My Gen Tec

Author: Be More Online

  • What is SSD Web Hosting?

    What is SSD Web Hosting?

    SSD Web hosting, whether it is Cloud or VPS hosting, uses servers that store data on SSD disks, that is on flash memory chips that are formed using semiconductors. SSDs are storage spaces that remain intact even if power is lost.

    For decades Hard Disk Drive (HDD) has been the default storage option for computers but a few years back a new technology known as Solid State Drive (SSD) has gained popularity. This new technology has not only been introduced into the data storage world but also into web hosting. Due to the greater advantage that SSD web hosting has over the traditional HDD many businesses are already using this technology while some are still considering it.

    A large number of web hosting companies have moved their data storage from HDD to SSD due to various benefits SSD storage provides. SSD web hosting makes use of flash memory chips to store data on the server and ensure the preservation of the data in case of power interruption. To ensure good performance and functioning of a website the hosting requires the use of different tools and technologies which is one of the reasons hosting companies are replacing HDD with SSD.

    SSD Vs HDD 

    The term Hard Disk Drive (HDD) is usually associated with desktop computers. While you will most likely find SSD in laptops. Though SSD and HDD might look the same physically there are differences between HDD and SSD in terms of performance. Some differences between these two include the following:

    Price: SSD has more benefits and advantages over HDD in terms of performance which means the price cannot be the same. In other words, SSD cost more in terms of price than HDD.

    Mechanical movement: the mechanical device in the HDD has a spinning disc on which its data reading system relies. A computer can only have access to the data stored on the HDD when the disc spins, which is what makes it prone to failures and loss of data. The good thing about an SSD is that there is no mechanical movement or any moving parts. Since there is movement in the SSD there is no need to worry about any whirring noises or overheating which can be found in the HDD.

    Lifespan: HDD lifespan cannot be compared to that of SSD, probably because of the mechanical movement present in HDD. It is easy for those moving parts to wear out quickly because the disk has to spin every time the computer wants to work with the data or access any data. This is not so with SSD making it last much longer than HDD.

    Energy consumption: HDDs consume more energy in comparison to SSD. The spinning of the disk in the HDD takes more energy which is why it sometimes overheats. While SSD can hardly overheat because it doesn’t consume much energy.

    Speed: the disk read speed is another major difference between HDD and SSD. The disk read speed of an SSD is four times faster than that of an HDD. The speed is probably one of the significant reasons many people are opting for an SSD card. In this age and time that everyone wants to do many things within a very short period, speed is very important.

    Advantages Of SSD Web Hosting

    SSD web hosting provides various benefits to business owners that have a website and web hosting companies that want to protect or secure their customer’s data on their servers. Just in case you are wondering why smart hosting companies transferred their data to Solid State Drive let’s take a look at the advantages.

    Reliable And Efficient Hardware

    There is no mechanical movement and magnetic coating in SSD and is shock resistant which means the storage device cannot easily wear out. For more reliable and efficient storage of your data as well as that of customers SSD is the best option. As a web hosting company you can afford to lose the data of your customers due to storage data malfunction.

    Low Power Consumption

    The power Consumption of SSD is very low which as a result help to save energy. Web hosting companies that make use of SSD for storage can spend less on power since they don’t have to generate more power. This will enable them to provide a more affordable hosting plan for their customers. HDD on the other hand consumes more power which means there will be a need to generate more power to operate effectively. SSD web hosting help hosting companies reduce cost expenses on cooling, power and electricity.

    Enhance Performance And Speed

    There is no spinning or magnetic disk in Solid State Drive, so is easy to read data directly from the drive. This makes it possible to perform multiple queries on the SSD storage simultaneously without any problem. No one would like to wait for minutes just to load a website. SSD web hosting help to enhance the speed at which pages in a website is being downloaded. The enhanced disk read speed that SSD provides help users to have faster access to their data. Online business owners that receive huge traffic should consider moving to SSD web hosting for quick file transfer, read or write time and more.

    Who Needs SSD Web Hosting?

    It all depends on your need and the type of website you manage but generally SSD web hosting is a matter of choice. If you see the need to implement using SSD web hosting plan especially now that you know the advantages and benefits it provide you can go ahead. Majorly e-commerce websites, high traffic websites, heavy websites that use more energy to load pages and websites with huge cloud data should consider transferring to SSD web hosting for better performance.

    Conclusion

    Considering the various benefits SSD web hosting provides. It is no doubt the best option for business owners with a strong online presence. Though the cost can be discouraging to some the performance and the benefits attached is what you should consider. SSD web hosting is fast-growing and many companies have already started moving their data storage to SSD. If you want a fast loading website with low energy consumption and improved performance then you should consider SSD web hosting.

  • What is SSL Certificate Errors and How Can They Be Fixed

    What is SSL Certificate Errors and How Can They Be Fixed

    There are millions of websites today online with an SSL certificate, with the number still counting. SSL certificate is the certificate that authenticates the identity of a website and allows an encrypted connection. Secure Sockets Layers (SSL) is the security technology that creates an encrypted link between a web browser and a web server. SSL certificate helps to encrypt sensitive information of visitors like payment information and passwords. 

    You can know a secured site through the icon that looks like a padlock in the address bar and the HTTPS included in the URL. Many people try to avoid any website that is not encrypted like an e-commerce website. You don’t have to bother yourself about the installation and renewal of SSL certificate as most web hosting companies provide free SSL for websites in their plan. For self-hosted hosting you can get one from an SSL certificate provider in case SSL is not included in your plan.

    In a situation whereby an SSL certificate is installed on your website or you have a plan that already includes an SSL certificate. Then you try to open a page on your website using Google chrome but instead for the page to load you get a message that says “ERR_SSL_PROTOCOL_ERROR”. What this error message means, the cause of error and how the error can be fixed to keep your website running are what will be discussed in this post.  

    What Is SSL Certificate Error And How to FIx? 

    When a web browser fails to verify the SSL certificate installed on a website is what results in an SSL certificate error. So instead of you being connected an error message is displayed to warn you the site you are visiting may be insecure or cannot be trusted. The type of browser you use and the type of SSL certificate error that occurs are the two factors that determine the type of message that will be displayed. 

    Types of SSL Certificate Errors

    The common SSL certificate error that can occur on your website are:

    SSL Protocol Error

    The reason for this error can include the following:

    A problem in the series of certifications that made up the SSL encryption of your website. An SSL certificate that the browser cannot examine due to how it’s formatted.

    Interference of security software or firewall with SSL protection.

    SSL with unconfirmed, damaged, or without a digital signature. 

    A certificate that is not installed properly on the server or using an outdated encryption algorithm.

    How to Fix:

    Try any of the following to see the one that works.

    Disable your security tools(antivirus or windows firewall) for some time. Reduce your internet security and privacy level. Clear SSL state. Ensure the system time, date and region are correct. Disable QUIC Protocol and some extensions on your browser.

    Name Mismatch Error

    This type of error is suggesting that the domain name in the SSL is not corresponding with the URL typed into the browser. For instance, if the SSL is registered for www.mywebsite.com and by mistake, you type in https://mywebsite.com into the browser then an SSL certificate name error will occur.

    How to fix:

    Every website has its IP address but if your web hosting is not dedicated hosting then you are sharing an IP address with many websites. So if any of those websites do not install an SSL certificate then the browser will be having an issue with which site to visit and cause a display of error. Upgrade to a dedicated IP address to resolve the issue.

    When the error remains there might be a need for you to get a wildcard SSL certificate. With this certificate, you can secure your root name along with numerous subdomain names.

    SSL Certificate Canceled Error

    This error shows that the SSL certificate of the website has been canceled by Certificate Authority(CA). The reason for this can be simply because the key was compromised, the wrong key was issued, the certificate was bought with false credentials or from unreliable CA(intentionally or by mistake). When anything of such is discovered it result in an SSL certificate error.

    How to Fix:

    Try to find out why it was canceled and replace the canceled certificate with a new one from a trusted CA.

    Untrusted SSL Certificate Error

    What this error means is that the certificate is authenticated by CA that is not trusted by the browser. It could be that the CA is not listed on the browser list of trusted certificate providers or the certificate was self-signed(issued by the server).

    How to Fix:

    There may be a need for you to install one intermediate certificate on your web server if your Certificate Authority(CA) is not trusted. This is just to help browsers establish the fact that the website‘s certificate was issued by a valid root CA. If the error still occurs after this then generate a new Certificate Signing Request(CRS).

    There is every possibility that the certificate could have been installed incorrectly. In a situation like this, a new Certificate Signing Request(CRS) has to be generated from your server and then reissue from your certificate provider. The steps to generating the CRS will differ based on your server.

    Expired Certificate Error

    This is the most common SSL certificate error since every certificate has a validity period. So the error occurs when the SSL of the website expires. The validity period of the certificate is about one year. Is easy to forget to update the certificate before it expires. Another thing that can cause this error is incorrect browser machine time.

    How to fix:

    For an expired SSL certificate, you have to renew it with immediate effect. The web hosting company or CA you are using will determine your renewal process but the steps don’t change. You just have to generate a certificate signing request, activate it, and then install it.

    Mixed Content Error

    This means that a secured page(HTTPS) has content that is being loaded from a page that is not secured(HTTP). There could be just a single insecure file on the page such as iframe, a snippet of JAVAScript, image, or flash animation and the error message will be displayed instead of the page loading.

    How to Fix:

    If one of your web pages is displaying a mixed content error, you can use the WhyNoPadLock.com website to pinpoint the element that is not secured. Just copy and paste your URL into the website and once the element is detected you can edit the page and change the URLs to HTTPS.

    Online tools like SSL Server Test, SSL Checker, can be used to pinpoint the problem that is causing SSL certificate error on your website. The tool can help confirm that the SSL certificate is not expired and is installed, with no mistake with the domain name on the certificate and other things. You can use the tool by copying and pasting your website address into the search bar.

    If you still have any issues with your SSL after trying all listed above. Then contact your hosting to assist you in troubleshooting the problem.