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 “Web Hosting” refers to the process of delivering web sites across the Internet from a computer server, usually called a webserver. Building a web site is just the first part of establishing an Internet presence; installing that website on a server connected to the ‘Net is how users will see the site you’ve created.
A “Web Hosting Provider,” like ServInt, is a company that owns, operates and rents (or sells) the hardware and software necessary to install and deliver web sites to Internet users, and offers the high-speed connections necessary to efficiently deliver web site files to end users.
The equipment is housed in a Network Operations Center (NOC), also called a Data Center, which includes sophisticated environmental control and monitoring systems, fire-suppression capability, and security systems to prevent unauthorized physical and electronic intrusion.
Hosting Providers also maintain the webservers, adding new hardware and software as needed, monitoring the systems to ensure maximum uptime, installing security patches, and providing customers with help and support.
Currently, there are four primary types of web hosting available:
- Shared Hosting
- VPS (Virtual Private Server) Hosting
- Dedicated Server Hosting
- Enterprise Server Hosting
 In a shared hosting environment, multiple web sites on the same sever share the same hardware, certain software and connectivity resources. For small or very simple web sites, this can be an acceptable hosting solution, but performance and security are often major issues.
Because some sites on the server may require large amounts of memory and bandwidth, the efficient performance and delivery of other sites on that server can be impacted. Certain applications that can be modified by one user may affect all others. There is also a risk of data being compromised (usually unintentionally) by other users.
For these reasons, ServInt does not offer its customers shared hosting environments.
 Virtual Private Servers (VPS) afford site operators more control over hardware resources, software and access than with a shared server.
With a VPS solution, multiple customers are housed on the same server, but each client has a “private” area on the server to which specific resources are assigned. The performance of one customer’s site(s) does not impact the performance of other sites in a different partition. Also, the number of private areas on each server is limited, ensuring that resources are not over-extended.
ServInt’s VPS Hosting Solutions are “managed services,” an important point to remember when selecting a VPS provider.
Managed services means ServInt is responsible for everything installed and delivered with a new account, and we’ll repair any problems at no charge, regardless of when they occur. ServInt will also restore any data associated with these issues, even if a full data loss is experienced. We also handle a number of other technical issues, such as installing patches for the operating system. ServInt can even handle the installation of certain third-party software, too.
ServInt offers several VPS Hosting Solution options along with three SuperVPS Hosting plans to meet the technical and budgetary requirements of your web site. Each of ServInt’s VPS Hosting Solutions are Enterprise-class hosting services that are built to be a Dedicated Server Replacement™ service.
See also: ServInt FAQ’s for more information.
 Traditional “dedicated server” hosting is where only a single customer is housed on a webserver, i.e., that server is “dedicated” solely to that client. It’s possible to have multiple web sites on a dedicated server, but they are all assigned to and/or under the control of that individual customer.
ServInt does not sell any traditional “dedicated” hosting products, because most traditional dedicated server options lack the power, flexibility or redundancy required for today’s business needs. Too often, dedicated servers are low-end computers not fit for high-end hosting. ServInt’s VPS line was created to offer customers a Dedicated Server Replacement&trade, and its Enterprise Server line is designed to meet the needs of clients ready to invest in a solution that provides them with the redundancy and power that businesses require. ServInt’s product line seeks to provide what traditional “dedicated server” hosting cannot.
 Enterprise Server Hosting is generally the highest level of web hosting service. It is similar to traditional “dedicated server” hosting in scope, but is distinguished by top quality hosting hardware designed to provide high levels of redundancy. At ServInt, enterprise servers are available in a variety of specific system resource levels with configuration options that increase server performance, speed and reliability.
ServInt offers enterprise hosting options that include a virtualization layer, because that layer provides many beneficial features including the ability to back up and quickly restore a disk image. Nonetheless, you are never affected by what any other customer is doing to their site because the server is yours.
ServInt offers a number of Managed Enterprise Hosting plans, and can also create custom Enterprise Server configurations. Contact ServInt Sales for a no-obligation quotation. |
