A site is important in the new digital era to businesses, organizations and individuals alike. But, it is not so simple as to establish a site to be available to the globe. In order to be available on the internet, websites need to be located on web servers, which are high-performance computers that deliver the contents to internet users. This paper will discuss the concept of web servers, their operation, the fundamentals of web hosting and the nature of web hosting that can be offered based on the needs.
What are Web Servers?
A web server is a form of server software or hardware that stores files on websites and offers them to users on demand. Simply put, web servers are the foundation of the internet as they enable users to view websites by transmitting them web pages, images, videos, and other information using their browsers. There would be no means of viewing a site without web servers.
When you enter a web address into the browser (e.g. www.example.com) your browser makes a request to a web server that contains the site. The request is next passed through the server and the corresponding files are sent to your browser, enabling you to see the site.
To gain a better insight into web servers, go to this Wikipedia page.
How Do Web Servers Work?
Web servers are run on a mixture of hardware and software. A web server simply has the basic role of storing data of websites and making it accessible to the users through the internet. Here is their functioning:
- Request: Once a user types a website URL in his or her browser, the website issues a request to the web server. This request is made over the HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol) or HTTPS (Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure) protocol.
- Processing: The web server deals with the request and determines the requested webpage or content in its storage.
- Response: When the web server finds the requested files, they are transmitted back to the browser of a user. This is done within milliseconds and this is the reason why websites are displayed almost immediately after entering a request.
- Delivery: The data is sent to the browser and the user is shown the site and is able to interact with the site.
Web Servers Types
Web servers are of various types worldwide, yet the most popular ones are Apache, Nginx, Microsoft IIS, and LiteSpeed. These web servers have varying workloads and each has a workload that suits any type of website and application.
- Apache HTTP Server: Apache is the most popular web server. It is open-source, highly customizable, and can support a variety of operating systems, such as Unix-based systems such as Linux and macOS.
- Nginx: Nginx is highly-performing and is commonly employed as a reverse proxy server to process the incoming requests and effectively allocate them to the backend servers.
- Microsoft IIS (Internet Information Services): IIS is mostly installed on Windows servers and is reputed to be integrated with other Microsoft products and therefore best suited to Windows-based environments.
- LiteSpeed: This is a commercial web server that is characterized by its speed and capability to support high traffic websites.
What Does Web Hosting Mean?
Web hosting is a service that enables individuals or organizations to make their webpage available online. Hosting companies have a number of packages that include renting server space to store the files that comprise a site. The web hosting companies have different packages based on the needs of the website, the traffic the website is likely to experience, and the degree of control that the user will have with regards to his or her server.
Web Hosting Types
Web hosting has a variety of types with their pros and cons. Shared hosting, Virtual Private Server (VPS) hosting, and cloud hosting are the most common.
1. Shared Hosting
The cheapest form of web hosting is shared hosting. Multiple websites are put on the same physical server in this model, and they share the resources of the server, including memory and processing power.
- Advantages:
- Free and suitable for small sites.
- Simple to install and use, and suitable for novices.
- All server maintenance is handled by hosts.
- Limitations:
- Slower performance can be brought about by limited resources when the other sites on the server use too much bandwidth.
- Limited control over the server configuration.
Who is Shared Hosting for?
- Best suited for personal blogs, small businesses, and low-traffic websites.
2. Virtual Private Server (VPS) Hosting
VPS (Virtual Private Server) is a more sophisticated type of hosting, wherein the physical server is partitioned into multiple virtual servers. VPS comes with its own operating system, and dedicated resources, providing greater control and performance over shared hosting.
- Advantages:
- Greater access to the server, with the ability to make custom settings.
- Special resources are more stable and perform better than shared hosting.
- Inexpensive as opposed to dedicated hosting.
- Limitations:
- Needs greater technical skills to operate.
- More expensive than shared hosting.
Who Should Use VPS Hosting?
- Medium-sized businesses, medium-traffic websites, or sites that require greater control of server settings.
3. Cloud Hosting
Cloud hosting is the new type of hosting solution which is hosted on a network of virtual servers. This system makes use of resources across multiple servers, which is more reliable and scalable.
- Advantages:
- High scalability, that is, your site can be expanded with expansion of your business or readership.
- Raised uptime and reliability because of distribution of resources to several servers.
- Pay-as-you-go pricing schemes: you pay for the resources you consume.
- Limitations:
- Complicated installation and operation, involves greater technical expertise.
- Depending on the plan, it could be more costly than shared hosting or VPS.
Who Should Use Cloud Hosting?
- Enterprises or websites with high traffic that is variable and need scalability and high availability.
How to Choose the Right Hosting for Your Website
The type of hosting to use is determined by a number of factors based on the size of your website, the level of traffic that is expected, technical know-how, and the budget available. These are some of the major points to be considered:
- Budget: The cheapest type of hosting is shared hosting that is the most suitable type of hosting among beginners or those with a limited budget. But, VPS and cloud hosting are more expensive and perform better.
- Technical Knowledge: Shared hosting is the simplest to operate and VPS and cloud hosting might need certain technical expertise. Assuming that you are not well versed with server management, shared hosting could be the answer.
- Traffic: Websites that have high traffic require higher capacity hosting, including VPS or cloud hosting, in order to deliver smooth operation.
- Scalability: Cloud hosting or VPS may prove to be more suitable because they can be scaled in the future.
Conclusion
Web hosting and web servers are a vital aspect of the internet ecosystem, which enables websites to be visited by all people over the world. Learning the functionality of web servers, and the various hosting plans that can be offered can aid website owners in making sound judgments on the most effective method of storing and serving their content. Shared hosting may or may not suit your needs, VPS hosting may or may not, and cloud hosting may or may not, but all that is important is to find a host that fits your site’s requirements and expansion capabilities.
