Bandwidth and Server Load for Non-Dummies

There’s a reason we titled our article in this way. Obviously, yes it plays on the popular line of how to books that have proliferated the bookstores in a way that Harry Potter could only dream of, but we’re out to make a point as well. Web hosting issues, and the creation of a great website, are not endeavors for the average idiot. It takes brains and study to make a success of yourself on the internet. Yes, any idiot can create a MySpace page, or start writing a blog. What we’re talking about is building a website from the ground up, and choosing a web hosting company that can meet your needs. Without the intelligence to accompany your ambition, you’ll be as lost as a sailor without a ship. Here are some things you need to know about server load and bandwidth, and how they apply to your website success.

Bandwidth

Bandwidth becomes most important when you host your website on a shared server. If you’re not sure what kind of server you’re on, you’ll be able to know from the price you’re paying per month. If it’s less than $100 (and, unless you’re getting ripped off, it should be much less) you’re on a shared server, and bandwidth will be an issue. You’ve been given a limit when it comes to your bandwidth capabilities. This means that there is a limited amount of things you can do in a given month. Everything is included under this umbrella. Every email you send, every click your webpage receives, every file you upload. Each one of these transactions requires the use of bandwidth.

Server Load

The other defining factor in your website’s performance will come from server load. Server load is somewhat similar to bandwidth in that every action you perform takes a toll on the server. You may ask, why should I care about that? I’m paying for the server, after all. That’s all fine and good. The reason you should care is that you’re probably on that shared server. And others will be running their websites in such a way that they don’t care how much load they’re putting on the server, either. Therefore, one or two bad apples can spoil the bunch. If you’re getting weak performance from your server, you may want to ask your web hosting provider if you can be moved to another server, one that isn’t being burdened as heavily.

The Bottom Line

Server load and bandwidth are the two primary factors that will play a part in how well your website operates. If you suddenly get an increase in traffic, and your bandwidth capabilities aren’t high enough, you could see your website go down for a certain amount of time. That’s no good if you’re in the business of attracting visitors to your site. If others are ruining the shared server, your website could grow sluggish through no fault of your own. Once again, bad for business. Picking a good web host like IX Web Hosting or HostMonster can give you the freedom to contact your provider and smooth out any issues you have.

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