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Why Go Dedicated When You Can Share an IP
Address?
Overwhelmed by hosting options? No need to worry! Even if you
have web hosting experience, you still may wonder about the
advantages and disadvantages of certain hosting options. For
instance, it used to be common for every web site address to
have its own, dedicated IP address. With the plethora of web
sites being produced, dedicated IP addresses are no longer the
norm and now hosting providers not only offer the option, but
usually charge more for this option.
IP Address Basics: Each computer has its own numeric address.
You may have noticed this, but dismissed it as computer
"mumbo-jumbo." The IP address looks somewhat like a social
security number, but with dots separating the number sets, for
example 201.167.0.142. Before deciding to choose a dedicated or
shared IP address for your website, it's important to
understand the difference.
Shared IP Address: When you sign-up with a web host, your
website will most likely be hosted on a shared IP address.
Multiple websites can be hosted on one IP address and it costs
hosting companies less to run business this way. But just
because it is cost effective for hosting companies does not
mean that it is disadvantageous for the customer.
Dedicated IP Address: The dedicated IP address is also called a
static IP. What this means is that a website domain is hosted
on its own IP address, no sharing. There are advantages to
having an IP address for each domain that you have, but these
advantages are not necessarily a requirement for everyone.
If you are planning to host a large or a secure e-commerce web
site you will want a dedicated IP address. But what if this
doesn't describe you? How do you decide?
Benefits of a Dedicated IP Address: If you want your own SSL
certificate, you will need a dedicated IP address. A SSL
certificate will let you accept credit cards online. Some
hosting providers offer an SSL certificate that is shared with
other IP addresses, which will allow you to accept credit cards
online. If you choose to use the provided SSL certificate,
there is no need to have a dedicated IP address. Now, whether
you decide to have your own SSL certificate or use one provided
by the hosting company is a decision you will need to make.
If you plan to use Anonymous FTP, it may be required to have a
dedicated IP address. Anonymous FTP is when a computer allows
anyone using the FTP software permission to access a designated
directory for files. It is called Anonymous FTP since the user
signs in under the name "anonymous" You will need to check with
your hosting company if you plan to use this service since some
providers require a dedicated IP address in order to run the
software.
All hosting companies have a domain name server. But, if you
are considering becoming a hosting reseller or wish to have
your own name server, you will need a dedicated IP address.
If you are realizing that you need a dedicated IP address and
already have your site hosted on a shared IP address, you are
not necessarily "stuck." Many hosting companies offer the
option to upgrade or move to a dedicated IP. Most companies
will charge extra for this service, but not necessarily all.
Your site may be down and unavailable while the changes take
place, but this will vary by hosting company and should not be
too inconvenient.
If you have yet to contract with a hosting provider, it may be
best to look not just at what services you need now, but will
need for the future. Hopefully your business or service will
become tremendously successful! But with success, comes the
need to expand and upgrade. When you first started your site, a
shared IP address may have been ample, but now that the
visitors are coming in droves, you may need to upgrade to a
dedicated IP.
There are criteria to consider before you decide to whether to
choose a shared or dedicated IP address. For most web masters,
a shared IP address is good enough. But, if you plan to host an
e-commerce site or want your own SSL certificate and more
hosting control, it is worth looking into a dedicated IP.
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Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Fei_Lim
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