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Can You Run a CMS on a Shared Server?

For years, many have suggested that webmasters run their CMS software on a dedicated or virtual private server opposed to a shared hosting platform.  However, that hasn't stopped shared hosts from offering Joomla, Drupal, PHP Nuke and a host of other popular content management systems.  While most claim to offer CMS-friendly solutions, many customers learn the hard way that these shared environments don't always offer a level of stability they require with their content-rich websites.

Improvements in Shared Hosting

A large number of today's shared hosting packages have features and services that are a great improvement over what was available two or three years ago.  Web hosting firms finally came to the realization that static pages could only do so much and web 2.0 applications were the direction of the future.  For instance, most hosts now provide their customers with access to powerful features such as server-side programming languages and databases, things that were off limits not too long ago.  These packages provide you with much greater control than in past.  In addition, hosting companies have embraced the multiple domain concept, thus allowing you to run several websites on a single account with relative efficiency.  Such improvements are certainly noteworthy, but they are enough to handle the power of a CMS?

CMS-friendly Qualities

The truth is that you can indeed run a CMS on a shared hosting platform.  In fact, many of today's Drupal and Joomla sites are thriving in this environment.  The key is knowing what to look for a shared hosting package.

Language Support ' Most content management systems are written in the PHP programming language.  Therefore, you will need a web host that either supports PHP or the specifc language the software is written in on their server.  Also keep in mind that there is a significant difference in PHP4 and PHP5 when it comes to certain CMS platforms.

Database Support ' Databases are critical for a CMS as they are responsible for blog entries, user data and other information related to your website.  Therefore, you will need a shared hosting provider that supports SQL databases, preferably MySQL.  It would also be a good idea to find out how many databases are included in the package, how large they are allowed to be and so forth.  Should you decide to install a forum or shopping cart later on down the road, additional databases would definitely come in handy.

Storage Space ' Just as you need enough capacity on your local hard disk to store software, documents and music files, adequate web space is needed to store your templates, website files and databases.  A content-rich site generally requires more space than the typical website so it is vital to make sure a shared host provides enough for your storage needs.

Although you are likely to get a better performance out of a VPS or dedicated server, in most cases, a shared server can be sufficient for running a CMS.  The ease of use and vast improvements in this environment makes it far more desirable for the less experienced user.   Factor in cost and you have plenty of reasons to maintain your content on a shared hosting platform.

grandvicky

You can get the best webhosting at tdog89 web hosting and drupal web hosting

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You can get the best webhosting at tdog89 web hosting and drupal web hosting

Author: grandvicky

 

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Being a webmaster is a much more important job than most companies would dare admit. Webmasters are responsible for the company web presence on every level, from the website copy to the web and email server administration. Additionally, webmasters are often tasked even more duties that should be considered unrelated responsibilities for the position of webmaster. These extra duties often will include online as well as offline promotion and marketing, search optimization, advertising, application programming, graphic design and/or brand management. The role of the webmaster has grown over the years and webmasters need to grow with the company's expectations or the website will not succeed. For instance, it is easy to get banned from the search engines for not knowing the correct methods to use to optimize a website for a better results ranking from the search engines for any particular search phrase.

This is why Webmastery is here, not just to offer direction and assist webmasters, but to do so masterfully, as you expect of yourself, or as your company expects out of you.
 

Since I am an American and know only American English and SEO methods, I specialize in American Webmastery. Hence the domain name, Webmastery.US.
 

However, please note that often both sides of the coin are presented here. Some webmasters swear by Linux and we offer articles by such authors to give insight to their creativity. Others are die-hard Microsoft software fans and use Windows based servers. Despite the bias, each system has its own advantages, and such articles are reprinted here for their positive contribution to those platforms, not to enforce their bias. It is we that have to make the final analysis.
 

This difference is even more apparent when I am showcasing and promoting white hat SEO (search engine optimization) and a black hat SEO article is published here, which method if followed could get a website banned from the search engines. The reason I allow it a small platform is to showcase its apparent and obvious idiocy in contrast to white hat SEO techniques. And as I cannot edit these articles in order to correct them, I let their illogicality and stupidity stand on their own for a time without any edits. But in case their spaminess is not apparent, I often do not let such articles stand long.
 

 

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