A good, shared Web host must provide reliable and reasonable quality of service. Many times, a consumer will sign up with the least expensive provider only to experience many technical difficulties and the inevitable and frustrating experience of changing Web hosts. To avoid this experience, it is best if the consumer chooses the right hosting company. Ensuring that a shared Web hosting firm has the following characteristics will increase the probability of consumer satisfaction.

Quality Server Technology The use of quality server technology is important. Since shared hosting services utilize multiplexed equipment, consumers must ensure that the server and server technology used can accommodate the number of users on your particular server.

System Administrators Make sure that knowledgeable system administrators are operating your hosting company’s technology.

Network Redundancy Your shared hosting package must have multiple connections to the Internet. Network redundancy ensures that if one Internet connection goes down, traffic can be re-routed through another connection.

Network Connectivity It is important to find the fastest Internet connection possible. Since you are competing with other users for resources in a shared hosting environment, you should ensure that you have at least T3 connection that is using less than 50 per cent of available bandwidth.

In the web hosting industry, a dedicated server is usually defined as the rental and exclusive use of a computer that includes a web server, related software, and connection to the Internet, located on-site, within a web hosting company’s premises. In most cases, for compilation of related company web sites, that may develop a considerable amount of traffic, a dedicated server is usually needed. In many cases, the server may be configured and operated on a remote basis, independently located from the client company.

A single computer on a web hosting network that is leased or rented, and dedicated to just one customer, comprises a dedicated server. A service provider will monitor the computer’s hardware, network connectivity, and routing equipment, while the customer generally controls and maintains the server software. Dedicated servers are usually used for web sites that have grown beyond the basic standard web hosting account, and require a more comprehensive network. They are also used by larger companies that need separate systems for mail, web, and database servers. Web hosting companies may have their sites spread over one or several servers. Dedicated servers are generally kept inside of data centers, so that they may be monitored by service providers.