Every
hosting account has a certain allotment of disk space.
The disk space is used to hold all the files which make
up your web site – HTML files, graphics, scripts,
and multi-media content. Usually the more expensive
the hosting package the more disk space and the more
bandwidth you receive.
A
basic web site with just a few pages requires less than
1 MB of disk space. As you add more content and include
things like downloadable files, pictures, music, and
video you will require more disk space. Email also takes
up disk space. If you have an account with a small disk
allotment you may find that unsolicited SPAM may be
eating away at your disk allotment. It's always a good
idea to go through your inbox from time to time to delete
unnecessary emails.
What
will happen if you use too much disk space? Each web
host has their own policy about this but it's safe to
say that you will be charged for the extra space. Often
this penalty is much higher than regular rates for disk
space so it's important to keep an eye on how much space
you are using and if you are approaching the limit,
either purchase more space or delete some files.
How
can you tell how much space you are using? Most hosting
packages have a control panel for making adjustments
to almost every aspect of your account. These control
panels usually tell you how much disk space is being
used and may also rate it against your allotment so
you can see at a glance if you are approaching your
limit. If your hosting account does not have this feature
you can judge the amount of space by downloading your
entire site to a folder on your personal computer in
order to check how much space it takes.
As
a rough guide, consider that an average web page (3
graphics and 2 screen lengths of text) takes about 20
kb (to be generous). At this rate, a hosting package
with 10 MB can have about 500 pages. Since most small
sites are less than 50 pages 10 MB should be plenty
to get started. But what about databases? They are usually
calculated separately from your disk allotment but check
with your web host to see what their policy is.
If
you place music or video files on your website your
need for disk space (and bandwidth) starts to take off.
A typical 3 minute MP3 file takes about 2.5 to 3 MB
of disk space. A short video (very poor quality) can
take 1 MB. A good rule of thumb for those wishing to
host multimedia is to estimate the total size of the
files and get an account with double that space. This
will allow for future expansion. Always check with your
web host, though, before placing sound or video files
on your website. Some have policies against this type
of content because it places a strain on the bandwidth
allotment – a serious consideration with a shared
hosting package.
