| A: The primary difference between shared and dedicated hosting is how the web server is used. With shared web hosting, the web server is shared between many different websites. With dedicated hosting, the web server is dedicated to your web site. Both services have their advantages and disadvantages. Shared Web Hosting (and Virtual Web Hosting) Shared web hosting and virtual web hosting are the same thing. In many cases
where a web hosting company does not specify the type of hosting they are providing you, they are
offering shared web hosting. If their service is dedicated, they will tell
you. The primary advantage of shared web hosting is its price - it is usually much less expensive than dedicated hosting because web hosting companies are able to spread the cost of the web server and bandwidth over multiple customers. Many smaller web sites do not require significant amounts of diskspace or special software, so a shared web hosting solution might be the perfect solution for their needs. The primary downside with shared web hosting is that you have limited flexibility
in choosing the software that you use to run your site. You are usually
restricted to using the software that the web hosting company provides. In addition, if your website is really large or CPU intensive, your website may be slower than if you had a dedicated server. Even though you share the web server with other users, your files are secure from those users (you can't access theirs and they can't access yours).
Dedicated Hosting Dedicated hosting is more expensive than shared web hosting. Since you have the web server to yourself, the web hosting company usually gives you greater
(and sometimes total) control over the machine. This means that you can often install custom programs or other software. In many cases you are given root access to the machine and can configure the machine in any way that you choose. Related Web Hosting Questions:
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