Selecting a Web Hosting Server

Congratulations! If you have reached this chapter of the book, you probably already have a Web site prepared on your home PC. The Internet enables you to publicize your content and express your creativity at a laughable price, if any. Additionally, you display the contents of your Web site to a public that is potentially many times larger than any other advertising medium you have ever known.

Is your Web site ready? Do you want to put it on the Internet? That is obviously the next step; otherwise no one else would be able to see it, except those who use your PC. In order for the HTML pages that you prepared to become a "Web site", they must be accessible to everyone on the Internet. This is achieved by giving your "Web site" an address. If this is not done, it is not a Web site.

The Internet is a giant, unlimited stage that is prepared to accept any Web site and any content. It is a network of computer networks that provides access to every individual in the world, from any computer, from any place on earth, provided that he or she is connected to the Internet.

Communication between computers enables the transfer of information between users, this is usually done by means of e-mail or forums, and accessing information stored on other computers connected to the Internet. Communication between computers on the Internet consists of servers & clients. The computer providing the information is called a server and the computer requesting and receiving the information is called a client.

For example: Internet surfers are clients because their computers request information from a server computer on the internet and the server computer on the Internet responds to these requests.

The HTTP protocol, through which contact is made on the Internet, is a request / response protocol. Even when the user is transfering information (by e-mail or instant messaging), the user is still a client because there is no sharing of information stored on the individual computer.

Even your PC can become a server, providing access for other surfers to the information it contains (different types of files such as HTML documents, Word documents, PowerPoint presentations, pictures, etc.) However, you should take into account several factors including the following:

Information security - Are you prepared to open the "door" to your personal computer to everyone? Are you prepared to risk the privacy and integrity of the information in your personal computer? Are you prepared for the possibility of damage to your information? When was the last time you backed up your data?
Availability - Your computer is supposed to provide service 24 hours a day. This involves two main things: One, your PC must be connected to the Internet 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Two, you must be sure that it is operating 24 hours a day. You know from personal experience that computers, including yours, crash, get stuck or just don't respond from time to time.
Infrastructures - Up to this point, building your site has been free or relatively inexpensive. Turning your PC into a server on the Internet obligates you to purchase a few products including: Internet server (software), an IP address and a domain name. This configuration will enable users to roam around your computer (we've already mentioned security). For this reason you will need an operating system like Windows NT/200x with some kind of protection, as well as a router (hardware), a firewall (hardware & software) and a permanent fast connection.

There are other considerations as well (response time, number of simultaneous users, etc.) but the main considerations noted above may lead you to the conclusion that turning your home PC into an Internet server is not a good idea. It is better to find a free Web hosting server on the Internet for your Web site.

This chapter will help you select the best Web hosting server for your Web site taking into consideration the conditions you require and the conditions which are available to you, with the emphasis on finding a Web hosting server for FREE.

Some things you should know before selecting a host for your Web site

This information targets private users who are interested in putting a private Web site on the Internet. The information is NOT suitable for someone who is interested in putting an e-commerce Web site since subjects like safety, information security, shopping cart and billing are NOT in the scope of this chapter.

This chapter does not claim to provide you with all the possibilities for putting a Web site on the Internet. There are, of course additional possibilities that are not mentioned here, but this is the nature of the Internet, which is constantly developing and changing and offering new services. This chapter will give you guidelines to examine those services.

The Internet is always "alive and kicking": new Web sites appear, old Web sites disappear (they're removed) and others are simply deserted. New services are offered, others are upgraded and more than one has simply been abandoned. Most services on the Internet are provided free of charge, but some are provided for a fee. What is provided free today may not necessarily be free tomorrow.

The Internet is virtual, but behind it stand real people and commercial companies and there too, things are happening. New companies offer their services, others merge, downsize or close their Web sites. You should therefore view this chapter of the book as a basis from which to investigate the Internet - all the information is actually there.

If all the information is on the internet, why do you need to continue reading?

Reading this chapter is like setting out on a treasure hunt with a map and clues. This chapter will prepare you for the possibilities that you may encounter. It will present you with the alternatives so that you will not get stuck suddenly, for example, when you realize that there is a problem with the type of files that you want to upload to the Web hosting server or access or obtaining services or response times. There can be many problems during the registration process, when uploading the material and even afterwards, during use.

While it is true that many Web hosting servers provide support to the potential client, the support is specific to the Web hosting site from which you are requesting information and even then only after you register. Most of the Web hosting servers that charge a fee, provide support as part of the service given to the client, but that does not always mean round-the-clock support... There are many more problems you may encounter, and it is simply worth knowing about them before you decide that you want to use their Web hosting services.

How do you search for free Web Hosting Services?

Go into your favorite search engine.
In the search box, type the words (all or part of them): free Web hosting services
Click the Search/Go button.

How to register to Web hosing service?

Below are the stages of the process. They apply to most Web hosting services:

Register with a Web hosting server that provides Web hosting (either for a fee or free of charge).
Receive or choose a User Name (code) and Password.
Receive by return e-mail, registration confirmation and the address to which you can upload your files to a Web host folder (by FTP or by browser).
Log on to the site at the address you received and by the means you selected (FTP or browser).
Upload the files to the Web host folder.

What is a Web hosting server and why is it necessary?

No matter how good the Web site is, it is worthless unless it is placed on the Internet. In other words if the Web site you built is located on your PC and does not have an accessible IP address it will not be available to anyone but you. To enable access for other people to your Web site it must be hosted on a computer that is operational 24 hours a day and is part of the Internet.

Internet Service Providers (ISPs), for example, enable you to build and store your personal Web site on their computers. A Web hosting server is actually a computer with a Windows NT/200x or Unix/Linux operating system and Internet Server software. This computer has permanent high speed access to the Internet (a much broader bandwidth than what you get at home).

The Web sites stored on the Web hosting server are located on the server's hard disk. Each site is located in a separate folder. The Web sites operate within and from the server - just the same way your Web site works from your computer. In reality, thousands of Web sites can be hosted on one Web hosting server. So the problem that Web hosting servers must contend with is not storage space, but rather user traffic to and from the Web sites. That is the factor that aggravates the server and slows down its operation.

ISPs are usually companies that offer, in addition to Web hosting, Web site building services or communications packages. There are many companies that sell Web hosting services, with a wide variety of programs and prices, and there are also companies that provide Web hosting services free of charge.

So right from the start you are faced with the question: If there are FREE Web hosting services, why pay for the service? A "better" question is: Why do companies provide free Web hosting? What do they get out of it? Where is the "catch"? Does "free of charge" really mean… free? After all, everyone knows that "you get what you pay for!" What does this "freebie" include?

There are companies (Web hosting services) whose business is based on regular large-scale clients that pay for services. This enables them to offer their "surplus" free of charge (disk space, Web traffic).

Sometimes, an offer to provide Web hosting services free of charge is an attempt to "trap" the client. Behind the free offer can be strategies such as: "Now it's free of charge, tomorrow you'll have to pay" (for example, a newspaper Web site that plans to collect payment for some parts of the site), or policies such as: "Now you will receive something for free; when you want additional services or an upgrade of the existing ones - we'll send you a price quotation" (for example Hotmail. Hotmail is a FREE e-mail service, but you have to pay if you want to enlarge your e-mail box).

If you, the Web site owner, do not pay, who does? The answer is: the advertiser. Companies that offer free Web hosting services sell advertising space. You are familiar with advertising on the Internet from passive ads that include banners across the screen - at the top, on the side, in every possible position - to active ads that flash, pester, irritate, and pop up with no advance warning and take up most of the screen. Sometimes the only way to escape them is to disconnect from the Internet and/or switch off your computer. These types of advertisements are called pop-ups. You have a free Web site, but your users will have to strain their eyes to find the content of your Web site among all the banners and pop-ups, and the chance of those users remaining or returning is small.

There are Web hosting services that offer a free deal (for now…), without third party advertising (in the meantime…). Their condition for this free deal is that their advertising will appear on your Web site.

If someone offers you Web hosting services free of charge - you must try to understand what is behind the offer and whether you are prepared to accept the conditions.

If they don't suit you, you can search for a better free offer or look for a Web hosting service that charges a fee.

What is a domain name?

A domain name is the address of an Internet Web site. For example, www.nba.com is a domain name and www.bookchamp.net is a domain name too. www.jaguarusa.com/us/en/home.htm is the address of a page named home.htm in a domain name called www.jaguarusa.com in a folder named "us" in a sub-folder named "en".

In effect, the address of an Internet Web site is an IP address. An IP address is a series of 4 numbers. Each number goes from 0 to 255. These 4 numbers are seperated by dots. For example, 64.241.25.66 is the IP address of the National Park Service Web site. If you type 64.241.25.66 in the address bar of the browser and press Enter, it will be exactly like typing www.nps.com. So which is easier for you to remember: 64.241.25.66 or www.nps.com? We are people, not machines, so it's easier for us to both remember and type www.nps.com. But the TCP/IP protocol recognizes only numbers (0…9), and the job of a domain system is to translate an address consisting of words (www.nps.com) into an IP address in figures (64.241.25.66).

When you type an Internet address in the browser address bar (for example, www.ci.sf.ca.us) and then press Enter, your request is transferred to the Internet and at a certain stage in the process it must be translated into an IP address (in figures) because it is only by means of an IP address that computers can communicate on the Internet. If you have a domain name, it must be connected to an IP address. The IP address is a unique address on the Internet. You can connect more than one domain name to a single IP address. For example, www.iloveny.com and www.state.co.us are two different domain names that are connected to the same IP address (205.232.252.58).

Selecting a domain name

One of the main problems in selecting a domain name (and naturally, also in buying one) is that most of the "good" names are already registered and are therefore unavailable. A good domain name is one with some special meaning or one that is related to the Web site content. For example, the domain name of the Web site for Ford is www.ford.com; and the Web site of the Disney Company is www.disney.com. It is best to have a domain name that is not too long. A long name is problematic because most Internet surfers will not remember it or will spell and/or type it incorrectly. A good name is worth money. A short, catchy name enables users to type the Web site name by themselves and not to use a link from a search engine or another source.

A short name - Learn from the experience of the bookstore www.barnesandnoble.com. It is much easier to write the name as follows: www.bn.com.
A meaningful name - not obligatory, but desirable. If your Web site is about food, it's best for it to have a name like, food, efood, food4you, netfood and so forth, naturally with the prefix "www" and the extension ".com"

Another important item is how to check whether the domain name is already registered (unavailable). It's not enough to type in the domain name and see if the site opens. Sometimes, someone has already bought the domain name but is not using it for various reasons. There are Web sites that sell and trade in domain names. Usually these Web sites have a special search engine that checks whether the domain name is free for use. If the domain name is unavailable, you may be offered an alternative with a different ending, for example, "net" instead of "com" or you may be offered other, similar options that are available. For example, since the domain name "baseball.com" is unavailable, you will be offered "baseball.vg" or "dumpbaseball.com". Just by adding a letter or a number, the domain name is yours.

There are Web sites that can locate the domain owner and will even offer to negotiate between you and the domain name owner to enable you to buy that domain name.

It is not only the domain name that attests to the content of the Web site but also the extension (".com") of the domain name. It's best to buy a domain name that ends with ".com" if the Web site is in English and is aimed for US users. If ".com" cannot be obtained, the next possibility is ".net". The reason for this is that people only remember the name of the Web site and not its extension, and they will write the common extension ".com".

The following extensions can be used in accordance with the content of your site:

.com - commercial .net - Internet Service Provider

.org - non-profit group .biz - business

.us - American Web site .gov - governmental

.info - credible resource

Don't be tempted to buy a domain name that ends with "us" or "biz" which are usually available, unless the Web site requires it.

Sub-domain

There are Web hosting services that allow you to select your User Name. This name becomes a central component in your Web site sub-domain:

www.somedomain.com/members/yourname

This sub-domain is the address of your Web site. Instead of "yourname" there can be a number or text or a combination of the two.

Since the sub-domain is long anyway, because it includes the name of the company that is providing the Web hosting services, it is best to select a short, catchy User Name, or to shorten the address.

ReDirect to the address

Just like a shortcut on the Desktop in a Windows operating system, you can make a shortcut to your own Web site. This shortcut is called "shortURL" or "ReDirect". Let's assume that your Web site is located, physically, at the address (the part in bold is the fixed part that cannot be changed):

www.domainOne.com/members/games/yourName

You can buy (or get free of charge) a ReDirect called:

name.domainTwo.com

Someone surfing the Internet who wants to find your Web site will type name.domainTwo.com, but will be referred to www.domainOne.com/members/games/yourName.

This free service provides a simple and easy-to-remember Web address that transfers (redirects) users to the location of your Web site.

The considerations in selecting a ReDirect for the Web site are the same considerations in selecting a domain name. Here too, most of the good abbreviations (short names) are already registered and are therefore not available, although due to the wide variety of Web hosting companies offering ReDirects, you may be able to find the best abbreviated name in another Web hosting company.

Buying a domain name

Buying a domain name costs money. There are many Web hosting services that sell domain names in the US and abroad. The purchase is usually for the first two years, and after that the price goes down. Ownership of the domain name must be renewed every two years.

How much does a domain name cost?

The price of a regular address is usually something around $20 for every two years (prices are controlled and vary from time to time). Addresses with a special extension, like. TV, cost more.

Where do I buy a domain name?

It is best to buy a domain from a reliable company. Look at InterNic.

How to purchase?

This is a straightforward process and you need a credit card in order to make the purchase. You will also need to provide your personal information (name, address, telephone number) and e-mail address. As with any purchase made via the Internet, check the following:

The identity of the owner of the Web hosting service from which you are making the purchase (name, address, telephone number) is displayed openly.
That the Web hosting service owner openly declares their privacy policy and tells you how they will handle information you provide.
That the transfer of data is secure (a closed lock appears in the status bar, the address begins with https instead of http from the very outset of the process).

Finding a suitable Web hosting server

What are your options?

Use your existing Internet Service Provider. If your ISP, your school or the place where your parents work already maintains a Web server, check to see whether you can put your Web site there and check to see how you can copy your documents (files) to that server. That kind of Web hosting service is usually free of charge.

Rent space on a Web hosting server. This service can be given free of charge or for payment, from a relatively small fee per month up to several thousand US dollars.

It is NOT recommended to turn your own computer into a server, something we already discussed and advised against at the beginning of this chapter.

What types of Web hosting services exist?

You can obtain Web hosting services for a fee or free of charge. Each of these options comes with features that you should know about so that you will be able to match your requirements to the features of the Web hosting site. Whether you choose a Web hosting server for a fee or free of charge, you should check the following things:

What is the storage space (disk space, disk storage) they offer? Most of the Web hosting servers (free of charge or for a fee) offer Web hosting packages generally starting from 5MB to 200MB and even more. The storage space must be compatible with the size of the Web site folder in your PC, and it is usually best to plan for more storage space. If your Web site is expected to grow, look for a server that gives you the option of increasing your basic package to another convenient package, or take a package with more storage space to begin with.
What type of Web hosting server is offered? There are two main types of Web hosting servers - servers whose operating system is Windows NT/200x and those using UNIX/Linux. Most of the free Web hosting servers usually do not specify to clients the type of operating system their server uses and it really isn't important to you if you are interested in putting a site on the Internet that is entirely HTML. If you need server services (like SQL, ASP), then it is important to know the type of operating system so that you will be able to check that there is, indeed, support for any services you need.

The difference between Windows NT/200x and UNIX/Linux servers is that Windows NT/200x servers are less "sensitive" and there is no need to be careful about case-sensitive text. With Windows NT/200x servers, it is not important what type of letters you use to write the name of the Web page (uppercase or lowercase). But this is not the case with UNIX/Linux servers. Since your site is (most likely) built on a Windows system, it is almost certain that it will work on a Windows NT/200x server. It can also work on a UNIX/Linux server if you make all the letter cases in the file names uniform. As a rule, Web hosting services on Windows NT/200x servers cost more.
What languages does the server support? Interactive Web sites based on a database (such as SQL or mySQL) use additional languages. The languages common today are PHP, Perl, CGI and ASP. However, most of the free servers do not support them and/or do not enable their use.
Does the Web hosting service enable the use of a domain or a sub-domain? Most of the free Webs hosting services offer a sub-domain as part of their sales promotion. There are even paid Web hosting services that collect an additional amount for the use of a personal domain name. There are very few free Web hosting servers that will be prepared to let you use your private domain name. The problem is that the Web site address of the sub-domain becomes long and complicated and that makes it difficult to remember. One possible solution is the use of a short URL, or a ReDirect. This is a free service than enables you, the Web site owner, to select a shorter, catchier address for your Web site than the one offered by the free server.
Is there e-mail service? Most of the Web hosting servers that charge a fee, offer e-mail as part of the service to clients who are hosted by them, with an address for the domain.

The number of e-mail accounts that the client receives depends on the quality and size of the package purchased. It is best to take a package that includes one or more e-mail accounts. In other words, if Internet surfers want to e-mail the Web site, they can write to an address whose extension is the name of the Web site. Most of the free Web hosting servers do not provide e-mail as an integral part of the Web site. There are sites that offer their members a range of free services (they are usually large portals or Internet Service Providers), including e-mail and storage space, however these are not interdependent. In other words, there does not have to be a connection (in spelling) between your e-mail and the domain/sub-domain name.
Does the Web hosting server provide you with statistics (traffic stats, Web site reports)? Most of the free Web hosting services do not provide statistics such as the number of hits, where the visitors came from, which pages are most frequently visited, the length of time each visitor spends on the site, etc. Some Web hosting services provide a hit counter that counts the number of visitors, not visits, to the site (even if you visit a site 20 times in the same month, you will be counted only once), and there are those that count the number of clicks on the site - in other words, the number of requests for pages. If people make your Web site their home page on their browsers, then every time they open the browser, the counter on your Web site will grow by 1 (one) and if they open the same home page 20 times in one day, your counter will grow by 20. This process is called clicks.

Statistics can include information on the type of browsers used by visitors to your Web site, the resolution of their screen, the Web site from which they reached your Web site, their IP address, how many pages they viewed on your Web site, etc. With some of the fee-charging Web hosting services this is included in the package, with others you must pay an additional charge for this service, and some do not provide such a service at all.

Most of the free Web hosting servers do not provide either counters or statistics services.
Does the server give you technical support? There are Web hosts that provide no support at all, others provide support at certain hours on certain days, and others provide service round the clock. Notice that the technical support is by e-mail, phone or both. The best, of course, is a Web host that provides 24 hour support.
Does the Web hosting server provide back-up and recovery services in case of breakdown or hacking? Most of the free servers do not provide these services and even the servers who charge a fee, do not always include backup services in the package that they offer. You should make a note of the backup times and frequency (daily, weekly or monthly) because recovery will only be up to the last date on which the Web site was backed up and not necessarily the date on which it crashed.
Does the Web hosting server enable unrestricted visitor traffic on the Web site? Some Web hosting companies impose restrictions on the number of visitors accessing the Web site at any one time. This is particularly common among free servers in an effort to avoid overloading their servers. There are sites that restrict the number of clicks on the Web site. When a particular Web site exceeds that number of clicks or some other number, the host closes and a visitor arriving at your Web site will receive a message such as: "Web site is currently unavailable. Try again later".
Does the Web hosting server restrict the size of data transferred by the Web site (data transfer)? There is another type of traffic restriction (monthly bandwidth, Web traffic) which is more common on Web sites that charge a fee, and that is the amount of usage of the server.

Every request of information from the server is actualy copying and not moving files from the web server to the visitor's computer. These files are usually HTML files and images, but may also consist of files downloaded from the Web site, such as MP3 files, presentations or any other file transferred between the server and the client. These files are also counted towards server usage. Downloading files creates a load on the server, which requires additional payment for the increased use. On the free servers that restrict traffic of this type, it is best not to enable visitors to download files, and also to minimize the size of the pictures.
What are the means of uploading a Web site to the Internet? There are two possibilities for uploading material onto the Web site:
- File Transfer Protocol (FTP client or Web-base FTP) or
- Browser form.
The way to upload material to the server depends on the options offered by the Web hosting server. The fastest way is by FTP upload. FTP enables you to upload entire folders of files to the server, which makes the uploading process simple and fast. Generally, when uploading files by means of the browser (form), only one file can be uploaded (an HTML file, picture and so forth) at a time. There are sites that enable the uploading of a larger number of files, but generally no more than five files simultaneously, which prolongs the process of copying files to the server.
What is the response time of the Web site? The speed at which an HTML page is downloaded (when a client requests your Web page, he is downloading it from the Web hosting server), is a function of several variables: size of the file (HTML page, but mainly pictures), speed of the server on which the Web site is hosted, type of user's connection, etc. The server's speed is a function of the manner in which the server is connected to the Internet - the type of communication line that is connected to it, and how broad it is.
It also depends on the number of Web sites hosted on that server or, more accurately, the number of users who want to get to those Web sites. If we imagine the server's connection to the Internet as a highway, then Internet surfers who use that highway, who want to reach the sites on the server, are the cars. The more cars on the highway, the slower the traffic (lower speed).

The response time of the Web site depends on the size of the files transferred between visitors to the Web hosting server. Imagine that some of the visitors are traveling in trucks, not cars. That increases the load on the road and slows down the speed of the traffic. The speed of the Web hosting server can be checked by using a ping software, which checks the amount of time it takes for the Web hosting server to respond. The program gives the server's response time in thousandths of a second. If you use a ping software to decide which Web hosting company to choose, remember that the speed of the server is not fixed and depends on the load on the Internet. It is also not recommended to check the home page of the Web hosting company, but rather the Web sites that the company is hosting, since most of the companies give better conditions to themselves than to the Web sites that they host. Another way to check, is to visit Web sites hosted on that server at various times and to take note of the speed - it's not scientific, it's not precise, but it's good enough.
A server locally based or a server in another state? An important point to remember is that the geographical location of the server changes the speed of the response and transfer of the information to the visitor.; The use of a server that is located closer is an advantage.
What other tools does the Web hosting server offer? There are Web hosting servers that provide additional tools for building the Web site and maintaining it on the Internet.
For example, they provide a wizard (site builder tool) for building HTML pages, tools to check the Web site (for example, programs that check that all the links that you've written lead somewhere), means for promoting the Web site (distributing the Web site on the search engines).

Servers that charge a fee, or What you won't get with a free server

Read this section even if you do not intend to pay. But don't take our word for it - check it.

Why is it worth choosing a Web hosting server that charges a fee?

The prestige of the Web site increases when it has its own domain, when it is conveniently accessible to all visitors and when it does not carry advertisements of the Web hosting server. When a Web site has databases managed by the server, its complexity increases and it requires more services. Web site owners who consider themselves builders of professional Web sites prefer to host a Web site on Web hosting servers that have no traffic restrictions, no advertisements, and that support a variety of languages and tools. No server gives all these advantages for free.

Safety and security

Usually, a Web site that is hosted on a paid Web hosting server is more secure than a Web site hosted on a free server. You should check whether the payment includes backup, recovery and firewall services.

For Web site that use a database, backup and recovery is vital. With a static Web site built of HTML pages, that is located on your PC, you can do a backup yourself.

The server owner will inform his paid customers of any problem (for example, traffic volume problems) and will give them the opportunity to make changes. This is not the case with free sites. If a condition in the contract is breached, your Web site may be closed, even without any advance warning.

If the server crashes, a Web sites with pay will be handled immediately and will be redirected to operate from the backup server, while Web sites hosted on a server that provides free service will have to wait until the server is back online.

Technical support

Will you need support in uploading the Web site and maintaining it on the server? Most of the Web hosts that charge a fee provide support for their clients (the Web site owners), some of them 24 hours a day. That is not true for those who choose free Web hosting, where there is sometimes no support at all, and when there is support, no one will knock themselves out to help you. That means that you will get an answer, but sometimes only three business days later.

Files

Another advantage in using Web hosting servers that charge a fee is that they allow to store large-volume files. Most of the Web hosting services are prepared and even want to host programs and files, since the price of most Web hosting package are determined by the size of the space that is rented, and files (videos, mp3) take up much more disk space than HTML pages. Most of the free servers restrict the type, quantity and size of the files that they will host. Very few free sites are prepared to host EXE and MP3 type files, primarily due to the fear of violating copyrights.

Connectivity and reliability

There is no point in putting your Web site on a Web hosting server that cannot be accessed or that has slow access. A Web hosting server that crashes every other day annoys not only you, the Web site owner, but also the visitors who are trying to access your Web site and are receiving a message that the Internet page is not available. A server that is too slow may also discourage visitors, who will lose patience while waiting for your Web site to load. The Web hosting companies give priority to Web site owners who pay a fee; they are also placed on the faster server so their Web sites are more available. This is not the case with Web sites that are hosted for free.

What is the price and how is the calculation made?

The price of Web site hosting depends on all the factors mentioned previously. In principle, the minimum price to host a Web site is a few dollars a month. The price increases according to the number of services included in the package (storage space, Web traffic, backup, database support, statistics, etc).

In general, there are two main factors for calculating the price of the Web hosting package: a fixed price for storage space (disk space); and a price based on Web traffic (monthly bandwidth) from your Web site. Many Web hosting servers charge a fixed price for the storage space and an additional variable price depending on the traffic. The more traffic from your Web site, the more you pay. Therefore, selecting the Web hosting company and the type of package depends on the type of Web site that you want to put on the Internet. For example, a Web site that is composed mainly of text and few graphics does not require much storage space, but if its content is attractive, it can draw a lot of traffic, with payment calculated accordingly. In such a case, it is best to search for a Web hosting company that offers a fixed-price Web hosting package according to storage space, and not according to Web traffic.

Generally, the payment for hosting the Web site is made per month, but payment for three months or a year in advance may lower the monthly price.

Before you choose a server that charges a fee, there are things you need to check:

How reliable is the server you are considering? After all, you don't want to risk your Web site and your money. With that in mind, how do you check the reliability of the Web hosting server? First, check to see who the other clients are. A Web hosting server that hosts large, well-known Web sites is probably reliable. It is also worth speaking to the Webmaster of one of the clients who will tell you everything you wanted to know but were afraid to ask.
Is there 24 hour support? As long as you're paying, why not get the best - round-the-clock support. If there is no round-the-clock support, check to see if the support hours are compatible with the hours you are online.
Will you be able to use your domain or sub-domain? As long as you're paying and you have your own domain, it's best to go with a Web hosting company that will connect an IP address to the domain name that you purchased. If you don't have a domain name, every Web hosting company will be happy to give you a sub-domain.
Do you need a server-side scripting languages? If you need ASP support, you will need to look for a server whose operating system is Windows NT/200x. Windows NT/200x servers are more expensive, so if you are comparing Web hosting packages, compare those with identical operating systems that support the same languages. If you need CGI, Perl or PHP look for a Unix/Linux Web host server.
Do you have many files or just a few? Check whether you will have to pay more for storing accompanying files and whether the Web hosting server calculates the storage of different types of files in different ways.
How do you upload files? By FTP or through the browser? Copying files by FTP is preferable because it is faster and more reliable. This method uses the protocol that is designed for copying files (FTP) and not the protocol that is designed for transferring images and text (HTTP).
Do you want a fast server or would you be satisfied with a medium speed server? It is highly probable that the faster the server, the more expensive the package will be, since speed is also a part of the price.
What is the server's response time? As explained earlier, you can check this by means of a ping command. There are Web sites that offer to check the response speed of Web sites for you. The values obtained from a ping command are in thousandths of a second.
If you get a result lower than 150, it means that it's a very fast server. A result lower than 400 means it's a fast server. A server that responds in a range from 400 to 700 is defined as a medium speed server. A server whose response speed is over 700 thousandths of a second, it is considered a slow server and is not recommended. It's worth sampling the site several times over the course of a day. You will be surprised at how the data can vary from one reading to another. You should be aware of the fact that there are Web sites that block ping service so that they will not be bothered. One of these, for example is www.microsoft.com.
How many visitors to your Web site do you anticipate? If you are expecting a large number of visitors to your Web site, choose a Web host server that does not charge extra for Web traffic.
How much storage space do you currently need for your Web site and how much will you need in the future? The size of the storage volume is not the only factor in calculating the payment for hosting the Web site. It's only part of it. The size of the storage space you require will always be the same size as, or larger than, the Web site folder on your PC. It is best to choose a Web hosting server whose basic package price is suitable and it is also desirable that the cost for added storage space is reasonable.

Free Web Hosting servers

Free on the Internet

The word "free" is a key word on the Internet and it's one of the most common search words. Not only do Internet surfers search for "free" stuff on the Internet, businesses also offer services for free. But is it really free?

You have to remember that the word "free" on the Internet means that users do not have to pay for services that they receive. However, in most cases you pay for these services in a different way. You must understand that someone has to "pay". The payment may not be made in money but it may be worth money. For example, you can receive a free e-mail account. When your mail is filled with weekly advertisements, you'll understand why they were so generous in giving you free e-mail. In about two weeks, you'll start receiving e-mail from companies you don't know and then you will understand that your e-mail address was sold to businesses, so it turns out that "free" is not exactly free. The Web hosting server which gave you a free e-mail account receives money from businesses that are prepared to pay to send e-mail directly to you. (Yes, I know what you're thinking! "I'll just open an e-mail account and they'll send all the advertisements there... ha, ha, ha." Did you think they haven't thought of that? You're not the first client who wants to "fix" them).

Advertisements are also common when your Web site is hosted for free, just like free e-mail. Visitors to the Web site are exposed to advertisements. Other services for Web site owners also entail exposing visitors to advertisements on the Web site. You can find every Web site building tool on the Internet for free, from building programs, graphics and other auxiliary tools, like a hit counter and statistics services, to forums, chat rooms, bulletin boards, guest books, surveys and more. Even "free" graphics, which are very common on the Internet, entail exposure to advertisements. Sometimes, you'll be asked to link the picture you received for free to the Web site from which you downloaded it, sometimes you will be asked to insert a small banner of the Web site. In the end, your Web site could look like a sponsorship Web site.

Before registering for any free service on the Internet, it is very important to read the fine print of the contract/agreement and see what conditions the company is offering you as a client and what it requires from you. Look for confidentiality. That means that they will not pass on your private information to another entity. Otherwise, your e-mail account may be flooded with junk mail.

Is it true that it doesn't cost any money?

Yes, free Web hosting does not require you, the Web site owner, to part with money in order to store your Web site on the server. A Web site can be hosted for free on the servers of institutions and organizations (a school, university, local authority, etc.), on the servers of commercial companies, on the servers of companies that provide Internet services (ISPs), on the servers of the portals, etc. So yes, there are freebies on the Internet.

What else does this "freebie" cost?

When we talk about a free Web hosting server, we usually mean the already constructed site of the server of a company that does not take payment from the client (that is you, the Web site owner).

But that does not mean that the Web hosting company loses by renting the space without payment. The space given free of charge exists on the server and when it is not active it does not bring in any income. However, if it is given, even without payment, a profit can still be made, for example from advertising. Thus, most of the free servers contain an advertising banner at the top of the page, at the bottom of the page or in a separate window that pops up each time the page is loaded. In effect, the Web site "pays" for its storage space. Money is not taken from you, the Web site owner, or from the visitors to the Web site, it is made from advertising.

There are Web hosting services that offer free service to Web sites only for certain subjects. For example, for small business Web sites, where the hosting service provides various business services to the Web site owners and earns fees as a broker.

Another reason why a particular company provides free Web hosting services is an attempt by such companies to trap the client. Certain sites provide a very small amount of space for free. This is the amount of space that is suitable for a newly launched Web site, but when the Web site grows and its owner needs more space, the user will be required to pay. The Web hosting company assumes that as soon as the Web site owner becomes accustomed to the services provided by the company, the user won't take the trouble to transfer to a different company and will prefer to pay and continue to maintain his Web site. Some of the companies rely on the laziness of the client (you, in this case), assuming that he will be prepared to pay rather than taking the trouble to search for a new Web hosting service. Restricting traffic is also a method of trapping the client.

You can also find free Web hosting space on the servers of various organizations and institutions. For example, many universities give their students free storage space for personal Web sites (this is the time to renew your relationship with your cousin who's in college, the one you haven't seen for years). There are also companies and enterprises that give their employees free Web hosting space (ask your parents or other relatives). In most cases, the client's payment for the space is his undertaking to uphold certain conditions dictated by the server owner (restrictions on the Web site subject matter, the files it will contain and so forth).

Why and for whom is it worthwhile to use a free Web hosting server?

Why? Because it's free! However, it should be said that a free Web hosting service is not suitable for every Web site. There are Web sites whose contents require that they be on a server for a fee (for example, e-commerce Web sites). Web sites that want to show an aura of prestige and professionalism should not use free services because there is certain contempt for Web sites with advertising. The content of the advertisements may not be suitable for the content of the Web site. A Web site without a personal domain, which purports to be professional, does not appear reliable. In order to appear respectable and reliable, you have to invest!

Important! So who is the use of a free Web hosting server suitable for? Such use is suitable for small, private Web sites, for personal Web sites, for Web sites that are hobbies, for Web sites with little traffic, for nonprofit Web sites, for Web sites under construction or when the Web site owner wants to see how his Web site works on the Internet before he transfers it to a Web hosting server for a fee.

What are the services that you will receive for free?

The range of services that are found for free is not identical to those that can be obtained for payment. Most basic services can be obtained for free. Therefore, before choosing a Web hosting company, you must decide what is more important - a Web site without advertisements or a Web site without traffic restrictions, a Web site that supports server side languages or a Web site to which files can be uploaded by FTP, etc. Since these preferences are personal, the services should be examined carefully before you decide.

Before you choose a free Web hosting server, you should check the following things:

Are there advertisements? Most of the companies that provide free Web hosting services make money (or at least don't lose any) from the advertisements that they display on the Web site. Even though it's true that you can delete the advertising banners and prevent the advertising windows from opening, this can't be done on every Web site. Secondly, if they catch you doing this, your Web site will be deleted...
Can you enter your Web site directly (by typing its address) or do you first go through the Web hosting server's home page? Having to go through other home pages before getting to your own is not recommended at all.
Do you have a lot of files? This does not mean accompanying graphics files and not even sound files (midi or wav), but primarily MP3 and .EXE files. Storing large files, even of the mpeg and pps types, is problematic. Even if you succeed in uploading them to the Web site, it is not certain that your visitors will be able to download them afterwards. There are Web hosting servers in which you cannot store zip files, so look for restrictions regarding files on the Web site.
Do you need a Web site that supports server side languages (CGI, ASP)? Most of the free servers do not support these languages. While there are free servers that support languages, they restrict the Web hosting packages in another way (generally restricting Web traffic).
How do you upload files to the Web hosting server? Some of the free servers enable the use of FTP. On some you can upload only by means of the browser (form). If the only option for uploading files is by means of the browser (form), it is best to know ahead of time how many files can be uploaded simultaneously.
What is the server speed? Naturally you want a fast server, but the question is whether, in a free deal, you can be satisfied with a medium speed server (of course, using a slow server is not recommended - even for free).
How many visitors do you expect on your Web site? It is not recommended to use Web hosting services that impose restrictions on Web site traffic because you can never know whether your Web site will be a hit or not. Also, a Web site with a large volume of visitor traffic is generally not suitable for a free server. Even regular Web hosting servers that don't restrict Web site traffic can threaten to close the Web site or demand payment when Web site traffic is very heavy, and the traffic volume overloads the server.
Is there support? The support given for a free Web site is not always inferior to the support given for Web sites that you pay for. Naturally, a server with support is preferable, but if there is no support - you can often get help in the chat rooms and forums of Internet Web site builders. Look for technical and how-to guides at the Web hosting site.
How much storage space do you currently need for your Web site and how much will you need in the future? There are Web hosting servers that provide Web hosting space in a large variety of sizes and there are even those that do not restrict the storage space (actually there is a restriction but it's not relevant to you).

Important note - Before registering for a Web hosting server, you must read the fine print of the contract/agreement and see what features the company offers you and what it requires from you as a client. Never rely on the large print that appears on the opening page. Look inside in order to see what the conditions and features are.

Reading the fine print will tell you exactly what is permitted and what is prohibited on the Web site you are registering for. You can prevent unpleasantness, anger and frustration if you read it - do NOT forget the fine print (if necessary, use glasses, and if something in not 100% clear to you - ask your parents).

Uploading files to the Web hosting server

The files that make up your Web site, located on your PC, must be copied to the computer on which the Web site will be stored. There are two options for uploading files to the Web hosting server. The first option is to upload the files by :

File Transfer Protocol (FTP client or Web-base FTP) or
Browser form.

The fastest way is by FTP upload. You can Drag & Drop (copy) all the files from your Web site folder on your PC to the folder on the Web hosting server. If your Web site contains many files, it is more convenient to upload them to the Web hosting server by means of FTP.

Uploading files by FTP

What is FTP?

FTP is a service and also a software.

FTP software enables access to a Web hosting server via the Internet in a manner very similar to the use of Windows Explorer.

File Transfer Protocol (FTP) is a protocol (that is, a language for copying files between computers connected to the Internet), that enables the copying of files between various computers. This protocol works on the two-way server-client model in which the client can upload files to the server, download (copy) files from the server, delete files in the server, change the names of files located on the server, etc. Please note that in contrast to browser upload of files, you can also download from the server by means of an FTP interface.

When do you need to download files from the server? For example, when a particular file is corrupted on your PC and the only copy is on... the server.

The procedure for working with FTP software is:

The user connects to the Web hosting server (FTP server).
The use identifies himself with a User Name and Password.
The interface simulates two Windows Explorer windows: one shows the files in your local computer and the other shows the files in the Web hosting server. The work is very similar to working in Windows Explorer.

Recommended FTP software: WS_FTP or cuteFTP (these can be downloaded from Cnet).

How do you upload files to the Web site by means of FTP software?

After registering with one of the Web hosting services, you will receive, by e-mail, a User Name, Password and address for your Web site. You will also receive the address of an FTP server that you must connect to.

When you open the FTP program there is a form on which you must fill in the details that you received. In the designated line, enter the address of the FTP server that you received from your Web hosting company, and afterwards User Name and Password.

Be sure that you have copied properly (It's best to use Ctrl+C and Ctrl+V in order to copy these details from your e-mail to the form). After filling in the necessary details make contact with the server by clicking Connect, this will connect you directly to your Web site folder on the server.

After making the connection, look on the left pane of the window (left side of the window) for the folder in which your Web site is stored. The left pane of the window displays your computer and the right pane of the window displays your folder on the Web hosting server which, at least in the beginning, should be empty.

Copy the files from the left pane to the right pane by means of the arrows or by Drag & Drop. In principle, work is now proceeding between these two panes and is the same as copying files between two folders in your computer. The original remains in the original folder and the copy is in another folder, only now the folder is on an Internet server.

In other FTP programs, you can highlight the desired files and drag them from window to window. You can send several files together by clicking more than one file simultaneously. You can also do other things with the files (for example, delete, view, change name, and so forth) by means of the buttons located on the right side of each of the windows.

Uploading files by means of the browser (form)

An alternative way of uploading files is using a browser inerface (form). You can select files and upload them to the Web hosting server. You can upload new files or update existing files by uploading a file of the same name and overwriting the existing file. Of course you can also delete a file. You can implement other functions such as transferring a file from one folder to another, and changing the name of a file and so forth if the hosting Web site allows you to do it by means of the interface.

The procedure for working with a browser is:

With your browser, enter the Web hosting site.
Identify yourself by User Name and Password.
A form-like interface is displayed and you can select one or more files (look for the Browse button).
Click the Submit button to copy the selected file(s) to the folder on a Web hosting server.

Use a form to upload a file throught the browser, but instead of filling in details such as name or e-mail, you type or select the name of the file that is located in your computer. The process of selecting the file is similar to the process of opening a document with your text editor or the process of selecting an e-mail attachment. Please note the fact that each time you select one single file. This means that it can be a long, tedious process if you have a lot of files, so you should look for a server that provides an interface where you can select more than one file, which will save you a great deal of time.

There are Web hosting servers that enable you to upload a Zip file that contains your entire Web site. What are the stages in this process? You build a Web site on your PC. You compress the whole Web site as one Zip file (all the folders and all the files), then you upload the Zip file to the server. The server opens the Zip file and structures the Web site (folders and files). Read carefully the instructions in the site for this method and pay special attention to how you must create the Zip file.

Tips for effectively uploading the Web site

Check how much storage space you will need - by checking the size of your Web site folder on your PC. How do you do that? In Windows Explorer, highlight the folder that holds your Web site (HTML pages, pictures, etc..), right click with the mouse on that folder, and from the pop-up menu select "Properties" (the last option at the bottom). One of the properties is Size (third from the top).
Open another e-mail account in one of the free e-mail servers, even if your Web hosting server offers an e-mail services. It's best to choose an e-mail server that does not obligate you to use the account every 30 or 60 days.

Please note that during the registration for a free Web hosting server, you must provide an e-mail address. This e-mail account must be active, which is a condition for continuing to host the Web site on the server. If you have an e-mail account on one of the free servers (such as Hotmail), even if you change ISPs, your e-mail address will be accessible. Use the e-mail address for all the Web site needs: working with the service suppliers connected with the Web site (the hit counter, forum), and for any additional services that you choose to put on your Web site.
Give as many real details about yourself as possible when registering with a Web hosting company. Look for the privacy declaration of the Web hosting server which declares that they undertake not to pass on your details to a third party and not to make any use of them except for the needs of your Web site. Even if you have decided not to provide real details in the registration form, it's important that your e-mail address be real and accessible, otherwise they will close your Web site.
Does your Web site really belong on the Internet? Before you put your Web pages on the Internet, it's a good idea to examine this point. Would you visit a Web site like this if it wasn't yours? If the answer is yes, ask yourself if you are proud of it. Can you show it to your Mom? To your classmates? Never present content (text and pictures) on your Web site that you would not be prepared to show to your Mom! Never display content on your Web site that you are not prepared to talk about in your school. Put on your Web site content (text and pictures) that you would be proud to show your mother and material that you are comfortable talking about and, preferably, are also familiar with.
Anything that is illegal outside the Internet is also illegal on the Internet. Never display on your Web site content that might be considered slander or libel.

Be sure that your content is legal and in the spirit of the law, otherwise you are opening yourself up to a flood of lawsuits that could entangle you for the rest of your life, and might even leave you penniless.

Copyrights on the Internet

Written texts are copyrighted whether you have found them in a book, a newspaper, a CD or another Web site. Graphics, music (including notes and lyrics), computer programs, pictures, films, works of art and the Web site design are also copyrighted. You must be aware of the copyrights on materials that you use. Just because you are in possession of certain content, it doesn't not mean you can disregard the copyrights. Infringing copyrights on the Internet is just like infringing copyrights outside the Internet. Precedents have already been set in the matter, so it's not worth getting into trouble.

All printed material is protected under the Copyright Law, including this book. The company's policy, as written at the beginning of this book is:

"All rights reserved. No part of this book shall be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means, electronic, mechanical, photo-copying, recording, or otherwise, without written permission from the publisher..."

In other words, you are not allowed to plagiarize (which is in effect a form of stealing). However, if you want to copy a short section, for example a paragraph, you can do so and note in fine print or in a footnote the source of the material (the title of the book and the publisher). With regard to larger sections, you must submit a proper request.

And what about your copyrights? The moment your Web site is on the Internet, it is exposed to the entire world, and people may copy content from it including text and graphics. If someone makes personal use of the materials from the Web site (for example, if someone copies a picture that you created in order to print a greeting card, or someone copies an article for the purpose of doing his homework), it is not a problem. The problem is created when these materials are used to make another Web site. There is no process for registering copyrights on Web site content, so this right exists without the need for any registration from the moment that it is published. If someone really wants to use the content and the files from your Web site, you can not stand in the way. The question is how much you are prepared to invest in finding plagiarisms and in bringing those cases to court, two actions that can cost a great deal of money.

A common mistake is thinking that if the sign © does not appear, then the content can be used freely. Furthermore, if the source of the material (a picture, music file and so forth) is unknown, that doesn't mean that it can be used freely.

Building a site by means of a wizard

Building a site by means of a wizard (a software that guides you step-by-step through the process of building the Web site) is similar to building a Web site with an HTML editor like FrontPage or DreamWeaver, except that instead of building the Web site on your computer, you build it online by filling in forms and answering questions directly on the server's computer.

The disadvantages of using a wizard

Building a Web site with a wizard restricts you to the possibilities enabled by the wizard. In other words, you must adapt your content to the template that the Web host server makes available to you.
The Web site is built online - you must be connected to the Internet. If you have a slow connection, the process may take a very long time, aside from the cost.
You must prepare all the components of the Web site (text, pictures) ahead of time, otherwise the work becomes a nightmare: you get online, you get stuck (a picture is missing), you log off, you find/create the missing item, you get online again, get stuck again, log off again, find/create the missing item...
Since the Web site is built on the server's computer, there is no copy of the Web site that you built on your computer. If you decide in the future that you don't like the server and you want to transfer to another server, you'll have to build your Web site from scratch.

The advantages of using a wizard

You don't have to know HTML.
While a building wizard helps you build the Web site easily without any knowledge, you should know that building wizards vary from server to server and so do the results. Some of the wizards are very simple and easy to work with, but the results they produce are also very simple and can only contain pictures and text according to a set structure. Some of the wizards can give far better results, but sometimes working with them is very complicated.

Conclusion

You can build a Web site that's totally cool, absolutely awesome and a few other superlatives, but if it's hosted on a slow Web hosting server that tends to crash, or one that's flooded with pop-ups - visitors won't return. Your Web site needs just a few seconds to impress the visitor. The following chapter will walk you through the process of promoting your Web site.

Choosing a Web hosting server is not something to be done lightly. And once you have found a good home for your Web site, start promoting it anywhere and everywhere, not just on the Internet.

Part I

Part II