Web Hosting
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What is Web Hosting
The definition of Web Hosting according to Webster's New Millennium™ Dictionary of English, Preview Edition (v 0.9.6) is "a business providing hardware and services to store, maintain, and present Web sites and provide Internet connection to those sites." Web Hosting is a type of internet hosting service that allows businesses and organizations to provide information through a web site owned by a Web Hosting servicing organization. Servicing organizations provide computer hardware and services for their clients web sites. Some of the services these organizations offer is that they provide, manage, present the web sites for their clients. The servicing organization is also reponsible for providing an internet connection for their clients. These connections are typically provided in a data center. The data center is a facility used to house critical computer systems and the components associated with their function.
History of Web Hosting
Prior to 1991 web hosting as we now know it did not exist. As a by product of the internet, web hosting as a commercial enterprise and access to commercial domains were not open to the public and did not open until 1991. In fact, web sites were still comming of age since Lawrence Roberts created the first dial-up connection in 1965 and Roy Tomilson wrote the first basic e-mail program in 1971. Also in the 1970's the first commercial version of an internet provider called TELENET was created. Around this time, individual packets of information being sent from computer to computer were given passes called Internet Protocol or IP addresses, to distinguish them from other packets. As the systems grew, they eventually became intergrated networks and domains that were made up of shared information that needed to be distinguished. The introduction of Domain Name Systems (DNS) was a critical step in the production of web hosting by bringing into existence the electronic merchandise that web hosting service providers distribute. Six types of domain names were introduced. These are: Education (edu), Government (gov), Military (mil), Commercial (com), Network Resources (net), and Organization (org). When it became clear that the internet could function on its own and was no longer needed exclusively for military or scientific purposes, The National Science Fundation (NSF) lifted the commercial restrictions of the web. The World Wide Web was born into the world in late 1991 and came equipt with an electronic language, called Hyper Text Markup Language (HTML), through which companies and individuals could find a domain by its internet address. After being dominated by military agencies and computer nerds, the internet was finally recognised by some visionary companies who saw the internet as a unsurpassed utility for marketing to and servicing their clients. At first, only larger companies would rent out space on the internet, but eventually hosting web sites on the internet became a business itself. It is now estimated that there are at least as many web hosting service providers as there are internet service providers. As the internet continues to grow and become more complex, so do the businesses and web hosting services that use it.
Obtaining Hosting
Web hosting is offered by most general internet plans, whether it is free or from paid providers. Free web hosting often has some restrictions about how much space can be used such as bandwidth requirements. Paid web hosting is normally used by businesses. They are able to have more options such as 24/7 support. Another advantage of being hosted by a paid site is having a faster loading time, since there are fewer sites being hosted.
Whether your site is for business or personal use, it needs to be created first. HTML or HyperText Markup Language, experience is required to make a website. Those without HTML experience can hire a Web designer. Once the page is up and running, there is not much more work that needs to be done. The host generally handles all the technical work and maintenance for the site.
Types of Web Hosting
Free Web Hosting Service free web hosting that is usually funded by advertising agencies
Shared Web Hosting Service more than one web site is placed on the same server and costs are shared by the organizations running their individual sites
Virtual Dedicated Server similar to shared web hosting except by slicing the server into virtual servers, it appears to the user that their web site has its own server
Reseller Web Hosting an account owner is able to become his own web host by using a personal hardrive to service web hosting to third parties
Managed Hosting Service the account owner has his own web server but allows their web host provider to control the quality of the site
Dedicated Hosting Service the account owner has full control of his own web server
Clustered Hosting multiple servers host the same content to better utilize resources
Colocation Web Hosting Service the account owner has full control of his web server and owns the server
Helpful Websites for Web Hosting Service Providers:
http://www.hit-counter-download.com/web-hosting.html
Current List of Top-Level Domains (as of 2005)
In Alphabetical order, the top-level domains as of 2005 are:
.aero was introduced in 2001 and is used for air-transport industries.
.biz was introduced in 2001 and is used for businesses.
.com was introduced in 1995 and is meant for commercial registrants although it is unrestricted in its use.
.coop was introduced in 2001 and is used for cooperatives.
.edu was introduced in 1995 and is used for United States educational institutions.
.gov was introduced in 1995 and is used for the United States government.
.info was introduced in 2001 and is meant for unrestricted use.
.int was introduced in 1998 and is used by organizations established by international treaties between governments.
.mil was introduced in 1995 and is used for the United States military.
.museum was introduced in 2001 and is used for museums.
.name was introduced in 2001 and is used for registration by individuals.
.net was introduced in 1995 and is meant for network providers but is unrestricted.
.org was introduced in 1995 and is meant for organizations that do not fit elsewhere but is unrestricted.
.pro was introduced in 2002 and is used by Accountants, Lawyers, Physicians, and other professionals.
