Shared web hosting service

he hosting service must include
system administration since it is shared by many users; this is a
benefit for users who do not want to deal with it, but a hindrance to
power users who want more control. In general shared hosting will be
inappropriate for users who require extensive software development
outside what the hosting provider supports. Almost all applications
intended to be on a standard web server work fine with a shared web
hosting service. But on the other hand, shared hosting is cheaper than
other types of hosting such as dedicated server hosting. Shared hosting
usually has usage limits and most hosting providers have extensive
reliability features in place. [1]

Shared hosting typically uses a
web-based control panel system, such as cPanel, Ensim, DirectAdmin,
Plesk, InterWorx, H-Sphere or one of many other control panel products.
Most of the large hosting companies use their own custom developed
control panel. Control panels and web interfaces can cause controversy
however, since web hosting companies sometimes sell the right to use
their control panel system to others. Attempting to recreate the
functionality of a specific control panel is common, which leads to many
lawsuits over patent infringement.[2]

In shared hosting, the provider is
generally responsible for managing servers, installing server software,
security updates, technical support, and other aspects of the service.
Most servers are based on the Linux operating system and LAMP (software
bundle), which is driven by the low cost of open source software. But
some providers offer Microsoft Windows-based or FreeBSD-based solutions.
For example, the Plesk and Ensim control panels are both available for
two operating systems, Linux and Windows. Versions for either OS have
very similar interfaces and functionality, with the exception of
OS-specific differences (for example: ASP.NET, SQL Server and Access
support under Windows; MySQL under Linux).

There are thousands of shared
hosting providers in the United States alone. They range from
mom-and-pop shops and small design firms to multi-million-dollar
providers with hundreds of thousands of customers. A large portion of
the shared web hosting market is driven through pay per click (PPC)
advertising or Affiliate programs.

Shared web hosting can also be done
privately by sharing the cost of running a server in a colocation
centre; this is called cooperative hosting.

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