Web Hosting and DNS

Web Hosting and DNS: What You Need to Know

If you’re planning to launch a website, one of the first decisions you’ll face is choosing the right web hosting solution. But what exactly is web hosting and how does it relate to other critical components like DNS? What even is DNS you may ask!?

Understanding these concepts is crucial to building a reliable and accessible online presence. Let’s walk through the basics of web hosting and Domain Name System (DNS), providing you with a solid foundation to get started.

What exactly is Web Hosting?

Web hosting is a service that allows you to publish your website on the internet. Think of it as renting space on a server (essentially a computer plugged in to the internet) where all your website’s files, databases, and content are stored. When users want to visit your website, their browsers fetch these files from the server, allowing them to view your site. Picking a good host can also play a crucial role in improving your website performance so don’t always go with the cheapest option out there.

Types of Web Hosting

There are several types of web hosting available, each with its own set of features, costs and use cases:

1. Shared Hosting:
   • Overview: Multiple websites share the same server and resources.
   • Pros: Affordable and easy to set up.
   • Cons: Limited resources, and performance may suffer if other sites on the server experience high traffic.
2. VPS Hosting (Virtual Private Server):
   • Overview: A virtualised server environment where multiple sites still share a server, but each has its own dedicated resources.
   • Pros: More control and resources than shared hosting.
   • Cons: More expensive than shared hosting, and still shares physical hardware.
3. Dedicated Hosting:
   • Overview: You rent an entire physical server dedicated to your website.
   • Pros: Full control, high performance, and reliability.
   • Cons: Expensive and requires technical expertise to manage.
4. Cloud Hosting:
   • Overview: Your site is hosted on a network of servers in the cloud, offering scalability and redundancy.
   • Pros: Highly scalable, reliable, and cost-effective.
   • Cons: Can be more complex to set up and manage.
5. Managed WordPress Hosting:
   • Overview: A hosting solution specifically optimised for WordPress sites.
   • Pros: Optimised performance, security, and support for WordPress.
   • Cons: Typically more expensive than shared hosting and limited to WordPress sites.

Understanding DNS: The Internet’s Phonebook

DNS, or Domain Name System, is an essential component of the internet that translates human-friendly domain names (like www.dcoed.com) into IP addresses that computers use to identify each other on the network.

How DNS Works

1. Domain Registration: When you register a domain name, it gets associated with a specific IP address through the DNS system. You can purchase domain names via many providers – we tend to recommend 123-Reg.
2. DNS Lookup: When a user types your domain name into their browser, a DNS lookup occurs. The DNS resolver queries a DNS server to find the IP address associated with that domain name.
3. Fetching the Website: Once the IP address is obtained, the browser requests the website files from the server, and the website is displayed to the user.

The Relationship Between Web Hosting and DNS

Web hosting and DNS work hand-in-hand to make your website accessible to users. While web hosting is where your website’s content lives, DNS is what helps users find it. You could think of DNS as the address book that maps your domain name to the server where your website is hosted.

DNS records are also used to point off to other services as well – for example, which email provider you are using such as Office 365 or Gmail. Additional records can be used for many other features too such as proof of domain ownership or to help improve email deliverability.

If you’re already established online, it’s also key to keep these details safe for the future. We regularly have customers come to us who are effectively locked out of changing email or hosting provider as they no longer have access to their own DNS. Worse still, if you don’t renew your domain name, you also run the risk or someone else purchasing your website!

Setting Up DNS with Web Hosting

When setting up a new website, you’ll often need to configure DNS settings to point your domain name to your web hosting provider. This usually involves:

• Changing Nameservers: Your web hosting provider will give you nameservers (e.g., ns1.yourhost.com) that you need to enter in your domain registrar’s control panel.
• Configuring DNS Records: In some cases, you may need to manually configure DNS records like A records, CNAMEs, and MX records to ensure that all aspects of your website (including email) are properly directed.

How do I find out who my DNS is with?

If you’ve already registered a domain and forgotten who this is with (more common than you’d think!) it can be tricky regaining access, let alone finding out who it was registered with. Luckily there is a useful tool called WHO.IS which often provides a useful starting point.

Why Understanding Web Hosting and DNS Matters

Having a basic understanding of web hosting and DNS is crucial for anyone looking to create and maintain a website. It enables you to:

• Choose the Right Hosting: Selecting the best hosting solution based on your website’s needs and expected traffic.
• Manage Domain Settings: Configuring DNS settings to ensure your site is accessible and functioning properly.
• Troubleshoot Issues: Identifying and resolving common hosting or DNS-related issues that might affect your website’s performance or availability.

Whether you’re launching your first website or looking to improve an existing one, understanding the fundamentals of web hosting and DNS is key to creating a reliable and accessible online presence. By choosing the right type of hosting and properly configuring your DNS settings, you can ensure that your website is fast, secure, and always available to your audience.

DNS settings can seem complicated and sound like a lot of jargon. Don’t hesitate to consult with one of our web hosting experts to help navigate these decisions and set up everything correctly. Remember, your website’s success starts with a solid foundation in web hosting and DNS.