Glossary of Server Hosting Terms Print

Apache web server

Apache, a web server, is a cross-platform software running on server and not a physical server.
Its job is to establish a connection between a server and the browsers of website visitors (Firefox, Google Chrome, Safari, etc.) while delivering files back and forth between them (client-server structure).

Alternate: Nginx, pronounced Engine-X, is a newer web server application that solve the c10k problem. It manages a high-traffic website. 

Auto Responder

An Autoresponder is self defining term in itself. It enables to automatically answers e-mail sent to it.

The 1st AUTORESPONDER were created within mail transfer agents to facilitate message when they failed to deliver an e-mail to a given address. 

Backup

A backup is a copy of one or more files created as an alternate in case the original data is lost or becomes unusable.

Usually data are stored externally so that restoration is possible after the original data loss event

Bandwidth

amount of data that can be sent from one point to another in a certain period of time.

It is measured as a bit rate expressed in bits per second (bits/s) or multiples of it (kbit/s Mbit/s etc.)

Browser

It is a software application with GUI(Graphical User Interface) used to locate, retrieve and display content on the World Wide Web, including webpages, images, video and other files.

cPanel

It is most prevalent online Linux-based graphical interface (GUI) used as a control panel to simplify website and server management.

It allows you to publish websites, manage domains, organize web files, create email accounts, and more.

DDoS (Distributed Denial of Service)

DDoS short for Distributed Denial of Service attack is a type of attack on websites performed using bots.

Hacker seeks to make a machine or network resource unavailable to its intended users by temporarily or indefinitely disrupting services of a host connected to the Internet by using bots to generate fake traffic so they can exhaust your server resources and crash your website.

Dedicated server

A dedicated server is a separate physical server that hosts a single account. A dedicated server gives you complete control over the operating system, resource usage, and more. Because the server only hosts one dedicated account (as opposed to a shared hosting server, which hosts many accounts), web site performance is usually significantly faster. Dedicated servers are intended for customers who need a server with high availability and performance.It is beneficial for websites which has considerable amount of traffic - for example, a site that must handle up to 35 million hits a day. 

DKIM (DomainKeys Identified Mail)

DKIM  is a method for authenticating that an incoming e-mail message is actually from the stated sender, and that the message has not been altered during transit.

When DKIM is enabled, the sender digitally signs a message using a private key. The recipient uses DNS to retrieve the sender's public key and verifies the message's signature. If the signature is invalid, then the message is assumed to be forged and therefore spam. DKIM is frequently used in conjunction with SPF.

Domain name

A domain name(or website name) is a unique, human-readable identification string for a site, such as kwikserver.com . The domain name actually represents a numerical string (the IP address) that instructs a client where to access the actual server. 

DNS (Domain Name System)

DNS (Domain Name System) is the directory service that translates human-readable domain names (such as https://kwikserver.com) into numerical IP addresses that computers can understand (such as 31.220.104.187). When you buy a domain name, either you or the hosting company creates a DNS record that associates the domain name with a numerical IP address. 

FTP (File Transfer Protocol)

FTP (File Transfer Protocol) is a service for transferring files over the internet. By using an FTP client application such as FileZilla, you can upload (send) and download (receive) files from a remote server. 

FTP is built on a client-server model architecture using separate control and data connections between the client and the server.

HTML (Hypertext Markup Language)

HTML (Hypertext Markup Language) is the standard language used to create web pages. A web browser receives raw HTML from a web server, parses it, and displays a human-readable web page.

It can be assisted by technologies such as Cascading Style Sheets(CSS) and scripting languages such as JavaScript.

HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol)

HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol) is the protocol used to transfer data between a web browser and a web server like hypermedia (text, images, video, and more) across the internet. It is the basis for the World Wide Web (WWW).

IMAP (Internet Message Access Protocol)

IMAP (Internet Message Access Protocol) is a protocol for authenticating to and retrieving messages from an e-mail server. With IMAP, you can use a client e-mail application such as Microsoft Outlook, Gmail or Mozilla Thunderbird to retrieve and view your e-mail messages. 

IP(Internet Protocol) address

An IP address is a unique number (for example, 93.184.216.119) assigned to a device on a network. A domain name is a human-readable label (such as KwikServer.com) that points to the actual numeric IP address that computers can understand.

 An IP address serves two main functions: host or network interface identification and location addressing.

JavaScript

JavaScript is a client-side scripting language that enables developers to add dynamic, interactive effects within web browsers. Because it is a client-side technology, it runs in the user's web browser, not on the web server. Most web sites use at least some JavaScript.

Linux

Linux is a free and open source and community developed operating system, by Linus Torvalds; similar in functionality to Unix. It is known for its stability and reliability, and is used in many computers around the world, particularly servers. 

Mailing list

A mailing list is compilation of email addresses enabling one to send an e-mail message to multiple recipients at once. Mailing lists are commonly used to send announcements or to hold online discussions. 

Managed hosting

Managed hosting is a type of web hosting IT provisioning model where the provider, such as KwikServer, handles configuration changes, software upgrades, and other system administration tasks for the server. Shared hosting, reseller hosting, and managed VPS accounts are all managed packages. Managed hosting packages at KwikServer include cPanel access. Managed hosting is a good choice if you do not feel comfortable administering an entire server yourself.

MySQL

MySQL is a popular relational database management system backed by Oracle. It is often used in conjunction with PHP to build a wide variety of web applications, from WordPress to MediaWiki.

Open-source software

A software for which the original source code is made freely available and may be redistributed and modified according to the requirement of the user.

PHP

PHP is a free and open source scripting language that enables you to generate dynamic content by embedding code directly into the HTML of a web page. 

POP (Post Office Protocol)

POP (Post Office Protocol) is a protocol for authenticating to and retrieving messages from an e-mail server. With POP, you can use a client e-mail application such as Microsoft Outlook, Gmail or Mozilla Thunderbird to retrieve and view your e-mail messages. 

Reseller hosting

On a reseller hosting package, the account owner hosts websites for other users. It is an easy way to start a company or provide hosting services for others, because reseller hosting includes all of the benefits of managed hosting.

Unmanaged hosting

Unmanaged hosting (also sometimes called “semi-managed” hosting) is a type of web hosting where you handle all configuration changes, software upgrades, and other system administration tasks for the server. KwikServer's Cloud VPS, Dynamic VPS, and Flex Dedicated Server are all unmanaged packages. Unmanaged hosting packages at KwikServer do not include cPanel (though you can install it yourself). If you do not feel comfortable administering an entire server, managed hosting is a good choice.

Shared hosting

On a shared hosting package, the account shares server resources with other hosting accounts. It is an inexpensive way to run a web site, and includes all of the benefits of managed hosting.

SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol)

SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) is the standard protocol for sending and receiving e-mail messages. 

Softaculous

The Softaculous Auto Installer is included with all KwikServer packages that have cPanel access. Softaculous enables you to install many popular web applications, such as WordPress and Drupal, with just a few clicks.

Spam

“Spam” is a common term for unsolicited bulk (junk) e-mail messages. There are various methods and techniques for trying to reduce the amount of spam in user inboxes, but currently none of them is 100% effective at blocking all spam and permitting all legitimate messages.

SPF (Sender Policy Framework)

SPF (Sender Policy Framework) helps prevent spammers from forging messages that impersonate users from another domain. SPF uses DNS records that specify the mail servers and IP addresses on a domain that are authorized to send e-mail messages. SPF is often used in conjunction with DKIM.

SSL (Secure Sockets Layer)

SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) is a mechanism for providing secure and authenticated communications across a network. It is often used by web servers and web browsers, but it can also be used by mail servers and clients, and other applications. 

Top-level domain

The top-level domain is the right-most portion of a domain name. For example, in the domain name example.com, .com is the top-level domain. Other examples of top-level domains are .org, .net, .gov, and .edu, and there are many others. 

Virtual Private Server

A virtual private server is a virtual machine that runs on a physical server with other virtual machines. Because the virtual machine functions as an independent computer, you have complete control over the operating system configuration, and you have root access (unless you are using a managed VPS). A virtual private server is less expensive than a dedicated server, and provides more flexibility and functionality than a shared hosting account.

Webmail

Webmail enables you to view and send e-mail messages from your web browser. This removes the need to install and configure a dedicated e-mail client application, such as Microsoft Outlook or Mozilla Thunderbird. It also means you can access your e-mail account from any internet-connected computer that has a web browser.

WordPress

WordPress is a popular open source content management system written in PHP and paired with a MySQL or MariaDB database. blogging platform that is free and highly customizable.

You can install WordPress on any KwikServer package, either by manual installation or Softaculous (if your account includes cPanel access).