Do sites that have a lot of traffic like craigslist, twitter, myspace and digg rent server space from an ISP or hosting company? I assume they have their own server computers located at their office, but I don't know how this works exactly. I need to know how much the computer servers cost where are they located Do they tie into an ISP What are the operating costs Can I start something as popular as a craigslist in my apartment Can someone point me to a book title or website that will provide me with answers, or just offer your own words of wisdom about this subject? Thanks.
you should with a hosting account from a "hosting" company, as your site grows your hosting needs will as well, and so will your cost, start small and add-on as your site grows. Don't buy off a "reseller" buy from some company that has a dedicated server
Thanks. Yes, at first I may host my site with a hosting company; But I would really like to have a rough idea of how sites like craigslist, twitter, digg etc. are set up.
Put it this way. For the amount of traffic those sites receive I think it would not be safe to say the rent servers. They probably have their own servers set-up at a data-center, and "rent" some internet. Renting a dedicated server at first maybe less expensive, but eventually you will want your own.
They have data centers, you can setup something in your apartment BUT have it monitored the way they do. You can start with shared, then dedicated as you get larger. Many hosting plans would work with you as you grow and even if need be have 100% dedicated machines for you because you would be paying those servers off for them in no time. As far as physically having the servers in your apartment NO... You would need a solid network speed which usually doesn't get setup in apts UNLESS you know someone setting up T lines in apts.