How does a web server work?
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When you are going to order cheap web hosting, it will be a good idea to know more about how does a web server work.
Nowadays, the data exchange between web browser and the web server has grown more complicated than before. The main reason for this is the need for dynamic Web content that is used by firms and individual customers to manage online business operations. So, we decided to create this article for your understanding how a web server works. You can use it to be more acquainted with this when you will look for your cheap web hosting.
In a general way, Web servers operate with simple, static content: HTML documents and images. Web server pick up the users request for files and takes it to the host file system. The needed file is loaded from the disk and in the end is delivered to the Web browser by the Web server.
The web browser and the Web server communicate with each other using HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol). A single TCP connections are opened that dispatch first the HTML document and then images, one-by-one, correspondingly.
Dynamic content is the powerful tool for e-commerce and the important reason for the whopping growth of the World Wide Web. It wants large databases or other program software. The Web server delivers a dynamic content of Web page to the web browser that is made in response to the user direct or indirect input. This process generally takes up many server-side resources and requires CGI usage.
CGI is in the main a web server extension protocol and widely used standard for delivering dynamic content. It may be noted that CGI is not language specific; it’s a protocol that allows Web server to communicate with a program. CGI defines how the Web server has to run programs locally and transmit their output to the Web browser. For example, a Web server starts CGI program to send the parameters as requested by the users browser. It then retrieves output from the webstore.cgi program to pass output back to the browser. This is how CGI programs dynamically serve HTML data based on user input. CGI’s adverse conditions consists in its slow processing since each request for dynamic content builds on a new program to be started. CGI scripts can be written in many languages: Perl, C/C++, Python, TCL e.c.
HTTPS is a security protocol that allows a safety Web connection. This means that with HTTPS it is safe for an exchange of sensitive data between user and the server across the insecure network. URLs that begin with ‘https’ are handled using SSL algorithms that setup a secure, encrypted link between a Web browser and a Web server.
MIME type is the fundamental mechanism to show content downloaded by the browser. It tells browser about the content type being delivered. MIME types are identified using a type/subtype syntax associated with a file extension.
In out time web servers are able to process and deliver multiple requests in a simultaneous way to deal with a lot of users at a time. This parallelism is accomplished in two different ways – multi threading and multi processing. The most web sites run web servers that support either multi threading or multi processing and can manipulate a much higher load. So, I think this will be helpful when you search for your cheap web hosting company.
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if it’s still available for registration?
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Can you STILL Win the domain name game?
I was recently asked by a visitor to thesitewizard.com to take a look at her company’s website, designed by a university student. I will not give the URL for that site, partly to protect the innocent, and partly because by the time you read this, it’ll probably have been modified.
In general, that site is typical of the kind of sites produced by newcomers to web design. It scores well in terms of prettiness and gadgetry (although only under one browser, it doesn’t work well under other browsers), but fares dismally in terms of usability and search engine readiness. In fact, the reason my visitor wrote to me was because the website suffered a significant drop in the number of visitors after it was redesigned in its current form.
This article uses that site as a starting point for discussing some of the issues that a web designer needs to consider when creating a website that must exist and compete in the real world (as opposed to a site that is created merely to fulfill the course requirements of a school or university).
Over the years that I have dealt with newcomers to web design, it is my observation that they tend to focus excessively (and sometimes almost exclusively) on the appearance of a website. The site I mentioned earlier is a case in point: the designer tried hard to make the site look beautiful (and, if I may add, succeeded too – the site does indeed look pretty). However, as hard as it may be to believe (if you are a newcomer), appearance isn’t the most important thing to look at when you are planning and creating your site.
Don’t get me wrong here. I’m not saying that appearance is of no importance. Far from it. However, in this article, my intention is to address the excessive importance newcomers place on beauty. In fact, if you belong to the other extreme, discounting the value of the appearance of a website altogether.
Having said that, your site can still survive (or even thrive) if it is a plain-looking site like Google. This is not necessarily the case if you overlook the other important issues in web design.
All sites are created for a particular purpose. Some were created so that their owners can sell something. Others are information resources (like thesitewizard.com). Still others are designed to showcase their owner’s talents (such as sites displaying the owner’s resumes and portfolios).
Is the information that your visitors need to make informed decisions available on your site? For example, before they can buy a product, they will want to know more about that product. A brief one-line summary about your product’s features may work for your main page, but you will probably find that you get more buyers if you can provide a link to a page that gives a detailed list of features of each of your products.
A good navigational system for your website is crucial. A navigational system is one by which visitors can move from one page to another. For example, on thesitewizard.com, one way in you can access the main pages on the site is to use the navigation buttons on the left column of the page.
If you are using a navigation bar or panel, standardize its location on all the pages of your website. Don’t make your visitors feel as though they are embarking on a treasure hunt every time they reach a new page.
In addition to your navigation bar or panel, provide short-cuts to places where visitors are likely to want to go. Don’t force your visitors to have to go through your main page (or your site map) every time they need to visit another page on your site. In fact, put direct links in logical places – for example, on your “Products” page, you should have a links to your “Buy / Order” page as well as links to the pages with detailed information about individual products. Think like a visitor and ask yourself what are the things a visitor might want to know or do when he/she is at a particular page.
If your site has a large number of pages, a site search engine will improve your site’s usability. Not everyone mentally organises information the way you do. Hence a logical arrangement to you may not be logical to another person. Giving your visitors a way to search your web site will help them locate what they want.
This is a problem fairly easily fixed (for example, one way is to create a site map and add a normal link to it from the main page), but it illustrates one of the most important issues a real-world website faces: search engine visibility. If your site is not listed in the search engines, you’re not going to be able to get many visitors, if at all. Without visitors, you’re obviously not going to be able to achieve your purpose for the site.
Designing a site that is search engine ready is a lengthy topic, so I am not even going to try to address it here.
Benefits of a web site.
When you’re searching through the Internet you will find endless amounts of information, about everything, and all at your fingertips. The Internet is the largest source of knowledge in the world. Why is this? Because anyone can get their information on there. All you need is a web site and a resource generous web hosting company.
Many people think that getting their website on the Internet is an expensive venture, fortunately though, this need not necessarily be true; if you find the right web host, the benefits of having a web site will definitely outweigh the costs.
There are many different ways to benefit from having a web site, whether it is for personal gain, or to aid your business success. Those who have their own personal websites generally use them to further an interest or a hobby; having a web site is a great way to share and exchange knowledge with others. Businesses on the other hand use a website to promote and market their goods and services, while cutting back on such expenses as postage, couriers and advertising, etc.
Increased awareness of products and services – Businesses can now greatly expand their markets, no need to constrain the focus to only the local scene, but by using the Internet, businesses can venture into international and regional markets, with greater ease. This dynamically changes the nature and the marketing activities of some businesses, possibly encouraging the business to expand the diversity of its products and services, to meet these new markets. Websites, in their nature, allow hundreds and thousands of items to be on view 24/7; thus encouraging wider viewing, and extended trading hours.
Freedom – With the freedom of being able to post your information on your website, hence on the Internet, at any time of the day; available information of all variations is increasing at a huge rate. The freedom to browse anywhere and interact with anyone is enough to tempt the smallest of businesses and the most introverted of people to get on the Net; hence Net users are increasing in numbers, at an alarming rate, approximately 50,000 per day. Businesses are buzzing on the Net, they have found a way to compete on an even field, with even the largest of corporations; and within a daily increasing customer marketplace.
Cost advantage – Net businesses are extremely aware of how they can profit by being on the Internet; they can advertise their products and services without the huge costs, and delays of printing, publishing and distribution. The market is a global one, which adds greater value to the costs outlaid for promotion and marketing; compared to the limits of offline. Ecommerce facilities can be incorporated into the website, transforming 2D screen visuals into user reactive models, for example, consumers can order their products and services online, greatly reducing administration expenses. Reduction of telephone calls to potential customers; follow ups by email; newsletters digitally made, promoted by email or downloadable from the website, with reduction of distribution costs; less promotional material sent out, printed and wasted; extended trading hours without a human presence; are just a few ways to cut costs.
The current opinion is that any business not on the Internet now or in the near future is not only missing out on the rewards of this new and vibrant industry, but is adding itself to the list of “the forgotten”.
Don’t waste time scratching your head wondering what the Internet can do to benefit your business, you will be left behind; instead, think about how you can take advantage of this new and cheap form of industry awareness. Look for a web designer, or web developer, get a quote, and tell them what you need.
Free hosting – is it charity?
“Free hosting” is most of the time offered in exchange for placing advertising on your website, meaning that the host will automatically place an advertisement at the top and sometimes at the bottom of every page of your website. Sometimes they don’t use banners they use pop-ups.
No matter what they ask you to do in exchange for free hosting, you have to do something in exchange, so you’re not being offered free hosting! It’s just a barter. They give you hosting in exchange for placing ads on your website. They call it free because you don’t give them any money, but you do pay for it.
They claim and even convince you that they’re doing you a favor: they give you free hosting. They know that if you think the service is free you’ll not complain for downtime, unresponsive support teams. But you’re not getting it for free!
Now, even if they would offer it for free, the service should be at least acceptable. But it usually isn’t. If one offers free lunch for the poor, that food must not be rotten. It’s just common sense!
What these free hosting services always seem to forget to mention is the fact that they’re not charities. They’re businesses and they’re always looking for ways to make a profit.
I find it deceiving that they use the word “free” when the right name for it should be “barter hosting” or “trade hosting” or “ad-funded hosting”. But, as strange as it might sound, the world doesn’t revolve around me , so the so called free hosting will remain “free hosting”. Too many people in the hosting industry use this term and too many regular people look for “free hosting” for it to go away.
It should not be a surprise that free hosting is not as good as paid hosting. The problems that are common in the paid hosting section of the hosting industry are almost a rule in the world of free hosting. Timely support is almost out of the question with most free hosts. Excessive downtime and slow servers are almost the norm rather than just common problems.
That isn’t to say that free web hosting can’t be acceptable in terms of quality. There are some companies that offer reliable free web hosting. Don’t get me wrong, reliable here doesn’t mean paid-hosting-reliable, it means reliable according to the free hosting standards (whatever that means) .
They figure (bet) that you’ll go for their paid version (most free hosts have paid plans too), as soon as your website will outgrow it’s account in terms of bandwidth and/or space. Sure, you’re getting a free start, but the host gives you well below $1/month worth of resources, so they’re not giving you much.
What’s in it for the host in this case? Well, the host gets brand awareness because it gets to be published in the myriad of free hosting directories. Also it gets it’s name in your URL and in the URL of lots of other websites. Branding again! Also, if the service is at least acceptable it will get a good reputation, which often is worth more than pure gold. All those ultimately mean more business for their business .
It happened and it still does, that some hosts start their business with a great “free hosting” offer. Their name soon gets published all over the Internet. After a while (usually a year or more) the company stops offering free hosting. Some of their “free” clients will agree to become paying customers, while others will decide to see their work vanish into oblivion, but not pay. By that time though, the host gains immense brand awareness. It might also get quite a few clients as soon as they turn into a paid host because of those clients that were hosted for free and decide to pay to keep their websites up and running.
Unlimited space/hosting are a no-no in the paid hosting arena. In the free hosting arena it’s even worse. It basically spells out that the servers will be overcrowded. Although you might like the idea of having as much space and data transfer as you need, please resist the temptation. Unlimited space/bandwidth is an illusion. It’s like when you’re seeing water in the middle of the desert. A mirage. You are promised, but you will not receive.
Actually it’s not that secret, just not widely known. As I said in the beginning of this article, free hosting is most of the time nothing more than a barter.
Now here’s the idea: why settle for lousy “free hosting” when you can barter for quality hosting instead? All you need to do is find a few good paid hosting companies and then ask for hosting in exchange for placing ads on your website.
Your greatest advantage is that you’ll be able to make those ads fit your website perfectly. They will not be automatically added to your pages at the top or bottom. You’ll have complete control over your website’s design.
Sure, you’ll have to negotiate where to place those ads. It’s normal for the host to ask for the ads to be placed so that they’ll get high chances to be noticed by your website’s visitors. As long as they don’t ask for a big banner to be placed on your pages I don’t see a serious problem. I would suggest you though to go for a text ad. It’s usually much easier to make a text ad blend-in nicely so that it doesn’t scream “I’m an ad!”.
So your website’s audience should have a rather high interest in buying hosting. Web programmers, web designers, webmasters, search engine optimization specialists and web business owners are among those who might be interested in hosting offers. If your website attracts such people, you have significantly better chances to trade ads in exchange for hosting.
One thing to notice is that your chances to barter for hosting are considerably smaller if you’re just launching your website. That’s because you can’t get something for nothing. If you offer advertising and have no audience you’re basically offering potential audience and ask for hosting in exchange. The only chance you’ve got is to convince the host that your site has great potential. That you have a good plan to get visitors.
You might think that if it’s just starting your website will not consume lots of resources. After all, the activity is near zero. However there is more to hosting than just that. You will need some support, which costs the host quite a lot.
Free hosting is not free – at least in the form in which it exists on the internet today. I have yet to find a free host that is a real charity. As strange as it might sound, look out for free hosts that seem to be completely free (charity-like). A host must have funding! Ask them how do they cover or plan to cover their costs. Is there a foundation behind that host? It’s highly unlikely, but who knows!
All hosts have to pay for the servers, bandwidth and staff. If they don’t have a good plan to cover the costs, the future for them is grim and services will soon degrade due to under funding.
The best option if you don’t want to spend money for hosting is to barter for it with a respected, serious, honest web host. But don’t ever trick yourself into thinking that you’re getting something for nothing. Ads are a form of payment so you’re payin’.