Frequently Used Web Hosting Terms

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". Also see Nameserver below.

Anonymous FTP (Anon FTP)

A method for downloading and uploading files using FTP protocol without having a username or a password. In place of a username, word "anonymous" is used, and in place of a password, email address is usually used. If a hosting plan offers this service, your users will be able to download or upload files with FTP without having their own account.

Anonymous remailer

A SMTP server that allows sending anonymous email messages. It removes or changes the "From" field of all messages that it processes.

Apache

One of the world's most popular Web server programs, Apache was built by a group of open-source programmers and is often used because of its outstanding performance, strong security features and the fact that it is free.

Application Service Provider

A third party that manages software applications for servers and networks.

ASP (Active Server Page)

ASPs are HTML documents embedded with scripts (typically Microsoft's VB Script or Jscript). These scripts are processed by the server prior to being transferred to the user.

ATM (Asynchronous Transfer Mode)

A set of network protocols designed for multimedia transmission. Data is partitioned into cells (53 bytes each) and passed along a virtual circuit. ATM allows for building very high speed networks.

Backbone

Main high-speed network connection composing the Internet. Backbones are operated by major telecommunications companies like Sprint, MCI, or AT&T.

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.

Bot

An automated piece of software that can be used in chat rooms or to crawl the web.

Certificate

Digital ID used for SSL transactions. It includes owner's public key, the name of the owner, the issuer, hostname, and the expiration date.

Certificate Authority

A company trusted by a browser maker that issues digital certificates that are supposed to guarantee that the company is what it claims to be for use in encrypted digital transactions though SSL. Verisign is the biggest certificate authority.

CGI

Short for Common Gateway Interface, a small script that processes data taken from the user (such as from a form application).

ColdFusion

ColdFusion is an easy to use server-side scripting language developed by Allaire. It comes with ColdFusion Studio, a visual IDE. Other popular server-side scripting languages are ASP. Perl, PHP, TCL, Python, and JSP.

Co-location (colo)

Putting a web server in a dedicated facility that provides high-speed Internet connection, security, environment, backup power, and technical support. Unlike the dedicated server, the client controls both hardware and software.

Control Panel

Control panel included in web hosting packages is an online web-based application that allows you to easily manage different aspects of your account. Most control panels will let you upload files, add email accounts, change contact information, set up shopping carts or databases, view usage statistics, etc.

Crawler

Also known as spider, an automated software that retrieves webpages and follows the hyperlinks contained in them. Used to generate indexes used by search engines.

Data transfer

In Web hosting, the total size of files transferred by an account in a month. Sites with a lots of graphics, downloads, or streaming audio or video and a lot of visitors will require plans with more available transfer.

Database

Data in a structured format stored on a web server. Most popular type is a relational database. The most common query (information retrieval) language for relational databases is SQL. Linux-based hosts most commonly include MySQL database and Windows NT-based hosts usually include Access or MS SQL databases.

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. Administration, however, is still handled by the hosting company.

Dedicated Server

Similar to co-location, except that you lease or rent hardware from a Web host. The main advantage over co-location is easier upgrade and usually better support. Getting a dedicated server or co-locating is necessary for sites that outgrow shared servers because they use a lot of bandwidth and resources or they require total control over software environment.

Diesel Generator

A diesel-powered generator used by hosting companies as a back-up source to generate electricity in the event of a power outage.

Domain names

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.

FrontPage

A popular site design and management tool developed by Microsoft.

Firewall

A piece of security software designed to protect Web servers. They are typically used to protect sites from hacker attacks/unauthorized access.

FTP

Short for File Transfer Protocol, a method of allowing remote users and Web servers to exchange files.

FTP client

mode used to transfer binary files (multimedia files, executables and other data files). Not suitable for transferring normal text files.

Host

A networked computer dedicated to providing a certain kind of service. Usually refers to a computer that stores the website files and has a web server running on it.

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).

IIS

Short for Internet Information Server, Microsoft's server software for Windows NT/2000.

IMAP (Internet Message Access Protocol)

A protocol for retrieving e-mail messages from an e-mail server. Some versions allow you to search your e-mail messages for keywords while those messages are still on your server. Then you can decide which messages you choose to download to your computer.

Intranet

A vast internal network structured in a fashion similar to the Internet. Intranets are usually established by large corporate organizations to improve communication. The main difference between the Internet and an intranet is that access to intranets are restricted to authorized members only.

IP

Short for Internet Protocol, which designates the format of "data packets" that are used to exchange information over the Internet.

IRC

Short for Internet Relay Chat, a popular text-base multi-user chat network.

Java

Sun's popular programming language. Java is a platform-independent (at least in theory), crash-protected, object-oriented language that can be used to write applets that run in a browser, servlets that run server-side, or independent programs. Java's syntax is similar to that of C++.

Java class files

The file or set of files that contain the code for a Java applet.

Java Servlet

Servlets are programs written in Java that run on a Web server and can produce dynamic pages.

Java Virtual Machine (JVM, Java Runtime Environment)

A set of programs that allow for Java applets to be run on a particular computer system.

JavaScript

Simple, client-side programming language created by Sun and Netscape. JavaScript can be embedded in HTML pages to create interactive effects and do tasks like validate form data. JavaScript is a separate language from Java. All popular modern browsers support JavaScript. A few hosts support server-side JavaScript.

JDBC Java Database Connectivity

a mechanism allowing Java applets to access different databases.

Load Balancing

Distributing data across a network of servers in order to ensure that a single Web server does not get overloaded with work, thereby affecting performance.

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.

MIME

Short for Multipurpose Internet Email Extensions, a protocol that allows users to transfer non-text messages like audio, video and images through e-mail.

Mirror sites

A mirror site is an exact copy of another FTP or Web site. These are used to offset/spread traffic load on busy Web sites.

Miva Empressa

Miva's XML based server-side scripting language. Available for multiple platforms.

Miva Merchant

Browser-based storefront development and management system for merchants.

MS Index Server

An add-on for Microsoft Internet Information server that indexes documents on Web or Intranet servers running IIS. The information is then presented to users in a searchable format.

MySQL

Most popular open-source relational database. Many Unix-based plans allow MySQL databases.

Name server

A server responsible for translating domain names and IP addresses.

Newsgroup

A USENET discussion group (see below).

NOC

Short for Network Operations Center, a hosting company's "home base," so to speak. The NOC is usually where most administration, technical support and physical server storage takes place.

OC-1, OC-3, OC-12, OC-24, OC-48

Optical Carrier transmission speeds, used in fiber optic networks conforming to SONET standard. OC-1 is 51.85 Mbps. Higher levels are multiples of that speed.

ODBC (Open Database Connectivity)

A standard allowing applications to access different databases in an uniform way.

Packet switching

The method by which most data is exchanged throughout the Internet. Most data is broken down in to smaller "packets" prior to transfer, and then reassembled at the destination.

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. This is known as parking.

POP

Short for Post Office Protocol. An e-mail protocol that mail software such as Eudora use to communicate with mail servers.

Propagation

The process where name servers throughout the Internet add new domains and remove expired ones from their records. This can be a lengthy process, which is why connecting to a new domain name can often take three or four days.

Python

Interpreted programming language, sometimes offered by hosts for server-side scripting.

RAID Redundant Array of Independent (or Inexpensive) Disks

Type of disk, often used on servers, where several physical disks are combined into an array for better speed and fault tolerance.

Level 0

implements data striping where file blocks are written to separate drives. Does not provide fault tolerance, because failure of one drive will result in data loss.

Level 1

implements data mirroring. Data is duplicated on two drives either through software or hardware. Provides faster read performance than a single drive.

Level 2

not used in practice. Data is split at bit level at written to multiple drives.

Level 3

requires at least 3 drives. Data block is striped at byte level across drives and error correction codes (parity info) is recorder on another drive. Provides fault tolerance but slower writing performance.

Level 4

Similar to Level 3 but provides faster performance because it uses blocks for striping.

Level 5

Similar to Level 4 but improves performance but also striping parity info across multiple drives.

Level 6

Similar to Level 5 but also uses second parity scheme for better fault tolerance.

Raw Logs

Raw access data updated in real-time that can be downloaded and used by any statistics program. Typically each line show the user's IP, date and time of the access, what kind of request was done, which document was requested, HTTP status code, bytes transferred, referrer, and user agent info. If a host doesn't have statistics, you'll need access to raw logs to identify who your site's visitors are. Analyzing raw logs can also provide more detailed look at site accesses than stats.

Reseller

Resellers are usually smaller companies that still try to build their customers base. They don't own the server with user accounts but can perform most administrative functions.

Scalability

The ability of a piece of software or hardware to expand/grow as necessary.

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.

SMTP

Short for Simple Mail Transfer Protocol, a protocol used by mail servers to exchange messages with each other.

Spam

Unsolicited email sent in mass quantities to multiple receipents, most often for marketing purposes. Highly annoying and constituting one of the most serious netiquette violations.

Spider

An automated software that retrieves webpages and follows the hyperlinks contained in them. Used to generate indexes used by search engines.

SQL

Structured Query Language. Limited programming language used for updating and performing queries on relational databases. All databases share a common subset of SQL. Most popular SQL databases available with hosting plans are MySQL and MS SQL.

SSH (Secure Shell)

Developed by SSH Communications Security, it is a standard for encrypted terminal Internet connections. SSH programs provide strong authentication and encrypted communications, replacing less secure access methods like telnet.

SSI (Server-Side Includes)

Instructs the server to include some dynamic information in a Web page before it is sent to a client. This dynamic information could be current date, an opinion poll, etc. Many hosts require that SSI pages have .shtml extension to reduce the load on servers by not having to parse non-SSI pages.

SSL (Secure Sockets Layer)

Protocol developed by Netscape to provide encryption for commercial transactions data that should be protected while traveling over the Internet, like credit card numbers. SSL uses https protocol. Before using SSL in commerce, you'll also need to get is a certificate from a Certificate Authority.

Static (or dedicated)

IP If a host offers a static IP, it means that your site will be assigned a unique and unchanging IP address.

Subdomain

Typically known as a "domain within a domain", subdomains are individual Web addresses built upon a pre-existing domain name (such as clientname.yourhostingcompany.com). As a reseller, you will have the option of assigning subdomains to clients if they do not choose to have a domain name.

T-1

A connection capable of carrying data at 1,544,000 bits-per-second. At maximum theoretical capacity, a T-1 line could move a megabyte in less than 10 seconds. That is still not fast enough for full-screen, full-motion video, for which you need at least 10,000,000 bits-per-second. T-1 is the fastest speed commonly used to connect networks to the Internet.

T-3

A leased-line connection capable of carrying data at 44,736,000 bits-per-second. This is more than enough to do full-screen, full-motion video.

URL (Uniform Resource Locator)

The standard way to give the address of any resource on the Internet that is part of the World Wide Web (WWW). Think of it as a unique address for each of your files in your web site. A URL looks like this:

Virtual Server

A web server which shares its resources with multiple users. It's another way of saying that multiple web sites share the resources of one server.

Telnet

A command-line interface that allows remote users and Web servers to communicate.

TCP

Short for Transmission Control Protocol, an important network protocol. TCP allows two hosts to connect and exchange data, and ensures that "data packets" are delivered exactly as sent.

TLD

Short for Top Level Domain, the suffix for major domain names like .com, .net and .org.

UNIX

A multitasking and multiuser Operating System suitable for Web and network administration. Unix has spawned numerous popular spinoffs, including Linux and FreeBSD. Most Unix-based Operating Systems are open source, meaning the source code to the Operating System has been made freely available to the public for modification. Most Web hosting companies and resellers offer Unix-based hosting in some capacity or other.

USENET

A network of thousands of discussion groups (known as newsgroups; see above) on the Internet.

VBScript

Microsoft Visual Basic Scripting Edition. Interpreted scripting language (subset of MS Visual Basic language) for creating scripts that can be embedded in HTML pages or for creating ActiveX Controls. Meant as an alternative to JavaScript.

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.

W3C World Wide Web Consortium

An international industry consortium that develops standards for the world wide web.

WHOIS

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

Windows NT/2000

These are graphic-based, multitasking Operating Systems developed over the past few years by Microsoft. Both can act as standalone OS for personal computers/workstations, or can serve as an OS for a Web site/network. Most Web hosting companies and resellers offer Windows-based hosting in some capacity or other.

XML

Short for Extensible Markup Language. XML is a language allowing developers to create their own markup tags. All XML tags are defined by the programmer, and can be interpreted differently in different applications. For example, the "" tag in HTML means Italics, but could mean anything in XML, depending on the function the developer assigns to it.