On April 8, Microsoft will no longer support Exchange 2003. The trusty decade-old email software is still used by more than 66 million people worldwide. With the impending deadline approaching many users will no doubt be asking, “Where do we go from here?”
Exchange 2003 is from the pre-cloud era, and business technology has changed dramatically since Exchange Server 2003 came out. The last couple versions of Exchange have brought more features and enhanced functionality, including S/MIME-based message security, Windows Server 2012 R2 support, OWA junk email reporting, and SSL offloading, just to name a few.
Since 2003, businesses have also experienced a culture shift regarding mobile device integration. Checking email on your smart device or tablet has become second nature to so many professionals as the devices have become more powerful and pervasive – Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) policies are necessary for most businesses. Users have new expectations from their email, calendar and messaging environments that Exchange 2003 simply can’t fulfill.
If you are among the remaining users of Exchange 2003, you have several options available to you to prepare for the upcoming abandonment of Exchange 2003 by Microsoft support.
1. Remain on Exchange 2003: This is by far the most risky option, with the software’s End of Life imminent. Microsoft will no longer issue security patches, which leaves you open to security and privacy threats. In addition, you’ll be missing out on innovations offered by the newer versions.
2. Upgrade to on-premise Exchange 2010 or 2013: Unfortunately, an on-premise upgrade of Exchange 2003 involves more than upgrading licenses and installing servers. A successful Exchange upgrade typically requires the services of specialized Exchange migration consultants, as well as significant IT time and budget. You’ll need to invest time and money in network topology upgrades, and potentially address the following as well:
3. Migrate to cloud-based Exchange 2010 or 2013: Companies can avoid the labor costs and capital investments of an on-premise upgrade by migrating to cloud-based Exchange. Choosing the right cloud provider will eliminate downtime risk, keep costs low and deliver a reliable, secure and integrated cloud environment.
For customers who have an existing on-premise Exchange 2003 platform, Hostway offers a free migration to a Cloud Exchange platform.
Making the move from Exchange 2003 to more recent versions of cloud-based Exchange is the safest, most cost-effective option. It’s perfect for companies who are looking for a secure, reliable email solution that is intuitive, familiar and simple.
Don’t fall behind – make the transition!
If it sounds too good to be true, chances are it is.
That's what TextDrive's "lifetime" customers had confirmed earlier this month, when the company announced it would shut down March 14, 10 years after its founding. Though many of the stranded customers got a great deal over the course of their membership, it doesn't change the inconvenience of their situation: left scrambling for a new host with a limited timeframe.
For those TextDrive customers, the circumstances can appear quite daunting, but changing web hosts is often not as hard to do as one might imagine, as long as they have their data backed up and on a temporary solution.
Follow these step-by-step guidelines for the best method of moving your Web site from one host to another.
Step 1: Select a new Web host.
For the TextDrive refugees, it's probably a priority at this point to choose someone that won't simply disappear at any moment. Look for a firm that's been around a while and has a record of getting the job done.
Step 2: Set up at the new host.
Although they won’t yet be able to send or receive, set up your email accounts at the new Web host. If you use sub-domains and/or a MySQL database, also set these up now following the host’s instructions. Use the same email addresses, database names and passwords that you used at your old host.
Step 3: Upload to the new host.
Retrieve all of your backed-up files including images and databases. Don’t delete any files, just copy them. If you use Web mail, now is also the time to backup your emails, or forward them to a different email account as they will not move to the new host. Log in to your FTP account using the temporary login information that your new host has provided and upload all of the files you previously backed up to the new server. (You cannot log in with “ftp.yoursite.com” as the domain name is still pointing to the old host.) Be sure to keep the directory structure of the files the same as at the old host. In the case of databases, import backed-up files using phpMyAdmin from the control panel.
Step 4: Test, test, test.
Using the test URL provided, make sure your Web site is working and viewable. The only thing you can’t test right now is email.
Step 5: Change DNS settings.
Log in to your domain name account, find the DNS settings, and update both of the name-servers. Your new host should have already emailed you with the information to input here.
Step 6: Wait 48 hours for the settings to change.
It usually only takes a few hours for the migration to occur, but it can take up to 48 hours for everyone, everywhere in the world, to catch up. During this 48-hour period you actually could have one visitor viewing your Web site on the old host and another viewing the Web site on the new host.
Step 7: Check that everything has updated.
Using a WHOIS domain tool, check the name servers. Are they the servers of the new host? Also, check that your email is working on the new host and check to see if any email went to the old host during the DNS update.
Step 8: Ask for help.
If the above steps are Greek to you, don't fret. Your new provider will be happy to walk you through the process if needed.
After all, it’s easier to move on your terms than it is on a webhosts'. Find yourself a dependable, stable partner and get back on your feet.
When it comes to maximizing the performance, value and scalability of their infrastructure, businesses want the best of both worlds. The features and benefits that they derive from their critical applications must outweigh the headaches of managing and running them.
Enter managed hosting: A customized solution that works for a customer’s particular infrastructure and business needs.
The business benefits of managed hosting are plentiful:
With the benefits of hosting in general set aside, choosing a Windows managed server or a Linux-based solution is the initial critical decision. Which is the most appropriate in the context of the business and the job that needs to be done?
Factors to consider include the purpose of your hosting environment, which types of databases will be used, and what development language is used to create your application. Cost, performance and security are also key considerations. Let's compare Windows and Linux on some of these factors:
Development language: Most Linux hosting environments utilize a MySQL database or a compatible replacement. A Windows managed server environment should be used for hosting if you plan on using ASP or ASP.NET-based applications, or an SQL Server (MS SQL) or Access database. In either case, the developer’s recommended minimum hosting requirements for running the application should be reviewed before a decision is made.
Scalability: Windows is more easily made compatible with Linux-based programming features like PHP and MySQL. Linux-based web software is not always 100 percent compatible with Microsoft technology like .NET.
Server access: Both Microsoft and Linux hosting utilize FTP access, which allows users to transfer files to the server from a remote computer. Linux also offers SSH and Telnet access.
Security: Both Linux and Windows managed servers require strong security protection, so businesses should investigate the security measures a hosting provider employs before signing up for service. Microsoft has seen a high level of vulnerabilities, likely because many more exploits are created for Windows than Linux.
Stability: The need for reboots is well known in Windows, while Linux machines seldom need them. In an apples-to-apples comparison, Linux has historically performed better.
Cost: Price is and will always be a huge factor to consider. Linux is free, while Microsoft products have costs associated with licensing.
Performance: Both Windows and Linux platforms perform comparably in low-stress situations, but Linux servers under high load tend to be superior to Windows.
One of the perks of using a Windows managed server is that the business reaps all the benefits of the industry’s leading operating system and one of the top platform providers. Microsoft has an estimated 45 percent share of the server market to Linux's 21 percent, according to IDC. The latest Windows version – Windows Server 2012 – offers significant improvements to patching, disk management, file storage, protocol, active directory and virtualization, and is making a very strong case for itself for businesses that require a high level of scalability and support.
Truly understanding the hosting requirements of your business will go a long way in helping choose the right path.
Online shoppers are looking for the fastest, most secure way to get to your product. According to an Akamai Technologies survey, 47% of consumers expect a page to load in 2 seconds or less. Here are ten ways to keep your website speed up to standard:
This summer (July 2020) we released our brand new Managed WordPress solution - designed with the sole purpose in mind to provide the industry's best Managed WordPress solution - with a specific aim at boosting client website speeds.
We're offering Month #1 for completely free (meaning we won't charge your credit card until 30 days).
We'll also migrate your website (or multiple websites!) from your current hosting provider to the new solution for absolutely, 100% free - taking care of the end-to-end migration process for you.
Check out the new solution by clicking the graphic below!
Own a jewelry store and looking for a way to stand out among the thousands of websites that also sell jewelry? Move over .com, as .diamonds is in town.
Last month, the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), which oversees Internet domains, went live with a long-drawn-out plan to massively expand the number of Internet generic top-level domains (gTLDs) available to businesses.
This is big news in the Internet world; over the past 30 years, only 14 new generic top-level domains had been created. This new plan will introduce hundreds and perhaps thousands of domains per year, and the first few – including .singles, .camera, .clothing and .bike – are already being rolled out by a company called Donuts, which has submitted more than 300 potential names to ICANN for approval. Google has also submitted for more than 100, including gTLDs to protect trademarks such as .google and those that have “interesting and creative potential,” such as .lol.
Businesses owning a trademark were allowed to submit a claim during a sunrise period before the names became available to the general public. More than 20 new gTLDs are now generally available from Donuts, with a handful of new ones coming out each week. Other domains will become available soon from other companies approved by ICANN.
Although a new name may be approved, it doesn't mean anyone can register a new domain in it. There are three phases of approval for each domain:
So what does this mean for SMBs, and why might they be interested in these new domains? First and foremost, it gives small businesses the ability to get in on interesting and simplistic domain names because of the sheer number of possibilities becoming available and the specificity of many, such as .plumber and .limo.
It also helps visitors understand what your company does just by looking at your URL – if you’re not a limousine company, you probably haven't grabbed a .limo domain. However, a company stuck with www.jonesandsonsjewelryco.com can add in www.jones.diamonds as its URL with prices starting at $40 per year.
Still, a number of questions still need to be answered before this becomes a no-brainer for SMBs. Because they are so new, there is not yet enough information on these gTLDs to understand how search engines will view and rank them. Unless it can be proven that they are given as much SEO weight as .com addresses, small businesses will likely take a look at what's available and may invest in one or two if the price is right, but steer clear of using them until the situation crystallizes. Until then, much of the land grab of new domains might be restricted to bigger companies looking to protect their brand.
It also might require a bigger marketing spend to get customers who are set in their ways to visit the new URLs, and SMBs with minimal marketing budgets may find this an insurmountable hurdle. Until mindshare is established for the new domain, SMBs will likely have to bear the cost of maintaining two domains and employing redirects to the new domain from the old site.
Consult your web hosting provider to learn more about the pros and cons of pursuing a new gTLD for your SMB.
San Antonio, the home of one of Hostway's offices, is a crossroads for major cross-country optical fiber. An east-west route follows Interstate 10, and a north-south one follows I-35.
Still, the announcement that Google Fiber may come to San Antonio – one of nine metropolitan areas eligible for the service – is significant news; if it happens, it will provide a much-needed jolt to the local incumbent telephone and cable companies while also helping Google develop a more balanced revenue stream.
For those unfamiliar with Google Fiber, the first city to receive the new service, Kansas City, was chosen after a competitive selection process. Over 1,100 communities applied to be the first recipient of the service. Austin, Texas followed as the second city to be developed.
To grasp the impact of Google Fiber, consider this: Prior to Google Fiber's announcement, Time Warner Cable charged $65 for its fastest residential service in San Antonio, at 50 megabits per second.
Google Fiber will provide service at 1 gigabit – 1,000 megabits – per second.
To put it simply, Google Fiber starts with a connection that is up to 100 times faster than today's average broadband speeds, providing instant downloads and crystal clear high definition TV. Interested yet?
Imagine that the following packages available to Kansas City coming to your town, and their effect on the market:
Google Fiber second-tier offering – though considerably slower – is billed as “today's basic speeds.” The one-time start-up fee of $300 can be paid in $25 monthly installments for a year, and would help bring Internet access to a less affluent demographic.
An advantage for San Antonio is that city-owned CPS Energy owns 86 percent of utility poles in the city. AT&T owns the remainder. This could help Google Fiber avoid lease disputes, which have slowed plans in Austin.
Perhaps most notable, this will fuel competition. With Google Fiber building a network in Austin, PCWorld reported Time Warner Cable will boost broadband speeds there while keeping prices flat.
It is important to understand that in order to utilize gigabit speeds as of 2013, devices would require support for 1000BaseT – Gigabit Ethernet on copper cables, using four pairs of Category 5 unshielded twisted pair to achieve the gigabit data rate – and category 5 or greater cabling, or a 802.11ac compatible WiFi router and wireless adapter.
Also keep in mind that even if the Gigabit connection can handle any load you can muster, the Gigabit connection really only gets close to such high speeds if you have something on the other end to serve it adequately, and not throttle or otherwise slow it down.
All in all, the new Google Fiber development is an exciting phenomenon to potentially come to these cities. Time will tell if Google will move forward with plans to build the infrastructure. Rest assured, I will be staying tuned.
Just when you thought you could breathe easy with Black Friday, Cyber Monday and Christmas behind you: The next holiday season for online retailers is right around the corner: Mother's Day, Father's Day, and graduations.
While these holidays won't come close to the traffic experienced on Black Friday – when a record 66 million shoppers spent a whopping $1.2 billion – they will spread a little mid-season cheer for online retailers who experience the majority of their sales between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Is your e-commerce website – and your web hosting company – ready for another spike? Let's take a look at three things you can do to get ready for your next big holiday season:
1) Be aware of your page load times and take steps to reduce them. Reducing image sizes and implementing content delivery networks (CDNs) are two of the best things websites can do to deliver pages faster. CDNs bring your content closer to your global customers by continuously pulling and caching content from your server and distributing it to secure servers around the world. The recommended page load time is three seconds or less.
2) Make sure your web hosting provider can support your need to burst. Many e-commerce websites have dedicated servers to support their traffic, but in slow or booming times those dedicated servers can be under- or over-utilized. Creating a hybrid hosting scenario can ensure you have high base capacity with fixed costs through dedicated hosting, while providing elastic traffic handling on a pay-as-you-use model through cloud hosting.
3) Ensure your data is backed up, preferably in a secondary location. Data backup is like an insurance policy: you hope you never have to use it, but when you do, you're happy you made the investment. Having your website crash is traumatic, and losing customer data in the process is catastrophic. You can rest more easily knowing that your customer data is protected and can be restored quickly in case of an outage.
It's important to know the cost to your business if your website is not ready for the masses. A recent report from the Ponemon Institute and Emerson Network Power indicates each minute of an unplanned website outage can cost companies $7,900 per minute, on average, up from $5,600 in 2010. Can your business really afford to lose out on that kind of revenue? Making sure your website is ready to go will ensure you don't miss out on a single dollar.
The Challenge is back! Following up on last year’s success, Hostway will once again be conducting a bracket and trivia challenge during the NCAA men’s basketball tournament this March.
But what does a hosting provider have to do with a college basketball tournament? You’d be surprised to find out how greatly they’re interconnected.
What do you know about Florida Gulf Coast University? Perhaps not a lot. But if you’re a basketball fan, you likely know more now than you did 13 months ago, before the Eagles from “Dunk City” made NCAA tournament history. They sent thousands upon thousands of curious viewers to their computers and onward to FGCU.edu.
If their IT infrastructure wasn’t ready to handle the influx of traffic, FGCU.edu would likely have crashed. Had the university not properly prepared its hosting infrastructure prior to the tournament, the university would have missed out on its 15 minutes of fame and been embarrassed by its technical shortcomings.
This is where cloud solutions come into play. Hosting your website in the cloud can ease the strain on your infrastructure during traffic spikes, such as a history-making NCAA tournament run, without racking up bills for resources you don’t need.
That’s why this March, Hostway will be highlighting the benefits of cloud solutions by hosting a bracket and trivia challenge. Join us on our Facebook page to get started.
Throughout the month, we will be posting trivia questions on Facebook related to tournaments passed. Think you’ve got what it takes to beat out the bracketology competition? Be the first to comment with the correct answer, and you will be rewarded with a $10 Starbucks card.
Once the field of 68 is announced, you’ll be able to fill out your bracket in our Yahoo! Sports group. The top bracket will take home a guaranteed $1,000 cash prize.
Could this be the year for your Cinderella story? Here’s your shot.
Want to see how a cloud solution can keep your business site running in critical times? Give us a call: 312.279.2488