More About Web Hosts
- Your Web Host: Your Web Site may be hosted with either a
full-service web hosting package or with a limited-service Internet
access package. Both are services usually provided by ISPs. In the former
case you will generally have additional services such as; more file storage
space, access to statistics on visits to your site and error logs,
the capability to have your own domain name (as compared to your logon name
added on to your ISP's domain name. Generally speaking, Internet access and
web hosting fees are prices separately. These fees may be about equal in cost
or quite different - depending on the range of services you decide to have.
Some questions to ask before you sign up.
- Directory Structure: With some ISPs, there is a "docs"
directory where you place your HTML files. This is referred to as your "root"
directory. With a full-service web hosting
package there will likely be other directories (at the same level as "docs")
where error logs and usage stastictics are stored, and other directories
that may be associated with forms processing, password protection, and so on.
You can either place all your files in your root directory, or (I recommend)
you can create subdirectories for images, and different portions of your web
site. A good approach is to place only your home page in your root directory.
This page is usually best named index.htm or index.html because this is the
normal default for web browsers so you do not have to add your home page file
name to your domain name (it keeps your address as simple as possible). Your
ISP will tell you whether to use the .html or .htm extension.
- Host Operating System: Many web hosting providers use
Unix as their server operating system, some use NT, some offer a choice.
Most of the time this will not appear affect you in an obvious manner.
You do need to know the type of operating system used when you are
logging on to your server.
- Hosting Charges: Be aware that your monthly hosting fee
usually has some fine print which should detail additional charges that
you may incur. For example - traffic charges; if your site becomes
popular and you generate a lot of Internet traffic (many of your files -
some of which may be quite large - are viewed by many people) you may be
charged an extra fee. You may also be charged for runing special scripts,
etc.
|