounds and professional qualifications. They are also able to offer customer support such as email, telephone and knowledge bases like that of forums, where clients are able to find information.

• Professional web hosting providers offer a wide range of web hosting plans as well as those tailored to specific requirements. They have an in-depth understanding of their client’s needs and offer new or updated features in order to satisfy their demands. The wider the choice the more they appeal to a wider market.

• Professional web hosting providers are usually those that have a track record in the industry. Experience is vital in a crisis situation.

• They can offer very reasonable pricing correctly situated in line with their offerings. You will not be paying for more than you get.

• Your web hosting provider can also help your professional image. Keeping company with professionals will in turn rub off on you.

Managed Hosting or a Dedicated Server, are they the same?

Both managed and dedicated servers offer a user the ability to run a server without sharing it with anyone else. The term ‘managed’ is where things may get confusing. What one provider defines as managed hosting, another may define as unmanaged. There is no industry standard and this means the services you get depend on the provider.

Included in Managed Hosting

Managed hosting involves features such as system updates. They also include monitoring of applications and detecting any attempts of intrusion. They monitor the server performance, conduct backups and administer databases.

There can be a host of features offered in managed hosting which differ from provider to provider. One thing for certain is that managed hosting is always dedicated hosting. Yet dedicated hosting offers its own definition of managed which again depends on the provider.

Dedicated hosting

Dedicated hosting can be broken down into types. The first is basic hosting which offers low RAM plus a hard disk and an operating system.

High End dedicated hosting on the other hand offers dedicated bandwidth, a dedicated database, dedicated server mirroring and a Quad Core configuration. Nowhere is the word ‘managed’ used. Management services are over and above what a dedicated server offers and are usually add-on benefits.

However both dedicated and managed web hosting offers you your own server. Managed hosting often means those benefits can be added to a dedicated server.

To answer the question, dedicated server hosting is rented and includes the physical server while managed hosting refers to the administration. They therefore do not have the same meaning.

Web Hosting in the UK

The amount of websites on the internet is fast overcoming the amount of people alive today. With this comes a huge volume of traffic which means that any online advertising campaigns have to work harder and harder to get their presence noticed as each year passes.

Many search engines only rank sites according to their IP Address. If you live in the UK for instance and have an IP address registered in Australia, than your web presence in the UK will be much more slight. Google UK for instance will only index websites that carry a UK domain or those that are hosted in the UK. Therefore, it makes good business sense to place your web hosting in UK.

Web hosting outside the UK

Many companies are opting for web hosting in cheaper countries because of the cost benefits. Yet, at times, cost savings may result in losses elsewhere.

If you are seriously considering web hosting elsewhere you have to make sure that they can fulfil your requirements fully. Your speed may well be comprised, especially if you are running a large e-commerce site.

Customer support may also be compromised if you choose web hosting outside UK - you may encounter time zone issues. Even though they offer 24/7 service, you may be left with a skeleton staff during your operating hours and be left with having to assemble your teams after hours each time you have an issue that needs resolving.

If you are not web hosting in the UK where your core customer base is located, what is the use of getting higher rankings in another country? Even if you do business outside the borders it still makes sense to source your web hosting in the UK.

Is there such a thing as Green Colocation Hosting?

Colocation hosting depends on the colocation Centre. When it comes to planning one, there should be sufficient planning in place that will make it energy efficient. Our current energy crisis is filtering down into all areas of life. Colocation centre designers need to take responsibility and design in the most energy conservative way possible.

The effect of energy conservation

In terms of colocation centres, dedicated servers may not run as you may want them to. It might be prudent to consider the UPS. Many UPS only run at about 60% efficiency, so just by opting for a smaller modular UPS more energy could be saved.

Cooling equipment is another item to be investigated. Cooling systems are vital for colocation hosting centres. Floor based cooling systems offer poor performance as they are not efficient when it comes to circulating air. Replacing them with in-row chillers will allow you to direct air circulation to your dedicated servers and reduce energy consumption. The equipment will run on full capacity so you will not end up paying for something that only provides a percentage of your needs.

Installing meters that are able to provide good energy readings and which can break down energy usage will enable you to monitor what are your peak or low energy demand cycles.
There are many tools that can help design an energy efficient colocation centre which should be used. They can help you stay ahead of market trends and in doing so offer users a web hosting service that is not draining our resources unnecessarily.

The Aspects of Colocation Hosting

Internet business - or e-commerce - is a large and busy industry. When you are running a website, its performance and success relies a great deal on the capabilities of its server. One option is to host your own server which means you need to install, configure and maintain it yourself. Another option is to hand it over to those who make it their business to offer services for hosing your web.

What is colocation hosting?

Colocation hosting is a data centre which provides bandwidth, storage space and managed hosting services, plus 100% power at all times. It can also be referred to as the installation and running of data or applications in one single process.

For instance, web hosting is a good example. Within this platform the host server offers a portal to gain entry to content plus the other portals that exist on the web.

Colocation centres need the utmost attention and must be monitored each minute of the day. Systems must be kept in an area that is air conditioned and filtered, and it should be constructed in a way that circumvents power failures. The housing should be built to the highest standards of security in order to withstand natural disasters or accidents. It must also be guarded against unlawful entry both physically and virtually.

Benefits of colocation:

• They are very cost effective when compared to the higher bandwidth provides

• They are highly dependable and provide more than just a back up generator in the event of
power failure

• They are consistent and never shut down even when your site is inactive

• They are safe. Your dedicated server is pristinely maintained and secured.

The benefits of fully Managed Hosting in the 21st Century

Without the advances of technology we would not be living in the Information Age, we would not have access to global presence and we would still be relying on brick and mortar buildings to house, protect and maintain our assets.

Technology is a necessity for any 21st Century business. Without a strong web presence, many businesses would not be able to survive. Today, computers, networking and virtual presence are replacing many brick and mortar businesses. Yet with it comes its own challenges. Rising costs on the maintenance of IT departments for instance, it just gets too complicated and this is where full managed hosting providers are providing invaluable services.

What does fully managed hosting provide?

With managed hosting, what you get is a way to completely outsource all your IT requirements. You hand them over to a group of highly experienced and trained IT specialists. This means you can either do away with your own IT department altogether or at least free them up to attend to other in house tasks.

You hand over your day to day running of your IT infrastructure to them. This includes your web servers, applications and databases. All your data is moved onto their servers which are at the cutting edge of technology advances. You do not ever need to worry about spending money or upgrading and maintaining your own server. Your staff resources are freed up to concentrate on your core business.

Fully managed hosting providers offer support that puts measures in place to provide preventative maintenance. They also offer round-the-clock customer support and are monitoring the performance of the server consistently. They provide what security is needed to stop any virtual threats and also offer complete back up services for all your data.

The final step in developing a website is Web Hosting

The missing step between creating a state of the art website or even a humble one is allowing access to it. This is only possible with web hosting.

Web hosting provides the processes needed to get an amount of space on the web so that you can publish our site. Once that is done you can start actively working on and establishing your web presence. Without web hosting you will not be available on the internet. There are many providers that offer web hosting capabilities. Some offer their services for free while others charge a fee according to what features you choose.

Customer service is also a needed aspect of web hosting. Providers of web hosting must own state of the art infrastructure in order to provide good customer service and no downtime. If your site suffers from frequent downtime it is a sign that your providers may not be as reliable as you want them to be. Your business will suffer in the long term as more and more customers start thinking that you are unreliable.

When you have found your provider and selected your package it is time to publish your website. Once done you need to update regularly and, for this reason, your web hosting provider needs to offer you reliable and easy to use control panels.

What are the options?

Private individuals may find shared hosting sufficient for their needs, yet if you are running a website that needs to provide the exchange of money, you will probably need web hosting that offers higher levels of security. Dedicated Hosting or VPS Hosting, for instance.

Is a Dedicated Server right for you?

If you are experiencing difficulties managing your current server and it’s threatening to have an impact on your business or web presence, you may want to consider a dedicated server with or without managed hosting.

While a dedicated server offers you almost unlimited storage space, fast-speed connections and your own choice of operating system and software applications, you still may not have the time or skills to devote to running it. This is where managed hosting is helpful.

Managed hosting together with your own dedicated server can offer you superb benefits. You have more than enough bandwidth as well as high levels of reliability, security and stability. You also do not need to be in possession of an IT degree to maintain your website. Your provider will take care of all your technical issues involved with installation, maintenance, updates, patches, software uploads and hardware configurations.

Unmanaged Dedicated Servers

However, if not, you are free to run and maintain your own dedicated server as you get complete control over it. You will need to do all your own installations and management on the server. While this may entail substantial technical expertise or time, it is often the preferred means of web hosting.

It is also feasible to start off with managed hosting as it gives the user an opportunity of acquiring the knowledge they need. When it comes time for a contract upgrade, you can choose to be independent. This option is able to provide savings but, apart from that, many users prefer the freedom and flexibility of managing their own dedicated server.

Different types of Web Hosting on offer

There is more than one way to host your web presence:

- Shared Hosting

- Shared hosting offers you one account on a server. The server may host a multitude of websites or accounts. You get a little portion of the server and share an IP address with everyone else. If a shared server is properly secured your files should be off limits to anyone else.

- VPS Hosting

- Virtual Private Server Hosting. You are able to share a very powerful server with others, usually less than 20 people. The biggest difference is that you get more bandwidth and a higher speed connection but, more importantly, you get exclusive usage of a portion of the server. You can dictate your own operating system and software applications. VPS offers similar benefits to Dedicated Server Hosting except you do not get the entire server. You also get root access and your own IP address.

- Dedicated Server Hosting

- You get complete use of an entire server which can either lease or rent. You can configure it how you want and you have complete control over it. You can reinstall the entire operating system if need be without affecting anyone else. With Dedicated Server Hosting you get Root access.

- Colocation Hosting

- Colocation hosting means you either buy or build your own dedicated server. It is stored or hosted in a colocation data centre and you pay them a fee to use their facilities. You are completely responsible for the maintenance of it.

Colocation Hosting explained

Colocation web hosting depends on a data centre or colocation centre. A centre is an area especially built that houses a number of servers. They also provide every means possible to protect your data at all times. The servers contained within a colocation centre are equipped with the best encryption software possible that even service providers cannot get through.

You can buy your own dedicated server and place it within this centre. The providers who own the colocation centre provide you with all that is necessary to ensure your server is safe and secure. They provide air conditioning and fire protection as well as every possible means of security and a managed hosting service that will monitor its performance constantly.

Complete control

However, as you own the hardware you are responsible for replacing it in the event of failure. If you live within a distance of the colocation centre you could replace your own hardware. If not, you need to make arrangements with your provider to replace it for you. Software applications are managed by you through your own interface panel.

Your server within the colocation centre is meant for your access alone. Without a password or user ID nobody can gain access. If there are any mishaps in the centre your data will be preserved. For instance in the event of a fire they have measures put in place that are able to seal the room and extract any oxygen from it. While everything else around it may burn down, the centre should remain untouched.

If you need or want complete control over your server then a colocation server will provide you with just that. You get a custom built server that is managed, protected and maintained without the need to hire your own staff to do it.

Answering your questions about dedicated servers

Many of the reasons for a switch over to a dedicated server have to do with performance and security. Poor performance can kill a web presence, while poor security is passed onto customers with detrimental affects to both parties.

The difference between a dedicated server and, perhaps, a home PC or a shared server is the operating system. Dedicated servers use specialised applications and minimal user interface, so the majority of the work is done on the network. They also offer vast amounts of storage and memory.

Dedicated servers also allow users to upload their own operating systems and operating software, when they want and how they want. Their actions have no bearing on anyone else and if they need to re-boot they will not be affecting other users sitting on the server.

What is the need for a dedicated server?

Another form of web hosting comes in the form of shared hosting. Shared hosting allows many users to share the same server. Immediately you can imagine the issues that may arise from this. For one, if the other users hog the space and it reaches its limits and implodes, you are diversely affected. Security is another reason, if someone is able to hack into one web presence they are only milliseconds from accessing yours.

Shared hosting also dictates both hardware and software configurations which don’t allow any individual software needs. Dedicated servers on the other hand mean you are in complete control. If your business relies on certain hardware or software you can install whatever components are necessary without any prior consent.

A dedicated server will usually offer multiple processors and high speed connections. If your web presence relies on processing confidential items and providing info to a large pool of clients then you are probably ready for a dedicated server.

What can managed hosting provide?

Managed hosting falls under the label of web hosting. It is a means of realising your continued web presence. It offers services that provide many different ways of taking care of your web hosting requirements. While some managed hosting only provides the hardware there are also those who offer software that help in managing the server applications.

You don’t have control over the web server in managed hosting as it is controlled by your hosting provider. They also manage the operating systems. This means you have limited access to it. You can only get access via an FTP, or file transfer protocol tool. However, this offers benefits in terms of security as the possibility of the web server being compromised is reduced.
With unmanaged hosting you are responsible for updates or patches as well as being responsible for the security of the web server.

Do you need more freedom?

If you need more freedom over your server then you might want to consider a dedicated server in conjunction with managed hosting. You get an even higher level of security as you are not sharing your server with anyone else.

Managed hosting is not as economical as shared hosting or unmanaged hosting, but you won’t have to worry about any sever issues and are left to concentrate on your data instead. You may need to look long-term though when it comes to your bandwidth as you will need to bear any extra costs involved by upgrading later on.

You get 24/7 customer support, and with it, fast correction of any problems which could otherwise compromise your web presence.

Crucial web hosting UK company features

Web hosting is an important part of your company if you have an online presence. Without a website you cannot hope to attain the maximal amount of exposure to your target market. Without an efficient web hosting UK company on your side you cannot hope to have a successful and flourishing website.

A poor website or badly managed hosting equals only one thing and that is poor web presence. You need a good, strong web presence in order to benefit fully from having a website. So when you are hunting for good web hosting UK services, you need to consider these two factors. You need to look at customer service and the flexibility of packages available, as well as reliability. Does your prospective web hosting company offer shared hosting, dedicated servers, virtual private servers or all of the above and more?

Customers come first

CWCS is a web hosting company that offers you the position as number one priority. Customers should always come first. The equation for this is simple; poor customer service results in unhappy clients. Unhappy clients will move on and find another host elsewhere. You need to make sure that the company you choose offers you not just good but great customer service that puts you first.

Your problems should be dealt with promptly and efficiently. The second thing to look for in a good web hosting UK company is reliability. Can you rely on them to keep your website up and running with little down time? Can you rely on them to fix any problems before they snowball into catastrophes?

And does the company in question upgrade their hardware and software regularly so that they are always on the ball? If the answer to any one of these questions is no, then you need to look for another hosting service that will provide you with the service you require.