When you research IP addresses, you mainly see articles about static IP addresses but what about shared IP addresses? While most will tell you that a static IP address is best, you can still benefit from having a shared IP address. Some people prefer to have just once IP address for their dedicated server so they will have to use this Pp for many different sites or stations.
As for which is better, static or shared, this is best left to personal preference so that you can go with what works best for you and your network needs. One of the main reasons people look into sharing their IP address is if they are going to resell some space that they have on their servers. You will find that this may be a temporary solution for you but in the long run, you will end up getting your own IP address.
While many will tell you nothing good about shared IP addresses, you may want to look into it for your own reasons. You will need to be wary of down time issues as if the server goes down so will the IP address that you share with others. There will be no back up IP. If you find that these are some issues that you do not want to deal with then you may want to look for a company that offers a block or set of IP addresses for their customers. You may want to look at a few different companies so that you will get the best price for your IP address.
Another downfall of shared IP addresses is SPAM. This can prove to be a challenging thing to deal with, as you will not know where the SPAM is coming from due to the IP address being shared. Before you blame someone for the SPAM, you want to be sure that you have a dedicated IP address and that you are not sharing it. You do not want to blame someone falsely for the SPAM.
If you are a reseller then you will want to try to get away from having a shared address, as you do not want to deal with frequent down time. This can make your clients very unhappy as they may end up spending more time down then online. Even though there are a great deal of downsides to going this route with an IP address there are still some strong perks to a shared IP address as well.
One of the main perks is the fact that you can use a great deal of site with just one IP. This can help people such as webmasters as well as hosting companies to keep their cost low. You will be able to have many different sites on your server at one time without having to buy all sorts of IP addresses. If you are a person who wants to sell a great deal of space on their server, this is a way to do it relatively cheap. You should keep in mind both the good points as well as the bad points so you can make the best educated decision for your server needs.
If you have a dedicated server then you know that you have several options available to you where the IP address is concerned. You should check out all of your options before you make a choice. If money is an issue then you can start out by sharing the IP address until you get enough in revenue to cover the expenses of obtaining new blocks of IP addresses.
Shared IP addresses aren't for everyone. Some may find that they like this way of doing things better than the other way just as you may find this doesn't work for you at all or it is the perfect solution. No matter which way you choose to go, be sure to weigh your options so that you do what is best for you and your server. You do not want to get stuck with many sites that are having issues as they use the same IP address. When in doubt, ask questions and check blogs for info on this matter. This is a good way to see what options are out there for you and what may work best for your situation.
If your site has grown larger than your virtual hosting environment can handle, you are probably considering switching to a dedicated server. You may also consider the change if you require large amounts of disk space, frequently transfer large amounts of data, or use large, extensive databases to create your web pages.
Running a dedicated server may seem confusing at first, and can be time consuming. There are a large amount of administrative tasks to be carried out. However, once you understand the basics, you'll be glad you made the choice. Although the process may appear to be similar to running a hosting package on a shared server, there are many differing aspects.
For those inexperienced in running a server, there are a few things you'll need to consider before choosing a host. You'll need to be sure you are provided with a control panel. This will enable you to access all of your controls in one convenient place, making your frequent (and not so frequent) tasks much easier to perform. Check with your perspective host to be sure there is some type of Web Host Manager or other control panel before making a decision.
Upon logging in to the dedicated server for the first time, you'll need to examine your settings and familiarize yourself with the environment. Many hosts will perform the configuration for you but it is still necessary to learn your way around. Refer to any documentation provided to you by your host if you are unsure of any functions or settings. Once you feel comfortable with your settings, you can move on to the various administrative tasks you'll need to complete to get things moving.
The hard part is over once the dedicated server is running. However, some basic knowledge of how to perform routine maintenance tasks will be required. For instance, if the server needs to be rebooted due to an internal problem, it will be necessary for you to understand what this process entails.
Configuring permissions is one of the first tasks you'll undertake. These include FTP, POP3 and setting up a Nameserver. You can turn these off if you don't plan to use them. However, you will probably want to leave them on as they are frequently used. If you are unsure, leave them on to avoid problems in the future. If a problem is experienced, you may need to switch one or more of them off temporarily.
Configuring your back-ups is next and is an essential step if you want to avoid data loss. Back-ups ensure that there is always a copy of recent data available. It's recommended that you set up your server to perform a back up at regular intervals such as once per day or week.
After configuring your permissions and back-ups, the next step is setting up your accounts. If you only want a single site hosted on the server, you will need to create an account for the site. If you want to host multiple sites on the server, you will need to create an account for each individual site.
Each account that you create whether it is for one site or many, must be allotted a certain amount of disk space and data transfer. You will also need to set access levels for each individual account for CGI, FTP, and root access. If no one else will have access to the account, you can safely turn all privileges on. However, if you are planning to enable others to have access to the server, make sure you take that into consideration and adjust these settings accordingly.
The next step is where the control panel comes in handy. You'll need to create the DNS zone for your domain name once you have set up your accounts. With a control panel provided to you, this task will be carried out automatically. You only need your IP address and account information. The remainder is taken care of for you.
After this, the mail server needs to be configured. First, you'll need to make a few decisions. How long will the server store the log files and what type of mail clients will you allow? You can set this up according to your own personal preferences but again, do take into consideration if you are allowing others access to the server.
Once you have learned these basic tasks, you'll be well on your way to mastering running a dedicated server. The best way to learn is to practice and experiment. It may seem difficult initially, but after you've spent a little time with it, you'll be able to easily enjoy the control you have over your own server.
When it comes to small businesses a bit of resource sharing with other firms does not harm. But as the enterprise expands, it is advisable that the proprietor of the business has complete control over certain critical resources so that he can use them anytime without seeking any permission from anyone. And all businesses require a certain degree of online exposure to market themselves to a bigger group of customers. As such, a web hosting service is absolutely indispensable. Drawing in the former analogy there are small business houses that can use shared web hosting services but as the venture matures and expands it will need a bigger podium to accommodate the accelerating amounts of web traffic. For this, they require a dedicated server.
As the name suggests, a dedicated web hosting computer devotes its services to a single owner only. The owner exercises undisputed control over all resources of that dedicated web hosting service.
A dedicated server is especially critical for business houses that need to deal with sensitive client information like financial details or personal bio-data, everyday. Sharing the network with other users cumulates the risk of breach of classified details, which can prove to be disastrous for the firm's reputation.
Dedicated servers also give you unbridled freedom with using any amount of data processing power and any expanse of the memory space. This feature comes as a sharp contrast with the sharing of your server with other users who may have blocked the memory especially at times when you need it the most.
Dedicated servers also allow unlimited bandwidth, i.e. these servers allow for infinite amount of web traffic. And here is the best part, they do so without charging any extra dime.
Have you ever leased a car? Just as in the case of a car lease you get to change it for a newer model after three months if you so wish the same applies with leasing a dedicated server. You can have all the cutting edge hardware for your business requirements whenever you want.
And this bargain will actually save you stacks of dollars. Since your service provider will have all the requisite details regarding newer innovations, you will able to exchange obsolete technologies for newer ones. And the dedicated service provider will even cut you profitable deals when it comes to the provision of ancillary services like licensing deals for control panel services.
A critical advantage of a dedicated server is that it allows you complete autonomy when choosing an operating system that suits your business requirement. This is crucial as it means you have uninterrupted access over the server's control panel from anywhere on the globe. This gives you the liberty to do certain important jobs like re-booting your server whenever you need.
Dedicated servers allow the business houses owning and operating the websites, to tailor it according to personal specifications. This means that the company owning the server can remotely manipulate the server controls linking to system administrations and application use, whenever they so desire.
On the other hand, the service provider is singularly in charge for the up keeping of the hardware and the smoothness of the network channels. Thus, he has to appoint technicians to solve all kinds of problems that customers may come up with at any given point of the day or week. This ensures a steady flow of efficient technical backup for your dedicated server at all periods of time and the assurance that a panel of seasoned technocrats are constantly monitoring your server especially when bulks of traffic throng your website.
The best suppliers of this service will maintain a well-updated knowledge base that answers common operating related queries, the latest technological developments, and the scope of their application. These facilities therefore offer enough ambit for enrichment to all kinds of business ventures, the newer ones as well as the old players who are planning to amalgamate with other firms.
Dedicated service providers generally offer you packages that are a combination of hardware and certain degrees of managements and monitoring that has been successful with other clients who have had similar requirements like yourself.
A last piece of advice for the dedicated service provider! You will have bulks of clients who will ensure that the cost of employing staffs gets shared and evened out. But even then, if you are a new company, it is better to opt for dedicated servers owned by hosting services than priding the same for your own web servers.
"What's there in a name"------------ perhaps not much in the times of William Shakespeare, but in these times of rampant impersonation and online forgery, quite possibly, it accounts for the fraud victim's entire universe. As such, it becomes critical that there is a legal mechanism in place that can pinpoint every individual user of the online facilities everywhere on the planet. The importance of such an authentication procedure stems from the fact, that the foundation of all cardinal institutions of the real world --------- administrative, cultural, security, commerce, etc-------are rooted in the virtual world - on internet addresses, hard disks, silicon chips, email accounts, pen drives, and its likes. This is therefore, the junction where an IP comes in. An IP is the lynchpin of any kind of online authentication program that any government machinery may embark upon.
An IP (internet protocol) is a unique address that is attributed to all computers that partake of the benefits of the internet. This address helps to trace its user in case the internet access point is being used for illegal activities. It is extremely similar to a vehicle's number plate---the unique identification numeric code serves as a trail to the owner in case the car is suspected to have been used for felonious processes. All computers thereby have an IP. It is immaterial how they got one; it could have been provided by the service provider or could be that of the main router or even that of the proxy server the computer is linking up with. An IP is assigned to your computer in all scenarios--------whether you have taken the connection from an ISP (Internet Service Provider) or the DHCP (Dedicated Host Configuration Protocol).
IP addresses are of two kinds----Static IPs and shared IPs. Static IPs have some very distinct advantages over shared IPs. When you buy your dedicated server you are provide with at least one static IP address; in case you are lucky you may be gifted with a bunch of static IP addresses. How lucky for them who are planning to resell their space!
As I mentioned earlier, static IPs have some obvious advantages over shared IPs, the chief among them is that there is zero possibility of being falsely accused of Spamming. But if you happen to share your IP with a company that is accused of spamming, your IP also comes under the scanner; this can spell the doom for all of your company's marketing efforts.
If you are aware of the spammer reputation of one of your associate companies, who happens to share your IP address, switch to a static IP immediately. And more so, if you are running an ecommerce site or something similar, which requires you to send bulks of e-mails. The risk is colossal and not worth the gain.
A static IP simply means that the internet address is unique and completely personal to you. Another thing is that it is unchangeable. Your nameserver links your IP address to your domain name.
After all relevant data regarding the IP addresses and DNS information is submitted to the ICANN, the later ensures that all domains concur with the respective IP addresses.
Now let's see how you can use a host of extra IP addresses that could have been provided by your service provider when you purchased the dedicated server.
For one, if you want to host a multiple of sites, you can allot different names to each of them. This reduces the time that would have been wasted in resolving the individual domains. But the converse is not true. With multiple domains hailing from a single IP address, you can get mired into a lot of problems.
This is exactly what resellers who create shared IPs and let more than one customer use the same IP address, need to take notice of. It is advisable not to assign too many domains to a single IP address, even if that means that one needs to buy an additional block of IP addresses.
A static IP address comes especially handy when you are using the SSL services on your website for e-commerce solutions. It assures your customer of your true identity and convinces them, that you are no fraud.
A lot of hosting companies shun anonymous FTP privileges due to security issues. Even here, a static IP address is indispensable. Unlike shared IP addresses that have a lot of clients, a static IP address boasts of a single authentic client, that is you.
Many webmasters start out by launching their websites in shared hosting environments because they are cheaper and suit most of their needs and even run on optimal speeds. However, as enhancements are added to sites such as forums, mailing lists, and other things where users can register and input their private information, security begins to become a more important issue.
This can alarm some webmasters especially when their databases get more populated drawing more concerns of possible hacking and database stealing. To be relieved from these tensions, webmasters would resort to switching to a dedicated server so they can "feel further away" from the other sites that are in shared servers. In a dedicated hosting, webmasters feel more secure and isolated making it much more difficult for attacks to take place.
This may solve a lot of security issues, but you should know that it does not make your website and database completely impenetrable to possible attacks and hackings attempts. However, by following some of these tips, you can give your site enough security to repel just about any standard hacking attempts.
Securing your FTP access
Beefing up the security of your FTP accounts should take priority since just about all webmasters rely on it to keep their sites updated and allow trusted users to access the files.
Turn off anonymous FTP
Start out by turning off anonymous FTP access. Even if you make your files undeletable, turning off anonymous FTP access means preventing all unwanted users from checking out your directory structure and stealing sensitive files or uploading malicious code that can allow remote access, spying, virus injecting, worm uploads, and other intrusive functions.
It is better to just create FTP accounts of people that you really trust so that access to the server is highly limited to these accounts. Always remember to use a complicated password to avoid regular password guessing or brute force methods. Try to limit the number of accounts as well because granted accounts can do just about anything depending on what permissions are assigned. You want to minimize all possible chances of account stealing.
Adding security to your PHP applications
If you are using a forum or a portal or some form of content management system, you are most probably using PHP. PHP is one of the several scripting languages that face heavy attacks and are frequently targeted by hackers.
Keep your PHP and PHP applications up-to-date
Every time hackers exploit some of the flaws in PHP applications, web developers usually respond to this quickly by means of patching the flawed areas and making a new release. You as a webmaster should also respond to this by keeping up-to-date with your PHP application version and more importantly your PHP version as well. While most good servers do the upgrades for you, it is always good to check the PHP version you are using and make sure it is the latest version. If it isn't, it never hurts to contact support and kindly requesting for an update. However any PHP applications that you install should be your responsibility in making sure it's the most recent version. Also, avoid the use of alpha and beta builds of programs as they are more prone to hacks.
Set register_globals to OFF
This field can be found in your php.ini, if you can't find it, contact your webhosting support for assistance. Though the later versions have register_globals off by default, it is still important to check and make sure it's off because leaving it on gives you a wide opening to a security breach. Try to make sure that the register_globals are OFF with the other PHP applications that you upload into your server.
Use your control panel to scan for other security flaws
Some control panel setups allow you to scan the system for possible security flaws. If you ever come across that option, make good use of it as it aids you in checking if your site is truly safe or if updates are necessary for added security.
It is important to be alert with these security issues and deal with them accordingly so you won't have any problems with your dedicated web hosting. These tricks also work on shared hosting setups too so you can always have added security no matter which type of hosting your using now. Never forget to stay updated with the news and keep subscribed in software that you use so you can patch things right away.
