These two terms are widely used on the internet to describe the services that a
web hosting provider can offer you. Shared hosting is multiple web sites
residing on a single server/computer. Shared hosting is sometimes referred to as
virtual servers, and definitely cheaper than dedicated host, because your site
is residing on a server that also hosts other websites. A normal web server
usually can accommodate up to 250 websites. On the other hand, a dedicated
server is a computer that hosts only your site. Dedicated servers provide more
hard-drive space and greater autonomy and flexibility, including choice of
software, operating systems, and database management systems. A dedicated host
often costs from US$99 per month to US$500 per month.
To choose between a shared and a dedicated
host depends on the volume of traffic to your site and the amount of control and
flexibility that you want on your hosting account. In a shared environment,
other sites on the same server that you host are competing to use the server
resources, and if your site has high traffic, it is wise that you switch to a
dedicated server that can serve your web users faster without sacrificing any
other hosts.
However, if you are fairly new to web
hosting with a limited budget, shared hosting is the recommended solution for
your site. The primary advantage in choosing a virtual server over a dedicated
server is significant savings in setup and operating costs. Shared hosting
prices usually start from US$8 per month to US$50 per month depending on the
features, software and hardware that a host can provide you.
Click here to view a few examples of
shared hosting services
Click here to view a few examples of
dedicated hosting services
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::: How to choose the right hosting service
