Question

What is a reasonable web hosting configuration? Draw/picture a typical configuration. Give any two reasons why is it a reasonable configurations?

Scalable cloud-based hosting is reasonable.

What is web cache? How a web cache work? Give an example of how a web cache can assist a web portal (considering any busy website, explain how caching can improve its performance)

(IT/E-Portals Development)

Answer 1

The first thing to consider when starting your website is to choose a web hosting provider (if you already have a web domain). The web hosting provider provides the web space (i.e. special computers called web servers) where your website files are stored, as well as the technologies and services needed for your website to be viewed on the Internet.

procedure to Host a Website:

Step 1: Decide What Type of Website You Want

You will typically find 2 types of websites:

• Static or Basic Websites: Static websites are simple websites with one or more web pages (called HTML pages). You can build them on your computer with software like Dreamweaver and then upload the pages to your host’s server using any FTP software (such as FileZilla).Whenever you need to make changes to your website, you’ll have to edit the pages on your computer and upload them again. Since they cannot be modified dynamically, such websites are called static websites.Static websites are cheaper than dynamic websites (below) but come with limited functionality and no option for e-commerce or interactivity.
• Dynamic Websites: Dynamic websites contain information that changes, depending on the time of day, the viewer and other factors. They make use of both client-side and server-side scripts to create and update content. Client-side scripts, which run on a user’s computer, are mainly used for appearance and interaction purposes. Server-side scripts, which reside on a server and are extensively used by E-commerce and social networking sites, allow users to have individual accounts and provide a customized response for each user. Dynamic websites are CMS-driven, and allow you to directly add and edit content (i.e. text, design, photos, and videos), as well as let your visitors leave comments and start discussions.Dynamic websites are ideal for businesses and organizations. Examples of dynamic websites include blogs, forums, photo galleries and e-commerce sites.

Step 2: Choose Your Hosting Server

Unlike static HTML sites which can be hosted on most web servers, when it comes to web applications, there are basically two types of hosting platforms. Depending on your hosting needs and what you’re most comfortable with, you can choose from:

• Linux Hosting, which allows running scripts written in PHP, Perl, Python and other Unix-originated languages, and usually supports PostgreSQL and MySQL databases. This is the most commonly used system today.
• Windows Hosting, which allows running ASP scripts utilizing .NET and other

Step 3: Select Your Web Hosting Plan

You will typically find a wide range of services in web hosting, such as:

• Shared Hosting: In shared hosting, you get to share the physical server with other website owners. However, you will have your own separate account (secured with login credentials). Shared hosting is very affordable because the cost of operating the server is shared between you and the other website owners.
• VPS Hosting (Virtual Private Server Hosting): In VPS hosting, every website is stored on a very powerful server that is divided into several virtual compartments. The server software is configured separately so that each unit can function independently. It should be your preferred option if you have high-security concerns but don’t want to invest in a faster (but costlier) dedicated server.
• Dedicated Hosting: Dedicated hosting offers you an entire server for yourself, thereby making it faster, more secure…and costlier. It is the ideal solution for larger businesses and high-traffic websites because it allows for maximum customization, configuration, installation and flexibility.
• Cloud Hosting

Step 4: Change Your DNS Address

After you have purchased your web hosting, you will get Name Servers (also known as Domain Name Servers or DNS) – which is the Internet’s equivalent of a phone book that contains IP Addresses3.
To get your website up and working, you will need to change the Name Servers of your domain. It’s a simple but mandatory step for you to get started.

1. Go to your Domain Control Panel via http://manage.hostgator.in/customer.
2. Enter your registered email address and password.
3. Click on the Domain Name for which you need to change the Name Servers.
4. In the Domain Registration section, click on the Name Servers option.
5. Replace the existing Name Servers with the ones provided by your current web host, and click on the Update Name Servers button.

REASONS TO CHOOSE CLOUBD BASED HOSTING:-

cloud Hosting: Cloud hosting allows multiple virtual servers (clouds) to work together to host a website or a group of websites. It offers unlimited ability to handle sudden traffic spikes. A cloud-hosted website is not limited to a single server, and the resources allocated to it can shrink or expand dynamically, depending on how much traffic you get. It’s a great option for large websites, including e-commerce websites, newsletters and blogs.

WHAT IS A WEB CACHE?

A web cache is a hardware device or software application for temporarily storing frequently-accessed static content.

How a web cache works

Whenever content is downloaded from the origin server, a copy is stored in the web cache for a set period of time determined by caching rules you set. If another user requests the same content again, the web cache sends the stored content and the user request does not have to be forwarded to origin server again. This is known as content caching.

A typical web cache flow looks like this:

1. A user accesses a website.
2. The browser sends an HTTP request to the web cache.
3. If the requested object IS stored in the cache, the web cache responds with the object. If the requested object IS NOT stored in the cache, the web cache requests the object from the origin server and sends the response to the browser.
4. If the object is cacheable, the web cache retains a copy of the object so that subsequent requests are served locally from the web cache.

Example of a web cache

Teachers and students of Harare International School (HIS) needed fast Internet to research and communicate effectively. But they were challenged by the expensive and limited bandwidth for the school’s 700+ connected devices. At $6000 per month for an 8Mbps Internet connection, the school ruled out a bandwidth upgrade. Instead they opted for a web caching solution.

The web cache appliance was used in conjunction with a Cisco router. The router redirects the web traffic while the device keeps a copy of all videos, images, and other static content. Caching the content enabled the school to have significant improvements in web performance without spending more on bandwidth. This was especially useful during back-to-back group lessons when students had to access the same content.