Web hosting questions

Answers to your web hosting questions

This FAQ covers questions about web hosting. If your query relates specifically to domain names, please see our domain names FAQ. If you have a general question, try the general FAQ page.

The questions

• What can I use web hosting for?
• Is there a minimum contract?
• Can I buy a domain name to use with my web hosting?
• I already own a domain. Can I use it with my web hosting plan?
• How many domain names can I use with my web hosting package?
• How long will it take to set my web hosting package up?
• Can you help me move my website across from another provider?
• What security measures do you take?
• Can I stream media from my shared web hosting?
• Can I install my own applications?
• Which web hosting package should I buy?
• What is the difference between Linux and Windows hosting?
• What happens if I exceed the transfer limit?

The answers

What can I use web hosting for?

Web hosting is generally used to publish websites on the internet. If you build a website, you need to upload it to a web hosting service, so that other people online can see it.

Our website hosting gives you space on a server connected to the internet. When you put files in this area, people can access them from the internet.

We offer hosting for all sorts of sites. Our servers are connected 24/7, and we monitor them round-the-clock, so the sites we host stay online - all day and all night.

Is there a minimum contract?

There is no minimum contract for any of our hosting plans. You can pay month-to-month, or buy upfront for a year. If you pay for a year, the cost is equivalent to 10 monthly payments - giving you 2 months for free.

You can even try out the service at no risk by taking advantage of our 30-day money back guarantee. If you decide to stop using our web hosting services at any time during the first 30 days, let us know. We'll close your account and refund what you paid for the hosting.

Please note: the 30-day money back guarantee does not apply to domain names.

Can I buy a domain name to use with my web hosting?

When you select one of our web hosting plans, you'll be given the option to register a domain name. This domain will be pointed automatically to your web hosting space.

Alternatively, you can purchase a domain separately, or transfer a domain you already own. You can get more domain info from the domain name FAQ.

I already own a domain. Can I use it with my web hosting plan?

Yes. You can transfer the domain to Webfusion when you buy your hosting package. This is easy, but sometimes takes a few days to go through.

How many domain names can I use with my web hosting package?

You can manage up to 10 domain names with our web hosting packages, though it depends which package you choose:

• Newbie package: 1 domain
• Techie package: 5 domains
• Guru package: 10 domains

How long will it take to set my web hosting package up?

Once you order a web hosting plan, we will get it set up as quickly as possible. This is usually an automatic process, so most new accounts are created within minutes of an order being placed.

However, please don't worry if your account is not available immediately. Occasionally it takes a bit longer - up to 24 hours - to get your hosting plan set up.

Can you help me move my website across from another provider?

We do not offer any sort of transfer service to help you move your files across, and we cannot advise on other web hosting services. However, we provide 24/7 support, so you can always contact us if you have trouble getting your site to work on our servers. We're pleased that you've chosen to use our service, and we will do whatever we can to help.

What security measures do you take?

We do everything we can to keep our systems safe from hacking, crashes, hardware failures and physical damage. All servers are located in our own highly secure, IBM-built data center. They are fully protected from fire, floods and natural disasters. We do not rent servers in facilities operated by other companies.

Access to servers is tightly controlled and limited to essential personnel (if you're not on the list, you don't get in). In normal operation, power is drawn from the power grid but we operate uninterruptible supplies and have on-site generators, in case the external supply fails.

The servers are directly connected to Cisco-based LANs. Everything is safe behind a secure firewall with multiple layers of protection. We also operate regular backups and store copies of the data off site. And we have a really big security guard out front.

Can I stream media from my shared web hosting?

You may stream media from your web hosting if you wish. However, please note that streamed media (particularly video) requires significant bandwidth. This means that if you choose to stream media from your account, your bandwidth allowance may be used up quickly and you will be charged for extra usage.

The resources required to sustain multiple streams can also place significant demand on the server. If you are placing unreasonable demand on the server and having an impact on our other customers, we may take steps to restrict the number of streams you are able to serve.

For these reasons, if you wish to do more than stream the occasional piece of audio or video, we usually recommend using a server that is specifically designed to handle streaming media.

Can I install my own applications?

You cannot install any applications that require root or administrator-level access. This is because our web hosting is built on a shared platform. Each physical server is shared between several customers, so we cannot give anyone overall control of it.

However, our web hosting packages do include a number of preinstalled applications and scripting languages. You can choose between our Newbie, Techie, and Guru web hosting plans depending on the features you need.

Which web hosting package should I buy?

We can't answer that for you, but maybe we can help. There are 2 main things you need to decide:

• Which operating system you need. You can choose between Linux and Windows. If you need some help deciding, see our operating system guide.
• Which package you need. Think about how much space and bandwidth you need, as well as the features you will be using. Our web hosting comparison will show you all the features at a glance.

Remember to consider if you need any particular features, like a certain scripting language. If you anticipate your site growing fast, it could be simpler to opt for a more powerful package now than upgrading later.

What is the difference between Linux and Windows hosting?

Linux and Windows are both types of operating system. You can purchase our web hosting packages with either operating system - each has its advantages.

You do not need to choose the same operating system that runs on your home or business computers. Instead, the system you choose should depend on what you want on your website.

In general, you will need to opt for Windows hosting if you intend to use any Microsoft technologies, like ASP.NET, Microsoft SQL or Microsoft Access databases. You should choose Linux hosting if you need to use open source technologies like MySQL, Python or Ruby.

If you're not sure which operating system to go for, please take a look at our Linux and Windows comparison. This will help you decide which you need.

What happens if I exceed the transfer limit?

If you exceed the transfer limit in any given month, we charge for extra bandwidth at a rate of $1.99 per GB. You will be automatically charged if you exceed the limit on your account.

If you find you are frequently exceeding your transfer limit, it may be more cost-effective to upgrade your hosting package. Please contact us for more information.