Dedicated IP Windows Web Hosting
Dedicated windows web hosting can either be shared or dedicated, based on a Windows Server, rather than a Linux, UNIX, or BSD Server. In this article, we will discuss both, shared and dedicated Windows hosting with a dedicated IP.
Dedicated IP and Shared Windows Hosting
Shared hosting is when a number of sites are located on the same server. This is the most economical type of hosting that is suitable for smaller projects. With shared hosting, each web site is located in its private section on the server, but all of these websites use the same software.
There are two main ways to access sites on a shared hosting plan:
- By name – used in shared IP hosting, where all sites use a single IP address.
- By IP – used in dedicated IP hosting, where each site has its own IP address.
Dedicated IP is typically used for SSL certificate installation (for website protection). It can also be used for SEO purposes, anonymous FTP access, and IP specific applications. The unique IP typically comes as an add-on, which can be priced per month or per year. Some hosts may offer you a dedicated IP for free if you purchase a private SSL certificate from them.
An operating system used by the host is one of the important criteria for the selection of the host, because this will influence the use of software for certain services. Most shared hosts have open source Unix-like operating systems (FreeBSD, GNU / Linux), while others have commercial operating systems based on a Windows Server. Windows Server packages usually come with support for all Microsoft applications (MS Access, MSSQL, MS SQL Server, ASP, FrontPage, and others).
Here are some important services and features to look for in any type of shared hosting: support for CGI, Perl, PHP, ASP, .htaccess, and databases, as well as sufficient disk space, bandwidth, the number of sites that can be placed on one hosting, and database space.
Dedicated IP and Dedicated Windows Hosting
Every dedicated server comes with one dedicated IP address. Additional IP addresses can be purchased as an add-on, if you can justify the reason for your purchase to the hosting company.
Windows and Linux are the most popular operating systems for dedicated servers. The choice of the operating system is up to the customer. Most hosts will provide you with managed operating system installation, whether you choose the commercial Microsoft Windows Server or the open source UNIX Server. Microsoft Windows Server is quite expensive, but it does have a number of unique advantages and applications; it is great for ASP, MSSQL, MS SQL Server, MS Access, FrontPage, and other Microsoft products.
Dedicated servers come with specific software (SQL server, Control Panel), and website management. The servers are housed in the host’s datacenters, and are usually best for web sites with large traffic. Dedicated servers are usually configured and operated by the host, and customized by the customer.