| Bandwidth explained: | | | | hosted there? In fact, why isn't everyone |
| | | | hosted there? For that matter, if unlimited |
| Bandwidth is the amount of data transfer that | | | | is a standard feature then why don't all the |
| you are allowed to have for a hosting package | | | | hosts offer it? Is it because it is expensive |
| i.e. Let's say you have a web page that is | | | | and requires better hardware? No, it's |
| 48KB in size, now each time a user opens your | | | | because some hosts are honest and don't give |
| site and goes to that page S/he downloads 48 | | | | in to such gimmicks. |
| KB of information on to their computer. If a | | | | |
| 100 users view that page one time each then | | | | Statistically speaking, a T1 Internet |
| there has been a total of 4800 KB of data | | | | connection (huge broadband) equals |
| transferred from the server on which your | | | | approximately 500GB per month and costs |
| files are stored for the computer of users. | | | | around $1200 per month. So how can it be |
| | | | possible to get the same or unlimited for $30 |
| Size of web Page: 48 KB | | | | a month? |
| | | | |
| Number of users who viewed the web page: 100 | | | | There are a lot of ways you can be duped by |
| | | | these ' unlimited' hosts; here are just a few |
| Total amount of data transferred: 48KB * 100 | | | | of them: |
| = 4800 KB | | | | |
| | | | The secret of 'unlimited' is actually buried |
| Bandwidth is the term that is used to denote | | | | in the Terms of Service by the host. Do not |
| the amount of data that has been transferred | | | | be surprised to find that unlimited = 15 GB. |
| from your web space. | | | | |
| | | | The host may restrict the sort of files that |
| The amount of bandwidth that you require | | | | you can host on their server. Generally image |
| while choosing a host depends on two factors: | | | | galleries and audio/video files attract a lot |
| | | | more downloads thereby resulting in higher |
| > The size of your site. | | | | bandwidth consumption. So if there are no |
| | | | files of this type, your site won't really |
| > The popularity of your site. | | | | require a lot of bandwidth. |
| | | | |
| If your site is not very huge and you do not | | | | Some newly opened hosts use it as a scam. |
| have any audio/video downloads and it's not | | | | They take your money and after a few months |
| very popular i.e. not a lot of people visit | | | | when their server starts to become slow or |
| your site then you do not really require a | | | | reaches its limit, they run... with your |
| lot of bandwidth, on a average a web site | | | | money! |
| uses up only 500 MB of bandwidth per month. | | | | |
| Or if your site is small but extremely | | | | Some hosts outline in their Terms of Service |
| popular then you might have to go for a web | | | | that you can have unlimited bandwidth as long |
| hosting package that offers high bandwidth. | | | | as you qualify for it. i.e. Your site must |
| | | | use less then, let's say 2 GB of bandwidth in |
| On the other hand if your web site is huge, | | | | order to qualify for the unlimited bandwidth |
| providing audio/video downloads, as well as | | | | feature. As soon as your site goes over that |
| being very popular then you would certainly | | | | limit they either start charging you for it |
| require a huge amount of bandwidth. Let's say | | | | or cut off your downloads altogether. |
| you have a video file that is 150 MB in size | | | | |
| and in a single day a 100 visitors download | | | | In life it's a universal truth that you |
| the file. This means that 15 GB of bandwidth | | | | always get what you pay for, and it's no |
| will have been used. If you multiply that by | | | | different for web hosting. |
| 30 days for the month it comes to 450 GB. | | | | |
| | | | If a host is using a cheap advertising |
| The unlimited bandwidth controversy | | | | gimmick like 'unlimited' bandwidth they maybe |
| | | | lying about a few other things too. Their |
| For some time now a lot of hosting companies | | | | 'dedicated' support team could be a single |
| are supposedly providing "unlimited | | | | person (the hoster itself in most cases) |
| bandwidth" for their web hosting packages. | | | | sitting in front of a computer and taking |
| | | | your calls. |
| It's absolutely true, you can have unlimited | | | | |
| bandwidth. However, you will need an | | | | Do you really want unlimited bandwidth |
| unlimited amount of money by your side! Jokes | | | | hosting from hosts that have very limited |
| apart, if you ever come across such a host it | | | | resources at their disposal? Or, do you want |
| would be best to turn around and run back the | | | | to go for a host that has spent thousands of |
| way you came from. | | | | dollars on setting up a good network |
| | | | infrastructure, servers, and a highly |
| Just think, if you can get unlimited | | | | qualified and dedicated support team? The |
| bandwidth for $25-30 a month then why aren't | | | | choice ultimately is yours and yours alone. |
| big companies like Sun, Microsoft etc. not | | | | |