Web Hosting

Question: Something is hogging the CPU cycles on my Linux dedicated server. It has gotten really slow. How can I monitor running programs and processes? Answer: Linux has a handy little tool called “top” that, when run, reveals your top running processes. It also gives you information about your memory …

Question: What is a Cron Job? Answer: A cron job is a periodic script run using scheduling software called “cron”. Linux and other Unix-like operating systems use it. A shared web hosting provider may allow you to run local user cron jobs, and those settings are usually accessible through your …

Question: I just ordered a remote dedicated server, and I am concerned about trusting my data with someone else. What are my options if the server goes down? Answer: Generally speaking, you do not have much to worry about. You most likely did your homework before selecting your web host. …

In my first post, I covered four basic components found in most statistics software. In this post, we will examine them more closely and also take a look at some more specific stats. An important way to gauge your website’s success is to look at the daily breakdown of those …

Most web hosting providers provide statistical analysis software, such as Webalizer or Awstats. In all likelihood, some type of software is gathering data about your website, even if you did not previously know it or configure it. Now that you know about it or even if you already did, you …

Question: How do I keep my hosting account from being hacked? Answer: 1. More than anything else, it is important to keep your passwords secret and unique. No one else should have your password, not even your web host. If someone emails you pretending to be your web host or …

Sometimes managing a domain involves more than simply pointing the nameserver entries to your new web host’s servers. You might also need custom DNS records. For example, if you use cloud services, such as Google’s e-mail and applications services, you will need to configure your DNS records. Three common record …

When signing up for a hosting plan, one of the most important factors to consider is how much bandwidth is provided. Data transfer is expensive but necessary. Too much and you will be throwing money away, too little and your site will be shut down. Predicting bandwidth usage is something …

When starting an e-commerce site, it is important to mindful of several essentials, many of which are relevant even to traditional businesses. There are, however, issues specific to web hosting that you might want to consider. Here are five. 1. SSL: If you are going to conduct secure transactions that …

Question: How do I export and download a MySQL database? Answer: There are two primary ways to export a MySQL database if you are a website owner. The first is to use phpMyAdmin, a web-based graphical interface for managing databases. The second is to login through SSH and use MySQL …