A web server is a machine used to host applications and websites (online stores, showcase sites, blogs, etc.). That server hosts the website's files and database (in the case of a dynamic website). Several services are required to operate a web server: Apache for HTTP requests, MySQL to manage databases and FTP to send files from the website to the server. An SMTP service can also be setup to send and receive emails.

Choosing between a dedicated server and shared hosting

It is important to define your needs before you make a choice. In the case of a website with only a few pages and low traffic, shared hosting is the most sensible choice. In fact, this type of hosting is less expensive because several customers are sharing the same machine. However, this has an impact on resources. Since those are being shared by several users and therefore not guaranteed, management is reduced to a minimum so they can be accessed with some basic knowledge.

For a larger project, we recommend that you choose a dedicated server instead. You are in complete control of the technical configuration of your machine and have guaranteed resources. Computing power, data processing speed, large storage space and the possibility to put your server inside the infrastructure of your choice, are all factors that will make your websites and applications scalable over time.