Raid

RAID (Redundant Array of Inexpensive or Independent Disks) is an array of multiple independent hard disk drives that provide high performance and fault tolerance. A RAID disk subsystem improves I/O performance over a computer using only a single drive. The RAID array appears to the host computer as a single storage unit or as multiple logical units. I/O is expedited because several disks can be accessed simultaneously. RAID systems improve data storage reliability and fault tolerance compared to single-drive computers. Data loss because of a disk drive failure can be recovered by reconstructing missing data from the remaining data and parity drives.

In a nutshell, when you type a web page address (URL) into your browser it breaks it into the protocol ("http"), the web server name ("www.yourdomain.com"), and the HTML filename for the page ("homepage.html"). The browser then communicates with a name server to translate the web server name into a numeric IP address which it uses to connect to your site. The browser then forms a connection to the web server, which sends the HTML file for the web page to your browser for it to read the HTML and format the page onto your screen.

Web servers are powerful computers located in a secure and climate-controlled environment with emergency power facilities, fire protection, and backup systems, and are permanently connected to the Internet via a high speed line so that your customers can have fast access to your website at any time. They vary in sophistication and run different software, such as UNIX or Windows NT. It's important that the server is able to perform the specific tasks required of it, especially when your site involves interactivity with your visitors. Generally speaking it doesn't matter where on the planet your site's web server is located provided it functions well and you have easy access to good technical support.