Let's cover this in simple terms. I won't go into long talks about Apache
versus AOLServer, Sun versus Penguin, we'll just cover it the way I
learned it. Basic terms, basic phrases, nothing too technical.
Websites are stored on what's referred to as "webspace" which is basically
a certain amount of space on a hard drive of a server machine -- a computer
which is connected to the internet by an uninterrupted, highspeed modem.
This computer, which we'll refer to as the "server", receives signals from
visitors when they try to access your site's address. The computer then responds
to those signals by spitting out information, websites, graphics -- everything
that *is* your website. Therefore, webspace is the amount of space that you've
been given on the server machine.
Servers are usually located at big warehouses around the world, maintained
by uber-geeks who actually understand all that technical stuff. Typically,
unless you need as much webspace as Amazon.com, you'll share webspace on
a single server. Servers are usually much larger than your typical home pc,
so they have the space to accomodate several Harry Potter websites at once.
:) Therefore, when shopping for webspace, pay no heed to "Dedicated",
"Semi-Dedicated", or "Shared" webhosting. Go with the last option; it's the
cheapest, and just what you need.
Now, how do you get webspace? There are lots of options. The most common
is to use a free server, such as Geocities or Lycos. These give you a limited
amount of webspace in return for placing ads on your site. (For more information
on those, visit Free Services.)
The other option is the dreaded idea of paying for webspace. Prices have
sky-rocketed lately to the point where you can pay upwards of $25 for 50megs
of webspace with limited bandwidth. Believe me, that's an astronomical price.
Another example of high prices is what was spent to host my site, the Daily
Prophet. The first year we were in operation under the domain name
www.dprophet.com. I spent a total of $178, which included 60megs of space,
limited bandwidth, and incredibly limited options. This year, it cost $300
-- but, we did increase how much webspace we used. (The site expanded, and
there are even more plans for further expansion.) For that $300, the DP was
allotted 250megs, unlimited bandwidth, and a whole lot of other promised
options. The only catch was, none of it worked. Bandwidth was limited, they
blocked uploading, and so on.
Basically, to sum it all up, if you're going to pay for your webhosting,
you're going to pay a lot, and if you try to skimp, you're most likely going
to get ripped off. Unless you're planning on building an incredibly large
website, stick with a free service to get yourself started. Once you've gotten
yourself established and you've actually decided that hey, HTML really isn't
that bad, go ahead and buy some webspace. It's a fun experience, just be
careful.
There are lots of things you'll need to know if you decide you need to start
shopping for expanded webspace. When I first started, I knew practically
nothing about the basic details of what I needed for my site. Here's a list
of the most common mistakes you could make, and should avoid:
~ Bandwidth: I referred to this above, and I bet a lot of you were
thinking "what?!" Bandwidth is like a speed limit on a highway -- it limits
how fast you can go. Or, you could also liken it to a doorway; the more limited
the bandwidth the smaller the doorway. Imagine about 400 people trying to
squeeze through a small door. That's like limited bandwidth. Bandwidth is
what allows a certain number of people to access your site within a certain
amount of time, and how quickly they'll be able to do that. I made the mistake
of signing up for limited bandwidth the first time I hosted the Daily Prophet
professionally. It got to the point around July, 2000, where my bandwidth
was so overloaded my site was shut down for days because the bandwidth was
so clogged up. It was like a huge traffic jam on an interstate. Nothing was
moving, and people were getting nowhere fast. Always look for unlimited
bandwidth. If that's not an option, look for the largest allotment of bandwidth
that you can get. It's worth paying a little more for. Don't ever let your
site be punished for being too popular.
~ How much space do you need? Even though I paid $300 for 250megs
of space, I didn't end up using it. I was planning on expanding my site,
and I still am, but I got horribly sick and couldn't work on the projects
I had planned out. I ended up using only 16% of all that space. Thankfully,
because the hosting company broke their contract, I got all that money back,
but it was just a rude awakening to just how little the Daily Prophet really
used at that point. Be sure you make an accurate estimation of how much space
you'll need, and of course, give yourself enough extra space so you won't
have to worry about every single thing you upload.
~ How much should you pay? Always do your research. I can't tell you
here what's normal for prices; prices simply fluctuate too much to keep accurate
track of them here. The best way to do your research is to go to WebHosting
directories like TopHost.com and go through all the hosting sites that are
listed there. Compare prices, compare services, and make an educated decision.
Or, if you have friends that host sites professionally, ask around. Find
out what customer service is like, how their site responds to traffic, etc.
Word of mouth is often the best way to find a good webhoster.
In conclusion, do your research on this and find what's best for you. If
you decide you can't spend the money on professional webhosting, don't sweat
it. Go with a free service for the time being so you can gain experience.
After all, after a few months, you may decide you don't like keeping up a
website. Don't invest the money unless you're absolutely sure you're going
to be keeping it up. Your wallet will thank you for it later. |
