Archives

Dedicated IP

Does my website need a dedicated IP?

Performance

If you have or manage a website, you’ve probably heard of a Dedicated IP Address. But what is it exactly? And more importantly, can your website benefit from a dedicated IP?

Since online knowledge is power, we’ll answer those questions in this 4-min read. Let’s go!

Let’s first review some basic terminology.

What’s an IP address?

IP stands for Internet Protocol and is a set of rules in charge of delivering data to the right destination across networks like the internet. 

An IP address (often called just ‘IP’) is a unique string of numbers that looks like this:

158.69.149.142

Every device on the internet is assigned one, and the role of an IP address is to find, identify and communicate with devices on the web. 

What’s the DNS’ role in all this?

Nobody wants to live in a world where you need to enter a bunch of numbers to find a website. Domain names are so much easier to remember, right? 

The Domain Name System translates domain names into IP addresses which creates a better online experience for all of us users... A bit like how a phone book translates or connects a name to a phone number. 

For example, if you type whc.ca in your browser, the DNS system translates it to WHC’s IP address (158.69.149.142) and TADA, you found us!

2 types of IPs

IPv4 - The most common

Internet Protocol version 4 dates back to the early 80s. An IPv4 address consists of four sets of numbers ranging from 0 to 255, each separated by a dot (just like 158.69.149.142)

This allows more than 4.2 billion combinations. Phew! More than enough, right? Not quite. 

Still today, IPv4 is the most common type of IP. However, now that most people connect to the internet with several different devices, we’re bound to run out of addresses soon. Enter IPv6. 

IPv6 - The next generation

As the internet grew in popularity, it became clear that IPv4 addresses were not enough. A new version was therefore invented: Internet Protocol version 6. In addition to a huge increase in the number of addresses available, IPv6 also offers a security component. 

IPv6 and IPv4 have the same role: providing a unique address for devices to communicate on the internet. However, IPv6 looks something like this:

2a03:2880:f112:182:face:b00c:0:25de 

IPv6 consists of 8 groups of 4 Hexadecimals (0-9 and A-F). This allows for a much larger number of combinations: 340 decillion, to be exact! That's 340 followed by 36 zeros. Double phew! 

Psst… Can you guess which website uses the IPv6 above? The answer’s in the IP. 

Despite being around since 1998, IPv6 adoption is slow at only about 40%. As such, exclusive use of IPv6 for production websites is not recommended. Unless specified otherwise, mentions of a Dedicated IP address in this article and throughout the WHC website refers to an IPv4 address. 

So what is a dedicated IP address?

A dedicated IP address is an IP address that is dedicated for your sole usage. 

At WHC, when purchased with a web hosting plan, the dedicated IP address ensures that only your website uses that IP. In most cases, your visitors can either type in your domain name or your IP address to access the primary website assigned to that IP.

When purchased with a Dedicated or Cloud server, IP addresses are also reserved for your exclusive use, but they can be used for more advanced purposes, including nameserver hosting. You can also manage which website gets hosted on which IP address.

What is a shared IP address?

It’s the most common in the web hosting industry. A shared IP address is used by several websites and users usually hosted on the same server. Each website has its own domain name, but they all share the same IP address. 

Your hosting provider will ensure that visitors are directed to the correct website based on the domain name, even if they have the same IP address.

Since users with a shared IP address use a shared server, the resources allocated are limited to some extent. In addition, any action taken by the owner of a website can affect other sites. For example, when a user with a shared IP address is banned or blacklisted for sending unsolicited emails, this may impact the reputation of other users’ email services.

Good to know... WHC operates in a cPanel environment, and dedicated IPs are not assigned per website, but per cPanel account. 

Does a Dedicated IP help with SEO?

The short answer: NO!

That being said, one thing that can affect your SEO is your website's speed. If your account is on a shared hosting server, it’s probably sharing the same IP with other heavy or high-traffic websites on the same server.

This might slow down your site, and website performance influences how your website shows up in SERPs. However, there are so many other factors that come into play when it comes to SEO… and a dedicated IP might not be the best solution to speed up your website. 

The Benefits of a Dedicated IP

SSL Support

A dedicated IP address enables support for SSL security on older browsers that may not support SNI technology. Since most modern browsers now support this, a dedicated IP address for SSL is not required, but recommended. In addition, without a dedicated IP address, if an SSL certificate expires or malfunctions, it may end up displaying another website hosted on the same server, instead of the actual website.

IP reputation

IPs can end up being blacklisted for mail abuse reasons (SPAM) or if a website is infected with malware. While WHC does not tolerate any abusive activities, accidentally blacklisting an IP is a possibility. A dedicated IP helps to avoid such situations, especially on Cloud or Dedicated Servers.

Security & Portability

In some cases, a dedicated IP address can help protect your website, by reducing the risk that an attack targeting another website that shares your IP would also affect your website’s performance. In addition, a dedicated IP on certain types of hosting infrastructure can facilitate the migration of an account from one server to another while minimizing disruptions.

Better DNS Control

Cloud and Dedicated Server owners as well as clients operating Reseller Hosting plans may run their own DNS servers. In this case, you can set up a pair of nameservers (such as ns1.yourservername.com and ns2.yourservername.com). The nameservers may be unbranded or branded (using your own domain name). In both cases, you’ll need at least two Dedicated IP Addresses.

Do I need a dedicated IP for my website?

Although a dedicated IP can be a great solution for some, it's not always the case. It’s important to determine and understand the needs of your website first.

So to simplify matters, let’s look at the 3 most common scenarios:

  1. Your site is new or still growing: a shared IP address is usually a solution that works well
  2. Your site regularly receives a lot traffic: we recommend you get a dedicated IP address
  3. You run an e-commerce site that generates substantial revenue: we recommend you get a dedicated IP address.

Conclusion

If you're still not sure whether your website needs a dedicated IP address or not, get in touch with our team for a consultation. We'll be able to help you figure out whether or not you need one and answer any questions you may have.

Domain Names Search Test

Uncategorized

Why Register your Domain Name with WHC?

 

Outstanding Value

Save up to 70% over other leading domain registrars
 

Huge Selection

400+ domain types to choose from
 

24/7 Assistance

by phone, chat or email, to help you along the way
 

Simple Management

including DNS, contacts and security
 

100% Canadian

owned and operated. Unlike others, we only bill in $CA
 

Trusted Experience

CIRA & ICANN-accredited, with 100,000+ domains under management
 

Customer-Focused

with a management team that actually listens, cares and adapts
 

Consolidation

Bring your hosting, email, and domains under one roof
 

Already have domain(s)?

Move your domain(s) under one roof and experience the WHC difference! Bring domains to WHC
 

Also need web hosting?

Most of our hosting plans come with a free domain name for the first year. Get a free domain
 

Buy more, save more!

Can't get enough domains? Join the Domain Club and save BIG. Get better pricing
<? if(date('Ymd') >= '20200914'){ ?>
Canadian shoppers are 4 times more likely to choose .CA
<? } ?>

Here's What You Get with Every Domain Name

    • Complete DNS Control
      Easily change nameservers, or create custom A, CNAME, TXT records using your Domain Manager.
  • Domain Locking
    Protect your domain from unauthorized transfer with our security lock.
  • WHOIS Information Management
    Update your domain’s contact information with ease, to ensure it’s always up-to-date.

Available Domain Addons

  • Privacy Protection
    Hide your personal information from prying eyes to help reduce spam, fraud and identify theft. Just 9.99$/yr
  • Domain Manager Pro
    Protect your domain with more powerful Anycast DNS to help withstand large-scale attacks and increase uptime. Starting at 0.99$/mo.

Domain Names: Your Questions, Our Answers

Domain names like yourcompany.com make it easy for potential customers to find you on the Internet. It maps out a human-readable word or phrase (say, jonathanscafe.com) to a computer readable Internet address (called IP address) allowing your clients and visitors to view and use your website, shopping cart, and communicate with you via email. Everyone can get a domain name. While some domain types have certain conditions (.CA domains require you to be a Canadian, for example) most can be reserved by paying the corresponding registration fees, on a first-come-first-served basis. You can register most domains for up to 10 years, and then may renew them at any given time, at their then current renewal rate. To register your own domain name, simply complete a search and registration form on this very page.
Picking the right domain is a crucial step in getting your website or business online. Here are a few tips to help you pick the perfect domain:
  • Make it easy to type and easy to remember. Keep in mind that you’ll occasionally give people your domain over the phone or in person. If they can’t spell it out later, they might not find you online! Short and sweet often works best.
  • Make it Unique. Avoid confusion with your competitors, or you may accidentally end up sending them some of your business!
  • Use keywords that accurately describe your product, services, or brand. This will help your website get better rankings in search engines such as Google. Your domain could, for example, include the city that you’re operating in, one of your main products, or your brand.
  • Pick the right domain type. With over 300 new domain endings to choose from, you are now in a unique position to select a domain type that more closely describes your business. You can target clients in a geographic location (.CA or .QUEBEC), by hobby (.hockey, .soccer, .golf) or even with a bit of humor (.lol, .ninja, .wtf). By using one of the new domain types, you are also greatly increasing your chances of finding an available domain with the keywords you need.
  • Register multiple relevant domains. This could include domain misspellings, useful variants, or geographically targeted domains. And you don’t need to build separate websites for each domain: you can easily redirect them to your primary domain. Several companies choose to protect their brands by registering their domain with multiple popular domain extensions.
  • Do your research and make sure your domain choice is not copyrighted by someone else. It will help avoid costly legal issues that may cost you more than just your domain!
You can transfer any active domain to Web Hosting Canada by using our domain transfer order form. Before transferring your domain, you will need to:
  • Obtain your domain’s transfer key (also called AUTH key or EPP code). This is a password that protects your domain from being transferred without your authorization. Ask your current provider for this key, and enter it when requested during your transfer order with Web Hosting Canada.
  • Unlock your domain. Most domains will be locked with their current providers to prevent unauthorized transfer. You may be able to unlock your domain directly from your provider’s domain management portal or by contacting them directly.
  • Ensure the email address of the domain’s Administrative contact of your domain is in fact an email address that you have access to, and that any Domain Privacy is disabled. You can view your domain’s current information using any WHOIS lookup tool such as easywhois.com
This information should be requested from your current domain registrar or reseller. If you are unsure who you’ve registered your domain name with, please try to find a payment invoice with the company’s name or identify them by performing a WHOIS lookup and get in touch with them directly. Once started, a domain transfer may take up to 5 days to complete (.CA domains generally transfer within minutes). You may be asked to confirm your request by clicking on a link that will be sent to you by email, and you will receive an email confirmation from us once the transfer has been completed. You will then be able to manage your domain and update your nameservers from your Client Area. When you transfer your domain registration, you are also automatically adding one year to your domain’s expiration date. For example, if your domain expires in 2020, its expiry date will be in 2021 after your transfer. This ensures that you do not lose any of the time you already paid for your domain with another provider. If you have any additional questions about your domain’s transfer, please get in touch with our friendly support team for immediate assistance.
Privacy Protection is a security service that helps protect your private information on the Internet. When registering any new domain, registration authorities require you to submit your personal information including your name, email, phone number, and full address. This information is then made public on the WHOIS database, a massive collection of all registered domains and their owners, intended to provide transparency on the Internet. Unfortunately, this database is nowadays used by spammers, hackers, and identity thieves to spam your email, hack your website, or steal your identity. With Privacy Protection all your private information is automatically hidden and replaced with that of the Privacy Protection service, effectively hiding all your personal information from prying eyes and protecting your inbox for unwanted spam. Privacy Protection is available for a small yearly supplement, and can be requested during your new domain’s order process, or added from your Client Area. It’s strongly recommended for all new domain registrations, and is included for free with .CA domains.
DNS (Domain Name System) is a technology that powers the backbone of the internet, allowing the mapping of domain names to servers that hold the data of your website and email. Before someone can reach your website, they need to communicate with the DNS servers to obtain the actual location of your website’s data. Traditional DNS servers are physically located in fixed locations around the world, often thousands of kilometers from your website visitor’s location. This causes an additional delay before you or your clients can reach your website. With Anycast DNS technology, your website’s DNS information is automatically copied to dozens of locations around the world (instead of just one), allowing your clients to automatically fetch the information from the location that’s closest to them, thus improving your website’s initial load time. Web Hosting Canada’s Anycast DNS system has been built from the ground up with Canadians in mind, and includes 10 points of presence in Canada alone, to ensure the fastest possible domain resolution times for you and your clients. There are also points of presence in Europe, Asia, and the US, to make sure even those halfway around the world get near-instant access to your website! Anycast DNS is included with our Canadian Web Hosting or can be activated by ordering the Domain Manager PRO addon for your domain.
Your domain names can easily be managed from your Client Area. You’ll be able to:
  • Update your nameservers
  • Manage your advanced DNS settings (A Record, CNAME, TXT and MX)
  • Update your WHOIS Contact Information
  • Manage Privacy Protection
  • Manage your Domain Lock
With the Domain Manager PRO addon, you can also take advantage of premium features:
  • Anycast DNS
  • Email forwarders
  • URL Forwarders
  • AntiSpam Rules
Here are just a few reasons:
  • Free features with every domain, including DNS Hosting, DNS Record Management and Domain Locking
  • Useful low-cost addons like Privacy Protection, Email forwarding, URL forwarding and DNS Anycast technology to speed up domain name resolution time worldwide.
  • Easily connect a new website, blog, or professional email on your new domain through our intuitive Client Area.
  • The lowest prices in the industry. Pay in Canadian dollars and save up to 40% over competitors charging in USD!
  • 24/7 assistance from real experts, by phone, email, and live chat
  • Increased trust and offered by a CIRA-accredited registrar that manages tens of thousands of domains every day.

From the WHC blog

The Canadian Guide to Finding Your Perfect Domain Name
The Canadian Guide to Finding Your Perfect Domain Name

Your domain name is your online identity and a key branding element for any business. If chosen wisely, your domain name will stay with you for years,..

Read more
.CA Domains: A Guide to the Canadian Internet
.CA Domains: A Guide to the Canadian Internet

As the second largest country on the planet, Canada is not too difficult to find on a map. But what about finding information about Canadians, Canadian..

Read more
* The .CA promotional price is limited to 5 domain registrations per client. This applies to the first year of new .CA domain name registrations only, and not to renewals or transfers of existing domain names. Additional registrations are available at $9.99 for the first year and renews at $13.99 per year afterward.
Search for Your Perfect Domain Today Search Domain Name
Ubuntu logo

Ubuntu is here!

Security

We have great news for Cloud and Dedicated server administrators... Ubuntu is now available at WHC! Want to learn more about this powerful operating system? Read on! 

What is Ubuntu?

Ubuntu is a modern, open-source operating system (OS) that is one of the most popular Linux distributions available. This is largely due to solid features such as its user-friendliness, strong security, software options, as well as lightweight performance. 

Let’s review some of the main advantages:

  • Built for enterprise: Ubuntu is an enterprise-grade OS that is more than capable of handling substantial server workloads.

  • Stability and security: A long-term support (LTS) version of Ubuntu is released every 2 years, and all LTS releases benefit from 5 years of free security maintenance (which can be extended to 10 years).

  • Reliable experience: Ubuntu works exactly the same wherever you need it. On individual workstations, on cloud or dedicated server environments.

  • Trusted to power big infrastructure: It is the platform of choice for big data. Having been widely adopted for its stability, security, interoperability, and enjoyable user experience.

  • Full cPanel Support: cPanel & WHM now provide full support for the Ubuntu OS.

What’s the difference between Ubuntu and other Red Hat Operating Systems?

If you're considering Ubuntu as your OS of choice vs other Red Hat systems (e.g. CentOS, or AlmaLinux), you’ll want to evaluate the primary differences. 

The main reasons for choosing Ubuntu are: 

  • Ubuntu is Debian based: Perhaps the main difference is that Ubuntu is built upon Debian architecture, while OS’s such as CentOS are forked from Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL). Debian-based systems are used by more websites worldwide and have the advantage of a larger community for support, for app and for package development.

  • Use of DEB packages: In Ubuntu, you can download DEB packages using the apt-get package manager. This is much simpler than the RHEL method of installing packages from a central repository (via the command line).

  • Strong community: Ubuntu has an extremely active community producing tutorials, how-to guides, and books. Finding solutions to Ubuntu problems are a lot easier to solve given the amount of available documentation.

  • Cloud support: Ubuntu server has plenty of support for container and cloud deployments, which makes it vastly superior in cloud server environments. 

How do I get it?

If you activate a new Cloud or Dedicated server, you now have the option to have Ubuntu pre-installed as your OS. 

At WHC, we also have AlmaLinux and CloudLinux available as OS options. We’re happy to support you, no matter which OS you choose!

As always, if you have any questions, please feel free to reach out!

SiteMojo Website Builder

Uncategorized

SiteMojo Website Builder

Create and publish a website in minutes

  • Drag & Drop Editor
  • 200+ Website Templates
  • Responsive Design
  • 24/7 Expert Support

200+ website templates

Save time and kick-start your website! Choose from hundreds of free and fully responsive templates covering every need. Use the template as is or adjust it in a few clicks.

SiteMojo website template
SiteMojo website template
SiteMojo website template
SiteMojo website template
Drag and drop

Drag & drop interface

Customize your website with ease. Place your images, text, or videos with the intuitive drag-and-drop editor.

Responsive design

Responsive design

Ensure your website maintains a sleek appearance on all devices, including mobile phones, tablets, and desktops.

Import website

Import your existing site

Import your website content into SiteMojo in just a few clicks, then start editing it immediately.

Multilingual

Supports 45+ languages

Set up a multilingual website by choosing from a wide variety of languages, from French to Mandarin to Italian.

Get SiteMojo with all our Web Hosting plans

Go

Affordable plan, great for personal projects. As low as C$3.89/mo C$9.99 Save 61% Add to Cart
  • BASIC Performance
  • Single Website
  • Unlimited1 Space & Traffic
  • Powered by renewable energy
  • 1 Email Account
  • Standard Hosting Features
  • Free Site Migration
  • Google Ads Credit
  • Free SSL Certificate
  • SiteMojo Basic
Most Popular

Pro

Pro performance, premium features, free domain2, and more! As low as C$3.92/mo C$13.99 Save 72% Add to Cart
  • ADVANCED Performance
  • Unlimited1 Websites
  • Unlimited1 Space & Traffic
  • Powered by renewable energy
  • Unlimited Email Accounts
  • Standard Hosting Features
  • Free Site Migration
  • Google Ads Credit
  • Free SSL Certificate
  • SiteMojo Advanced
  • Free Domain2
  • Optimized for WordPress
  • Premium Features
  • Email Marketing (500 contacts)

Enterprise

Best performance for demanding websites, with SSL. As low as C$11.89/mo C$23.50 Save 49% Add to Cart
  • FASTEST Performance
  • Unlimited1 Websites
  • Unlimited1 Space & Traffic
  • Powered by renewable energy
  • Unlimited Email Accounts
  • Standard Hosting Features
  • Free Site Migration
  • Google Ads Credit
  • Free SSL Certificate
  • SiteMojo Advanced
  • Free Domain2
  • Optimized for WordPress
  • Premium Features
  • Email Marketing (1000 contacts)
Start building with SiteMojo today Get Started
Domain club

The Domain Club

Uncategorized

The Domain Club

The more domains,
the more savings!

Save big when you have 25+ domains with us and enjoy free features and VIP perks.

No membership fees or hidden costs!

VIP pricing starts at only 25 domains!


  • .CA
  • .COM
  • .ORG
  • .NET
  • .INFO
  • .BIZ
  • .QUEBEC
  • Domain Protection
  • Registration
    Everyday low prices
  • C$10.99
  • C$15.49
  • C$13.99
  • C$16.49
  • C$27.00
  • C$20.99
  • C$29.49
  • C$9.99
  • Domain Club Renewals
  • BRONZE
    25+ Domains
  • C$14.99
    C$12.99
  • C$19.99
    C$16.99
  • C$20.99
    C$17.89
  • C$21.49
    C$16.49
  • C$36.00
    C$26.99
  • C$27.99
    C$22.99
  • C$39.49
    C$35.99
  • C$9.99
    C$4.49
  •  
  • GOLD
    75+ Domains
  • C$14.99
    C$11.99
  • C$19.99
    C$15.99
  • C$20.99
    C$16.49
  • C$21.49
    C$15.99
  • C$36.00
    C$24.99
  • C$27.99
    C$20.99
  • C$39.49
    C$31.99
  • C$9.99
    FREE

All prices are in CAD per domain, per year, and include ICANN fees.

Laurel

160k+ domains under our wing

CIRA Certified & ICANN Accredited Registrar
Laurel

Why choose WHC for domains?

100% Canadian

Based in the of Montreal. Prices are in $CA.

Available 24/7

Expert domain support whenever you need it.

Keep It Together

Keep your hosting, email, and domains under one roof for easier management.

Email Forwarding

Easily redirect domain-based emails to another email for free.

Domain Forwarding

Redirect your website visitors to another page for free.

Free DNS Hosting

Easily access and manage your domain’s DNS records.

The Domain Club: FAQ

The Domain Club is a select program, exclusive to people who have more than 25 domains at WHC. Whether you register them at WHC or you transfer them in from another registrar, there are no membership fees or hidden cost to join the club. The Domain Club members enjoy preferential pricing every time they renew a vast array of TLDs.
No, but once you reach the minimum of 25+ domains at WHC, you're one click away from becoming a Domain Club member.
Once you reach 25 domains, Simply click on Join the Club. You'll be asked to log in your Client Area and that's it. You're in! You can right then and there enjoy the VIP pricing on domains, current or new.
Our prices are already among the lowest in the industry, not to mention our prices are all in CAD dollars. That said, we also offer preferential pricing on many of the 400+ TLDs we support. Contact us to know more!
You can conveniently transfer any active domain names yourself or contact us for a personalized transfer plan. If you eventually need web hosting or a domain-based email, we have it all right here. Plus, managing everything under one roof just makes sense, right?
WHC is committed to providing the lowest price and the best value to Domainers. If you have a larger than large portfolio, reach out to us for a personalized quote.
There are numerous reasons to secure domain names. While some people do it to secure their brand, others do so to build a decent domain portfolio as part of their investment strategy. Because yes, some people invest in domain names like others invest in stocks, crypto or NFTs. At a time when the Internet is becoming more and more important in everyone’s lives, domains are long-term investments and it’s slowly becoming common practice.
Want to join the Domain Club? Join now
Expand your portfolio with our Domain Bulk Registration Tool.