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Web Hosting, Web Hosting UK, Dedicated Servers, Managed Hosting, Dedicated Server | CWCS
Since Linux server is one of the most common workhorses in the world of web hosting, some background information on this quirkily named operating system might be helpful.
Linux dates back to the early 1990’s when Linus Torvalds, a Norwegian student, created an operating system which derived from UNIX, but had, by contrast with UNIX, a more generous open-source licensing system: Linux was made free for commercial, not just educational, use. The subsequent global collective coding effort has produced a robust, enterprise-class operating system.
During the 1990’s and 2000’s Linux soon took hold as the default server operating system for web hosting. In combination with Apache web server software, Linux has become the one to beat when it comes to web hosting. This is for three main reasons.
- Affordability: Linux is free to use. There are still some expenses, particularly in the area of support. But there are no ongoing software licensing costs, which, especially in these financially challenging times, is a big plus.
- Stability: Linux is a mature, operating system, which has benefited from hours of hard-core tweaking by a global community of dedicated programmers. As a consequence Linux uptime is counted in months, even years.
- Security: the Linux kernel is coded so as to shield itself from external interference or intrusion, and is particularly resistant to hackers and viruses.
Should you choose a web hosting account with CWCS, you will find that we offer a Linux server as a professionally supported option through our range of packages, from shared hosting, to dedicated servers.
Web hosting is a peculiar combination of art, high-tech and customer relations, and it can be difficult to get right. What’s more, sometimes the customer can come out worst from shoddy deals cobbled together by “here today gone tomorrow” hosting companies.
To help you choose the right web hosting company, here are some quick tips.
First visit and scour a potential company’s website. Check that a variety of services is offered, from starter packages to complex hosting. Such variety can demonstrate awareness that websites have different needs as they become increasingly sophisticated.
Next, ensure the company gives full information up-front about what you will get for your money, from bandwidth offered, hard disk space and pop email boxes.
At this stage put in a call to the sales office. Verify that the packages advertised truly contain all the promoted features.
Next, consider the uptime offered for websites. Treat rash promises of 100% uptime with caution, as any professional company will tell you that this is not feasible, since Linux and Windows servers sometimes need a little downtime for proper maintenance.
Finally, probe the company on its technical support: view with suspicion any companies which only offer email support, as this could mean you are kept at arm’s length.
At CWCS, we offer a truly professional website hosting service, and we’ve been in business for well nigh a decade to prove it. We give a 99.99% operational guarantee, and provide stunning technical support, on a range of competitively priced packages.
For a dynamic, growing business, with increased amounts of web traffic, and perhaps an e-commerce arm, a dedicated server soon becomes a serious option.
A dedicated server is a web hosting server entirely dedicated to your site. Your site gets a unique IP address, which gives the added bonus of highlighting its uniqueness to certain search engines. As well as this, the site can support considerably more traffic than a website on a shared server.
However, physical dedicated servers tend to be on the expensive side, doubtless because of their many advantages.
It is now possible to benefit from the advantages of a dedicated server, but at a more reasonable cost, through a “virtual dedicated server”. A “virtual dedicated server” is an emulation of a self-contained physical computer created entirely in software. More than one of these virtual machines can exist on a single computer, which has been configured as a virtual server host machine.
A virtual dedicated server performs and behaves in ways almost identical to a physical dedicated server, but without the overheads of “real” hardware. Site owners can still choose between the Linux and Windows operating systems. They can also install whatever website software they require, from forums and blogs, to e-commerce.
Here at CWCS we find that many clients are keen to take advantage of this economic means of getting hold of the “holy grail” of a dedicated server. We are also proud of the high level of technical support we offer our dedicated server clients.
It’s almost inevitable that, during the course of setting up and running your website, you will need to contact your web hosting company’s technical support department for assistance.
Some of the problems you may experience are: you have forgotten how to access your control panel, you want to add or remove a mailbox, you’re concerned that your site may have been sabotaged by a hacker, your site seems to be “down” or you have stopped receiving emails.
All these and more are reasons for contacting the tech team, and here at web hosting company CWCS we are passionate about technical support, both by phone and email.
When first contacting tech support, try to define the problem as clearly as possible. Writing down the issue helps. The more specific you can be the better. “I can’t see my homepage” is a lot less useful than “Since 9.00am this morning I have been unable to reach my homepage on my home PC”.
Also, whilst picking up the phone and calling support is always tempting, emailing tech support is, except in urgent cases, probably better for you in the long run. Email gives you a chance to provide more details and attach any screen grabs. Furthermore, you get an instant “paper trail” in your inbox, including a case reference number, making it easier for both sides to monitor progress.
Emails are also useful should the case need to be looked at by another person in your company, and at CWCS we provide tech support by phone or email to ensure that your web hosting is always up to scratch.
If you’re thinking of setting up a website for the first time, here are some tips to help you along the way.
First, you need a good domain name; this is the address you type into the search engine, starting with ‘www’. Ideally you want it to be short, memorable, and distinctive. It should be both pleasant to the eye and roll off the tongue. Having the right domain name will work wonders for word-of-mouth marketing.
Don’t be afraid of being abstract. Famously “Amazon” seems little to do with online retailing, but – it’s been a hit. Domain name coinage is one of those areas where the dreaded cliche “blue sky thinking” is actually vital. Examples of effective domain names like these are: flickr, digg, and Yahoo.
Your domain name should dovetail neatly with your company name. Yet avoid unintended consequences as in this domain name for a technology company: “ipanywhere”. You need a friend with a good eye to help you avoid such pitfalls.
Second, you need a good web hosting company. Hosting companies take the headaches out of managing your site within your own IT infrastructure. Look out for a high percentage of uptime, rock-solid security, fair pricing and stellar technical support.
At CWCS we provide a 99.99% operational guarantee for even our lowest priced website hosting packages, and our technical support is of the high quality.
Finally, make sure the web hosting company will provide you with statistics on usage of your site. Web statistics can be both underused and misunderstood, but, if interpreted correctly, are crucial for gauging the success of your site.
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