In common usage, virtual hosting describes any situation in which a host of cloth provides a space in their machines for webmasters to rent. This is in contrast to the co-location and dedicated servers.

With a dedicated server, the webmaster has bought a whole host machine, including connection to the Internet, an IP address (or multiple IP address), and generally to the provision and support. With the co-location, webmaster provides real hardware itself, but the domain is hosted by a third person with an internet connection.

Virtual hosting is a much cheaper alternative to these two forms of reception. Taking many different webmasters use a single machine, the host can charge less money to provide the server space and an internet connection.

Since the virtual hosting is generally aimed at smaller companies, individuals, and those without much experience with network issues, almost always comes bundled with an assortment of services. These may include: help to set a domain name, technical support, email address, the installation of server software, the help of the database design and even basic services.

Virtual hosting usually comes with a single IP address, but can come with services that allow multiple domains point to the same IP address. This allows a single virtual hosting account has more than one domain name, usually just revert to the same site.

Virtual hosting accounts often use a bit of change of direction to deal with a single IP address for a machine that receives multiple accounts. When a user enters the Web site you want to visit, they lead to corresponding IP address – when they reach that machine, the server asked what site they want to visit and sends the appropriate directory on the server. A user will be sent http://www.test.com/ so http://127.0.0.1/accounts/test/www/.

For all intents and purposes, a virtual hosting account appears to be its own server. From a webmaster from ‘s perspective of a user’s perspective is essentially the integration seamless. Webmasters focused on the distribution of resources, or some security problems, often dedicated servers coimplantados or find to be more to your liking – but for most small to medium sized businesses and individual webmasters, hosting is a virtual solution.