Building a Web Site For Dummies®, 3rd Edition

Going Live: Choosing a Host

You have three basic options when it comes to Web hosting:

✓	ISPs
✓	Virtual servers
✓	Dedicated servers

ISPs

The same people who provide you with Internet access can also be your Web space provider. Almost certainly, you have at least some room for Web pages as part of your basic service. If you’re not interested in a very extensive site or in one that has tons of glitzy features, the basic setup the ISP gives you will probably suffice. Even if you don’t have any kind of CGI access (see Chapter 8), you can probably still use remotely hosted services, like the ones described in this book, to enhance your site.

Many domain name registrars (described in “Finding a registrar,” later in this chapter) also provide a limited amount of Web site space as a part of their services.

Virtual servers

Virtual servers are nothing more than directories on a hard drive. If that hard drive is on an existing Web server that supports virtual server capabilities, however, the Webmaster can make each one of those directories seem as though it is a fully functional Web server.

Other than being a really clever example of how you can use computer technology, does this have a practical application for you? It depends on your budget and your site’s traffic expectations. It’s certainly one of the cheapest ways to get your site up and running. You could pay for a couple of months’ ...