Backing Up With cPanel
November 9, 2009 by Web Hosting Watch
Filed under cPanel
The most important task of any system administrator is backing up the systems they are responsible for.
Not putting the system up or not keeping it running as not backing it up and being able to restore is primary.
A system with no backup cannot be relied upon for any real purpose, because if anything goes wrong your data is gone, and that’s really bad news.
Something always goes wrong eventually, no matters how much you try to avoid it, and without good backups all of your work, and possible your entire business is just plain gone.
A good backup strategy is composed of backup, storage, verification, and restoration.
The backup component covers selection of method and which data to backup (all of it by choice).
Storage covers both what media you back up onto as well as where you keep them (if your building burns down, tapes kept in the server room will be useless).
Verification is a crucial component of a backup strategy, you have to know you have usable data.
Lastly, you need to be able to get the data back to where it can be used.
There are two main strategies for backups: Disaster Recovery and Archival.
DR backups are designed to restore a system to a working state.
To do this you backup the entire system so that you can restore it onto another machine to get a working system.
An archival strategy is concerned with retrieving historical data (‘give me the customer database as it appeared at the end of last year’) and not with restoring a working system.
Both strategies can, and probably should, be combined.
An archival-only strategy requires the system administrators to reinstall and reconfigure the operating system prior to restoring the data; this takes longer and is more error prone.
Any backup strategy must be tested.
A DR backup is tested by restoring a system backup onto a fresh system to make sure you can recover from an emergency.
Archival strategies are tested by retrieving files and verifying that you can find the files you need and that they are readable once restored.
An untested backup strategy is usually a complete waste of time and money.
For web hosting clients, you will usually do your backups with the cPanel administrative interface.
cPanel will let you backup your entire hosted site, your databases, or your home directory (‘which will contain your website but not the data behind it’).
To perform a backup you simply access the Backup control panel and select a type of backup.
The system performs the backup and downloads the file to your local system.
These backups can be restored through the same interface.
To test, you would create a new hosted site and restore your backups to it.
The downloaded backup files are important (possibly confidential) data and should be integrated into your local backup strategy.
At the least, burn them to disks if you can’t arrange to include them in your main backups.
Features in a Web Host
May 24, 2009 by Web Hosting Watch
Filed under Windows Hosting
There are several sensitive areas, which a user should take into consideration while selecting a web host:
1. Disk space
2. Bandwidth
3. Scripts and utilities
4. Dedicated/Shared servers
5. Customers service/Support
6. Uptime/Reliability
7. Price
8. Free Hosting Providers
1. Disk Space: It denotes space provided by the host to the user in which he/she can locate his/her web site. It can ranges from 25MB to GBs to store all the essential requirements of the user. One can easily calculate storage space if his/her site is already constructed by considering all the aspects. This is the least requirement by the user. For sure success one should go for a plan having additional resources in comparison to user’s current requirement.
2. Bandwidth: One of the crucial parts to verify is regarding bandwidth. There are several sites, which loose their host due to excessive downloads causing budget going beyond their expectations. Occasionally, host even charges in hundreds of dollars for the additional bandwidth. One should confirm about this before dealing with any of the host. Usually, ideal-hosting providers deliver initial bandwidth of 25 to 50 GB to the users.
3. Scripts and Utilities: Does one’s priority is dynamic information related to his/her products and services? If the answer is yes! Then user’s plan should include a database tool. One cannot deny the fact that, Databases are extremely multitalented and will change according to the operating system, which the user chooses for his/her hosting server.
If one talks about further famous scripts it usually includes chat rooms, forums, blogs, and calendar programs and help desk software. Such scripts, which come along with user’s hosting plan, are pre-configured by the service host so that user can properly work on their server. There are several hosts which even propose the Fantastico script package known to be the combination of 36 different free scripts which a user can easily install to his/her website.
Next thing to consider is the 3rd party script. These are those scripts which are available on the net to purchase and one can easily install to his/her website. One should note that there are only few of the scripts, which one can run on both the operating systems i.e. Windows and Linux; however, others are meant for only one operating system to be used.
4. Dedicated or Shared Servers: If one talks about the key difference between a dedicated and shared server then it is that there are several sites present on a shared server, however, there is only one website in case of a dedicated server.
Through a shared server one can save a high amount. If one talks about the drawbacks then Spamming and blacklisting from different search engines are the key problems. Such problems arise due to the reason that several sites are assign to one particular IP address. One should demand for a separate IP address for his/her website (on additional monthly charges) to secure the user from such problems.
Dedicated servers are considered best for big, highly trafficked websites, which requires large amounts of server resources to run. One of the negative points of dedicated server is that the server’s resources are divided across all the sites it’s hosting and answering page requests for. Thus, if one is working in a dedicated environment he/she always has to keep an eye on his/her resources. Another disadvantage is that dedicated servers costs around $50 per month or even more whereas shared hosting can be purchased for mere 5$ a month.
5. Support system: Another important aspect to consider is support. What is host’s response time? Does their phone support is 24 hours a day and 7 days a week.
Additional features one should verify for:
Is there POP email account, if yes, then how many?
What no. Of database is there?
Is there Web based e-mail with the host?
Does they provide Anti-Spam and Anti-Virus filters?
Do they provide the facility of Password Protected to user’s directories?
Is their frequent backup if by chance crash in server takes place?
Does user get some money return back, if he/she is dissatisfied with services?
Does there is assistance for Perl, PHP, Crontab and Secure Server Layer?
There are several good hosting providers in the market, who known for their rapid response and numerous amounts of other excellent qualities for reasonable price.
Hence, one should before choosing should keep in mind the above-mentioned points, which can prevent the user from unexpected future problems.
6. Uptime and Dependability: Another influential factor. Is there any performance guarantee provided by the host? Can user expect a refund if he/she is suffering from downtime form a very long period? Is there any money back guarantee in the contract? There are several hosts in the market who refund full or partial amount of monthly fees (excluding spamming or other illegal activity) if user is dissatisfied with their service quality and want to quit their service option.
7. Price: In general one will get hosting service between the ranges of $5.00 – $10.00 dollars a month; it may very according to features provided. Service below $5.00 a month is quite awful in usual sense. Similarly, any service above $12.00 a month can provide not only a package of awesome features but probably can also include a complimentary domain name; a unique offer not provided by everyone.
8. Free Hosting Providers: In today’s market one can enjoy website hosting at quite nominal amount. Hence, there is nothing worthwhile in going for a free web hosting; as there is nothing free as it seems like.
Conclusion:
One can end the search on an ideal host by thinking ahead. One should purchase as much possible bandwidth and disk space at the most reasonable price he/she can. One should know that every website requires room to groom which user needs to deliver without any form of much risk.