Types of Website Hosting

网站主机的类型有：免费主机、虚拟（分享的）主机或独享主机。

免费主机

一些服务提供商会提供免费的网站主机。

免费主机适合小型的低流量站点，比如个人网站。但是不推荐高流量或商业网站使用免费的主机，因为常会有技术上的限制，能够选择的选项也很少。

通常，您无法在免费主机上使用自己的域名。而不得不使用由主机提供的地址，类似这样：http://www.freesite/users/~yoursite.htm。这样的 URL 难写、难记，也很不专业。

Advantages Disadvantages
费用低。免费的 没有域名。
适合家庭、业务爱好或个人站点。 极少的、有限制的或根本没有软件选项。
通常会有免费的电子邮件。 有限的安全选项。
　 有限的或没有数据库支持
　 有限的技术支持

分享型的主机（虚拟主机）

虚拟主机是最常见的、也是最合算的。

使用虚拟主机的话，您的网站与其余的也许是 100 个网站会被寄存在同一个高性能的服务器上。在一个虚拟主机上，每一个网站都可以使用属于自己的域名。

虚拟主机通常会提供多种软件解决方案，比如电子邮件、数据库、许多不同的编辑选项。技术支持往往也不错。

Advantages Disadvantages
低成本。与其他用户分担费用。 由于许多站点在一台服务器上而降低的安全性。
适合小型的商业和中等的流量。 Limited traffic.
Multiple software options. Limited database support.
Your own domain. Limited software support.
Good service support. 　

Dedicated Hosting

You can store your website on a dedicated server through the dedicated hosting service.

Dedicated hosting is the most expensive type of hosting. This solution is suitable for large high traffic websites, as well as websites that use special software.

Dedicated hosting has strong performance and is also very secure, and the software solution is almost unlimited.

Advantages Disadvantages
Suitable for large commercial websites. Expensive
Suitable for high traffic websites. Higher technology is required.
Can use multiple domains. 　
Strong email solutions. 　
Strong database support. 　
Strong (unlimited) software support. 　

Hosting

This solution is to place your own server with the service provider.

This is very similar to running your own server in your own office, the difference is that the server is placed in a place specially designed for it.

Most providers have dedicated facility resources, such as high security against deliberate destruction, uninterrupted power supply, dedicated Internet connection, etc.

Advantages Disadvantages
High bandwidth. Expensive
High uptime. Higher technology is needed.
High security. Difficult to set up and fix vulnerabilities.
Unlimited software options. 　

Your List

Before you choose a website hosting, please first determine the following items:

  • Hosting type that meets your current needs
  • Cost-performance of hosting types
  • Can you upgrade to a better server
  • Can you upgrade to a dedicated server if needed

Before you sign a contract with a hosting provider, you can visit other websites on their server to feel their internet speed. Also, compare the other websites with your website to see if you also have the same needs. It's also a good practice to communicate with other users.