Virtual Hosting vs. dedicated servers
Virtual hosting a hosting for multiple domain names on a single server or pool of servers. It allows one server to share its resources such as memory and processor cycles, without requiring all services provided to use the same hostname. Web servers, but the principles carry over to other internet services.
Shared web hosting prices are lower than a dedicated web server as many customers can be hosted on a single server. It is also very common for a single entity to use multiple names on the same machine so that the names can reflect services offered rather than, where those services are hosted.
Implementation of Shared web hosting can be accomplished in two ways: name-based and IP-based, although some control panels allow a mix of name-based and IP-based on the one server.
There are two main types of virtual hosting:
i) Name-based and
ii) IP based – Name-based virtual hosting uses the hostname presented by the client.
IP-based virtual hosting. It uses a separate IP address for each hostname, and it can be performed with any protocol but requires a dedicated IP address per domain name served. Port-based virtual hosting is also possible in principle but is rarely used in practice because it is unfriendly to users. It saves IP addresses and the associated administrative overhead but the protocol served must supply the hostname at an appropriate point.
Name-based virtual hosts to use multiple hostnames for the same IP address. The biggest issue with a name based virtual hosting is that it ‘s hard to host multiple secure websites running SSL/T LS.
In a shared hosting single IP address is shared among different websites, how does the web server know which website to serve when any request comes.
It is in the name-based virtual hosting, which is also called shared IP hosting, the virtual hosts serve multiple hostnames on a single machine with a single IP address.
The SSL/TLS handshake takes place before the expected hostname sent to the server, the server doesn't know which certificate to present in the handshake. It is possible for a single certificate to cover multiple names either through the “subject name” field or wild cards but the practical application of this approach is limited by administrative considerations and by the matching rules for wildcards.
Furthermore, if the Domain Name System (DNS) is not properly functioning, it ‘s hard to access a virtually-hosted website even if the IP address is known. Since the web server relies on the web browser client telling it what server name to use, the server will respond with a default website often, not the site the user expects. IP-based.
The web server configured with multiple physical network interfaces, virtual network interfaces on the same physical interface or multiple IP addresses on one interface. The web server can either open separate listening sockets for each IP address.
It can listen on all interfaces with a single-socket and obtain the address the TCP connection was received on after accepting the connection. Either way, it can use the IP address to determine which website to serve. The downside of this approach is the server needs a different IP address for every site. It increases administrative overhead and contributes to IPv4 address exhaustion.
All name-based virtual hosts using the same IP address must share the same digital certificate. This is because the SSL/TLS handshake takes place before the hostname is sent to the server. Thus the server doesn't know which encryption key to use when the connection is made. An extension to the TLS protocol, part of RFC 3546 – Transport Layer Security (TLS) Extensions, specifies a way for the client to provide the requested hostname as part of the handshake, but it is not yet widely implemented.
Virtual web hosting often used on a large scale in companies whose business model is to provide low-cost website hosting for customers.
The vast majority of customer websites worldwide are hosted on shared servers, using virtual hosting technology. Many businesses utilize virtual servers for internal purposes, where there is a technological or administrative reason to operate several separate websites, such as a customer extranet website, and intranets for a different department.
Dedicated IP hosting
It means that you will be switched from the Named based virtual hosting to the IP-based virtual hosting, also called dedicated IP hosting, in which each virtual host has a different IP address. The web server is configured with multiple physical network interfaces or virtual network interfaces on the same physical interface. The web server software uses the IP address the client connects to in order to determine which website to show the user.
The hosting virtual dedicated server has become extremely important for the large as well as the small companies worldwide. The companies are now booming on the online market and planning to grow even more. As time is passing out they are digressing from the offline market and probing more and more into the online market. Previously they were content with their mere presence in the internet world. But at that time they didn’t have the proper resource to make their presence strong so that more and more internet viewers visit them. With the passages of time, the development in the IT world has changed the entire scenario of internet business and commerce. Now almost every company is trying to enter into the online market with the right kind of infra structure. Here comes the aspect of the using the dedicated servers.
Presently, as it can be seen everywhere, a great number of companies are depending on the hosting virtual dedicated server. There are a lot of reasons why they are doing so. One the other hand the clients for shared hosting service is much less. This striking difference was possible because of the supremacy of the dedicated servers. All over the world, the clients can find a lot of service providers for dedicated hosting. With exciting offers, they are inviting the clients to avail them. But from the part of the client, it is important to have a proper look at the offers as well as justify the price. At the same time, the client has to consider whether he has got the necessary features and supports of the hosting virtual dedicated server or not. It is these services that ultimately lead to customer satisfaction.
The first thing that the client should consider while tying up with any service provider of a dedicated server is the package he is getting. The package should include rack space, hardware and monitor maintenance, customer support and so on. All these services ultimately make the user experience comfortable. Now that there are a lot of companies are trying to enter the online market with proper kind of traffic flow, they must have all these features on their servers. Otherwise, they will be not in the rat race of the companies on the internet. When a client books a dedicated service that means that the entire server has been allotted to him. For controlling the server he can take the guidance from the customer care. This is an important part of the online business as the correct guidance shows the right path to spread on.
Finally one has to look at the aspect of cost. So far dedicated servers are concerned; the cost is a little higher than the other servers. If the servers are bought for individual usage, then the user may find the purchase a little costly. But for trading use, the factor doesn’t stand as within a very small time of purchase the company can mug up the cost by earning good revenue. Overall, the hosting virtual dedicated server is absolutely fine for trade usage.