How much data storage is necessary?

Most hosting plans contain more than enough data storage for the majority of websites. But certain files take up more space than others. Lots of image, video or audio files can chew up storage space quickly. It is possible to reduce the size of many large files, so it is worth working with someone with the technical ability to compress the amount of data without compromising quality.

If your website is likely to grow over time, this needs to be accounted for. An extreme example would be a site like YouTube, needing to find storage for thousands of large video files every day. You will probably never be faced with that kind of growth, but even a few large files added regularly over time can soon eat up your storage space.

Alternatively, simple text pages with only a few small images take relatively little storage space. You may be able to add hundreds of these pages before filling the space taken by a handful of audio or video files.

What is bandwidth?

Bandwidth is the ‘pipe’ that connects your website to the internet. It is a measure of the amount of digital information that can be accessed within a given time period. For example, if your main webpage is 300 kilobytes in size, then every time a web browser accesses it, 300kb of data travels down the ‘pipe’. How fast this data is transferred depends on how many people are accessing data down the pipe at the same time and how large your pipe is.

Larger files, such as audio and video, eat up bandwidth just as they eat up data storage. Putting a lot of large files in your website can clog the flow of data through the ‘pipe’ and make your website much slower to load in a visitor’s browser.

Even with small files, your bandwidth can still become bottle-necked. If your pipe can cope with a certain amount of data transfer per second, but the number of people trying to access your website exceeds this data limit, it can also cause a traffic jam. With the data not getting through fast enough, website visitors can receive ‘timed out’ error messages instead of your wonderful webpage.

If too much traffic tries to access data through this pipe at the same time, it is possible to crash the server, putting your website offline until the problem can be fixed. This can make some websites a victim of their own success, with their website becoming inaccessible when they are at their most popular.

If you are expecting a large spike in traffic or an increase in large files, it is worth talking to your web host about bandwidth solutions. This could mean a transfer to a different plan or short term strategies such as website mirrors (a duplicate of the website on a separate hosting server).

Should I worry about data transfer limits?

Each hosting account has a data transfer limit. This is the amount of data the hosting package can provide to the internet within the given time period (usually a month). For example, Netregistry’s Economy Hosting package has a data transfer limit of 5GB - more than enough for most small websites. With many simple webpages only being a few kilobytes in size, it would take a lot of traffic accessing the website to download over 5GB worth of information. Exceeding this limit can mean additional fees for every additional megabyte of data, and it is worth knowing what these fees are before choosing a plan.

Again, large traffic spikes and large data files can push you over your limit. It is worth being prepared for these instances as additional fees can be discounted if bought in advance.

What is database technology?

More and more websites now allow visitors to interact and manipulate information on the webpage. This may be by entering and registering their information, performing searches to be presented with a page of specific results, or entering comments into a blog or forum, to mention just three examples.

These websites are called ‘dynamic’, and use database technology to store information in sections that can be reassembled into fresh webpages in answer to the visitor request. Classic examples of dynamic websites are blogs, eBay or any site that allows a user to sign in and create a profile. Also, any website that uses a content management system or shopping cart works in the same way.

If you plan to include any of these features on your website, you will need to check for database technology on your hosting server. An example is Netregistry’s Business Hosting, providing the most commonly used database features for small business.

The database is also bounded by storage limits, and it is worth knowing what these are before planning a complex website.

If you don’t plan to use any dynamic features, you may only need basic ‘static’ hosting, such as Netregistry’s Economy Hosting package, saving you money. Of course, if at any time you decide to develop the features on your website, it is possible to upgrade your hosting plan to the correct configuration.

What is Scripting?

The most common language used to code web pages is called HyperText Markup Language (HTML). This code tells a web browser how to display the webpage. But when creating dynamic webpages, some additional scripting languages are needed to tell the web browser where to access the information needed to construct the web page.

Because your hosting server will need to interpret these scripts to provide the correct responses from the database, you need to be sure it has been configured with the relevant languages.

Common scripting languages are PHP, Perl, ASP, etc. Unless you are building the website yourself, it is unlikely you will need to know anything about these languages.

Your web designer will be able to tell you which particular scripts to look for when choosing a hosting package, but most hosting servers with database technology support the majority of commonly used scripts.

Where can I get more advice?

You may now understand some of the basics, but relating them to your specific situation can sometimes require experience and further knowledge. If you are still unsure how to choose the best hosting plan for your website, the Netregistry sales team is trained in determining your specific needs.

The best hosting plan is one that doesn’t require regular attention or additional monthly fees, but can cope with the daily demands of your website without complaint. By addressing the key principles, you can ask the right questions of your hosting provider and give your website the best platform to reach your audience.

Netregistry has ten years experience in providing award winning hosting solutions to Australian businesses. With static, dynamic and ecommerce hosting solutions available, Netregistry can provide the reliability and features you need to form the foundations for your new online empire.

About the Author

Jonathan Crossfield is the Online Editor and Copywriter for Netregistry's Marketing Department and a regular contributor to Nett Magazine. If you would like Jonathan to write vibrant, fresh content for your website or marketing campaigns, enquire about Netregistry's Copywriting services.

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