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Overwhelmed by hosting options? No need to worry! Even if you have web hosting experience, you still may wonder about the advantages and disadvantages of certain hosting options. For instance, it used to be common for every web site address to have its own, dedicated IP address. With the plethora of web sites being produced, dedicated IP addresses are no longer the norm and now hosting providers not only offer the option, but usually charge more for this option.

IP Address Basics: Each computer has its own numeric address. You may have noticed this, but dismissed it as computer "mumbo-jumbo." The IP address looks somewhat like a social security number, but with dots separating the number sets, for example 201.167.0.142. Before deciding to choose a dedicated or shared IP address for your website, it's important to understand the difference.

Shared IP Address: When you sign-up with a web host, your website will most likely be hosted on a shared IP address. Multiple websites can be hosted on one IP address and it costs hosting companies less to run business this way. But just because it is cost effective for hosting companies does not mean that it is disadvantageous for the customer.

Dedicated IP Address: The dedicated IP address is also called a static IP. What this means is that a website domain is hosted on its own IP address, no sharing. There are advantages to having an IP address for each domain that you have, but these advantages are not necessarily a requirement for everyone.

If you are planning to host a large or a secure e-commerce web site you will want a dedicated IP address. But what if this doesn't describe you? How do you decide?

Benefits of a Dedicated IP Address: If you want your own SSL certificate, you will need a dedicated IP address. A SSL certificate will let you accept credit cards online. Some hosting providers offer an SSL certificate that is shared with other IP addresses, which will allow you to accept credit cards online. If you choose to use the provided SSL certificate, there is no need to have a dedicated IP address. Now, whether you decide to have your own SSL certificate or use one provided by the hosting company is a decision you will need to make.

If you plan to use Anonymous FTP, it may be required to have a dedicated IP address. Anonymous FTP is when a computer allows anyone using the FTP software permission to access a designated directory for files. It is called Anonymous FTP since the user signs in under the name "anonymous" You will need to check with your hosting company if you plan to use this service since some providers require a dedicated IP address in order to run the software.

All hosting companies have a domain name server. But, if you are considering becoming a hosting reseller or wish to have your own name server, you will need a dedicated IP address.

If you are realizing that you need a dedicated IP address and already have your site hosted on a shared IP address, you are not necessarily "stuck." Many hosting companies offer the option to upgrade or move to a dedicated IP. Most companies will charge extra for this service, but not necessarily all. Your site may be down and unavailable while the changes take place, but this will vary by hosting company and should not be too inconvenient.

If you have yet to contract with a hosting provider, it may be best to look not just at what services you need now, but will need for the future. Hopefully your business or service will become tremendously successful! But with success, comes the need to expand and upgrade. When you first started your site, a shared IP address may have been ample, but now that the visitors are coming in droves, you may need to upgrade to a dedicated IP.

There are criteria to consider before you decide to whether to choose a shared or dedicated IP address. For most web masters, a shared IP address is good enough. But, if you plan to host an e-commerce site or want your own SSL certificate and more hosting control, it is worth looking into a dedicated IP.

Flizard Technologies offers affordable web hosting services with a site builder for you to build your website and also an easy control panel for you to add scripts, ssl, and many more.

If you are in the market for a web host you will be presented with thousands of companies that would love to give you what you want. When it comes down to it, web hosting is one industry that is growing and growing. And of course, there is no reason to think that this is going to slow down anytime in the near future. This may seem like a bad thing as a buyer, but nothing could be further from the truth. When it comes to finding a web host, the more options that you have the better. This will go a long way in helping you to find the one that will allow you to reach success with your website.

To find the best company for your needs, you will want to first locate a web host list. What is a web host list exactly? Generally speaking, this is nothing more than a list of web hosts that are willing to do business with anybody and everybody who come calling. Although not all of the companies that you find on a web host list will suit your needs, there is a good chance that several of them will be right up your alley. It is your job to first find a web host list, and then decide which companies are going to be best for you.

First and foremost, finding a web host list can be done easily enough by going online. There are many websites that are devoted to helping consumers find the best web hosts, and all of these sites will make their own list of available offerings. You may want to find more than one web host list so that you can make for 100 percent certain that you are not leaving a good option out. Even though most of the top web host lists are comprehensive, unless you are careful with what you are doing, you could end up missing out on a very good option.

Once you have a couple of web host lists to look over, the next step is to know what you are looking for. This can be the most difficult step of the process for many people. After all, you need to know what you are reading in order to get the most out of a web host list. You will want to first make sure that there is nothing on the list that you do not understand. For instance, if you do not know what bandwidth is, but see it marked all over your web host list, you will want to seek out a definition. It is essential that you understand what you are reading when it comes to a web host list. Even if you have the best web host lists available, if you are not sure of what you are reading, you are not going to get very far.

Overall, make sure that you take your time when finding and reading web host lists. There is no reason to be in a hurry when shopping for a new hosting company. In order to get the service that is going to best suit your needs, you need to find a web host list that will give you a good starting point.

Bill McNulty writes about web hosting at the web hosting directory, HostingRef.com