If you’re considering, say, launching a website, there are several basic web hosting aspects that you should be familiar with before starting the project. Although it’s relatively easy to sign up and use a provider’s supplied website-building software to swiftly create an attractive, functional front end, there are a lot of related terms and concepts to wrap your head around. As you’ll soon see, some of it is confusing, if not outright contradictory. Here’s what you need to know about web hosting before opening an account.

1. There’s a Big Difference Between Hosting Types

If you’ve spent any amount of time on a web host’s website, you’ve probably seen terms like shared, VPS, dedicated, cloud, WordPress, and reseller. They represent the different web hosting types, but not every web host offers them all. Plus, the hosting types differ from one another in significant ways.

Nearly every web host offers shared hosting, the cheapest form of web hosting. With shared hosting, your website shares a server and server resources with many other sites. If you want to keep your web hosting budget small, and don’t expect much traffic, shared hosting is the way to go. You should expect to pay less than $10 per month for this web hosting type. This level of hosting is really best suited for small sites that don’t need a huge amount of bandwidth, however. Since you’re sharing resources with other sites, you should be prepared for the occasional slowdown should one of your site-mates start attracting a lot of visitors. Free web hosting is available if you’re on a tight budget, which generally comes with its own caveats (typically ads and extremely low server specs). However, you can find Free hosting within The Core Hosting without limitations on the server specs.

Larger businesses that expect big traffic to their sites should pick VPS or dedicated hosting, each of which offers increasingly powerful server specs. VPS hosting is like a high-powered version of shared hosting, except that far fewer websites share a server’s resources, which are also a bit more segregated. VPS hosting costs more than shared hosting, but you should pay less than $100 per month.

Dedicated hosting places your site on a server all by itself, so it can leverage a server’s full power. This is the most expensive type of hosting; you may end up paying $100 per month or more for this raw power.

Reseller hosting lets you start your own branded web hosting business without worrying about building the infrastructure from scratch. WordPress hosting lets you build a site in an environment that caters to the world’s most popular content management system. And cloud hosting? That’s an entirely different beast that lets you easily scale website power across multiple servers, though not every web host offers it. Yet. The pricing for these hosting tiers are all over the place, so shopping around is vital.

2. Bandwidth Isn’t the Same as Data Transfer

“Bandwidth” and “data transfer” are frequently used interchangeably to define the amount of data that your website serves to visitors, but the terms, technically, do not have the same definitions.

Bandwidth represents the total amount of data that can be transferred at one time, while data transfer is the throughput or the actual amount of information that can be used over a given period of time—typically a month. Think of it like this: a web host may have a maximum 5GB bandwidth, but depending on your hosting plan, your site may only allow 1GB of data transfers per month.

Note: If your website exceeds its allotted monthly data transfers due to a Reddit hit, for instance, a web host may slow your site’s data transfer speeds or charge you a fee as a penalty. It may even prompt you to upgrade to a higher web hosting tier. It’s good to know your site’s data limitations before you run into situations like this.

3. Unlimited Isn’t Quite Unlimited

Web hosts will entice you to sign up for their web hosting plans by tempting you with the promise of unlimited storage or monthly data transfers. It’s generally not a completely honest deal. Now, I won’t say that these web hosts are straight up lying, but the “unlimited” storage or data transfers boasts nearly always have limitations that vary by company. FatCow, for example, offers “oodles” of disk space, and states that there’s no cap on a user’s content—as long as that person remains fully compliant with the company’s terms of service and utilizes storage “for the normal operation of your FatCow website.” It’s just like the bottomless shrimp buffet: Eventually a restaurant will cut you off, if they don’t simply run out of shrimp first.

Unlimited storage and data transfers are typically associated with shared or WordPress plans, and they let you run wild…within limits. If your blog gets a steady stream of reasonable traffic (whatever that may mean!), you’ll be in good standing. However, you shouldn’t expect to upload or stream 50TB of data per day. The average joe isn’t doing that is likely dabbling in some questionable activities.

You should consult a web host’s terms of service, or a customer service representative, to learn exactly what you can and cannot do within the scope of your plan’s unlimited offering. For example, here at The Core Hosting, We offer completely unmetered Data Transfer, Or otherwise known as “Bandwidth” for all of our services.

4. The Hard Disk Drive/Solid-State Drive Tradeoff

If you’re looking to sign up for shared web hosting, you’ll likely receive real estate on traditional hard disk Drive (HDD) server. The advantage of an HDD-based server is that it can offer large storage amounts on the cheap. As you move up the hosting ladder to more powerful offerings, such as VPS and dedicated, web hosts will give you the option to build a site on a solid-state drive (SSD).

SSD-based servers are lightning-fast storage units. SSD technology is still pretty pricey, so your SSD-based servers typically carry much smaller storage totals than HDDs. You’ll rarely see 1TB SSD servers, which is a number that’s commonplace in the HDD arena.

The SSD vs. HDD discussion is a lengthy one that goes well beyond the scope of this article. I recommend reading Tom Brant’s excellent SSD vs HDD: What’s the Difference?

5. A Linux Server Will Do…Most of the Time

Nearly every web host offers Linux as the operating system that powers their servers. In fact, I don’t think I’ve reviewed a web host that lacked the free, open-source OS. Even if you aren’t familiar with Linux, you don’t need to do any special work on the back end to build a website. Website builders make building sites a breeze.

That said, if your site needs the ASP or ASP.NET scripting frameworks, you’ll need to run with the Windows Server operating system. That’s because the script your write and webpages your produce will only function in a Windows-based environment.

There’s an additional benefit: Microsoft apps, such as Office or Outlook, integrate with the server with ease. The downside? Windows servers are incompatible with Linux-based, open-source software unless you do some tinkering. In addition, Windows servers cost approximately $10 to $20 more than their Linux equivalents, but if you need Microsoft’s tools it’s a small premium. Linux vs. Windows: How to Pick the Best Server OS for Your Website breaks down everything you need to know about these operating systems.

In the end, your selected database administration software will likely have a big impact on how you function. a better understanding of what each system is offering will make sure you’re having the greatest solution for your site’s particular needs.

On this page, we’ll precisely familiarize you with MariaDB. We’ll then explore some of the reasons you could need to utilize it over MySQL. Let’s get going!

An Introduction to MariaDB

If you’re a practiced webmaster, it’s most likely that you’ll have encountered MySQL eventually inside a career. At first, circulated in 1995, MySQL was made to give you efficient and reliable data management options to both house and professional users:

The working platform has actually since gone onto achieve world-wide popularity, with several huge organizations making MySQL their database administration pc software of choice. However, this began to change after an innovative new company purchased the rights toward MySQL technology.

Numerous consumers had been unhappy aided by the method the brand new owners handled the application. As a result, the first designers of MySQL ‘forked’ it in ’09, creating a version that’s generally MariaDB:

This development caused many companies to ‘switch sides’, and move over to MariaDB instead. Included in this was WordPress, the world’s top information Management System (CMS). Bing, Wikipedia, and Craigslist are prominent MariaDB people, and there are lots of others.

The simple fact MariaDB is a hand of original MySQL software implies that there are many similarities involving the two. Give consideration to their database construction, including. It’s nearly totally exactly the same, which enables you to change from MySQL to MariaDB effortlessly (and never have to alter the job).

The connection between both of these systems does mean that:

The MariaDB designers also do a monthly merge of these software’s and MySQL’s signal. All of this means MariaDB features as an all-natural alternative to MySQL , if you’re looking for an alternate.

3 Reasons to switch from MySQL to MariaDB

Since the two systems are comparable, you’d be forgiven for thinking there’s no part of switching over from MySQL to MariaDB. However, the MariaDB data administration pc software comes with some additional capabilities and is worth at least checking out. Here are three quite prominent reasons why you should make a switch.

1. MariaDB Offers Tighter Protection Actions

Protection is a major issue for a website owner. Hacking efforts take the rise yearly, and a breach may have serious consequences. As a result, it’s crucial that you ensure that your database administration application is precisely guaranteed.

The most up-to-date MySQL up-date performed to add some new security-focused functions. However, MariaDB comes with a much broader variety of extra safety measures, including:

The other unique selling point of MariaDB is its Role-Based Access Control (RBAC). This has already been implemented into the system from version 10.0.5 onward, and eases the management of access rights. To date, MySQL is unsuccessful at implementing similar features, making it somewhat much more susceptible.

2. Performance Is Quicker and much more Efficient

Your site’s overall performance is extremely essential – especially when it comes to running speeds. For example, many users expect a webpage to load in less than two moments. Failing continually to strike that level could cause a higher ‘bounce rate’ (how many individuals who leave your website straight away), and numerous additional dilemmas.

Although both MySQL and MariaDB are efficient, the latter has was able to use the lead-in performance. This can be due to some extent to its huge selection of alternate database engines. Put simply, when optimizing questions, MariaDB considers engine-independent table data.

The MariaDB site offers a variety of helpful sources about how to optimize performance more, also performance approaches for various questions. This includes system variables, buffers, caches, threads, database-type overall performance improvements, and encryption technology. The lay person, this all ensures that MariaDB is a lot less likely to want to have an adverse impact on your site’s web page speeds (and will need a positive impact).

3. You’ll Obtain Access To Better User Help

Whether you’re a newbie or a professional individual, it’s likely there’ll come a time when you need further help. People who hold a license for proprietary MySQL items get access to Oracle Premier Support, which offers around-the-clock help.

The solution provided by MariaDB is similar but is sold with the additional vow of 30-minute optimum effect time. This, plus a notification service, spots, and bug fixes, leave the platform’s user assistance slightly ahead of MySQL’s.

Besides, the MariaDB application is used by some of the world’s biggest organizations – including Nokia, Intel, and Samsung. All these consumers (and more) have gone glowing testimonials, which can be another sign that you’ll be in capable hands.

Although MySQL and MariaDB tend to be both effective database administration solutions, there’s no denying your latter leads the way in many respects. This is certainly evidenced because of the numerous huge companies that have made the switch – including Bing and WordPress.

Let’s recap three of these potential benefits that come with using MariaDB:

Are you experiencing any more questions regarding MariaDB? Inform us of the responses part of the following!

The appropriate response lies in the purposes behind needing to update in any case. For instance, you might be seeing a large increase in traffic or foreseeing large development soon. Committed servers are perfect for this, alongside their solid improved security highlights and potential positive effect on page stacking times.

In this guide, we’ll explain what dedicated servers are, then compare this type of hosting to other common types. Then we’ll offer some advice on how to decide whether or not dedicated hosting is right for you. Let’s get started!

What is dedicated hosting (and how does it compare to other types)?

Dedicated hosting essentially means that your website has its own server all to itself. It offers immense power and flexibility but usually comes at a premium. As such, it’s important to do your research before looking at going this route of hosting.

For example, most websites start out with a shared hosting plan but soon grow to exceed that shared plan’s limits. Your options here could include an upgrade to a virtual private server (VPS) or a dedicated server. It’s up to you to weigh up the different options.

As you may be aware, shared hosting stores your site on a server with potentially hundreds of others. For personal blogs or very small businesses, this option is sufficient. However, it’s not the best option for performance, and you also lose out on flexibility because you can’t configure things yourself (since you have to share with others).

On the other hand, a VPS gives your site its own space, separate from other sites, while still sharing a server. Since your site is blocked off from other users, its performance will likely be more consistent. You also get a little more flexibility when it comes to how your server is configured.

These types of plans can offer you the speed you need at a lower cost than dedicated hosting, and represent a good middle ground for those looking to upgrade.

However, dedicated hosting is the plan of choice if you need the most power for your money. However, as you’d expect, the downside is cost, and some run up to three-figures per month. Fortunately, by the time your website needs one to handle its traffic, it may very well be worth it.

Why would you need a dedicated server (4 key reasons)?

As we mentioned, dedicated hosting is one of the most powerful server plans available, along with cloud hosting. However, you may be asking whether you need it. Let’s review four reasons you should consider opening your wallet!

1. Your website is growing and needs to be able to handle an increase in traffic

If you anticipate that your website is going to grow quickly, it might be a good idea to opt for a dedicated server now. For example, if your site is still using shared hosting when your traffic spikes, its performance could drop significantly. This can be a slippery slope of higher bounce rates and loss of revenue. It’s important to give yourself time to migrate your site and ‘settle’ its performance before any potential problems arise.

According to FXBlog, your site should be prepared to handle spikes of up to 30 times your normal daily traffic, to account for promotions and special events. If you’re not prepared, your site could crash or otherwise lead to negative user experience (UX).

2. Security is a concern for your website

Security is important for every website, but especially for those handling sensitive information. This could include confidential emails, credit card numbers, or sensitive customer information. It’s crucial to protect this information and your website from viruses, hacks, and other risks.

With a dedicated server, you’re completely in charge of your site’s security. This means you can optimize the features you need for the specific requirements of your website and stored files. Of course, you’re also responsible for how these features are implemented, but this is one of the benefits of flexibility.

However, some hosts offer fully-managed and semi-managed maintenance plans. In a nutshell, you can often specify what both you and your host will be responsible for, which means you can trust an expert with mission-critical functionality while handling all other concerns directly.

3. You’d like your page loading times to be optimal

Your page loading times can have a significant impact on practically all aspects of your website. Slow pages can lead to low engagement metrics and high bounce rates. A dedicated server can help you to optimize this aspect of your website as much as possible.

On a shared server, you won’t have any insight into when the server’s resources are being used elsewhere, which could make your site run slowly. Opting for a dedicated server will guarantee you have the bandwidth you need to enhance your page loading times.

4. Having control over your server is important to you

The final reason you may want to choose a dedicated server over other options is a simple one: control. We’ve alluded to this in previous sections, but dedicated hosting gives you complete responsibility over how you choose to use your server.

For example, you’re even free to choose the server software you prefer. If you favor the resource control of NGINX over Apache, you have the power to do so. Plus, you can adjust hardware specifications and install your own operating system (OS). Because of this, dedicated hosting may be an enticing option for advanced web developers, and those with unique and specific requirements.

When should you opt for a dedicated server?

Now we’ve gone over some of the benefits of dedicated hosting, let’s talk briefly about how to know if it’s right for you. After all, a VPS provides many of the same features, but at a cheaper price.

First, consider whether your site is receiving more traffic. If the numbers are much higher than previously, it may be time to upgrade from your current plan. Your choice will either be VPS, cloud hosting, or dedicated hosting.

All three offer the potential for large bandwidths and fast page loading times. However, dedicated hosting has an edge over a VPS when it comes to security, if only because you have absolute control over how the server runs and operates.

Ultimately, as with many other WordPress considerations, your decision will depend on the specific needs of your website. Certainly, if budget is no concern, you can’t go wrong with a dedicated server. However, much like choosing your very first hosting plan, cost will become a primary concern when making your decision.

Conclusion on what is a dedicated server

If your website is struggling to keep up with an increase in traffic, it may be time to migrate your website to a dedicated server. This is essentially a server that only hosts your site, and not only can it improve your site’s performance, but also enhance your page loading times and help you optimize security.

To quickly recap, here are some reasons why you may need a dedicated server:

1. Your website is growing and needs to be able to handle an increase in traffic.
2. Security is a concern for your website.
3. You’d like your page loading times to be as optimal as possible.
4. You want to have control over every aspect of your server.

New Shared hosting features

Shared hosting is one of our largest services we provide, and we are always looking for ways to improve the performance of our servers, which of course improves your sites. Over the last few months, our team has researched, tested, and now finally rolled out several new features to this platform.

• Redis Server – For all of our Deluxe and Premium Shared hosting packages, you now have the ability to create, manage, and control your own redis instance. With Redis, you can vastly improve the performance of your websites by allowing you to utilize it as a caching system, rather than file-based or Memcache based.
• PHP 7.3 – We’ve added support for PHP 7.3 so you can now use this newer version which is 10% faster than 7.2, 30% faster than 7.0-7.1, and 3x faster than 5.6.
• Discontinuation of PHP 5.6 and 7.0 – Unfortunately, due to both of these versions now falling into their EOL (End of Life), which means they are no longer provided any type of updates. We will be removing these versions from our shared hosting platform. If you need help migrating to a newer version of PHP, please feel free to contact our support team.
• Cloudflare Railgun – We are proud to announce that we have rolled out our Cloudflare railgun to all shared hosting packages. From your Cpanel account, you can now add your site to Cloudflare, and utilize not only its super-fast CDN, but our included railgun network, built on the Cloudflare platform. (Best part, it’s free)
• JetBackups System – We’ve upgraded our backup system to now include the Feature package JetBackup system. You can now have more control over your backups, restorations, and more.

Lower Dedicated Server prices!

Over the years, we have become great partners with our infrastructure provider, and as such, we are now able to provide our Semi-Managed dedicated servers at an even lower price than before. On some server packages, the price has been lowered by almost half, while still maintaining the fully packed hardware and unlimited bandwidth at high speeds.

If you are looking to make the switch from your VPS service or shared hosting, to a Dedicated Server, contact our sales team today. We can help you make the best decision for what your site or application needs, and what will help you grow.

cPanel price changes

As most of us heard back in June, cPanel was acquired by Oakley Capital, and as such, price changes were going to be in the works. Expanding a bit more on our email last month in august, cpanel price changes went into effect September 1st of this year. These changes go from the standard VPS or Bare metal license to a new “Per-account” system. Depending on the number of individual cPanel accounts you have within your system, it will determine the pricing of your license. Below is a simple chart of the # of accounts Vs the price.

For VPS’s (Cloud)

BareMetal Servers (Dedicated Servers)

If you have any questions regarding the new cpanel pricing structure, or what your new price will be, or even how to lower your cpanel license price. Please contact our support team with all the questions, we will be happy to assist you.

A Dedicated server is the “All In” when it comes to power, security, and control. With a Dedicated server, you won’t need to share resources with anyone else. Here are a portion of the top reasons that individuals pick a Dedicated server over other hosting choices:

Security is a top need

In case you’re maintaining a large online presence, security ought to be a top priority. With most hosting services such as Shared hosting, VPS hosting, and cloud hosting, you are sharing the host machine with tens if not hundreds of other clients. In these scenarios, Security can not be fully maintained by you, as you do not have root access to change important settings to secure the server and your hosted website or applications.

With a Dedicated server, you have full control, and as such, you can set up as tough of security as you need. Root access allows you to install needed security application, Change needed server settings, and maintain full access to all aspects of the system.

You anticipate reliably large amounts of traffic

The measure of traffic going to your site each day is a significant factor in your sites’ presentation. Generally, most site owners calculate their site’s performance on the internet based on the number of people that come to their site. However, if your site becomes sluggish due to hosting services that are just not up to capacity for your site or application, Then it is time to look for something larger.

While a VPS Hosting can be an appeasing solution, For heavily trafficked sites, a dedicated server is a far better solution. Since you maintain full usage of all resources of the server, you never have to worry about others using resources that could be desperately needed for your site.

Faster load times means more visitors

In a similar light to the above, the faster your site goes, the more visitors you will get, and the longer they will stick around. Many articles have been written relating the speed of a site, and the time it takes to load a page, directly correlates to site view time. So the slower your site or application, the fewer time people will spend on site and the more bounces you’ll receive.

With a Dedicated server, you can fine-tune every aspect of the system to give you not only optimal performance but 24/7/365 up-time.

You need a custom solution

Shared services can be severely limited, Not only in terms of available resources but in what you can do. As your website or application begins to grow, you may grow out of the standard programming codes, and move into more unique systems. In these events, the normal channels may not be sufficient.

Dedicated servers give you the ability to do what you need. From installing custom services to creating specific environments for your applications. You have no limitations as to what you can do with a Dedicated Server.

You’re envisioning significant growth

If you have a site that will require major resources in the not too distant future, you may find it best to start out with the type of hosting you’ll need rather than trying to migrate your site to a dedicated server. Other hosting options will allow you to scale up, but there’s a limit to the amount of resources you’ll have access to.