Attacks targeting mobile devices surged by 40%, exploiting vulnerabilities in mobile operating systems and applications. SMS phishing (smishing) and malicious apps pose significant risks to mobile users. Cybercriminals are also adopting new tactics such as QR code phishing (quishing), AI-powered attacks, and multi-channel phishing to enhance their effectiveness.

These trends highlight the evolving nature of phishing threats and underscore the importance of staying vigilant and implementing robust cybersecurity measures to protect against such attacks.

A2 Hosting Customer Alert: We are aware of a recent rise in phishing emails sent to A2 Hosting customers. Phishing emails are sent from criminals in an attempt to fool you by making them appear to be from A2 Hosting or a trusted source associated with your account.

These emails often claim your hosting account is suspended or that your website is schedule to be deleted unless you take immediate action. Scammers include fraudulent links to fake sites and entice you to enter your credit card number or other sensitive data to reactivate your service.

All A2 Hosting customer should take caution when clicking links from email communications. Always visit my.A2hosting.com directly to update your credit card number and personal information.

In order to keep you safe, we answer what is phishing, explain some of the most common scams, and look at way to keep yourself safe.

What Is Phishing?

Phishing is a type of cyberattack in which scammers use deceptive tactics to trick individuals into revealing sensitive information, such as usernames, passwords, credit card details, or other personal data.

Cybercriminals typically use the following methods to gain access to your information:

1. Deceptive Emails or Messages: Attackers typically send emails, text messages, or direct messages that appear to come from a trusted source, such as a bank, a well-known company, or even a colleague.
2. Fake Websites: These messages often contain links to fraudulent websites that mimic legitimate ones. The goal is to make the victim believe they are interacting with a trusted entity.
3. Urgency and Fear Tactics: Phishing messages often create a sense of urgency or fear, such as claiming there’s an issue with your account or that you’ve won a prize that must be claimed immediately.
4. Data Theft: Victims who fall for the ruse might enter their sensitive information into the fake site or unknowingly download malicious software (malware).

How to Recognize Phishing

Although phishing emails are increasingly convincing, there are still ways to recognize scams. Here are some of the most common ways to recognize a phishing attempt:

1. Spelling or Grammatical Errors: Poor spelling or grammar is often a giveaway that the message is not from a professional organization. Example: “We notice some problme in your account, please log in.”
2. Unexpected Requests for Sensitive Information: Legitimate organizations rarely request personal data, such as passwords or bank details, via email or text. Example: “Please update your Social Security Number to avoid account closure.”
3. URLs That Don’t Match the Organization: Hover over links to see their true destination. Malicious URLs often mimic real ones but include slight variations (e.g., “A2h0sting.com” instead of “A2hosting.com“).
4. Messages from Unknown or Suspicious Senders: Emails or messages from unrecognized addresses should raise suspicion. Example: An email from “support@random-company.ru” claiming to be your bank.
5. Unexpected Attachments or Links: Files and links can contain malware or redirect you to phishing sites. Example: A zip file labeled “Invoice_12345” from an unknown sender.

Understanding the Psychology Behind Phishing

Phishing attacks are a form of social engineering that prey on human vulnerabilities rather than solely relying on technical flaws. By manipulating psychological tendencies such as trust, urgency, curiosity, or fear, attackers craft messages or scenarios designed to bypass critical thinking and provoke immediate responses. These tactics exploit cognitive biases—systematic patterns in how people make decisions—and emotional triggers, making phishing one of the most effective and widespread cybersecurity threats.

Understanding these psychological principles is crucial in building resilience against phishing. When individuals recognize how their natural instincts can be exploited, they can pause, analyze, and respond more thoughtfully to suspicious requests. This knowledge empowers users to identify red flags, question authenticity, and make informed decisions, ultimately reducing the risk of falling victim to such attacks. By dissecting the psychology behind phishing, organizations and individuals can shift from being vulnerable targets to informed defenders, fostering a culture of cybersecurity awareness.

Key Psychological Principles Used in Phishing

1. Urgency and Fear:
   • How it works: Scammers create a sense of urgency or fear to push victims into making hasty decisions.
   • Examples:
     • “Your account will be suspended unless you verify your information now.”
     • “Unusual login detected! Confirm your password immediately to secure your account.”
   • Why it works: Fear and urgency bypass rational thought and critical analysis, leading to impulsive actions.
2. Authority and Trust:
   • How it works: Phishers impersonate trusted entities like banks, government agencies, or company executives.
   • Examples:
     • “This is your bank. Please verify your account details.”
     • “The CEO has requested this document urgently.”
   • Why it works: People are more likely to comply with requests from figures of authority or organizations they trust.
3. Social Proof:
   • How it works: Attackers create scenarios where victims believe others are complying or that the action is common practice.
   • Examples:
     • Fake testimonials or reviews: “Thousands of users have already claimed their rewards.”
     • Impersonating a colleague: “Everyone on the team has already completed this survey.”
   • Why it works: People tend to follow the behavior of others, especially in uncertain situations.
4. Scarcity:
   • How it works: Phishing messages highlight limited-time offers or opportunities to create a fear of missing out (FOMO).
   • Examples:
     • “Act now! This deal expires in 2 hours.”
     • “Only a few spots left for this exclusive webinar.”
   • Why it works: Scarcity triggers a sense of urgency, making people act quickly without thorough consideration.
5. Greed and Curiosity:
   • How it works: Scammers lure victims with offers of rewards, prizes, or intriguing content.
   • Examples:
     • “You’ve won a $1,000 gift card! Click here to claim.”
     • “Check out these shocking photos of you!”
   • Why it works: People are naturally curious or motivated by financial gain, making them more likely to engage with the bait.
6. Cognitive Overload:
   • How it works: Attackers use complex or lengthy messages to confuse victims and distract them from noticing red flags.
   • Examples:
     • An email with excessive technical jargon or a long list of instructions.
   • Why it works: When overwhelmed with information, people may default to following instructions without critical analysis.
7. Reciprocity:
   • How it works: Phishers offer something of value (real or fake) to encourage victims to reciprocate.
   • Examples:
     • “Download this free e-book by providing your email.”
     • “Here’s a special discount code just for you. Verify your email to activate.”
   • Why it works: People feel compelled to return favors, even if they are unsolicited.
8. Familiarity and Likeness:
   • How it works: Scammers impersonate people or entities the victim knows and trusts, such as colleagues, friends, or popular brands.
   • Examples:
     • Emails that mimic a friend’s tone and writing style.
     • Logos and branding that closely resemble legitimate companies.
   • Why it works: Familiarity lowers suspicion and makes people more likely to engage.

How to Prevent Phishing Attacks

Preventing phishing attacks requires a combination of awareness, vigilance, and technical safeguards. Here are effective strategies to protect yourself and your organization:

1. Be Cautious with Emails and Links

• Avoid Clicking Suspicious Links: Hover over links to verify their destination before clicking.
• Don’t Download Attachments: Open attachments only from trusted senders.
• Verify the Sender: Double-check email addresses for legitimacy, especially if the email claims urgency or requests sensitive information.

2. Strengthen Your Login Security

• Use Two-Factor Authentication (2FA): Add an extra layer of security to your accounts.
• Create Strong, Unique Passwords: Avoid using the same password across multiple accounts and update passwords regularly.
• Use Password Managers: They generate and store complex passwords securely.

3. Recognize Red Flags

• Grammar and Spelling Errors: Many phishing emails contain typos or poor language.
• Urgency or Fear Tactics: Be wary of messages pressuring you to act immediately.
• Requests for Sensitive Information: Legitimate organizations rarely ask for passwords, PINs, or other sensitive data via email or text.

4. Educate Yourself and Others

• Phishing Awareness Training: Attend or provide regular training sessions to learn how to recognize phishing attempts.
• Simulated Phishing Tests: Test employees or team members with fake phishing emails to improve awareness.

5. Use Security Tools

• Anti-Phishing Software: Enable browser and email security filters that flag phishing sites and emails.
• Firewalls and Antivirus Software: These tools help block malicious content before it reaches your device.
• Spam Filters: Configure your email to filter out spam and phishing attempts.

6. Secure Your Devices and Accounts

• Keep Software Updated: Install updates for operating systems, browsers, and software to patch vulnerabilities.
• Secure Mobile Devices: Avoid clicking on links or downloading apps from unknown sources.
• Encrypt Sensitive Data: Use encryption to protect sensitive data from being intercepted.

7. Verify Suspicious Requests

• Contact the Organization Directly: Use official contact information to confirm requests for information.
• Check URLs: Ensure websites are legitimate by verifying their URL, particularly looking for “https://” and the correct domain name.

8. Report Phishing Attempts

• To Your Organization: Alert your IT department or security team about phishing attempts.
• To Authorities: Report phishing to your country’s cybercrime unit or related organizations (e.g., phishing.gov in the UK, or the FTC in the US).

9. Back-Up Your Data

Regularly back up critical data to protect against potential attacks, such as phishing attempts leading to ransomware.

4 Tips To Protect Yourself From Phishing

By understanding these techniques, recognizing warning signs, and implementing proactive measures, you can significantly reduce your risk of falling victim to phishing attacks.

• Verify the Sender’s Email Address or Phone Number: Look for inconsistencies in email domains or caller IDs. Example: Emails from PayPal should come from “@paypal.com,” not “@pay-pall.com.”
• Avoid Clicking Links or Downloading Attachments from Unknown Sources: Manually navigate to websites instead of clicking links in messages. Example: Instead of clicking a “Reset Password” link, visit the website directly by typing its URL.
• Use Two-Factor Authentication (2FA): Adds a second layer of security, such as a text message code or app-based approval. Even if your password is stolen, 2FA can prevent unauthorized access.
• Keep Your Software and Security Tools Updated: Regular updates patch vulnerabilities that attackers might exploit. Example: Ensure your antivirus software and browser are up to date.

Phishing Scam Protection: How To Tell If An Email From A2 Hosting Is Legitimate

• Any email requesting that you take action on an account or update user information will be accompanied by a request that you submit a ticket to my.a2hosting.com or call us if you have any questions.
• Anytime you receive an email requesting that you log into your account, do not click any login links included in the email. Instead go directly to A2 Hosting and log into your my.a2hosting.com account from there. This tip can be used to protect yourself from phishing scams for all organizations, not just A2 Hosting.
• Never submit confidential information in a form embedded within an email message.
• Hold your mouse cursor over the link, but do not click! The page that will open if you click on the link should appear on the mouse hover. Many times the actual link you will see by hovering over it will not match the one listed in the phishing email.
• A2 Hosting will never ask you to provide your password, credit card number, or other personal information directly through email.
• If we ever do request information or action from you, we will do so within our support ticket system. The most secure way to reply to us is to go directly to my.a2hosting.com, log in, and submit your reply directly on our website.

How Can I Keep My Login Information Secure?

You can double check that you are logging into the correct My A2 Hosting account by ensuring you see the green extended validation icon in your browser bar when visiting My A2 Hosting. You can click on this green bar to see the connection details that A2 Hosting’s credentials have been verified. If the credentials aren’t verified do not submit your login credentials on the page.

What Can I Do If I’m Still Unsure Of An Email?

Contact us! A2 Hosting’s staff is available day or night to answer your questions, and this certainly includes account security questions as well as phishing scam protection. By following the tips listed above, you can keep your account safe. However if you are still unsure about the legitimacy of an email that you have received, please feel free to contact our support team for verification.

Get premium, high-performance web hosting at competitive prices with A2 Hosting. From basic Web Hosting to Managed WordPress Hosting and Dedicated Server Hosting, compare our web hosting plans today. Plus, every plan includes our 99.9% uptime commitment, no-risk money-back guarantee, and 24/7/365 in-house customer support.

The post What Is Phishing? Tips To Protect Yourself From Phishing Scams appeared first on The A2 Posting.

What Is Laravel?

Laravel is a free, open-source PHP web application framework designed to make developing web applications easier and more efficient. Known for its elegant syntax and developer-friendly tools, Laravel simplifies many common tasks in web development, such as routing, authentication, database management, and caching.

First released by Taylor Otwell in 2011, Laravel has become one of the most popular PHP frameworks due to its robust features, scalability, and strong community support.

Key Features of Laravel

Laravel offers a wide range of features that cater to both beginners and experienced developers. Here are some of its most notable features:

• MVC Architecture: Laravel follows the Model-View-Controller (MVC) design pattern, which helps separate business logic from the presentation layer. This structure promotes clean and organized code, making development and maintenance easier.
• Routing: Laravel simplifies the process of defining routes for web applications. Using its intuitive routing system, developers can create readable and manageable routes with ease.
• Blade Templating Engine: The Blade templating engine allows developers to write reusable and clean templates. It integrates seamlessly with Laravel’s routing and data model, making it easier to render dynamic content.
• Eloquent ORM: Laravel’s Eloquent ORM (Object-Relational Mapping) provides a simple and elegant way to interact with databases. With Eloquent, developers can work with databases using PHP syntax instead of raw SQL queries.
• Built-in Authentication: Laravel includes pre-built authentication features, such as user login, registration, and password reset functionality. These tools save developers time and ensure secure implementations.
• Artisan CLI: Laravel’s Artisan Command-Line Interface (CLI) streamlines common development tasks, such as database migrations, scaffolding code, and managing background processes.
• Task Scheduling: Laravel makes it easy to automate repetitive tasks, such as sending emails or cleaning up old data, using its built-in task scheduler.
• RESTful APIs: With tools for building APIs, including JSON responses and token-based authentication, Laravel is ideal for developing RESTful web services.
• Middleware: Middleware allows developers to filter HTTP requests before they reach the application. This is useful for features like authentication, logging, and CORS (Cross-Origin Resource Sharing).

Key Advantages of Using Laravel

1. Developer Productivity: Laravel’s syntax and built-in tools reduce the time and effort required for development.
2. Scalability: Suitable for projects of any size, from small blogs to enterprise-grade applications.
3. Community Support: A vast community provides tutorials, plugins, and assistance.
4. Security: Offers features like encryption, CSRF protection, and secure password hashing.
5. Integration-Friendly: Easily integrates with third-party services like payment gateways, mail services, and analytics tools.

Who Uses Laravel?

Laravel is used by a diverse range of users, including:

1. Web Developers: For creating dynamic websites and custom web applications.
2. Startups: Building minimum viable products (MVPs) and scalable applications.
3. E-commerce Businesses: Powering online stores with features like inventory management and payment integration.
4. Agencies: Developing and managing multiple client projects efficiently.

What Is Laravel Hosting?

Laravel hosting refers to web hosting services that are specifically optimized for running applications built with the Laravel framework. Unlike generic PHP hosting, Laravel hosting ensures that your server environment is configured to meet Laravel’s technical requirements and maximize its performance.

The Laravel framework offers features like route caching, query optimization, and artisan commands, which require a well-configured hosting environment to function seamlessly. Laravel hosting is designed to provide this optimized environment, saving developers time and effort while ensuring their applications perform at their best.

What Does Laravel Hosting Include?

Laravel hosting is a specialized solution for developers and businesses that rely on the Laravel framework for their web applications. With features like a pre-configured environment, development tools, scalability, and enhanced security, Laravel hosting offers everything you need to build, deploy, and maintain high-performing web applications.

Here are some of the most important elements it includes:

• Pre-configured Environment: Laravel hosting eliminates the need for manual server setup. It typically includes compatible PHP versions, database support for MySQL or MariaDB, and other system requirements essential for Laravel projects.
• Performance Optimization: The hosting environment is also optimized with features for the best Laravel experience. This includes caching tools like Redis or Memcached to store frequently accessed data, LiteSpeed or NGINX servers optimized for PHP applications, and Content Delivery Networks (CDNs) for faster asset delivery.
• Development Tools: Laravel hosting is tailored for developers with features like SSH access for using the Laravel Artisan CLI and managing files directly and Git integration to deploy and version-control your application seamlessly.
• Staging Environments: Many hosting plans offer staging environments, allowing developers to test changes to the application in a non-production setting and deploy updates with confidence.
• Scalability: Laravel hosting solutions are often designed to scale alongside your project. You can start projects easily with cost-effective shared web hosting, then seamlessly move to VPS or dedicated hosting as you need more resources.
• Enhanced Security: They also include robust security measures to protect your application, including SSL certificates for encrypted communication, a managed server environment with regular updates and malware protection, and automated backups to prevent data loss.

Whether you’re a developer building the next big thing, an agency managing client projects, or a business running a complex application, Laravel hosting ensures that your framework has the support and infrastructure it needs to succeed.

Take your Laravel projects to the next level with A2 Hosting’s optimized and scalable hosting solutions. Our hosting plans include premium hardware, 99.9% uptime commitment, and 24/7/365 in-house Guru Crew support. Compare hosting plans and choose the best fit for your Laravel hosting needs.

The post Why Choose Laravel for Developing Your Website appeared first on The A2 Posting.

What Are JavaScript Closures?

A JavaScript closure is a function that retains access to the variables of its surrounding scope, even after the outer function has executed. This behavior is possible because JavaScript uses lexical scoping, which means the scope of a variable is determined by its position in the source code.

Put simply, closures allow functions to “remember” and use variables from their original scope. By mastering closures, you can write code that is more maintainable, efficient, and expressive.

How Closures Work in JavaScript

Closures are created every time a function is defined inside another function. The inner function gains access to:

1. Its own scope (variables declared within it).
2. The outer function’s scope (variables declared in the parent function).
3. The global scope (variables declared outside any function).

Here’s a basic example:
function outerFunction(outerVariable) {
return function innerFunction(innerVariable) {
console.log('Outer Variable: ${outerVariable}');
console.log('Inner Variable: ${innerVariable}');
};
}
const newFunction = outerFunction('outside');
newFunction('inside');

Output:
Outer Variable: outer
Inner Variable: inner


Even though outerFunction has finished executing, the returned innerFunction still has access to outerVariable.

A Brief History of Closures

Closures have roots in functional programming and are a concept shared across multiple languages like Python, Ruby, and even Lisp. JavaScript, with its function-first design, makes closures a powerful and often-used feature.

Advantages of Using Closures

1. Encapsulation: Closures keep variables private and local to a function, reducing the risk of conflicts.
2. Memory Efficiency: They minimize the use of global variables.
3. Flexibility: Closures allow for dynamic function creation and advanced functional programming techniques.

Potential Limitations of Closures

While closures are powerful, they can also lead to issues if not used carefully:

• Memory Leaks: Closures can retain unnecessary references, leading to increased memory usage.
• Debugging Challenges: Understanding closures in complex scenarios can be difficult.

Practical Tips for Working with Closures

1. Keep It Simple: Avoid overcomplicating functions with excessive closures.
2. Use Modern Syntax: Use const and let to control variable scope effectively.
3. Be Mindful of Memory: Clean up references when closures are no longer needed.

Real-World Use Cases of JavaScript Closures

Closures are more than just a theoretical concept; they are incredibly practical in real-world programming. Here are some common scenarios where closures are used:

1. Data Privacy with Private Variables

Closures allow you to create private variables that can’t be accessed directly from outside the function.

function createCounter() {
let count = 0; // Private variable
return function() {
count++;
return count;
};
}
const counter = createCounter();
console.log(counter()); // 1
console.log(counter()); // 2
In this example, the variable count is only accessible through the returned function, making it effectively private.

2. Function Factories

You can use closures to create reusable functions with preset parameters.

function multiplier(factor) {
return function(number) {
return number * factor;
};
}
const double = multiplier(2);
console.log(double(5)); // 10
const triple = multiplier(3);
console.log(triple(5)); // 15

3. Event Handlers and Callbacks

Closures are often used in event handlers to retain access to variables, even when the event occurs later.

function setupClickHandler(buttonId, message) {
document.getElementById(buttonId).addEventListener('click', function() {
alert(message);
});
}
setupClickHandler('myButton', 'Button clicked!');

Advanced Use Cases of Closures

Currying

Currying transforms a function with multiple arguments into a sequence of functions, each taking one argument at a time.

function curry(fn) {
return function(a) {
return function(b) {
return fn(a, b);
};
};
}
const add = curry((a, b) => a + b);
console.log(add(2)(3)); // 5

Memoization

Memoization improves performance by caching results of expensive computations.

function memoize(fn) {
const cache = {};
return function(arg) {
if (cache[arg]) {
return cache[arg];
} else {
const result = fn(arg);
cache[arg] = result;
return result;
}
};
}
const square = memoize(x => x * x);
console.log(square(4)); // 16
console.log(square(4)); // 16 (cached result)

Common Mistakes with Closures

1. Unintended Variable Sharing

Using var inside a loop can lead to unexpected behavior because var is function-scoped.

function createFunctions() {
const funcs = [];
for (var i = 0; i < 3; i++) { funcs.push(() => console.log(i));
}
return funcs;
}
const funcs = createFunctions();
funcs[0](); // 3
funcs[1](); // 3
funcs[2](); // 3
Fix this by using let, which is block-scoped:
for (let i = 0; i < 3; i++) { funcs.push(() => console.log(i));
}

2. Memory Leaks:

Be cautious when closures retain references to large objects or DOM elements that are no longer needed.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What are closures in JavaScript?

Closures are functions that retain access to their lexical scope even when executed outside that scope.

Why are closures important?

Closures are essential for creating private variables, maintaining state, and enabling powerful functional programming patterns.

How do closures work with asynchronous functions?

Closures are crucial for handling asynchronous operations, as they allow callbacks to access the scope they were created in.

Want to take your JavaScript development to the next level? Pair your skills with reliable hosting! Explore our developer-friendly hosting solutions for faster, more secure web applications. Whether you are using JavaScript, PHP, Ruby on Rails, or another popular coding language, A2 Hosting offers affordable web hosting for developers with premium hardware, 99.9% uptime reliability, 24/7/365 in-house support, and more. Compare our hosting plans now and choose the right package for your hosting needs.

The post What Are JavaScript Closures? appeared first on The A2 Posting.

With our LiteSpeed Hosting solution, you address speed issues with a blazing-fast platform.  Read on to discover how it can help you build a site fit for the modern consumer.

What Is LiteSpeed?

LiteSpeed — a drop-in, speed-enhanced web server — is available with our Turbo packages. With LiteSpeed, our clients experience 20X faster page loads compared to traditional solutions. If you’re serious about boosting your site’s performance, you should make the switch to LiteSpeed.  Here’s why:

High-Performance

A slow website impacts your bounce rates, SEO rankings, and bottom line. With Litespeed, we take care of your site’s performance so you can focus on other high-value activities. Here’s what we can guarantee with our solutions:

• 40% faster CPU performance
• 2X faster to first byte
• 9X more traffic capacity
• 3X faster read/write speeds

Free Site Transfer

Are you ready to experience A2 Hosting but fear migrating to our servers on your own? Don’t worry; in most cases, we can move sites for free. Call our 24/7/365 Guru Crew Support for more information about our free site transfer.

With our worry-free migration services, you can eliminate all speed optimization barriers.

Developer Friendly

We’ve been serving various website needs since 2003, and we’ve always enabled our clients to enjoy the most popular development software. We support older versions, too! Here is some of the development software we can link to your account:

• PHP 5.6, 7.1, 7.2, 7.3, 7.4, or 8.0
• MySQL
• 6/MariaDB
• PostgreSQL 9.6
• Python 3.4
• PERL 5.10
• Apache 2.4
• js 12
• FTP/SFTP
• Free SSH Access
• SSL & Free SSL

Perpetual Security

Recent cyber security statistics reveal that hackers attack 30,000 sites across the globe every day. With our Perpetual Security feature, we prevent our clients from falling victim to such attempts. A2 Hosting accounts come with free HackScan Protection to block malware before they can do any damage. Also, our reinforced distributed denial of service (DDoS) Protection boosts the likelihood of remaining online even after attacks.

Benefits of Turbo Plans

At A2 Hosting, our goal is to provide our clients with the best web hosting solutions that are both ultra-fast and reliable, like our Turbo plans. These are the options we offer for such services:

• 40% faster CPU performance
• 2x faster to first byte
• Can handle 9x more traffic
• Improved user experience with fast page loads
• Better SEO rankings

Built for Speed

Below are some components that make our turbo plans super fast, apart from LiteSpeed Hosting:

• Non-volatile memory express (NVMe): Through this component, we offer 3X faster read/write speeds.
• HTTP/3: This feature is the new gold standard in providing faster and more reliable connections for sites and Application Programming Interfaces (APIs).
• Edge Side Includes (ESI): With ESI, you don’t have to designate entire pages as non-cacheable. Instead, you can determine which portions can be cached and those that cannot.
• Quick UDP Internet Connections (QUIC): This element is an ideal alternative to transmission control protocol (TCP). QUIC creates multiplexed connections between computers, which further enhances your website’s speed.

Advanced Caching Software

Every time someone visits your site, your server has to run a request to convert all information pieces to viewable parts in a web browser. This process sometimes causes sites to run slowly, but it doesn’t have to.

This process doesn’t vary much from visitor to visitor, making caching essential. Turning on your cache stores your files within a much faster random-access memory (RAM). When caching software, your site won’t have to run complicated processes. Instead, your server stores HTML files for a fast load speed.

Upgraded Server Hardware

At some point in your company’s life, peer-to-peer networking becomes insufficient. As you grow, your user demands will exceed the capacities of routers and shared storage devices. For this reason, upgraded server hardware can do wonders for your business.

With a trusty server on your side, you can manage email campaigns for more people, grant access to multiple users, and manage shared resources in the workplace.

Optimized Configurations

Our experts know our hosting infrastructure inside and out, making it easy to optimize our solutions for various sites. Whether you have a CSS, JS, or HTML site, we have the right hosting infrastructure to meet your needs.

With our optimized configurations, you can enjoy faster load times while reducing overall page size. We can help you save up to 80% bandwidth and boost your site’s performance tenfold.

The A2 Hosting Edge

A2 Hosting is nothing like your typical hosting company. We designed our Turbo plans for super speed, limited occupancy, and various performance add-ons to provide clients with the fastest web hosting services available anywhere.

With our solutions on your side, you can boost your user experience and conversion rates. Read on for more reasons to switch to A2 Hosting.

Super Speed

Fast web hosting servers allow you to customize your website in a way that addresses your unique requirements. These services are essential to thrive in the modern world.

Fast hosting leads to a quick load time — a crucial SEO component that encourages clients to hang around. Additionally, a fast website equates to better security and more revenue. If your slow internet is driving away clients, It’s time to say goodbye to mediocre hosting.

Guru Crew Support

With A2 Hosting, our exceptional services don’t end when you sign up with us. Our 24/7/365 Guru Crew Support proves it.

When you manage a company, you typically observe normal business hours. However, overseeing a website is a different story.

Websites require 24/7 support because anyone can access the internet from anywhere in the world. Any time of the day, you have visitors reading your content or making purchases. Every time you experience technical difficulties, you can lose traffic and credibility.

Whether you experience a breakdown or network outage, our support team will be there for you 24/7/365.

Money-Back Guarantee

We believe in all our groundbreaking solutions, inspiring us to offer a money-back guarantee. There’s nothing to lose but everything to gain from our offer, so why not give it a shot?

We don’t think you’ll cancel because we offer up to 20X faster web hosting to help you thrive in the modern world! However, if you do, we’ll give you a hassle-free refund. We hate breakups as much as the next person, but we won’t hold it against you.

99.9% Uptime Commitment

Uptime refers to a measure of system reliability expressed as a percentage of time a machine has been available. When hosting providers boast impressive uptime rates, it’s a good indication of high-performance servers. Our 24/7/365 support staff will get your site running in no time.

Upgrade Your Website Now

In today’s modern world, your website speed can make or break your online presence. A fast load time can boost your SEO, conversion, and sales efforts. Whether you need shared web or managed dedicated services, there’s an ideal Turbo Hosting for your needs. With its LiteSpeed Hosting feature, you never have to lose an online client again because of a slow website.

Contact our sales team today to discover how working with us can transform your business.  We’d love to help you achieve your 2022 business goals.

The post What is LiteSpeed? The Ultra-Fast Web Server You Should Know About appeared first on The A2 Posting.

Continue reading to discover what a web host manager is and why it is important. Learn what types of web host managers are available to business owners and web professionals like you and explore the benefits of using WHMCS for your websites. Finally, learn how you and your team can experience the advantages of web hosting with the assistance of A2 Hosting.

What Is a Web Host Manager?

A Web Host Manager (WHM) is a computer program that grants users like you the ability to supervise various cPanel-based sites. It allows you to manage your dedicated server or Virtual Private Server (VPS). This control dashboard provides you with administrative access to the back end of cPanel.

As an end-user, you can utilize WHM in tandem with cPanel to set up individual accounts, add new domains, handle hosting features, and conduct basic maintenance. It is possible for you to oversee MySQL databases and to add and remove email accounts with the assistance of WHM.

Why Is a Web Host Manager Important?

A Web Host Manager (WHM) is important because of its connection to cPanel. This website utility enables you to efficiently handle the operation and maintenance of your websites. It provides numerous functions that are related to database, domain management, backup, mail, and security.

cPanel’s automated and configurable platform allows you to create and automate all server management tasks. However, WHM is necessary to maximize the usefulness of cPanel. After all, cPanel needs the support of WHM to supervise multiple accounts.

What Types of Web Host Managers Are Available?

There is a wide range of web host managers (WHM) that are available to business owners and web professionals such as yourself. The type of WHM that is suitable for you depends on the particular needs of your business team.

These are the popular types of web hosting plans:

1. Shared Web Hosting

Shared web hosting involves the sharing of CPU (Central Processing Unit), RAM (Random Access Memory), and other server resources by multiple websites. This hosting type is suitable for you if you only need entry-level website hosting at a relatively affordable cost.

2. Virtual Private Server (VPS) Hosting

VPS hosting allows every website to be hosted in its own dedicated space on a server while sharing a physical server with other websites at the same time. It is a viable option for you if you need more storage space and customization features without having to splurge on dedicated server hosting.

3. Dedicated Server Hosting

Dedicated server hosting is a form of hosting where your website has one dedicated server so you don’t have to share your resources. It is the ideal choice for you if you are willing to invest in its premium cost so you can access a higher level of resource allocation and control for your website.

4. Managed Hosting

Managed hosting is a form of service where the provider is fully or partially responsible for the regular management of the hardware, operating systems, and applications involved in web hosting. It is appropriate for you if you wish to relegate the technical aspects of web hosting to your provider.

What Are the Benefits of Using WHMCS?

A2 Hosting offers the benefit of using WHMCS to help navigate the backend of your website. These are the major benefits that you and your team can experience if you use Web Host Manager Complete Solution (WHMCS) for your website:

1. Multiple Functions

WHMCS makes it simple and easy for you to manage your website because of its multiple functions. Its handy suite of tools enables you to fulfill the following tasks:

• Keep track of your websites regularly
• Create, suspend, or delete your cPanel accounts
• Monitor and change the DNS zones of your domains
• Grant permission to keep track of your server status and data
• Configure the support requests of your clients via cPanel
• Set up your default page as you form a new account
• Make adjustments to your client user names and domain names
• Personalize your hosting and control panel with your branding
• Oversee the cPanel and change the aspects which do not require SQL access

2. Increased Cyber Security

Using WHMCS can increase the online security of your websites. Just in case one of your sites is compromised because of a cybercrime attack, a WHMCS will minimize the risk that your other websites will also be affected. A WHMCS also prevents hackers from finding out that the various accounts on different cPanels are linked to the same WHM account.

3. Greater Flexibility

WHMCS offers you flexibility by allowing you to adjust your bandwidth and disk space. These adjustments are critical to the continuous operations of your website, which may crash or become suspended if it goes over the maximum bandwidth.

4. Efficient Credit Card Processing

WHMCS enables your multiple websites to accept credit card payments from your customers. Your site will need an SSL certificate and dedicated IP address to process credit card transactions. Since only one dedicated IP address is allowed for each cPanel, you can choose a Reseller account that lets you manage multiple cPanels.

What Types of Hosting Plans Are Offered by A2 Hosting?

The right hosting plan will make it possible for you to achieve your work goals so you can grow your business.

No matter what type of web host manager you require for your websites, A2 Hosting offers a wide range of feature-rich hosting plans that you can choose from. We can empower you to manage your websites through our Shared Web Hosting, Dedicated Hosting, VPS Hosting, WordPress Hosting, and Reseller Hosting.

Contact our sales team to discover which one of these powerful A2 Hosting solutions is perfect for your business needs.

The post Why Do I Need a Web Host Manager? appeared first on The A2 Posting.

The holiday shopping season is a critical time for retail businesses to make their annual sales revenue targets. In order to ensure your business makes the most of this opportunity, it’s important to verify your website is properly prepared for the influx of customers. While this can seem like a daunting task there are a few ways to quickly validate you are ready for the holiday rush.

1. Look at Historical Data and Implement Load Testing

The first thing to do is to look at past holiday traffic surges and compare the percentage increase in traffic and concurrent users to the steady-state traffic levels you see throughout the rest of the year. Using this information you can make a reasonable projection of what you can expect to see this holiday season.

Not only does this help you make general decisions around the amount of resources you need to accommodate the rush but you can also take advantage of load testing services to actually send those traffic levels to your website and ensure it responds appropriately. There are a number of services that offer load testing, many of which are cloud-based and can spin up tests on-demand and even offer a free tier of service. Wikipedia has a fairly comprehensive list of available services, I have personally used flood.io and find it to be a cost-effective option.

Once you have determined the traffic levels you expect to see and determined whether or not your current site configuration can handle it, there are a few easy steps you can take to make sure your site is able to handle more visitors.

2. Implement Caching

I would suggest you start by looking at caching. This is a way for your site to generate static html versions of dynamic pages that are frequently requested. Caching significantly reduces the load placed on the server to deliver that page as well as speeding up response times. Most web frameworks offer this as an option either directly integrated in the framework or as an additional plugin. Ensuring caching is enabled can make an enormous difference on the amount of traffic and number of concurrent users your site can handle.

3. Use a CDN

Related to caching would be the use of a CDN. CDNs, or Content Delivery Networks, use a global network of servers to store static assets for your web page, such as images, at multiple locations closer to the visitor to your site. Not only does this reduce load time as the assets are being delivered from a closer physical location to the customer, but they also reduce the load on your server as it does not need to service that portion of the request.

4. Image Optimization

Another area to consider is optimizing your images for web delivery. Modern cameras and even cell phones take very high-resolution images. These images can be very large resulting in slow page load times. Most web frameworks include tools to generate efficient thumbnail images as well as render high-resolution images at a lower resolution better suited to web delivery.

5. Improve Your Database Indexing

A frequently disregarded aspect of website performance and scaling is the database itself. Databases include many options to make performance better and one of the most critical is ensuring you have good indexes in your databases. A lack of indexes, or poorly designed indexes, can increase the time it takes to execute a database query by an order of magnitude. Creating basic indexes is relatively simple and optimizing indexes for your specific use case is something your web developer can typically do for you. Similarly, it is important to make sure any database queries you are running are well written. It is very easy to write a poor database query during testing or development just to get things working and it is vital to go back later and ensure the query is written as tightly as possible to eliminate unnecessary operations to get the data you actually need.

6. Upgrade Your Hardware Stack

Finally, you can upgrade the hardware stack powering your website to provide additional resources. A2 Hosting provides an extensive array of packages designed to meet your hosting needs. Our turbo packages are perfect for handling holiday traffic surges. These servers include NVME SSD drives for lightning-fast disk operations, Litespeed web server for dramatically improved page load times, and AMD EPYC CPUs for very high concurrency to handle the flood of holiday visitors. We also have VPS and dedicated server options for those extremely busy websites to ensure your server is not the limiting factor to your business growth during this holiday season.

The post How to Handle Heavy Traffic to Your eCommerce Site During the Holiday Season appeared first on The A2 Posting.

Our expert developers here at A2 Hosting got together and wrote this amazing checklist to help web developers working on eCommerce sites prepare for Q4 and the holiday season. If you’re trying to maximize your website’s value to your visitors and get ready for the coming holiday traffic, follow these steps!

1. Have a Disaster Recovery Plan

Having a disaster recovery plan in place before you need it is critical in recovering from any unseen website disasters that may occur. At the very minimum, you’ll want local backups of your database and the site files. If you’re able to get offsite backups too that’s even better!

The second half of your recovery plan is knowing how to restore the backups. It’s just as important to know how to restore your backups as it is to make sure you have them.

Recommended Plugin: BackupBuddy

2. Code Freeze

Your site should be well developed ahead of time to accommodate any changes you want to see during the holidays. By implementing a code freeze, you increase the reliability of your site by reducing the impact of your changes to the underlying system. This will require some advanced planning regarding what you will want from your website.

3. Stay Up to Date with Updates

Be sure to have all the latest updates installed – both for the CMS itself and any plugins/modules/addons that you already have installed. Automatic updates for major and minor releases of WordPress core and plugins are available, or you also have the option to receive email notifications anytime there is a new release available.

These updates will provide additional functionality, performance boosts, and patches for known security vulnerabilities. It’s important to verify these updates for compatibility with your combination of plugins and server configuration before updating your production site.

4. Security

Security is a must if you don’t want your site becoming unresponsive, or worse, displaying undesirable content. Aside from running updates on the CMS and plugins, removing unused plugins and themes from your site will help reduce potential vulnerabilities.

All traffic that provides users a way to send any type of information to your site should be secured over HTTPS with a valid SSL. A2 Hosting offers both free and paid versions of different SSLs. To learn the pros and cons of each read this blog. Using an SSL Certificate will help protect your users’ information and provide assurance to them that their information is in good hands (it also avoids the nasty “Unsecured” message that browsers display that makes users worried).

You’ll also want to check on your list of authorized administrators/content editors. If you’ve had turnover at the company or previous contractors who have completed work on your site, double-check that their permissions have been removed by reducing their permissions, or deactivating their accounts (this applies to the CMS, as well as any server access that you may have given them). If the system provides for 2-Factor authentication, be sure you update your staff about these settings. Making sure they are aware of the new requirement, that they have their authentication setup, and that each user account is configured to require 2FA.

Recommended Plugin: iTheme Security

5. Traffic Control

How many visitors can view your site? Only as many as your server will handle. Ensure that you have fast and reliable hosting. If you frequently experience drops in connection or other general server issues, now is the time to switch to a fast, reliable server. If you’re looking for 99.9% uptime, turbo speeds, and 24/7 guru crew support check out our plans available at A2 Hosting.

6. Optimizations

These days 47% of customers expect a website to load in two seconds or less. The internet is full of opportunities to shop around and if users have to wait, they may abandon your site for another one with similar products. Website speed is affected by many different factors. One big thing that could be affecting yours is your resource usage is too high for your current plan Some factors that could be affecting this are images, JavaScript, and CSS files. Images should be compressed, and JavaScript and CSS files should be minified and combined if possible.
Recommended Plugin: A2 Optimized

7. Make Sure Everything Works As Expected

Testing your key systems to make sure everything you are relying on to go right is a critical point. If you’re in eCommerce, double-check your payment processing is running smoothly. You most likely have email notifications from your site either to customers (sending out updates, responding to contact submissions, order confirmations, etc) or to your staff (notifications of contact submissions, orders received, etc) – you’ll want to make sure these are being received by their intended target. Just because your site says it’s sending the message, doesn’t necessarily mean the customers are receiving the messages. All notifications should have some way of retrieving the same information (contact submissions should be stored in the CMS as well as the staff email notification). Here’s our Knowledge Base section on web testing and development to help you get started!

Recommended Plugin(s): GravityForms, Contact Form 7 & Contact Form 7 Views, WP Mail SMTP

8. Go for Mobile

Many years ago – designs of websites changed to be designed mobile-first because of the shift to mobile devices so this one is likely already covered…but if not, you’ll want to work on this. If your site is not accessible from a mobile device, you will be missing out on potential users. Mobile-friendly sites do not need to replicate 100% of the desktop content or features, however, mobile users should not be missing out on anything critical. All the same, information should be able to be gathered and should be able to do so just as easily. Navigation around the site should be smooth for mobile users without having to do complicated gestures. Here’s a blog to help you through the steps of testing if your site is mobile-friendly.

9. Schedule Your Content

Can’t be around for the holidays? The “Schedule post” feature in WordPress will allow you to queue up as much content as you need to keep your site fresh. If you’re not familiar with this feature, A2 has a quick Knowledge Base article on how to schedule it.

10. Support Your Users

Users came to your site for one thing – they are looking to get something from you – that is either information or a product. Your job is to make that as easy as possible. Hopefully, by now, your site is fast, reliable, mobile-friendly, and you’ve checked to make sure everything is working as planned – but sometimes you just can’t predict what your users are going to need. Adding a Support/Chat feature to your website gives you an easy way of allowing users to contact you and receive a timely response. Users don’t have too much patience when it comes to getting feedback and the Chat option gives them a way to contact you on their own terms.

Many users don’t like phone calls, or can’t call while they are on your site and the chat option allows them to do what they need to do, but still reach you in an interactive method. The chat option should be readily available, but not in your face (if it pops up after 30 seconds and says “Hey it looks like you need help with something”, that’s the 2020 equivalent to a used car salesman popping out from behind a car. Nobody wants to relive that.

Recommended Plugin: Live Chat

The post A Developer’s Checklist for Getting Your Site Ready for the Holidays appeared first on The A2 Posting.

The Benefits of AlmaLinux 8

AlmaLinux 8 is an open-source protection-grade platform compatible with CentOS 8. It fills the gap left by CentOS. It is a standalone platform, meaning you don’t need to congest your network with two different software. Instead, you get a stable and optimized version of CentOS 8 ready for use.

Our internal engineering team and cPanel both recommend AlmaLinux 8 because of its reliability. As such, we are now offering it for our Unmanaged VPS customers. We also plan to offer it as an option for our Managed VPS and Bare Metal Dedicated customers in the coming months. Here are some of the noticeable benefits you’ll get with AlmaLinux 8:

• Consistently updated support: the OS comes with the latest technology, and fixes happen fast.
• Easy transition: switching from CentOS to AlmaLinux is easy. If you want to try other platforms, you’ll likely spend more money and time.
• Enterprise Ready: AlmaLinux is ready to handle critical workloads as an enterprise-grade server OS. You can expect regular releases and updates over time.

Contact A2 Today

With a decade worth of development, you’re sure to get all the benefits of CentOS and more by switching to AlmaLinux. Having an Unmanaged VPS gives you more freedom of control, so you can customize it the way you want. It makes it easy for you to scale and improve. If you have any questions, you can contact the A2 Hosting Sales Team, and we’ll be happy to discuss all of our plans with you!

The post A2 Hosting Now Offering AlmaLinux as a New Operating System appeared first on The A2 Posting.

As a hosting provider, it’s possible to turn the community’s love for multiplayer mode into a business opportunity. By setting up your own Minecraft server, you can create a more engaging, varied, and unique block-based world – and then monetize your creation.

In this post, we’ll discuss how to make money from Minecraft using a Virtual Private Server (VPS). We’ll then share a step-by-step guide to installing, configuring, and launching your own gaming server. Let’s get started!

An Introduction to Minecraft

With millions of units sold worldwide, Minecraft is widely regarded as one of the greatest video games of all time. The game was originally built by Stockholm-based software developers Mojang. In 2014, Microsoft purchased both the Minecraft intellectual property and Mojang for $2.5 billion:

This sandbox video game has a simple premise. When players log into Minecraft, they can explore a 3D world, extract raw materials, craft tools and items, and build structures:

There are also various modes, including a creative mode where gamers have unlimited resources. Players can also modify the gameplay mechanisms, items, and assets.

Minecraft has amassed a slew of awards, including the Best Debut Game, Best Downloadable Game, and Innovation titles at the Game Developers Choice Awards. It is also part of the World Video Game Hall of Fame.

However, this cultural phenomenon isn’t just popular among gamers. Unusually for a mainstream video game, Minecraft is frequently used in educational settings. For example, one teacher recreated various historical landmarks for their students to explore.

Minecraft has even taught younger players how to code, and how to build virtual and hardware devices. In fact, the game has become so popular among educators that its developers have created a special Minecraft: Education Edition. This edition is dedicated to promoting the use of Minecraft within schools, and has some extra features that can help teachers monitor their students’ progress within the game.

Why Create Your Own Minecraft Server

Although you can explore Minecraft’s block-based world solo, the game’s multiplayer mode is hugely popular. By logging into a shared server, players can work together to create bigger and better things than they could ever build alone.

However, public servers open up the possibility for bullying and harassment. This is particularly concerning due to Minecraft’s young fan base.

Fortunately, it’s possible to create your own Minecraft server. This gives you complete control over the game instance, including setting your own rules and choosing who can access your world.

There’s also the opportunity to monetize your Minecraft server by charging for access. To start, you might create a server that caters to the needs of a particular community. For example, by strictly moderating your server, you can appeal to parents who are concerned about their children enjoying their favorite game in a secure environment.

Alternatively, you might focus on creating a more interesting Minecraft experience. If you construct a large, unique gaming world populated by mini-games, expansions, and beautiful structures, then players may be willing to pay a premium in order to experience the world you’ve created.

You might even permit people to join your server for free, while generating revenue through other means. Minecraft’s Commercial Usage Guidelines expressly forbid selling any in-game benefits. However, there are many add-ons that don’t affect the actual gameplay. This includes in-game cosmetics, such as a different color for the player’s name, or a visual effect that appears around the player’s character.

As your server grows in popularity, there might also be some scope to secure sponsorships or display online advertisements. Alternatively, you might make some money via affiliate links. All of this can turn your Minecraft server into a lucrative revenue stream.

Why You May Want to Use a Virtual Private Server (VPS)

When it comes to creating a Minecraft server, you’ll need enough firepower to ensure smooth and responsive gameplay. In terms of horsepower, it’s difficult to beat a dedicated server. However, those are some of the most costly hosting plans.

That’s where a Virtual Private Server (VPS) comes in. With a VPS, your provider can host multiple customers on the same server. This helps minimize their running costs, which means they can offer VPS hosting at a more affordable price.

Similar to a bare metal server, with a VPS you’re allocated a portion of the server’s physical resources and functionality. This puts you in a strong position to provide fast rendering and a lag-free gaming experience. If you want to wow your community without breaking the bank, a VPS may be the solution.

When creating a gameplay server, there’s also a good chance that your requirements may change over time. You might attract lots of new players, install more mod packs, or continue adding new areas to your block-based world.

As the game’s demands grow, it becomes even more crucial to have guaranteed access to your server’s resources. However, with shared plans you run the risk of winding up with bad neighbors who consume an unfair portion of resources.

Your neighbors may even experience an upsurge in traffic. While this is great for them, it means less resources for you. A shared server combined with growing demands can be a recipe for disaster. If the gameplay starts to suffer, your players may go elsewhere.

With VPS hosting, you’re separated from other users. This gives you more flexibility to configure your server. By optimizing your VPS specifically for Minecraft, you should have no problems delivering a fast, responsive gaming experience and growing your community.

How to Set Up a Minecraft Server Using a VPS (In 8 Steps)

Minecraft may have launched way back in 2011, but this popular game shows no signs of slowing down. In 2020 alone, it generated over $142 million.

Let’s see how you can turn the biggest video game of all time into your next business opportunity. Here’s how to set up your own Minecraft server, in eight easy steps.

1. Choose a VPS Package

For Minecraft, we recommend a server with 1.5GB of RAM and at least 15GB of hard drive space. At A2 Hosting, all of our managed VPS plans provide more than enough firepower to run a successful Minecraft VPS. If you’d prefer an unmanaged plan, then we’d recommend Runway 2 or higher.

It’s also smart to consider how your needs may change over time. If you install add-ons, plugins, and texture packs, this will all increase your requirements. As your game attracts more players, you may also need to upgrade your plan, or risk damaging the player experience by forcing them to endure lagging gameplay.

In almost all instances, A2 Hosting offers free migration for existing customers who are upgrading their accounts to a higher level service. This means that you can be confident about providing a high level of performance and reliability, regardless of how big your Minecraft world grows.

Installing Minecraft and the associated software does require root access. The good news is that all of our managed and unmanaged VPS plans come with optional root access. This gives you the freedom to choose the plan that offers you the best value for money, and provides your Minecraft community with the best user experience.

2. Connect Over Secure Shell Protocol (SSH)

The next step is connecting to your VPS over Secure Shell Protocol (SSH). This is a protocol that enables you to communicate with your server over an unsecured network. Once you’ve made this link, you can configure your server to run Minecraft.

To start, you’ll need to know your IP Address, SSH Port, and root password. A2 Hosting customers can find all of this information by logging into the client area. In the toolbar, select Services > My Services:

Find the account that you want to connect to, and click on the accompanying Manage button. On the subsequent screen, select the Additional Information tab:

This screen contains all the information you need to connect over SSH. To input this information, open a terminal on your local computer. You can then type the following command, being sure to replace port-number and ip-address with your own information:

ssh -p port-number root@ip-address

You’ll find the port number in your A2 Hosting dashboard, listed as FTP/SFTP Port. Here, you’ll also find the IP address. Your completed terminal command should look something like this:

ssh -p 22 root@216.137.100.000

To run this command, press the Enter key on your keyboard. Assuming that you’ve entered the correct port number and IP address, the terminal will ask for your password.

You’ll find this information in the A2 Hosting client area, listed as Root Password (SSH/WHM). After typing your password, press the Enter key again. You should now be connected to your VPS as [root@server:/root]$.

3. Install the Open Java Development Kit

Since Minecraft runs on Java, you’ll need to install the Open Java Development Kit (OpenJDK) on your VPS. This is a free and open source implementation of the Java Platform Standard Edition (Java SE).

We’re going to install OpenDK using the YUM package management tool. This popular tool performs dependency resolution when installing, updating, and deleting software packages.

To install OpenJDK, enter the following command into your terminal:

yum install java-1.8.0-openjdk

Then hit the Enter key. YUM will now check the requested software package and any dependencies you require in order to run OpenJDK.

After a few moments, the terminal should display some information about the download, including its estimated size:

If you’re happy to proceed, then press the Y key. SSH will now download and install the OpenJDK on your VPS.

4. Install Minecraft

To keep your server organized, it’s smart to create a directory for all of your Minecraft content. You can do this using the following command:

mkdir –p /Minecraft

You can navigate to this folder using the change directory (cd) command:

cd /Minecraft

Now that we’re inside the Minecraft directory, it’s time to install the Minecraft software! At the time of writing, the latest version of Minecraft Server was 1.17.1. However, you can always check the official Minecraft website for the most recent update. On that page, find the download Minecraft server link:

Hover over this link, and then Control-click. Next, select Copy Link Address from the context menu that appears:

We’ll use the wget command to download the Minecraft Server jar. Your finished command should look something like this:

wget -O minecraft_server.jar https://launcher.mojang.com/v1/objects/1b557e7b033b583cd9f66746b7a9ab1ec1673ced/server.jar

After a few moments, you should see a ‘server.jar’ saved message. Congratulations, you’ve just installed Minecraft on your VPS!

5. Accept the End-User License Agreement (EULA)

The next step is configuring the Minecraft jar file. To help you keep track, you may want to rename this file. For example, you might rename server.jar to reflect the version of Minecraft you just downloaded.

In the following example, we’re renaming server.jar to minecraft_server.1.17.1.jar:

mv server.jar minecraft_server.1.17.1.jar

Before starting your Minecraft server, you’ll need to agree to the End-User License Agreement (EULA). This is a legal agreement between you and Mojang, which sets out some guidelines for how you can use the Minecraft software.

In your terminal, enter the following command:

java -Xmx1024M -Xms1024M -jar minecraft_server.1.17.1.jar nogui

You may need to change the above command to reflect your renamed jar file.

At this point, the terminal should ask you to agree to the Minecraft EULA. To verify that your download contains the EULA file, run the following command:

ls

The terminal will now list the contents of your /minecraft directory, which should include the EULA file. Assuming that you have this file, you can open it for editing using the Nano text editor:

nano eula.txt

Now, read through the EULA. If you agree to the terms and conditions, change eula=false to eula=true:

You can then save the EULA file. Now that you’ve agreed to Minecraft’s terms, you’re ready to configure your server.

6. Configure Your Server

The server.properties file specifies all the gaming settings and variables. By editing this file you can customize the Minecraft experience.

This includes cosmetic changes, such as providing a unique welcome message, but also fundamental changes to the gameplay mechanics. For example, you can change the world size and the number of players permitted.

To start configuring your Minecraft server, type the following:

vi server.properties

Then hit Enter. The terminal will now display the current configuration for your Minecraft server:

If you want to edit any of these settings, enter Insert mode by pressing the I key. You can then use your arrow keys to move between the different settings.

Let’s look at a simple example. By default, the difficulty level is set to Easy. This means that enemies will spawn, but they’ll inflict less damage when compared to Normal or Hard mode. It’s also not possible for enemies to poison players, or for zombies to break down doors.

If you want to really challenge your players, you could use the arrow keys to navigate to the difficulty=easy line. You can then edit these settings.

For example, you might change it to difficulty=normal or difficulty=hard:

When you’re happy with your changes, you can exit Insert mode by pressing your keyboard’s Escape key. Then, type in the following:

:wq

Hit Enter, and you’l be returned to the main terminal window.

7. Install Screen

You’re almost ready to launch your Minecraft server. However, currently if you disconnect from the session, it will also stop the game. This can alienate your players, so you’ll need to address this issue before taking your server live.

To ensure that your session persists, we recommend installing Screen. With this popular utility in your corner, processes will continue to run even when their window is not visible or if you get disconnected.

Screen also enables you to initiate a command from one terminal, disconnect from that terminal, and then reconnect from a different location. You can install Screen using the following commands:

yum –y install screen
screen -S "Minecraft server"

Now, you can start the Minecraft server by executing your jar file. In the terminal, enter the following:

java -Xmx1024M -Xms1024M -jar minecraft_server.1.17.1.jar nogui

The system will now execute your Minecraft jar file. After a few moments, you should see a message confirming that this process is done. Your Minecraft server is now up and running.

8. Configure Your Firewall

At this point, you can detach from the Minecraft screen by pressing Ctrl + A + D. To reattach to the session, press Ctrl + R.

If you’re going to monetize your VPS, you’ll need to allow incoming connections by editing your firewall configuration. By default, Minecraft uses port 25565, which means you’ll need to set up port forwarding for 25565:

iptables -I INPUT -p tcp --dport 25565 -j ACCEPT

Now, people can connect to your server from the Minecraft launch screen. From this screen, they’ll need to select Multiplayer:

They can then select Add Server, and enter the IP or web address of your server. Finally, they’ll just need to choose Join Server, and they should successfully connect to your Minecraft VPS!

Conclusion

Multiplayer mode is hugely popular among the Minecraft community, but running a successful gaming server costs money. By opting for a Virtual Private Server (VPS), you can minimize your running costs and maximize your profits.

If you’re going to wow your players, then it’s important to deliver a smooth, lag-free gaming experience. This is where a VPS can be your secret weapon. Similar to a dedicated server, with a VPS you’re allocated a portion of the server’s physical resources. However, you don’t have to break the bank on an expensive plan.

At A2 Hosting, we’ve carefully designed our VPS plans to provide the cost-savings of shared hosting with the performance of a dedicated server. By opting for one of our VPS plans, you can set your new Minecraft venture up for success, and appeal to the huge (and growing) gaming community!

Image credit: Pexels.

The post How to Set Up a Minecraft Server Using a VPS (In 8 Steps) appeared first on The A2 Posting.

If your website is going to stand out from the crowd, you may want to add a framework into the mix. Frontity is a modern, React-based framework that was designed specifically with WordPress in mind. As such, it has lots to offer your WordPress website.

In this article, we’ll look at what Frontity is, and why you may want to use it in your next WordPress project. We’ll cover how Frontity can give you an edge in the competitive world of website development, as well as note some potential drawbacks to watch out for. Let’s get started!

A Brief Introduction to Frontity

Frontity is an open-source framework for React. It enables you to build a React-based front end for a WordPress.com or WordPress.org website.

Traditionally, WordPress generates HTML using a theme based on PHP template files. However, when the Representational State Transfer (REST) API was merged into WordPress core, it removed the dependency on the PHP rendering engine. This opens up new possibilities for web developers, including creating front end websites using frameworks such as Frontity.

Once Frontity is set up, your WordPress website will serve its data via the REST API. This API lets you perform Create, Read, Update, and Delete (CRUD) actions on WordPress content, including posts, pages, and even custom post types. This gives developers an easy way to push and pull data out of WordPress.

Frontity is a framework, but it’s also an alternative rendering engine for WordPress. Today, frameworks such as Frontity are commonly used to separate content from the front end. This makes it easier for developers to use WordPress as a headless Content Management System (CMS).

Some Things to Bear in Mind

Frontity has lots to offer web developers and designers, but there are some drawbacks. Before we cover the advantages of using Frontity, let’s look at the potential drawbacks. It’s important to bear these points in mind, when deciding whether Frontity is the right framework for your WordPress project.

Frontity is designed to be easy to use, and is particularly simple to set up. However, you will still benefit from some previous experience with React, especially if you want to develop more advanced WordPress projects. It also helps if you’re familiar with the ‘CSS-in-JS’ concept.

Some WordPress plugins are supported via Frontity packages. However, it’s still a relatively new framework, and therefore it’s unrealistic to expect compatibility with the majority of WordPress plugins. If your project requires a very specific WordPress plugin, you may need to build your own custom solution.

WordPress is well-known for reducing the barrier of entry to website development. Thanks to WordPress’ What You See Is What You Get (WYSIWYG) editor and live preview settings, you can create a website without writing a single line of code. However, Frontity doesn’t offer a WYSIWYG editor or live preview. This can make it difficult to predict how your content will appear when rendered. You may find this particularly challenging if you’re displaying your content across multiple platforms.

Many WordPress developers use Frontity as part of a headless setup. If you plan to use WordPress headless, you’ll encounter many of the same disadvantages as any headless setup. In particular, a headless approach can be challenging for users who don’t have extensive CMS or programming experience.

A headless CMS may also require more maintenance than monolithic CMS installations. You may find yourself investing more time into keeping your headless setup up and running.

12 Advantages of Using Frontity for Your WordPress Projects

Now you know what Frontity is, let’s look at what it has to offer. Here are 12 reasons you may want to use Frontity in your next WordPress project.

1. Frontity Is Easy to Set Up

Frontity makes it easy to set up a WordPress website. This is great for anyone who wants to get their project online quickly, or for anyone who doesn’t have previous experience configuring a React framework.

Assuming you have a WordPress setup and have installed Node.js, you can create a Frontity project with a single command. Simply open a Command Prompt or Terminal on your computer, and run the following:

npx frontity create my-project

Frontity will now ask you to choose a theme for your project. Make your decision, and Frontity will clone your chosen theme, create all the necessary Frontity files, and install any required dependencies. After a few moments, you’ll see a Frontity project created message. You’ve just created your first Frontity project!

This is just the starting point, but using Frontity you can build and launch a simple web application in five easy steps. This ease-of-use has already earned Frontity praise from the WordPress community.

Columbus-based design studio Fort recently redesigned their website using Frontity. When describing the project, a Fort representative was quick to point out how easy it was to get started with Frontity. “It’s kind of crazy how quickly I was able to do this knowing nothing about Frontity and not being super advanced with React. It was a 2.5 week dev timeline.”

The Frontity React framework also has its own state manager and uses Emotion for the CSS. This means you can start using the Frontity framework without having to master additional technologies, such as Redux. This leaves you free to focus on what really matters – building your project.

2. There Is 100% Focus on WordPress

In the world of React frameworks, Frontity stands out from the crowd as it was designed specifically for WordPress. Every part of the Frontity framework has been simplified and optimized to work with both WordPress.org and WordPress.com. By opting for Frontity, you can avoid the manual configuration typically required to use a React framework with WordPress. This saves you time, while providing a better user experience.

It’s also encouraging to see that Automattic, the parent company of WordPress.com, is a major financial investor in Frontity. Speaking about the Automattic investment, a Frontity spokesperson posted: “Having the support of Automattic will allow us to connect and collaborate with their partners to support larger projects and bring headless WordPress and Frontity to a wider audience.”

There are other React-based frameworks that are compatible with WordPress, including Next.js and Gatsby.js. However, these frameworks aren’t designed specifically for WordPress.

If you do use an alternative web development framework with your WordPress project, you’ll typically need to perform manual configuration and optimization. You may also need to install additional tools.

3. Frontity Can Make Headless WordPress More Accessible

React-based frameworks such as Frontity are gaining popularity within the WordPress community, particularly with developers who want to set up headless WordPress. As a ‘monolithic’ CMS, WordPress traditionally restricts your content to a specific output. However, with a headless setup you’ll provide your content as data, via a REST API.

This data can then be consumed by a range of technologies and displayed across potentially any platform. If you want to display the same content across multiple platforms, headless WordPress is a way to create your content once, and display it anywhere.

It’s possible to run headless WordPress without using the Frontity React framework.  However, Frontity removes much of the complexity from a headless setup. This makes headless WordPress accessible to people who don’t have extensive CMS or programming experience.

Even for developers who are familiar with a headless CMS, Frontity can remove much of the tedious busywork typically associated with launching and maintaining a headless setup. This leaves you free to focus on what really matters – creating great content.

4. You Have the Freedom to Use Modern Web Development Tools

Frontity uses the WordPress REST API as an interface to access your content from outside the WordPress framework. This gives you the freedom to use the front end tooling that’s the best possible fit for your project. You could even display your content in ways that WordPress wasn’t designed to support.

Frontity’s flexibility doesn’t end when you’ve built your content. You can continuously refine and revise your approach, as your project evolves. You could even potentially interchange parts of your technology stack, to suit the changing needs of your project.

This flexibility has earned Frontity praise from web developers. Oriol Egea recently migrated his blog to Frontity, and expressed excitement over where he might take his project in the future.

“As it’s a React app, the possibilities are unlimited,” he said. “I’m already thinking to add some extra-features with business-logic to my blog, and using WordPress as a headless CMS, and having an isolated React App to develop the front end is the best scenario to achieve that.”

It’s possible to build a headless project without using a framework such as Frontity. However, this would typically require you to manage a list of tasks, including routing, server rendering, and retrieving data from WordPress. By using Frontity, you can benefit from this flexibility without having to do the legwork.

5. You Can Continue Using the Familiar WordPress Back End

Most popular frameworks have lots to offer. However, these long-term benefits often come at a short-term cost.

Many frameworks require you to learn new technologies, tools, and concepts. Even if a framework boosts your productivity in the long-term, it may still be bad news for your short-term productivity.

With the Frontity React framework, you can continue using the familiar WordPress back end. Every change you make in the WordPress dashboard, will be pushed to your project’s front end automatically. This helps you transition to Frontity without impacting your short-term productivity.

6. Frontity Can Support Multiple Sites From a Single Installation

A single Frontity installation can serve content to multiple websites. This can be useful if you manage multiple client sites, for example if you’re an agency or freelance WordPress developer. By launching and managing multiple projects from the same Frontity installation, you can minimize your set up and administrative work.

If you launch multiple sites from the same installations, Frontity will create a separate package for each site. This means you can create unique settings for each of your WordPress projects.

7. Your Site’s Performance May Improve on Desktop and Mobile

The Frontity React framework can improve your website’s performance in several key ways. When you build a website using Frontity, its core code is loaded just once. If the state of a component changes, Frontity will re-render the necessary components only.

Once the page has loaded, Frontity’s router will prefetch other routes and data automatically. This means your visitors should never have to wait while navigating your website.

To further boost performance, Frontity uses Serverless Pre-Rendering (SPR) to render HTML on the fly. By taking this approach, the Frontity team aims to combine the speed and reliability of static rendering with the versatility of dynamic data rendering. A Content Delivery Network (CDN) saves the HTML then serves it as static content.

By helping you deliver a high-performing website, Frontity can improve the visitor experience. This can have a positive experience on key user metrics. Some companies have already documented their experiences of switching to Frontity, including pet-sitting platform Gudog.

After switching to Frontity, Gudog reported “almost instant load times on mobile”. As a result, Gudog experienced a 149 percent increase in page views, and a 78 percent boost in time spent on its website. This culminated in more conversions, as Gudog reported a 66 percent increase in user acquisition.

There are other factors that can boost your project’s performance. By hosting your Frontity project as part of a headless setup, you can avoid wasting resources on content editing and content rendering.

Your choice of hosting provider can also have a huge impact on your website’s performance. Wherever possible, we always recommend choosing a hosting provider that prioritizes performance.

8. Frontity Is Search Engine Optimized

Google has stated that site speed is a major ranking factor. By improving your website’s performance, Frontity can also have a positive impact on your Search Engine Optimization (SEO). This often results in greater traffic and more conversions.

From 2019 to January 2020, Gudog tracked their organic blog traffic. They reported an increase of 88 percent after switching to Frontity. The blog also ranked number one in Google’s search results for keywords related to their business.

There’s further evidence to suggest that Google specifically measures time to first byte when evaluating site speeds. This is another area where Frontity can positively impact your SEO.

As a server-side framework, Frontity stores all your content in HTML, then responds to requests with a fully populated and well-formed HTML page. The server then sends this data to the user’s machine, and the browser constructs the content and displays the webpage. This means the initial page load is faster, which reduces time to first byte.

9. There Is Compatibility With a Wide Range of Add-Ons

When choosing any tool or technology, it’s useful to have access to a range of add-ons. Every WordPress project is unique, so there’s a chance that the Frontity React framework may not meet all of your needs, out-of-the-box. You can use add-ons to customize or extend Frontity, to better suit your project.

Frontity is compatible with all the React packages available from the popular Node Package Manager (NPM). The Frontity team is also working on extensions for several popular plugins and services, including AdSense, Disqus, and Google Analytics.

What’s more, Frontity is compatible with all the WordPress plugins that support the REST API. If you want to use a WordPress plugin that doesn’t support the REST API, you have two options. You can either adapt the logic in your Frontity project, or use PHP to extend the incompatible plugin. If you’re interested in converting your WordPress plugin, Awsm Digital Innovations has shared their experiences of creating a Frontity Package.

10. Frontity Helps Protect Your Content Against Attackers

With WordPress powering almost 40 percent of all websites, hackers are always looking for ways to break into sites that use it. In fact, WordPress accounted for 94 percent of hacked websites in 2019. If a hacker manages to hack your site, they could upload malware, steal important data, or even delete your website entirely.

Solutions such as Frontity can make your site less vulnerable to attack, by separating your content from the presentation layer. This means your site has a smaller attack surface. In particular, Frontity can reduce your chances of falling victim to a Direct Denial-of-Service (DDoS) attack.

Since your content exists separately to your front end delivery, it also isn’t as vulnerable to third-party application issues. This includes security vulnerabilities and bugs that are sometimes present in pre-existing technology stacks.

11. There Is An Active Frontity Community

Released in 2019, the Frontity React framework is classed as a relatively new technology. Despite this, the Frontity team has done a great job publishing all the documentation you need to start using this React-based framework. There’s also an active community forum where Frontity’s developers take a leading role in answering questions and offering advice.

These resources can be essential if you encounter any technical issues. They can also ensure you’re getting the most out of your chosen tool.

If you need more specialist, advanced help, you can always connect with the React community. As an established technology, React has a very large and active developer community.

Major firms such as Facebook, Airbnb, Dropbox, Netflix, and Reddit also use React to build many of their applications. This comes with a lot of perks in terms of development and expert base.

12. You’ll Have a Range of Hosting Options at Your Disposal

We’ve already seen how Frontity can improve your website’s performance and SEO. However, it’s also important to choose the right hosting provider. Choose the best provider for your Frontity project, and you’ll get an additional SEO and performance boost. Get this decision wrong, and you may undermine everything that Frontity has to offer.

When it comes to hosting your Frontity project, you have lots of options. The Frontity server code is small enough to work with serverless technologies. This gives you the freedom to choose the hosting provider that has the exact features your project needs.

You can deploy your Frontity project to any Node.js server or serverless provider. For example, you can use npx frontity serve to run your project like a standard Node.js app, or upload it to a CDN and serverless service. Frontity recommends Vercel as a serverless solution. Alternatively, you could use AWS Lambda, Netlify, or Google Functions.

For the best results, we recommend opting for developer-friendly web hosting that’s optimized for Node.js. Alternatively, since you’re using WordPress as the back end you can always use your favorite WordPress hosting solution.

Conclusion

WordPress development can be a competitive business. However, by enlisting the help of a modern framework such as Frontity, you can take your WordPress projects to the next level.

There are many reasons why Fronity is becoming popular with the WordPress community. In particular, Frontity can help boost your website’s performance, which has a positive impact on the visitor experience. A high-performing website is also great for SEO, as search engines such as Google use page loading times as a major ranking factor.

If you want to increase your search engine rankings and wow your users, Frontity is just one way to boost your website’s performance. At A2 hosting, we provide speed optimized servers with a Turbo Server option that’s 20X faster than our competitors. It’s perfect for using in combination with a modern, performance-focused framework such as Frontity.

Image credits: Unsplash.

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