by Matt Seaton

Understanding Online Backup

Although the Netwise Hosting Blog already contains a lengthy and detailed article on the importance of online backup, it didn’t really go far enough in helping users to understand backup as a technology – and how to use it.

Online backup can essentially be broken down in a number of ways. Our first article primarily discussed the physical differences in various forms of backing up data. This included various popular methods, such as local backups, online backups and tape-drive backups etc. The different forms of backup were discussed in relation to how important off-site backups are in ensuring mission-critial data is kept secure. But as stated, after coming to the balanced conclusion that online backups are a quick and efficient way to keep your data out of harms way, the dicussion ended.

Now we can explore the world of online backups in more detail, with more information regarding how its done and just how simple it can be to own a backup solution with Netwise Hosting.

First lets break down the various forms of online backup into their primary types. These are full backups, differential backups and incremental backups. You may find other more varied methods if searching online, but the three listed here are the largest to factor in when planning an online backup strategy.

Full backups are essentially what they sound like – complete and full uploads of all the data within your chosen directory to the remote system. This is used to establish baseline data for disaster recovery. A full backup is normally the first action to be undertaken when starting an online backup strategy. Because your online account is fresh and completely empty, a full backup allows the system to retain your data for updating at a later date.
The first method of full backup after you have set your baseline would be to continue with a single full backup everyday, which would fully overwrite the original data replacing it with the new data. The major downfall here is the time taken to complete such a data transfer. Because not every file on the system will have changed from day-to-day, it would be a waste of time and resources to employ this method too often. It can be useful however for special backups should you wish to rewrite your baseline data, or if you wish to use a media rotation, of which all the relevant parameters can be set within your chosen backup software. This sets up a defined number of backups which enter a circular rotation. If you were to set up a 7 day rotation, you would have a separate set of backup data for each day of the week. Once you enter the 8th day, the 1st days data would be overwritten (and so on). This is useful if you wish to have a backlog of data giving you greater flexibility over your disaster recovery. Should data become corrupt and be backed up by mistake, you can revert to the last working set of data.

The second of the primary methods is a differential backup. This should not be confused with an incremental backup which will be explained in more detail further into this article. A differential backup includes all of the data that has changed since the last full or incremental backup. This utilises two sets of data on your accounts. The first is the full set of data established as the baseline during a full backup. The second is the differential data, stored as a separate set of data and includes only the differences in information between the baseline and this new differential backup. This second set of data is then overwritten each time a new differential backup is completed, leaving the baseline untouched. All that is required to restore a system using this method is the full set of data and the differential set of data. This can also be setup as a media rotation schedule, should you desire.

The third of the listed methods is an incremental backup. This utilises just one set of data by including all changes to the baseline in the same set of data. This means that less space is used by employing just one set of data. Any changes or additions to data since the last full or incremental backup are added to the same set of data. This method of backup is fast, as only the changes are sent to your accounts.

It all comes down to choice, and how you wish to implement your own set of backup methods. The most successful backup routines often employ a mix of certain backup types depending on the situation at hand, however it should be understood that it is not good practice to mix differential and incremental backups together. The Netwise Hosting system also gives the option of compressing and/or encrypting your data, which further helps save space and gives far greater security.

You should also take note of calculating the space you require when purchasing an online backup solution. The space needed will vary depending on the type of solution (or combination of solutions) you opt for. For instance, a full backup media rotation will need several times more space (at the very least) than in the case of an incremental backup.

We recommend the use of Cobian Backup, which is a free open-source solution with all the tools and features of more expensive options. Other options can be found in this comprehensive list. If you would like any further information on the particular backup solutions provided by Netwise Hosting, feel free to visit our main site or contact us with more detailed queries.

Remember, our online backup solutions complement any dedicated server packages perfectly, and greatly help to reduce the risk of permanent critical data loss.

by Matt Seaton

What do your premises say about you?

In our modern world, image is everything. Of course the services offered have to match the image, but it is the initial impression given out by you and your business that will gain you customers – or at the very least solid enquiries.

Dedicated server providers could have it the toughest of all with regards to corporate image. The IT industry is renowned for its high-gloss polished image, and how it leads the way forward allowing other forms of industry to follow in its technological footsteps. This can be an incredibly hard precedent to live up to, especially for newer businesses with weaker cash flows. But it should always be remembered that money spent on improving your image is a multifaceted operation. It will improve a large area of your business by doubling up as a form of advertising, as well as boosting the value of your company (and its assets).

When dealing with colocation customers, it is incredibly important to promote a solid image. When clients are spending well in excess of £20,000 each year on a colocation hosting solution, the are going to expect a facility that reflects their spending. However do not be fooled into thinking this will require a brand new purpose-built datacentre with its own substation and an internal floor space extending beyond the eye can see. Far from it in fact.
All that is required is a highly respectable facility that looks professional, and is finished to a very high standard. Size is not as important as many people may think. Many industries across the globe are moving from singular large facilities to a number of smaller facilities, realising that customers appreciate the perceived notion of a more personal level of service.

The important thing to remember, as with almost anything, is quality over quantity. If your customers enter an excessively large warehouse full of server equipment, it will not necessarily aid you in building your image. Yet invite customers into a perfectly balanced premises with high-end equipment, well designed office spaces and comfortable ulitity areas, and the rest will follow on from your wise choices.

Netwise Hosting fully understand the need for exceptional quality when it comes to customer care and satisfaction. It is because of this that the team have decided to move premises. Although we will be moving from one high-tech facility to another, our new space will allow us to expand more organically, and offer our customers the very best hosting solutions on the market, for the best possible prices.

by Matt Seaton

The Role of RAM in a Dedicated Server

Random Access Memory (RAM) is essentially the simplest of all internal hardware components. This is the case in both home computers and servers alike. Most standard users of IT equipment understand what RAM is and how it can effect a computers speed and reliability.

RAM allows the system to call any information required of it and temporarily store it for use. This ensures data is ready for its required usage immediately. Obviously, there is a lot more to RAM than this simple explanation – a simple search on the internet will gather any further information you require.

So naturally it is safe to assume that more RAM will improve a systems ability to process data – which is true. Of course, it is no good having endless supplies of RAM serving low end processors, as this will severely bottleneck the machine and any subsequent systems it supplies with data. It is because of this that dedicated servers will often come with high end components supplementing the large RAM capacity. It is very unusual to find a dedicated server in today’s market with less than 1GB of RAM; in fact the standard is often 2GB.

Adding RAM to a dedicated server (or a home PC system) will certainly improve the speed and usability of its software applications. But it should be remembered that to get the most out of a dedicated server solution, all hardware components should complement each other. A well-balanced system is the key to technological success in the dedicated server industry.

Netwise Hosting provide users with perfectly scaled dedicated server solutions to capitalise on the full power of each component. With the role of RAM in a servers speed fully understood, Netwise Hosting bring more to the market than simple bottleneck-prone RAM heavy systems. Visit the website for more information on our world-class dedicated server solutions.

by Matt Seaton

Tracking Visitors to Improve Your Site

It has been possible for some time now to track visitor statistics. Many companys have offered some form of solution to this problem, with varying levels of success. The first solution to hit the big time across the globe was undoubtedly Google Analytics. This introduced users to a completely free set of feature-rich tools which allowed for the simple tracking of visitor statistics on any page within their site. These statistics could then be viewed and analysed online without the need for any software to be installed on local machines.

Although Google Analytics is still the most used and one of the most complete statistical packages available today, a number of newer solutions have surpassed the standardised feature list and gone on to lead the way in tracking applications. These often combine the functionality of a live chat system into their overall package, creating a one-stop solution for a number of web administration operations.

Yet regardless of your chosen tracking system, the fruits of such information remain constant. Some businesses seem unable to grasp the importance of tracking visitors. For anyone trading online it should be without question that some form of visitor tracking is implemented on your site.

Lets explore some of the possibilities involved with tracking your site traffic. Now we have the obvious advantages which can be outlined from the start – volume, frequency and timing statistics. These are raw sets of data showing how many people visit your website, what pages they visit, how often they visit and for how long. They often break such data down into many different categories, offering the reader a wealth of information including exactly who has visited your site with information on their browser, screen resolution and location. Even simple data such as this can prove invaluable in improving your webpages. For example, if you were to see a number of users leaving your site almost immediately you can often find similarities between the visitors in question. One thing to look out for here is browser and resolution, which could indicated that a particular group of people are having difficulty using your site because of display issues in certain resolutions/browsers. This will need to be rectified to ensure the maximum number of users within your target market are able to visit your website successfully.

Other solutions go even further, allowing site administrators to co-browse the site with visitors, to note browsing habbits and identify common exit-points within the site (areas where users tend to leave your site). Administrators can also start live chats with users and even browse for them, prompting the user to visit certain areas of the site. This all helps to boost conversion ratios and certainly aids in bringing the customer closer to the company. Exploring aspects of advanced site tracking will certainly help your business move forwards into the future with a stronger web presence. Many free solutions offer just as many features, if not more (in some cases) than more expensive options. You will not regret trying out a tracking system yourself.

Netwise Hosting now implement a highly advanced site tracking system along with a fully-featured live chat application. Try it out for yourself, and see how the ordering process is made that much easier with help from a trained member of the Netwise Hosting team.

by Matt Seaton

Boosting PageRank with Content

PageRank is perhaps the most sought-after SEO (Search Engine Optimisation) function in the online world. As we all know, Google are the driving force behind almost all search traffic on the net, and also the primary referrer for website traffic. Because of this it is critically important that websites are able to obtain a high PageRank.

The internet is filled to the brim with guides on how to boost SEO and PageRank, most of which market themselves with tricks and work-arounds that the author claims will increase your sites SEO with half the effort. As with most things in life, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. A high PageRank is not something which can be obtained by deception.

The biggest factor in boosting your PageRank (and your overall SEO in general) is time. Even if you tick every basic SEO box in the book, your site will not go soaring up the Google search index overnight. It takes time for the indexing robots to trawl your site and update your status. It should also be noted that you won’t be the only website in your search category who has implemented such methods, and as such you should understand that you can’t fly past competitor websites just by doing the same as they do. The chances are, many sites out there are doing what you do, and more on top – all to a higher standard. Simple statistics can tell you that.

The biggest error seen on the web today is the frequent use of money in an attempt to boost PageRank. Countless companys seem to think that ploughing more and more money into AdWords and other such activities will somehow bribe the Google system into placing you higher in their index. Unfortunately, that is not how it works; and even if it were, someone would no doubt put more money into it than you anyway.

So what is the real solution to boosting PageRank? Well, obviously your site should tick all the basic SEO boxes as mentioned before. You can find most if not all of these by performing a simple search of the net.
If you have completed all that you can here, you should be focusing on site content. It is well known that having as many links to your site on the web will help your PageRank dramatically, but that requires solid online marketing and the building of a large web-presence. This will take a long time and should grow dynamically without too much effort provided your base content is good.

The indexing robots are looking for a number of things when ranking websites. Although it may sound very sci-fi, they can in fact recognise more about a website and its content than you may initially think. One very important factor that they will be looking out for is readable, valid and related content. They can identify the difficulty of language used in text, so you should try and use the simplest language possible when writing out content to be used in an informative way. Not only will this boost your SEO and PageRank, but also improve your visitors experience on your site. Providing the end user with relevant content is key in improving sales conversions, not only in helping your SEO.

The Netwise Hosting team have just rolled out new content on our key section pages. This can be seen by clicking the ‘More’ link in the footer of each main section. This content will be indexed by Google and noted on their system as helpful information. This will improve our PageRank, overall SEO and visitor satisfaction levels.