Why do I need a Host Provider ? What's a FTP server ? |
In order for your website to be accessible to everyone on the internet you need to publish it to the web server of a host provider. Such a web server accepting the file transfer of your website is called a FTP server and requires an account for your web space. There are 3 main types of host providers you may use :
- the web space coming with your internet connection : many ISP (Internet Service Providers) offer a web space to their customers where you can publish your website. Generally limited in size this may suit your needs. You may need to contact your ISP to determine if you have a web space and to get the login and password of your account.
- a free web space : many websites on the internet provide free web space. But if this service is free, in general they add some popup windows or ads to your website, so you'd better read their conditions before to create any account and publish your website on such web space if you don't want to loose time and be disappointed by the result.
- professional host providers : more reliable than the other web space, they are not not free but provides many services depending on your needs.
TOWeb provides a list of host providers. If yours is not available in the default list you will need to enter the FTP address of your host provider. And if you encounter any issue contact your host provider and visit our page related to the Problems & Solutions to connect or publish your website. |
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What are the advantages and disavantages of the different host providers ? |
Free web space
- the main advantage is to have this service for free. If it's a not a professional website or if you don't know your needs yet or if you are not sure to keep your website for a long time, then you might first try this solution and see if it fits your needs.
- depending on the number of the (numerous) persons connected at the same time, you may experience now and then some disconnections during the transfer of your files to their server
- you have limitation on your account on some free web hoster like for instance a maximum size per file or some type of files not accepted like for example video, music files or scripts
- many free web host providers add advertisements to your web pages.
web space offered by your ISP
- advantages and disadvantages are pretty much the same as the ones of a free web space
- and in general, when changing to another ISP you loose your previous web space. This means that you will still be able to publish your website anywhere else with TOWeb but the address of your website will no longer be the same and all the people used to visit your website may never know the new address of your website thereafter.
Professional host providers
- with a profesional host provider you don't have any of the ISP or Free web space disadvantages
- they are not free but depending on your needs it's easy to find one on the internet with cheap prices per month
- you can buy your .COM domain in order to have your the "WWW" web site address of your choice, and this generally included to the price of your web space. And if you are not satisfy with your host provider and want to change to another one, you will be able to keep your domain name and publish it again so your website will stay at the same address and your visitors won't see any changes.
- the file transfer is more reliable and you generally can upgrade to a better offer if your website needs are changing or growing.
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Which host provider to choose ? |
If this is your first website we recommend to try a free web space or use the one provided by your ISP to see the result and determine if this is good enough for you. If host provider is not present in the default list provided by TOWeb you will need to manually enter the FTP address of your host provider. If you don't know it, contact your ISP or host provider to obtain the FTP address you need to use as well as your login and password. If you already have these information but still can't connect to your web host then check our advice about Problems & Solutions to connect or publish your website.
But the choice of a host provider mainly depends on your needs and the type of website you create, like for example : the size of your web space, if you want to use and run scripts, if you want to have your own WWW domain name, if have many large downloadable files on your website and need a large bandwidth and other criteria. For more information see previous advantages and disadvantages listed below and contact some host providers for advice to your case and see what they offer. We do not recommend any particular host provider as they are too numerous and they provide different services and prices but your will find them easily in computer magazines or with a search in www.google.com. |
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Is my TOWeb website working with any host providers ? |
Yes. All the web pages created by TOWeb use only the HTML standard so your website will work on any host server. All you need is a FTP access to the server of your host provider and make sure your web space is sufficient enough so that you can entirely publish your website on it.
I you want to use the .htaccess protection rather than a simple password protection on your website, you will need to make sure that your host provider authorize the use of .htaccess files. |
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