Glossary of Basic Web Hosting Terms

A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z

READ ADVANCED TERMS

ASP (Active Server Pages) HTML documents that are embedded with scripts (typically Microsoft's VB Script or Jscript). These scripts enable the use of online databases.

Anonymous FTP Anonymous File Transfer Protocol. Allows the public to log into an FTP server with a common login, avoiding the need to assign passwords to anyone who wants to download files from your Web site.

Aliased Nameservers An aliased nameserver is a nameserver that has been labeled as yours (the reseller's) despite the fact it actually belongs to your Web hosting provider. This ensures that domains located on your server are listed as "ns.yourservername.com" instead of "ns.yourprovidersname.com".

Apache One of the world's most popular, free Web server programs.

Bandwidth The amount of data that can be transmitted at a given moment to a server. The higher your bandwidth, the larger amount of traffic your site can handle at one time.

CGI (Common Gateway Interface) A script that processes data taken from the user (such as from a form application).

CGI-BIN The directory on a Web server where CGI scripts are stored.

Cookie A text file sent to a user's Web browser from a Web server. Cookies are typically exchanged back and forth between the two in order to prepare custom content for users, and to exchange data like registration information.

Control Panel An online interface often used to facilitate Web site management and editing. Control panels allow hosting customers to perform basic functions (make changes, set-up email boxes, check data) without contacting customer service.

Dedicated hosting A hosting feature that allows a Web site to have its own server. This is more flexible than shared hosting (see below), as webmasters typically have full control over the back end of the server, including choice of OS. Shared hosting is usually sufficient for most small and medium sized businesses.

Domain name Domain names are the word sequences users enter in their URL bar to visit your site. They are attached to a DNS, short for Domain Naming System, which is used to translate numeric addresses (known as IP, or Internet Protocol, addresses) into words. Each site you visit on the net has a numeric IP address behind its name.

Firewall A piece of security software designed to protect Web servers. Used to protect sites from hacker attacks/unauthorized access.

FrontPage A popular site design and management tool developed by Microsoft.

FTP (Short for File Transfer Protocol) The most common method for uploading files to servers, allowing the exchange of files between your computer and your Web server.

HTML Short for HyperText Markup Language, the language by which Web servers and client browsers communicate. All server-side functions (such as database processing), although they may be performed in another language, must eventually be output back to the user in HTML.

HTTP Stands for HyperText Transfer Protocol, the protocol by which HTML files move across the Internet. HTTP requires a client browser and an HTTP server (typically a Web server).

GB Gigabyte. 1024 Megabytes.

IP ADDRESS (Internet Protocol) A unique number identifying all devices connected to the Internet.

Linux UNIX-like operating system used by Web servers.

Managed hosting A dedicated server that is accompanied by a full suite of technical support, maintenance and monitoring services. This differs from dedicated Web hosting, where customers are provided with their own servers but are still responsible for virtually all administrative and maintenance duties.

MB Megabyte. A million bytes. A thousand kilobytes.

Merchant Account Enables the processing of credit cards online.

Miva Merchant A dynamic browser based storefront development and management system that allows merchants to create and administrate multiple online stores.

MS SQL Microsoft SQL Server. A relational database management system. Windows hosting plans often include MS SQL databases.

Name server A server responsible for translating domain names and IP addresses.

Parking All domain names have to be stored on a server in order to be purchased. Most domain registration services will therefore temporarily place a newly purchased name on their servers until a hosting plan is purchased or the owner points the DNS to a different site.

PHP A scripting language. PHP commands are embedded within the HTML of a Web page and is useful in the arena of dynamically generated pages.

Reseller A reseller operates components of a Web hosting operation using services, infrastructure and equipment provided by another Web hosting service.

Server A computer or device on a network used to store files and maintain network resources. This computer/device handles requests for Web pages.

Shared hosting The most basic of Web hosting types. With shared hosting, numerous Web sites are shared on one server. While an economic solution, they typically cannot handle large amounts of storage or traffic.

Shopping cart A program designed to handle the e-commerce section of a Web site. Shopping cart software lets users browse for and purchase products online.

Subdomain A division of a Web site. Subdomains are individual Web addresses built upon a pre-existing domain name. As a reseller, you will have the option of assigning subdomains to clients if they do not choose to have a domain name. Examples: "hosting.com" could be "support.hosting.com," "info.hosting.com".

Uptime How often a Web site is accessible to users on the Internet (often given in a percentage).

UNIX A text-based, multitasking Operating System suitable for Web and network administration. The most commonly used operating system among Web servers.

Virtual host A shared hosting solution, the most basic of hosting types. Numerous Web sites are shared on one server.

Virtual Private Server (VPS) A virtual private server provides the features of a dedicated server on a machine that is shared by other Web hosting customers. Customers therefore get hosting services that are similar to that of dedicated Web hosting without sacrificing privacy or performance.

Web Statistics Reports on visitors to your Web site. Statistics range from basic (how many visitors), to advanced (referring URL, search phrase, etc.).

WHOIS A central database which tracks all domain name/IP registrations.

Windows Hosting Hosting on a web server that uses Microsoft Windows server software as it's operating platform. Windows hosting plans are useful in the arena of dynamic content generation and database functionality. Windows is a graphic-based, multitasking operating system.

READ ADVANCED TERMS