|
MySQL Hosting
What is MySQL?
MySQL is a type of database software that runs on a server. A database can
enable your site to automatically collect and store information in an
organized, searchable format, without you having to do even be involved.
Most large web sites such as CNET, Ebay, Yahoo and others rely on a
database of some kind to store the information that they display on their
sites. Some discussion forums and guestbooks even use databases to store
things more efficiently. There are many types of databases that can be run
on a server, such as Microsoft Access, Microsoft SQL Server, Oracle,
Sybase, and others.
MySQL is a popular open source database, open source meaning that unlike
most other database servers, there is no expensive licensing fee to use
it. This makes it popular with web hosts who want to offer it to their
customers as part of an economical hosting package. MySQL is known for its
speed and reliability and because of its popularity is easy to get help
with.
Data can be stored without using a database, but for large amounts of
information that is to be picked apart and presented in different
combinations, a database can be much faster and more efficient for the
job. MySQL uses a Structured Query Language (SQL) that makes it easy to
ask the database for things, as well as to add, edit or delete things from
the database. MySQL can handle many requests at a time and can search
millions of records quickly, so it is great for large data stores, yet it
also works well for small databases. Many popular scripting languages such
as PHP and Perl are MySQL friendly. In fact, PHP and MySQL are commonly
found together because PHP makes it especially easy to communicate with
the database and to format and display the results of the query.
How do I Build and Manage a Database?
Historically, only programmer types have been able to work with databases,
since it required a good knowledge of the SQL language and an ability to
get around using a UNIX command line, not to mention a hosting package
that allowed command-line access to the server. Nowadays however, most
hosting services provide PHPMyAdmin, a web-based tool that lets you point
and click to create and work with your MySQL database, and is almost easy
enough for a "normal" person to use.
Do I need MySQL?
Generally, databases can be frustrating for inexperienced users to work
with. If you don't know a lot about working with databases, then you
probably aren't ready for MySQL, unless you have someone who can walk you
through it or do it for you. Personal web sites rarely use a database
directly, and e-commerce web sites typically use more specialize "shopping
cart" software. Sites that are good candidates for needing a database are
ones that will have large stores of information that need to be searched
in different ways or sites that are built "on the fly" from information
from a database. Many hosting customers try to find a hosting plan that
includes MySQL support "just in case" they need it, but generally only a
minority of hosting customers do more than "play around with it" on their
site. Keep in mind though that some CGIs may require access to a database,
so if you plan to run any heavy duty CGIs on your site you may want to
consider having MySQL access as an available option.
PHP Web Hosting
What is PHP Web Hosting?
PHP is a server-side, cross-platform, HTML embedded scripting language.
PHP scripts are server-side meaning they execute on the web server, not
within the browser on your local machine. PHP is cross-platform, which
means that PHP scripts can run on many different web servers and operating
systems, primarily Windows/IIS and Unix/Apache.
PHP can be easily integrated into HTML. It is a HTML Embedded Scripting
Language, which means PHP statements and commands are actually embedded in
your HTML documents. When the web server sees the PHP statements in the
webpage, the server executes the statements and sends the resulting output
along with the rest of the HTML.
Do I need PHP Web Hosting?
If your host offers PHP you can create forms, or webpages for interaction
with visitors. Like other server-side scripting languages, PHP is
excellent for creating dynamic websites based on database content or
different characteristics of Internet browsers.
"Through the use of external libraries and functions, PHP can: Build
templates to ease website maintenance, Serve different website content to
users based on their browser, IP address, date and time, or numerous other
characteristics, Conduct online surveys, build discussion forums and
operate web-based e-mail programs, Connect databases like Oracle or MySQL
to the Web, and process XML."
PHP Web Hosting Teams with MySQL Databases
PHP works hand in hand with MySQL to give your visitors quick interaction
with your site. Because PHP is free and available with almost any hosting
provider (Windows or Unix), combining PHP scripts and MySQL databases has
become the preferred method for creating dynamically operated websites.
Alternatives to PHP, such as ASP and Coldfusion, are usually limited to
Windows hosting providers, or cost extra as does Sun's Java Server Pages (JSP).
PERL Scripting
What is PERL Scripting?
Perl scripting is an open source programming language used to create
server-side applications.
Perl is the global market leader, installed on a vast majority of the UNIX
and Windows-based web servers running web applications today. Perl is an
object-based, interpreted language. As a result, it is easier to write,
maintain, and to extend then other languages such as C or C++. Perl
applications typically run stand alone, not requiring the use of a
specially designed, and often costly, application server.
Do I need PERL Scripting?
Perl has become the premier scripting language of the Web, as most CGI
programs are written in Perl. It is widely used as a prototyping language
and makes it possible for different systems to work well together. Perl
can be used for an infinite number of automated tasks from simple forms or
guest books to more complex programming. It is primarily UNIX but you will
find Perl on a wide range of computing platforms. Because Perl is an
interpreted language programs are highly portable across different
systems. Perl scripting is useful for backing up the CGI programs that
give access to such features on your web site as: guest forms,
questionnaires, shopping carts, etc.
SSL Secure Server
What is SSL Secure Server?
SSL stands for secure sockets layer which allows data to transfer in a
secure environment.
SSL encrypts the connection between the client (customer) and the web
server. It is a standard developed by Netscape Communications to transfer
information securely across the Internet. SSL will enable your customer's
browser to connect to your web site and transparently negotiate a secure
communication channel. Once this connection has been made, information,
like credit card numbers, can be exchanged securely.
SSL is a program to manage the security of message transmissions in a
network. This encryption process makes it extremely difficult for anyone
to intercept and read information between your computer (the client) and
the server to which you are making a connection. SSL is used mainly for
connections that require you to provide personal information, such as your
home address, telephone numbers, credit card numbers, and so on.
How does SSL work?
In order to process transactions securely on the web we need to be able to
transmit information between the web site and the customer in a manner
that makes it difficult for other people to intercept and read. SSL, or
Secure Sockets Layer, takes care of this for us and it works through a
combination of programs and encryption/decryption routines that exist on
the web hosting computer and the browser programs (like Netscape and
Internet Explorer) used by the general public.
SSL uses a technique called public-key encryption, where each side of the
transaction has a shared public key, and a private key that is not shared.
Data encrypted with the public key can only be decrypted with the private
key. Each side encrypts its data with the remote end's public key, so that
only the destination, and no intermediary, can decrypt the transmission
and access data.
Unlike displaying a regular web page, when a person requests a
secured web page (https://), the browser and the server must go through a
series of requests and acknowledgements, which take place automatically.
Here is an outline of what happens:
-
You enter a URL such as https://www.mysite.com in your browser window.
-
The https indicates that you want your browser to initiate a secure
session with the server.
-
The server responds by sending the site's certificate.
-
The browser checks the certificate information for validity.
-
The browser then creates a session key, which is encrypted with the
server's public key, and sends it to the server.
-
The server then decrypts this information using it's private key.
Both the browser and server are now using the same secret session key, and
the little lock icon will appear on your browser window. All further
information sent between the browser and the server will be automatically
encrypted, as long as you continue using the https:// protocol.
Do I need SSL Secure Server?
If you are planning on accepting credit cards on your site or transferring
other customer information you will want to have a host that provides SSL
so your viewers information will be safely encrypted from their computer
to your company database.
Secure certificates are purchased from various certificate vendors and it
requires a CSR (Certificate Signing Request) to be generated on the web
server. This usually involves getting in touch with the hosting company
and asking them to generate the CSR for you. Once you receive the
Certifcate back from the certificate authority, you will normally need the
hosting company to install it for you.
Some web hosting companies have "shared" secure certificates that you can
use under their domain name. This eliminates the need for you to get your
own. As an example, if OurStore.com were a web hosting company and
widget.com had an account there, they could use the shared certificate
with a URL something like "https://widget.ourstore.com". A merchant that
prefers to have their secure processing under their own domain name will
need to get their own SSL certificate.
Streaming Media
What is Streaming Media?
Streaming refers generally to the ability to split sound, video, or
animation files into little pieces and to serve them a piece at a time, so
that a player on the receiving end can begin playing the pieces it has
already received without having to wait to find out what else might be
coming along.
There are two main types of streaming that you may come across. Most web
hosts will claim to have the ability to "stream" RealAudio, RealVideo,
Quicktime or other multimedia formats, but it is important to understand
that this usually refers to "streamed downloading", otherwise known as
"progressive streaming".
Progressive Streaming
With progressive
streaming, a file is downloaded from the server, but it is served in such
a way that the player knows it can start playing as soon as it receives
the start of the file, and that the rest of the file will follow. With
this type of streaming, the entire file will still be downloaded and
stored on the visitor's computer.
Many hosts aren't very supportive of sites
that serve a lot of multimedia files, since these files use the most disk
space and bandwidth and cost the host the most money, so be sure to get an
idea of your host's attitude towards multimedia files before signing up.
In addition, some hosts (especially free hosts) place restrictions on the
types of files that can be stored on the server (for example, some hosts
don't allow mp3, avi, or mpeg files to be uploaded.
Real-time Streaming
If you are serious about
streaming, or serving a lot of multimedia files, you probably want to
consider a web host that offers real-time or server-based streaming.
With real-time streaming, the media is usually
broadcast to your browser directly from a special server that is dedicated
to managing streaming connections with the media player. Three popular
types of streaming servers are the QuickTime Streaming Server from Apple,
the Real Networks Server or the Windows Media Server.
With real-time streaming, the file is
stored on the streaming server, but the entire file isn't downloaded to
the player, it is broadcast a moment at a time, so that the player just
plays what it has received as it receives it, much like a television.
Unlike with television, however, real-time streaming allows you to
jump around or skip ahead to any location in the media clip.
Real-time streaming is great for live broadcasts, long movies, spoken
audio, presentations, and other files where the viewer may want to skip
around, or doesn't want to download a huge video file.
Real-time streaming servers usually cost money and are therefore rarely
included in low-cost hosting packages. Some web hosts offer streaming
servers for an additional fee, and some web hosts don't support real-time
streaming at all. Also different hosts support different server types.
Real Networks' Server is the most common, with Quicktime being a bit
harder to find.
Do I need Streaming Media?
If you plan to have streaming audio or video, especially if you think you
will need real-time streaming, you will need to be sure that your web host
offers the streaming server you prefer. Be aware that streaming media
takes up more web space and bandwidth than a typical web site, so plan
ahead, since you will also want a hosting package with these additional
resources.
ApnaKarobar.Com's Partner Company (for Domain Registration Services)
is an I |
