How To Host Multiple Websites On One Server

Managing a dedicated server, especially a high-performance option like VPS, for every website can quickly become expensive. You need more people and a whole lot of company resources to monitor it. A server, for each website at that, also requires continual technical maintenance. Additionally, you may have to deal with the increased threat of cyber attacks and downtime caused by multiple server failures. So, the best way to get around these issues is to host multiple websites on one server.

Benefits of Hosting Multiple Websites On One Server

Simplified Management

A benefit of hosting multiple websites on one server is the ease of management. Whether you need to manage upgrades or backups for your websites, you can do it from the server’s centralized dashboard. This makes things easier for your IT team, as it only has to manage a single server.

Cost Efficient

VPS hosting and dedicated hosting are among the best types of web hosting servers. They are also quite expensive. So, purchasing a separate VPS or a dedicated server for each website may not be the most financially sound option. However, hosting multiple sites on a common VPS or dedicated server can be cost-effective.

Optimal Usage of Resources

Websites with a common server also share bandwidth, RAM, and disk space. This ensures that these are utilized more efficiently.

Scalable

When your business starts to grow, you can add multiple websites and subdomains under the same server. You can also remove websites.

How To Host Multiple Websites On One Server: A Step-by-Step Guide

Purchase a Hosting Plan

Start by researching top hosting providers and their plans for multi-website hosting. You may come across plans for shared hosting; however, avoiding them is best. This is because shared hosting, though more affordable, does not offer as much security and resources as VPS or dedicated hosting.

Once you have whittled down the list of best web hosting providers and plans, check the number of websites they cover. For instance, some providers allow you to add up to a hundred sites with plans starting at around $3/month.

Buy a Domain Name

Websites need unique names, i.e., domain names, that you need to register and buy. Only after this step can you add your websites to a server. So, look for the best domain registrars that offer fair pricing and reliable customer support.

Add Domains to the Hosting Account

The steps for adding domains can vary slightly, but the general process remains the same. This involves locating the domain management section—usually under “Control Panel”—on your main hosting dashboard. Then, look for “Websites” or “Domains”, and go to the option that allows you to add your domains. Do not forget to add the subdomains for your respective domains. You will see a message, notifying you that the domains have been successfully added.

Update the DNS Settings

After adding the domains to your hosting account, the next step is to update their DNS or nameserver settings. Go to your domain registrar’s dashboard and find the DNS or nameserver settings. Replace the default nameservers with the ones given by your hosting provider. Making this change will allow the domain server to direct the respective domains to their new server.

Build Your Websites

Once the domains are connected to the new server, you can start building your websites. Upload existing website files using a file manager, FTP client, website builder, or Content Management System (CMS) like WordPress. Make sure you select relevant SSL certificates, so your websites have the required “https” security. Once you have added all the required elements to your websites, preview each in a browser to ensure it loads correctly and works as expected.

Risk of Hosting Multiple Websites On One Server

Security Threat

A common concern that you need to be aware of is the security risk. If your hosting or server account gets hacked, cybercriminals will now have access to all of your websites.

Performance Issues

Suppose one of the websites experiences heavy traffic; most of the server’s resources will be allocated to managing it. In such a situation, other websites on the server can slow down.

Influence on SEO

Server downtime is an important concern for search engines. If a server goes down, all websites hosted on it become unavailable. Frequent downtimes can negatively impact your search engine rankings, as your sites may be flagged as unreliable.

FAQs

Can I run many websites from one server?

Yes. All you need to do is select a relevant hosting plan, allowing multiple domains to be listed under the same server.

Do I need a domain for each website?

Yes. A domain is a website’s name—its main identifier. Your audience finds your website online with this identifier. Without a domain, your website does not have an address on the internet.

Can I use one IP for all my websites?

Yes. Multiple websites can share a common IP, which is a cost-effective solution. However, shared IPs may affect email reputation and security, while dedicated IPs offer better control but cost more.

Will my sites slow down on one server?

Yes. Without proper resource allocation, a common server can end up using all of its resources to handle the traffic for one site. This can slow down other sites.

Do I need to pay extra for SSL for each site?

Not necessarily. You can opt for a multiple-domain SSL certificate, covering several websites.