What is Java Hosting and Why Use it?

It is not easy to miss the blue cup with a red steam logo just above the word Java and the download bar when you have once visited a gaming site, and played one of the trial versions of the site’s featured games. Its easy though to dismiss the fact that you enjoyed the game because of a programming language that is Java and that a Java hosting provider made it possible for the site to bring that free trial for you. In effect, as you’ve probably noticed from recent years, a lot of people ventured into the same route as these gaming sites did because of guaranteed revenues. These businesses easily found animators, Web programmers and a Java hosting provider that carry a number of service and features to come up with highly profitable gaming sites.

Technically What is Java?

Java is a programming language where programmers are able to write English-based commands following a set of rules called syntax. Once these commands are written, these are translated into alphanumeric codes for computers to understand and execute the intended functionalities for those codes, giving site visitors interactive and animated applications.

Again, if you intend to use Java-based applications in your website to gain more traffic, a lot of Web hosts support such a platform, especially since the programming language is highly portable. This means it can function along with almost all of the available operating system software today. Of course, if you want a relevant website centered on Java applications, you want to get a host that uses high quality OS software.

Java also made it possible to decrease the possibility of programming errors by coming up with “object oriented programming”. In simple terms, an object is designed to create a class that holds data related to the object, and the class also defines how that data is going to be manipulated. If another similar object comes into the picture, then it becomes an instance of that class. Since the object has data, then the class would again make a definition of how that data should be used and manipulated. While Java proves its reliability with this programming concept, you want your Web host to provide the same reliability with the availability of experts coming from their end to promptly answer questions or extend support related to the issue.

Java was originally designed to work on mobile devices where there is a constant exchange over a network. Knowing how this exchange can compromise data, the company behind the programming language employed a high level of security that was later passed on to versions of Java programming that work with websites. With this in mind, you may also want to verify with your Web host if they are able to provide security for the website that you want them to host. Of course, redundancy is better than just relying on a highly secured program. The security that you would get from the other components, that make your website available to anyone, would include but are not limited to the servers and the operating systems. Also, check with your Java host on the type and rate of the monitoring that they provide for the Web server where your website is stored. The more often they monitor their Web servers, the less chances that your website would be attacked by hackers or viruses.

As a website owner, you may want to check on the following specific features that are included on your Java hosting package:

● A Java Virtual Machine (JVM). This is one of the first things you would have to check with the hosting provider because JVM is the one responsible for interpreting Java codes or byte codes for a computer operating system to read and execute the command. While it’s an abstract concept, meaning there really is no physical machine, check with your host how much heap size can be allocated to your virtual machine to avoid getting an error when executing a command. The default size is always 128 MB.

● Start and Stop Access via SSH. This is one feature that you want your Web host to include in your package. SSH or Secure Shell is a program that allows you to start giving defined permissions to a certain user or stop the actual permission from being executed. The program uses encryption, so this may be one of the things that can provide redundant security functionalities.

● JVM Configuration. This may appear as a bonus feature from the package, but you also want the flexibility Java can provide. With the expertise of the Web host, or with your education on how to go about it, you can easily configure or make changes on the allotted heap size to better manage the byte codes from the virtual machine, and in turn lessen the likelihood of throwing an error.

● Bandwidth. The Java hosting provider should ensure that the execution of the Java applications should be fast enough for users to continue patronizing your website. Also, another consideration that you may want to verify with your provider is if they can ensure that you can increase your bandwidth if needed and how much would it cost.

● Server. Aside from having top quality servers from a well known manufacturer, the physical server that would eventually bring your Java-run applications to customers should not be overcrowded with data. This, similar to your bandwidth, may prevent the server from slowing down, thereby minimizing the instance where customers leave because the website is not working. There are specific servers that run applications and render that seamlessly to users of the website. Examples are Glassfish, Tomcat, Jetty and Resin, with each working on different Java versions.

● Error Logs Access. If your provider can easily access error logs created by your server, then associated issues can be checked and corrected right away.

● JVM Monitor Service. While your service provider implements measures in monitoring and safekeeping the physical servers that they have, it is also important for you to monitor the JVM, since this guarantees that your server would not have errors, or if there would be instances where errors are present, they can be corrected right away.