i know what a reseller does (not to hard to figure out). but i never knew the difference between a virtual host and a shared host. can anyone answer this to me?

While a particular hosting company might make a distinction between the two in defining plans, for purposes of definition they are the same thing and could be used interchangeably.

That is correct.

Basically, a domain either has a dedicated IP or it does not. In most cases a dedicated IP is not necessary and therefore, virtual or shared hosting is fine.

There are some instances where you need a dedicated IP, but if you do not need it there is no reason to take one. We are running out.

As I learned it,
virtual = many domains on 1 IP OR 1 domain on 1 IP
Virtual is a term to describe the use of www.domain.com instead of 33.22.11.5

shared=more than one domain on a server. Shared describes the environment on the machine. Dedicated is one domain on a server, shared is many.

Originally posted by Orpheus1539
As I learned it,
virtual = many domains on 1 IP OR 1 domain on 1 IP
Virtual is a term to describe the use of www.domain.com instead of 33.22.11.5

shared=more than one domain on a server. Shared describes the environment on the machine. Dedicated is one domain on a server, shared is many.

True but virtual can also = more than one domain on a server

I don't see that this has much to do with IP addresses at all. Any difference would most likely be made by an individual host, like JayC said. I don't think 'shared host' is a technical term that is definitively defined. I may be incorrect, but...

Regarding the ip issue :( i set up all my accounts with a static ip, since arin came out with a new law it is starting to be *alot* harder to get ip's.

Yeah.... I've always used the two terms interchangeably. :D

I have always used them interchangeably also. The IP has nothing to do with it from what I understand.

Originally posted by JayC
While a particular hosting company might make a distinction between the two in defining plans, for purposes of definition they are the same thing and could be used interchangeably.

I disagree.

Virtual hosts are complete virtual servers on one computer. You get your own httpd processes, your own config files, your own installations of all applicationsl.

Shared hosts are shared application resources like the same httpd daemons, etc. There is a single config file managed by the hosting company, and you have no control over how things are installed.

There are very few people doing real virtual hosts - but many shared hosts incorrectly defining themselves as virtual hosts.

-t