Virtual hosting allows a server to host multiple domains on the same machine, using one shared or multiple IP addresses. It is a cheaper alternative to dedicated and co-located servers, and often comes with bundled services. Virtual hosting accounts appear as your own server, making it ideal for small businesses and individuals.
In a technical sense, virtual hosting is a way for a server to have multiple domains on the same machine. This type of virtual hosting can use one shared IP address for the entire machine or multiple IP addresses.
In common usage, virtual hosting describes any situation where a web host offers space on one of their machines for webmasters to rent. This is in contrast to both co-location and dedicated servers.
With a dedicated server, the webmaster bought an entire machine from the host, including Internet connection, an IP address (or multiple IP addresses), and usually configuration and technical support. With co-location, the webmaster supplies the actual hardware himself, but the domain is hosted by a third party with an Internet connection.
Virtual hosting is a much cheaper alternative to these two forms of hosting. By having many different webmasters using a single machine, the host is able to charge less money to provide server space and an internet connection.
Because virtual hosting is usually aimed at small businesses, individuals, and those who aren’t very experienced with network issues, it almost always comes bundled with an assortment of services. These can include: help setting up a domain name, technical support, email addresses, server software installation, database assistance, and even basic design services.
Virtual hosting usually comes with a single IP address, but can be equipped with facilities to allow for multiple domains pointing to the same IP address. This allows a single virtual hosting account to have more than one domain name, usually by simply redirecting to the same site.
Virtual hosting accounts often use some redirection to manage a single IP address for a machine hosting multiple accounts. When a user accesses the website he wants to visit, he is directed to the corresponding IP address: when he reaches that machine, the server asks which site he wants to visit and sends it to the appropriate directory on the server. So a user accessing http://www.test.com/ can be sent to http://127.0.0.1/accounts/test/www/.
For all intents and purposes, a virtual hosting account appears to be your own server. From a webmaster’s point of view and from a user’s point of view, the integration is essentially seamless. Webmasters concerned about resource sharing or some security issues often find dedicated or co-located servers more to their liking, but for most small and medium-sized businesses and individual webmasters, virtual hosting is the ideal solution.
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