Tag Archives: internet

What Are Dedicated Servers for Games?

Posted on February 19, 2019 by Hosting

The post What Are Dedicated Servers for Games? appeared first on HostGator Blog . If you love playing video games, then you’ve probably considered running your own gaming server. There’s nothing more frustrating than slow loading games, dropped connections, or experiencing lag that makes gameplay impossible. Issues like these are one of the main reasons gamers decide to use their own dedicated servers. Dedicated server hosting can help to provide the ultimate gaming experience. Whether you’re looking to improve gaming experience across the board or want to create a server environment your friends can enjoy too, then upgrading to a dedicated server just makes sense. Below we look at what a dedicated server actually is, how they can help to improve gaming, as well as the top considerations to take into account when choosing a dedicated server for gaming. What is a Dedicated Server? To start we’ll break down what a dedicated server actually is. Essentially a dedicated server is a physical server that’s dedicated entirely to a single user, you’re not sharing server resources with any other users. Usually, these are used by website owners who have very large websites, receive a high volume of traffic, require a customized server environment, or need enhanced levels of website security like a SSL. However, the great thing about dedicated servers is that they’re incredibly versatile. Once you sign up for a dedicated server package, you can use this server however you desire, including running your very own gaming server. Dedicated servers usually allow for hardware customizations, a variety of operating systems to choose from, firewalls and security monitoring, ongoing maintenance, regular backups, and a dedicated support team. Dedicated servers tend to be towards the higher end of the price spectrum, but there are a ton of advantages that you can’t get with any other style of web hosting , especially if a high level of gaming experience is what you’re after. What you’ll pay for a dedicated server depends upon the length of your contact (monthly, yearly, or multiple years), the company you decide to go with, and the type of dedicated server you require.   What is a Dedicated Server for Gaming? A dedicated server for gaming is a dedicated server that has the requisite requirements to effectively run any game while offering a very high level of performance. What’s required from your server will depend upon the game you’d like to run and how many players you’ll want to have using the server at any given time. If you’re running your own gaming server , some games won’t allow you to charge people to play the game, especially if they’re free and open source. Others, however, are fine with you charging an entrance fee in order to utilize your server. Overall, monetizing your gaming server depends upon the hosting company you’re renting the server from, along with the games you’ll be running via your server. Most hosting companies that offer dedicated servers for gaming will have specialized software that will speed up the game configuration process. At the very least, a company offering dedicated gaming servers will have the necessary hardware to run games at peak capacity.   How Dedicated Servers Improve Gaming There are many dedicated IP benefits you should be aware of, especially for gaming. Sometimes the servers provided by the gaming company won’t cut it, or you’re looking to create the ultimate gaming server for your own games or a place where your online team can practice. Whatever your reason a dedicated gaming server can offer you a ton of advantages. Here are some of the most common benefits you’ll realize when upgrading to a dedicated gaming server.   1. Better Gaming Performance Probably the biggest reason you’ll want to run a dedicated gaming server is to provide a better overall gaming experience. If you’ve been running a game that allows for the use of a dedicated server, then you should probably make the upgrade, if you really care about gaming performance. For example, most games will look for the best connection. But, if the game is incredibly popular, or even if it’s older and there are fewer players, then it might be hard to find a stable connection. Most games will rely on peer-to-peer connection, but sometimes this can be slow of glitchy, depending on the internet connection. Sometimes gaming companies will even provide their own dedicated servers, but due to the cost, most gaming companies will not provide them.   2. More Control and Customization With a dedicated gaming server, you’ll have a much greater level of control over the gaming experience. Some games will even allow you to modify the gameplay, so you can create certain rules, or even control how the game is played. You’ll also be able to control who is allowed onto the gaming server. You’ll be able to add or remove users with ease. This can be valuable if you want to create a gaming server for your friends, or if you want to host a server that allows you and your team to practice, before playing online. In some cases, you can also install software that effectively acts as an anti-cheating tool. This will help provide your server with necessary security measures, so other people can’t manipulate the code to their own advantage.   3. Decreased Level of Lag One of the biggest effects on the overall playability of a game is lag. High lag usually comes into play when a user has a slow internet connection, or they’re connecting from another far-off part of the world. This not only provides them with a poor gaming experience, but it will also affect other users who’re playing the game as well. If you have a team member experiencing a high level of lag, then they could cost your more matches. Overall, teams who are experiencing less lag will tend to win more games and matches. By running your own dedicated server you can help to reduce issues that surround lag for you and any other players who are using the same server.   3. Greater Reliability With a dedicated server, you’ll experience higher levels of reliability than any other type of server. With other types of server environments, like shared servers, you’re competing for server resources with potentially hundreds of other sites. This increases the chances that your server could be temporarily offline when you need it the most. As always, it’s important that you fully understand both dedicated IP and shared hosting plans before choosing the right one for you and your website. Dedicated servers have an extremely high level of uptime, sometimes reaching as high as 100%. Of course, there are minor times when server maintenance needs to be done, but beyond keeping your server up to date there shouldn’t be any other reasons your server will be offline. This means that whenever you want to play a game or host an epic multiplayer match you’ll be able to count on your server.   Considerations When Choosing a Dedicated Gaming Server If you’re sold on getting a dedicated gaming server you’ll want to keep some things in mind throughout your search. Not every company that offers dedicated servers will make it easy to run games on your server. Beyond looking for a hosting provider that actually offers dedicated gaming servers here are some tangible requirements to keep in mind:   1. Know Your Gaming Resource Requirements Every game has different hardware and software requirements. Some online games have massive resource requirements and you’ll need to ensure your server environment is up to the task. If the overarching goal of running a dedicated gaming server is an improved gameplay experience, then you’ll need a server with sufficient resources. You’ll also need to consider how many people you’ll have playing on average. For example, if you’re maxing out server resources with solo gameplay, then you’ll need to upgrade to a server that has a higher level of available resources.   2. Required Memory and Bandwidth Sever memory and bandwidth are two of the main hardware requirements you’ll need to look out for. With enough memory and bandwidth you’ll be able to have a lightning fast connection. You’ll want to invest in a higher bandwidth host, so you can ensure that any games you run will run smoothly.   3. Don’t Choose on Price Alone If you’re trying to save money, then a dedicated gaming server might not be for you. A dedicated server is typically the most expensive forms of hosting you’ll find. You may be able to find cheap dedicated server hosting options, but this could come at a cost of negatively impacting the gameplay experience. With a cheaper provider, you’ll usually have to sacrifice server performance, lack of customer service, and more.   4. Look for a Knowledgeable Support Team Unless you’re an expert in server technology you’ll want to have a solid technical support team behind you. Most dedicated server environments require at least some level of technical expertise to configure and get up and running. But if you’ve set everything up correctly and you still run into an error, you’ll want to be able to troubleshoot the issue with a team of experts. In some cases, you might also be able to find a managed dedicated server. Instead of having to deal with server setup, maintenance, optimization, and any other technical tasks on your own you’ll have a team of experts do it for you. This option is usually more costly but can be very valuable if you don’t have the necessary technical skills.   5. Bundled or Available Server Software Most dedicated servers will offer you the choice of server software to install. You’ll need to make sure that the server software you go with will support your game of choice. If you want to run multiple games on the same dedicated server, then look at the software requirements and ensure they match up. Generally, this won’t be an issue, but some games will have very specific requirements. Beyond the initial dedicated server software requirements, your host might also offer additional software that’ll help morph your standard server into a gaming server with little effort on your part.   Can’t I Just Run a Gaming Server At Home? When you’re doing research and trying to find the perfect dedicated gaming server the question might arise: why don’t I just run my own gaming server? However, if you’re thinking about going this route just know that it’ll require a high level of technical expertise, and you probably won’t be able to get the levels of performance you’re looking for. A dedicated server is technically just a computer that’s connected to the internet. But, a remote dedicated server provided by a hosting company will have all of the specialized server hardware that’s uniquely configured to run the required server software. Simply trying to piece together a server on your own might work, but then you have to think about ongoing maintenance, security, and a lot more. Not only that but if your server crashes you won’t have a support team you can rely on to help you diagnose the issue. You’ll probably spend more time trying to setup and maintain your own server than actually gaming, or hosting games for your friends. Overall, doing your web hosting with a dedicated IP is going to be your best course of action.   Is a Dedicated Server Right for Your Game Environment? If you’re a serious gamer, you can’t go wrong with a dedicated server when making a gaming website . By choosing a high-quality hosting provider you can ensure you’ll get a dedicated gaming server that offers you unparalleled levels of performance, along with the resources required so you can play your favorite games. The process of setting up your own gaming server can be a little technical. But, with the help of a dedicated support team behind you, it might be easier than you think. Plus, you’ll have ultimate freedom in creating your own custom game environment, from your own gameplay options, to who you want to let play with you. Although a dedicated server might be a little costly, for some having the ability to create your own gaming experience, and offer the highest level of gameplay possible is too much to pass up. However, keep in mind that the quality of the host you choose does matter, especially in regards to overall performance, security, and the support team you’ll have behind you. Find the post on the HostGator Blog Continue reading →

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Top 5 Dedicated IP Benefits

Posted on February 12, 2019 by Hosting

The post Top 5 Dedicated IP Benefits appeared first on HostGator Blog . When the time comes to choosing a hosting provider you’re going to have a lot of decisions to make. Finding the right type of hosting and a quality hosting provider along will take a lot of work. As you’re sorting through different hosts there are a lot of different features you’ll come across. One of those that bring about the most confusion is a dedicated IP address. You’re probably wondering what is a dedicated IP address? And will using one actually benefit my website? Learn what a dedicated IP address actually is, the dedicated IP hosting benefits , and how it relates to dedicated server hosting , so you can make the best decision for your new website. What Is an IP Address? Before we jump into dedicated IP addresses, it’s important to understand what an IP address actually is. You’re probably already familiar with what a domain name is, but IP addresses, not so much. An IP address is a unique string of numbers that are used to identify a computer that’s connected to the internet. In the case of an online IP address, this computer is a server provided by your hosting company. You can think of your domain name as the address of your website, while an IP address identifies the location and type of device that’s being used to access the internet. IP addresses are part of the Domain Name System (DNS). How domain names work is they are mapped out to various IP addresses. When a domain name is typed into an address bar your ISP will look up the associated IP addresses and display the correct website. In the case of a shared IP address, the web host will forward the domain request to the proper site. While if your web hosting is with a dedicated IP address you can literally input the IP address into your web browser and you’ll be taken to the correct site. The IP address and associated domain are synonymous.   What is a Dedicated IP Address? A dedicated IP address is an IP address that you have sole access to. Since IP addresses are tied to a specific physical server and you have sole ownership of that server, then the IP address is yours to do whatever you wish. In some cases, you can have a dedicated IP address and shared hosting on the same account. This is rarer as the hosting provider will have to configure certain software, but it is possible. This will enable you to take advantage of the benefits of having a dedicated IP address while remaining on a cheaper hosting plan. While there are cheap dedicated server hosting plans available, it’s still wise to do extensive research before settling on a specific one. However, the most common usage of a dedicated IP address is being paired with a dedicated server. With a dedicated server, you have complete control over your server environment. Typically, when you have a dedicated server you’ll have an associated IP address. This can be used for a single website or multiple sites that you’re hosting on a single dedicated server. Your web hosting provider might also be able to configure multiple dedicated IP addresses on a single dedicated server as well.   How Do Dedicated and Shared IP Address Differ? The most common type of IP address is a shared IP address. In this section, we will answer the question what is shared hosting and discuss how these two differ. This is mostly because shared hosting is the most commonly used type of web hosting . With shared hosting you’re sharing server space with a multitude of different users. This helps to keep costs low, while still offering you enough server resources for your site to run. When defining dedicated hosting , you have access to the resources of an entire physical server. You won’t be sharing these server resources with any other users. This includes your IP address. On a shared hosting environment you’re also sharing your IP address with any other websites on the same server. Depending on your host this could end up being hundreds or even thousands of other sites. With a shared host your host has certain forwarding technology in place that ensures the user will be able to access the correct site. Like a dedicated server, with a dedicated IP address you’re the only person using this IP address.   Dedicated IP Benefits A dedicated IP address usually won’t make or break the success of your site. However, it can offer some advantages to certain kinds of website owners. Here are some of the biggest benefits you’ll receive when using a dedicated IP:   1. Improve Email Deliverability If you’re like most website owners, you’re probably sending emails with a branded email address . Instead of using a classic Gmail address your email address will look something like james@newdomain.com. If you’re a business owner this can help to create a higher level of credibility. However, if you’re using a shared IP address, then you could run into email issues. The biggest one being deliverability issues. This means that when you send an email you can’t be sure that it’ll actually end up in the recipient’s inbox. If another user on the same shared IP address is sending a high volume of emails that get classified as spam, then you’ll get this same classification. Instead of landing in the inbox, your messages will get sent straight to spam. With a dedicated IP, you’re the only user who will be sending emails via this IP address. This can be a great way to protect your reputation while ensuring that your emails go where they’re supposed to go. If you’re sending a very high volume of emails, then you might want to use a third-party email provider from the start. These services are set up in a way that will support you in sending massive quantities of emails while ensuring a high level of deliverability, and protection against IP blacklisting.     2. Greater Server Control With a dedicated IP address, you have a much higher level of server access. Instead of simply relying on a tool like cPanel to manage your server, you’ll be able to remotely manage your server, upload files, create a file sharing server, and a lot more. You’ll also be able to do things like creating your own dedicated gaming server . If you want to host your own online games, create custom gaming environments, or have the ability to play games with a very high level of performance, then a dedicated server for games is the way to go. Usually, if you want this level of server control and customization you’ll also be pairing your dedicated IP address with a dedicated server as well. To get the most from your server environment you’ll want to be using a dedicated server as well. It’ll be very difficult to unlock this level of customization while using a shared server environment.   3. View Website Via IP Alone A dedicated IP address gives you the ability to access your website via IP address. This means you could technically build out and view your website without even purchasing and setting up a domain name. This can be useful if you can’t decide on a domain name registration , but want to start building a website . Or, you don’t want to wait for the domain to propagate before you start building out your website. Not every user will demand a feature like this, but it can offer you more flexibility, especially if you’re running into issues with your domain name.   4. Potential SSL Requirement Installing an SSL certificate on your site is now becoming a requirement. Browsers like Google Chrome are now marking sites as insecure if they don’t have the encrypted HTTPS connection, which can be enabled by installing an SSL certificate. An SSL certificate will elevate the level of security across your site by encrypting any information that’s exchanged between a user’s web browser and a your server. This is a must-have for sites that exchange sensitive information, like for those building an eCommerce site . You used to need a dedicated IP address for an SSL certificate. However, today there’s a technology called Server Name Identification (SNI), which allows those who are using a shared IP to install an SSL certificate. However, not every host will support this technology, so you still might need to upgrade to a dedicated IP address. For higher level SSL certificates , you still might need to use a dedicated IP address.   5. Potential Application Requirement If you’re running any custom software on your server then you might require a dedicated IP address. Some types of server software will require a dedicated IP in order to function properly. If you’re using a shared IP address the page might re-load while the script is still running. This will cause the script to malfunction and your website or server might not function properly. If your website requires a custom server setup in order to function properly, then you might need a dedicated IP to aid in this functionality.   6. Direct FTP Access Some users might require a greater level of website access. Instead of having to log in via cPanel, you can remotely access your server via FTP. If you need to do this on a regular basis, you’ll quickly realize the benefit of having direct FTP access. You can also create an FTP server that lets your users download files anonymously. This can allow you to quickly share files with friends, family, or even site visitors. Most website owners won’t really need to run an IP-based FTP server. But, for users who demand this feature, a dedicated IP is a must-have.   Do You Need a Dedicated IP Address? Not every type of website owner will benefit from using a dedicated IP address. Here are the biggest reasons you’ll want to upgrade to a dedicated IP address: You want to view your website by IP address alone Your host requires a dedicated IP to install an SSL certificate You want to regularly access your site via FTP You want to customize your server environment, like a gaming server Using a dedicated IP address doesn’t automatically mean you’re using a dedicated host. You can still have a dedicated IP address while using a shared server, or you can have an IP address you’re sharing between a few of your own sites while using a dedicated server too. Overall, the biggest reason you’ll probably want a dedicated IP address is to install an SSL certificate. Your hosting provider might not require it, but if they do, then it’s worth the upgrade.   What is Dedicated IP Hosting? Dedicated IP hosting is any form of hosting that utilizes a dedicated IP address. This can be either a shared hosting environment with a dedicated IP address, a dedicated IP server with a dedicated IP address, or even something like cloud or VPS hosting with a dedicated IP address. You’ll typically find a dedicated IP address as a feature that’s bundled with most dedicated hosting packages. The chances are high that if you’re thinking about upgrading to a dedicated IP for the advantages highlighted above, then you can also benefit from using dedicated hosting as well. By using the combination of a dedicated server and a dedicated IP address you’ll get the most benefits for your site. A dedicated server can offer you very high levels of performance, security, control, and customization. However, a dedicated server will require a higher level of technical proficiency in order to setup, optimize, and maintain the server properly. Your host might be able to add a dedicated IP address to a shared hosting package, but it does require certain software and technology that your host might not support.   Is a Dedicated IP Right for You? Hopefully, you have a better understanding of what a dedicated IP address is, how it can benefit your website, and how it relates to dedicated IP hosting. Most website owners probably won’t need to upgrade to a dedicated IP address, at least right away. As your site grows and you demand higher performance from your host, along with more niche features, then it might be a worthwhile add-on. If you’re looking to get the most out of your site, then you’ll probably get the most value in upgrading to a dedicated server that comes equipped with single or multiple dedicated IP addresses. Find the post on the HostGator Blog Continue reading →

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Dedicated IP and Shared Hosting: What’s the Difference?

Posted on February 7, 2019 by Hosting

The post Dedicated IP and Shared Hosting: What’s the Difference? appeared first on HostGator Blog . If you’re in the market for a new host there are a lot of things you’ll need to consider. Not only are there multiple types of web hosting available, but there are probably hundreds of different web hosting providers to choose from. Beyond choosing between the hosting provider and style of hosting, you’ll also need to sort through a lot of different technical terms and hosting requirements. After all, it can be difficult to find the right kind of hosting when you don’t know what you’re looking for. Below we look at two very common forms of hosting, shared hosting and dedicated IP hosting . Learn about what dedicated IP and shared hosting actually are, how they differ, as well as the pros and cons of each, so you can decide what style of hosting is best for your business. What is an IP Address? An Internet Protocol (IP) address is a way to reference and locate a computer that’s connected to a network. In this case, your IP address will reference the location of a server that’s connected to the internet. Every domain will be assigned an IP address. IP addresses are then mapped via the Domain Name System (DNS). This system works like an address book. When you type in a domain name into your web browser, your ISP will perform a DNS query. This query will then look up the name servers associated with your domain and finally send you to the requested website. That’s a lot of steps, but all of these tasks happen behind the scenes, and all take less than a couple of seconds. Without the DNS system, we’d be stuck typing in IP addresses into our browsers, instead of easy to remember domain names .   What’s a Dedicated IP Address? A dedicated IP address is an IP address that’s assigned to a single domain name. Think of this as your personal cell phone, as opposed to a home phone line that can be answered by anyone in your home. Here are a few of the most common benefits of a dedicated IP address :   On-Demand Website Access Sometimes you’ll want to start building your website or access it before the domain has effectively propagated. With a dedicated IP address you have direct server access, so you can view your website without having to change the DNS settings.   Improve Email Deliverability Most businesses have business email addresses that are associated with their domain names. In this case, you might also be sending emails over through an app on the server. If another site using the same IP address is using shady or spammy tactics, then this could have a negative impact on your email deliverability rates. With a dedicated IP address, your site is isolated from these negative consequences.   It’s a Requirement for Some Applications Some applications and server-side software might actually require that you have a dedicated IP address in order to function properly. This requirement isn’t as commonplace as it once was, but if you’re running a customer server, or require a unique server configuration, then a dedicated IP address might be a necessity.   Some Hosts Require Them for SSL Before, you needed a dedicated IP for SSL . Today, it’s no longer an across the board requirement, but some hosting providers might require it. It’s worth checking with your current hosting provider, to see if a dedicated IP is required for SSL.   What is Dedicated IP Hosting? Dedicated IP hosting has a variety of different meaning depending on your hosting provider. For example, it could mean that you have a dedicated IP address, but you’re still using shared hosting. Or, it can mean that you have a dedicated server, along with a dedicated IP address. Web hosting with a dedicated IP refers to your IP setup, rather than the type of hosting itself. Most hosts will be able to offer you a dedicated IP address no matter the kind of hosting environment you’re currently using. However, dedicated IP hosting typically refers to dedicated hosting. To define dedicated hosting , it is a style of hosting that provides you with your own physical server. Compare this to shared hosting where you’re sharing a single physical server with hundreds, or even thousands, of other websites.   Dedicated IP Hosting Pros and Cons The benefits of dedicated IP hosting depend on what you mean by dedicated IP hosting. If you’re strictly referring to a dedicated IP address (no matter the type of hosting you’re using), then refer to the dedicated IP address benefits above. However, if you’re referring to a dedicated IP server , then these are the benefits your site will receive:   Rock Solid Performance With a dedicated server, you have access to all of the resources of your server. This means that you’ll never run into bandwidth, disc space, or memory issues. Your site can receive a nearly unlimited volume of traffic without negatively affecting your site’s performance.   High Level of Security With a dedicated server, you not only receive a dedicated IP address, but you’ll have much higher levels of server security. With a dedicated server, you can create custom security protocols that are engineered to your unique websites. Plus, since you’re not sharing the server with any other users, a spammy or insecure website won’t affect your server.   High Level of Uptime Dedicated servers have very high uptime. You won’t experience any issues of your site being taken offline due to resource consumption.   Drawbacks of Dedicated Hosting Still, dedicated hosting isn’t perfect. Here are some of the biggest drawbacks of choosing this form of hosting:   It Can Be Expensive With a dedicated server, you’re paying for the entire physical server yourself. So, instead of splitting the costs between multiple users you’re responsible for the entire server cost yourself. However, with the higher dedicated hosting costs you’re getting direct access to a high-performance server. If you’re thinking about upgrading to a dedicated server plan, then you’re probably the type of website owner who can afford it. There are also cheap dedicated server hosting plans available, but with these it is highly recommended to do your research and know what you’re getting before purchasing.   High Level of Technical Expertise With a dedicated server, there’s a higher level of technical experience required. For example, you or your team will be responsible for server configuration and maintenance. If you don’t have the necessary technical skills, then you may need to bring on additional team members or consider using a managed hosting provider.   What’s a Shared IP Address? A shared IP address is an IP address that’s shared between multiple domains. It’s probably one of the most common IP address setups today. Hosting providers today are able to utilize a single IP address for multiple domain names, while still delivering users to the web page they specify. But, just because you’re using a shared IP address doesn’t mean that it’s shared hosting. With shared hosting, you’ll be sharing the server resources amongst multiple users on the same server. They often go together, but it’s not always the case.   What is Shared Hosting? In this section, we will discuss what is shared hosting so you can have a better idea of which hosting plan is best for you. Shared hosting is by and far the most common type of hosting. It’s well suited for beginners and can usually benefit sites up until they’re getting tens of thousands of visitors per month. Like we mentioned above, with shared hosting you’re sharing the server hardware and resources with dozens, hundreds, or maybe even thousands of other sites. This is done through server partitioning. Every user will have an allotted amount of storage, bandwidth, and more that they can use however they wish (within the host’s terms of service of course). Shared hosting is commonly equipped with an easy to use control panel, along with additional tools to help you get your site online as fast as possible, plus it’s usually the cheapest form of hosting you’ll be able to find!   Shared Hosting Pros Shared hosting is the most commonly used form of hosting in the world. It’s oriented towards beginners and can greatly aid in the site building process. Most site owners will start their online journey with a shared host, eventually “graduating” to other types of hosting as their sites expand.   It’s Cheap One of the main reasons people turn to shared hosting is because it’s incredibly cheap. Since you’re sharing server resources with other site owners you’ll be splitting these costs as well. When you’re just starting out online and don’t have much of a budget, the cheap monthly rate can be very beneficial.   Easy to Setup Shared hosting is incredibly easy to use. A shared hosting environment typically comes with pre-installed software scripts, or at least the ability to quickly install whatever kind of technology your site requires to function. For example, with a shared server environment you’ll have access to tools like WordPress, Joomla, website builders, and more. Any technical task can be accomplished through an app within cPanel.   Shared Hosting Cons Shared hosting can be very beneficial for the right kind of website owner. However, it’s not without its drawbacks. Although shared hosting can be the perfect fit when just starting out, some sites will quickly outgrow the service and need to upgrade to a higher package.   Limited Server Resources Shared hosting is limited with its disk space and bandwidth. Most websites won’t run into these limitations unless they’re growing quickly or are receiving a very high volume of traffic. However, in some cases, another site on the same server who’s experiencing a heavy load of traffic can actually negatively affect your website’s performance too.   Can’t Support Custom Setups With shared hosting, you’re given a wide range of software to choose from, but there isn’t much you can do to the actual server environment or underlying technology. You’re stuck with the customization options that are offered by the server environment, usually things like choosing your CMS or website builder, configuring email addresses, and more. If you need higher levels of customization that allows you to optimize your server environment for performance, or for your unique website needs, then you’ll need to upgrade to another form of hosting.   Dedicated IP Hosting vs Shared Hosting The main difference between dedicated IP and shared hosting is the IP address. The most common type of IP address is a shared IP address. In this scenario, multiple websites that are sharing the same server environment will also share the same IP address. With a dedicated IP address, your website is the only site that’s using the IP address—it’s yours and yours alone. When you choose dedicated server hosting it’ll typically be equipped with a dedicated IP address. It can be server specific (and you’ll receive a dedicated IP address for the server no matter how many sites you’re hosting). Or, you can have multiple dedicated IP addresses on a dedicated server environment (for each site that you’re hosting on the server). With shared hosting, you’re sharing the server resources, along with an IP address. It is possible to have a dedicated IP address on a shared server, but you’ll need to make this request through your host. Not every host has the underlying structure to support a dedicated IP address on a shared hosting environment.   Closing Thoughts Dedicated IP hosting and shared hosting both address very different needs in the hosting market. Shared hosting is a perfect choice for those just getting started online. It’s easy to use, simple to set up, and can support your site until you’re receiving pretty decent levels of traffic. However, you may run into performance issues, depending on the other site’s you’re sharing the server environment with. While if you’re using dedicated IP hosting, then you’re most likely on a dedicated server environment. Dedicated servers are oriented toward high-level sites, and and you can even use dedicated servers for games as well. A dedicated server offers you greater levels of server customization, security, control, and support for very high levels of traffic without any issues in site performance. Hopefully, you have a better idea of the differences between dedicated IP and shared hosting, so you can better choose the right hosting package when building a website . Find the post on the HostGator Blog Continue reading →

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How To Start An Online Business in 9 Simple Steps

Posted on January 24, 2019 by Hosting

The post How To Start An Online Business in 9 Simple Steps appeared first on HostGator Blog . Do you have an idea for starting an online business and need help getting online? In the past, all businesses needed physical locations, but as online shopping continues to rise, many people are making successful business on the internet. All you need is a good idea, some startup money, time to get started, and you can start an online business. If you’ve always wanted to be an entrepreneur, starting an online business is one of the easiest ways to get your foot in the door. And online businesses, when run well, can be extremely profitable. Ready to get started? Here are the first steps to start an online business. Start with a really great idea. Decide on a business name. Secure a domain name. Determine your income model, and develop a business plan. Select a web hosting package. Build your website. Prepare your inventory. Tell the world! Create and execute your marketing plan. Launch! Download a FREE checklist to chart your progress! Let’s dive in! 1. Start with a Really Great Idea. Since you searched for this article, chances are that you already have an idea for your online business. If you have a business or product idea that you think people will be interested in, confirm that with market research. You can get creative and do a little bit of online market research yourself. For example, a couple of businesses like Ask Your Target Market and GutCheck will connect you with members of your target audience so you can ask them questions directly and gain a better idea of what they’re likely to think of your product. If you already have an idea of your target audience, you can browse forums on Reddit to see what people are talking about. Are there hobby groups on Reddit related to your product? If so, they may talk about new products they would like to see or complaints about an old product. You can use these discussions to help refine your business idea. Or, if you’re looking for direct feedback, consider posting on Reddit about your product or idea and see how people respond to it.   Maybe you want to start an online business for some passive income, but don’t have your idea fully developed yet? That’s okay too. Start by thinking about popular products in a hobby or niche area that you’re familiar with. How can you improve on those products or create a companion product that would make the experience better? Maybe a service offering is more your speed. Consider these trendy online business ideas for your side hustle.   2. Decide on a Business Name. As you’re steadily moving toward the point of your launch, it’s time to determine how your business will appear to the world. If you’ve gotten this far without settling on a name for your online business, then now is the time to make a decision. Choosing a name for your business is hard. The name is the biggest decision to make as you work on your brand, and it’s likely the most important decision since it will set the foundation for your brand and other decisions you will make next.   First, decide what needs to be in your online business name. For example, what keywords do your competitors use in their name? Are there key terms you should use or avoid? For example, your personal training business may get more traction and recognition if “personal training” is in the name versus something vague like “Bill’s Transformations.” After you brainstorm a list of keywords to consider (and keywords to avoid), come up with half a dozen or more business name ideas with your keywords in mind. Next, you’ll need to see which business names are available. Run your list of names through the trademark database search tool at the US Patent and Trademark Office. If your business name idea (or a close variation) is already in use, remove that name from your list of options. Do a similar search on social media and on Google to be sure someone else isn’t already using the name.   3. Secure a Domain Name. You’ve decided on a business name – congrats! Now it’s time to claim your domain name. You’ve spent so much time thoughtfully deciding on the name for your online business, and you don’t want someone else to buy it before you. Even if it may be a few months before you’re ready to start a website, that’s ok. Purchase your domain now so you know it’s safe and ready when you are. Use HostGator’s domain name search tool to see if your top choice is available. Then follow the steps to purchase your domain. If your business name is unique enough, you can go straight for the most obvious choice: YourBrandName.com. If the most obvious domain is already taken, then you may have to get a little creative.  You can either go with one of the other domain extensions like .net or .me, use a hyphen or underscore between words to change things up, or add a minor addition to the name, like “go” at the beginning or a word that clarifies the industry afterward.   4. Determine Your Income Model and Develop a Business Plan. So how will you make money? Are you selling products? Are you launching a blog and need to make money through an affiliate program or referral links? Do you want to earn passive income? Maybe you need investors? The answer may determine the type of website you need (an online store and shopping cart function) or the type of partnerships you’ll need to find (sign up with a website that pays for purchases from referral links). If you need investors to make a profit, a business plan will be one of the most important tools you have for convincing them to buy in. Even if you aren’t explicitly looking for investors, creating a business plan will help you clarify your goals and figure out the specific steps you need to take to achieve them. Make sure your business plan includes an analysis of the competition and a clear positioning statement of where you fit within the market. It should also include information on your target audience, which your market research should have given you a nice head start on collecting. All of that gives you the information you need to make sure your approach is solid. With that in place, you’ll have an easier time working out the chronology of what to do when and what finances and resources you’ll need to complete each step. In short, your business plan should do two key things: Make a case for why your business idea is a good one, and Provide the roadmap to turn your a good idea into something actionable. Even if you never show your business plan to someone else, a business plan can help keep you mentally organized. As your online business grows (or experiences growing pains), your business plan can remind you of your goals and be a guide as you navigate how to approach decisions for the direction of your business.   5. Select Your Web Hosting Package. Website hosting refers to the server space where you website lives. You can choose hosting based on the amount of server space that you need, how fast you want the website to load, or how private you want your online space to be. You can choose 5 main types of web hosting: Shared hosting Cloud hosting Managed hosting for WordPress Virtual Private Servers (VPS) Dedicated servers For more details on the benefits of each package, read this article titled “What type of web hosting do I need?”   or check out the infographic below: Want to share our web hosting infographic? Click to enlarge.   6. Build Your Website. For an online business, your website is everything. You need it to look good, be intuitive to navigate, and make a clear case to visitors why they should buy.  Take time to get it right, and run the finished product by some other people (ideally people in your target audience) to get feedback. Make sure the website design matches with your overall visual branding and your website copy effectively communicates your brand positioning. No previous experience building a website? No problem. HostGator has a drag-and-drop website builder that makes building a website frustration free. It comes loaded with more than 200 free, professional design templates to choose from. Better yet, HostGator’s website builder has eCommerce website functionality. If you have a little more technical knowledge and want more control of what you can do behind the scenes of your content management system, try a WordPress website . You can customize your WordPress website with many paid and free templates that are designed specifically for WordPress. If you’re selling products, don’t forget a shopping cart function.   7. Prepare Your Inventory. Now it’s time to create or stock up on whatever you’re selling. If you’re selling physical items, you want them ready to ship by the time any orders start coming in. If you’re launching a service-based business, this step is where you should clarify your process. If you’re selling digital products, like SaaS software, then you need to make sure the product is ready. Do user testing to ensure that it not only does what you’re claiming it does, but that customers will be able to use it without confusion or difficulty. Obviously this step will vary considerably depending on the type of business you’re launching. Just be sure that, before your actual launch date, you take whatever steps are necessary to ensure you’re ready to start providing what you’re selling by the time your first customer is ready to buy.   8. Tell the World! Create and Execute Your Marketing Plan. Before you actually get going, you should establish your marketing plan. Every business is different and marketing isn’t one size fits all. Because you’re starting an online business, you will want to make use of a mix of content marketing, social media promotion, and paid search promotion.   If you don’t know much about online marketing to start, this may be a step to hire out. There is a learning curve to get started and some mistakes of ignorance can cause serious consequences – you wouldn’t want to find yourself facing a Google penalty due to trying an outdated SEO strategy , for instance. If you don’t have the money for a marketing agency, you can find affordable freelancers on websites like Fiverr . If you really don’t have the funding to outsource your marketing, then take some real time to research online marketing best practices. Sites like Moz , HubSpot and Copyblogger all have good, reliable resources for beginners.   9. Launch! Launch day will be a big day for your new online business. If your website isn’t already live, then you’ll definitely want it up and running on launch day. You should put out a press release , set up any PR interviews you can get, announce the launch on social media, and start your marketing campaigns. And you should be prepared to start filling orders and fielding any questions that come through. Your first day in business is a big day, but your success will depend on what you do for every day that comes after.  Be prepared to work hard, learn as you go, and make a point of providing great customer service. Running an online business isn’t easy, but if you take the right steps and do the work, the rewards can be great.   Ready to start your online business? Step 1:  Download our FREE checklist to stay on track! Step 2: Build your website with HostGator. Step 3: Launch! Find the post on the HostGator Blog Continue reading →

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PureVoltage Colocation Deals | 1U $79 New York | Los Angles | Dallas | Seattle | Chicago | Amsterdam

Posted on January 22, 2019 by Hosting

PureVoltage is a (IaaS) Internet as a service provider that specializes in Colocation, dedicated servers, web hosting and remote hands and m… | Read the rest of http://www.webhostingtalk.com/showthread.php?t=1749512&goto=newpost Continue reading →

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