A site hosting service offers various features that resemble those on personal computers, such as disk space, processing power, and RAM.
This article focuses solely on RAM and its uses in web hosting. It explains the purpose of RAM, how companies provide this resource to their clients, and the impact of having more or less memory in hosting.
Remain with us to discover more!
What is the function of RAM memory?
A hosting server is a specialized computer designed for hosting and serving websites on the internet, equipped with its own amount of RAM similar to a personal computer.
RAM is in charge of temporarily holding and supplying the essential data needed to operate a program or application. Data stored in RAM is erased when the server is rebooted or the application is closed. To preserve data for a longer period, it must be saved to a hard disk (HD) where it can be accessed from memory when required.
RAM stands for Random Access Memory, which stores data randomly on the memory card for faster access compared to a hard drive.
RAM functions similarly to a workbench.
To aid comprehension, let’s liken the functioning of a computer to that of a kitchen. Imagine you’re preparing a cake – you’d gather all the required utensils like a mixing bowl, mixer, and wooden spoon, just as you’d need the ingredients like flour, sugar, yeast, and eggs.
After gathering all the required tools, utensils, and ingredients, we should have a designated countertop or table for making the cake. The items will be brought to the countertop for use in following the recipe. Once the preparation is complete, everything will be put back in its original place. Utensils will be stored in the cupboard, and any unused ingredients will go back to the pantry.
RAM is likened to a workbench in this comparison, serving as a temporary space with essential materials for completing a task. The hard drive, represented by the cabinet and pantry, stores information while the processor, symbolized by the cook, selects and transfers data between the disk and memory to execute operations.
What purpose does memory serve on a hosting server
The function of memory in a computer is to store necessary files and data for specific applications to operate. For instance, when opening a text file in a program like Word, the program is loaded into RAM along with the file’s information. Any edits made to the text are temporarily saved in RAM and permanently stored on the hard drive when the “Save” option is selected.
A hosting server operates in a similar manner. With a CMS such as WordPress, the server loads the service into memory and prepares it for use. When a visitor accesses your site, the information stored in memory is utilized. Additionally, a CMS utilizes memory for tasks like post editing, theme or plugin installation, and file transfers.
If the server RAM does not have the requested information, the processor will fetch it from the hard drive and transfer it to the RAM for use.
Having additional memory in your hosting can make a significant impact.
Memory is utilized to supply essential data for an application’s function, implying that a server’s increased RAM capacity enhances its data provision capability.
The distinction lies in the capacity to deliver information between a server with limited memory and one with ample memory. During high traffic periods, additional memory is essential to ensure optimal performance. Insufficient memory can result in sluggish or unresponsive performance when there is a high volume of users accessing the site.
The greater the memory in your hosting, the better the server can handle multiple tasks, such as managing high website traffic.
Variations in memory usage among hosting providers
Hosting providers have varying approaches to managing memory usage in their hosting packages. Some restrict memory usage based on a set amount per customer, while others base it on a percentage of the overall server memory usage.
It may be challenging to determine the amount of available memory in a hosting plan due to varying methods used by different hosting services. Some providers specify a fixed amount of RAM (e.g. 1 GB), while others limit memory usage to a percentage of the total server memory over a specific period. To accurately understand the available memory, it is crucial to know the total memory allocation on the hosting server, which should be detailed in the service agreement or the company’s documentation.
In shared hosting plans, the amount of memory is not always specified, unlike in VPS, Dedicated, or Cloud hosting where memory allocation is clearly defined and can be adjusted.
Conclusion
RAM usage in a hosting server is closely tied to server efficiency and can affect its ability to handle requests, particularly for websites with high traffic.
It is important to assess the necessary RAM memory for your website before selecting a hosting plan. If you have an existing site, you can determine its current memory usage and anticipate audience growth. For new sites, starting with minimal memory and gradually upgrading based on needs is a viable approach.
Leave a comment if you have any inquiries or additional information to share, and we will be happy to assist you!
Published on 20/04/2017 and revised on 04/05/2018.
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