Bandwidth

[vbbit]

Hello, I'm kinda ignorant here. I just noticed that my webhost provides me 1024MB bandwidth... there's a bar saying that I have used 85MB of Monthly Bandwith...

My question is what is bandwidth? And would I reach that 1024MB sooner and later? If I reach that amount of MB, my website could not viewed anymore? I don't understand this.

[dglienna]

They keep track of how many people visit your site, and what they do on it, which requires your host to upload and download information to them. If you have used 85/1024 on the 24th of the month, then you don't have to worry, really.
Also, if you go over the limit, they will probably just charge you more, not turn off the site.

[vbbit]

the thing is it's free webhost, that's why I'm little concerned if they would use that to force me to upgrade but anyway... why sometimes I see some ad saying that low bandwith, what does that term mean? Like they say, if we use flash it takes up a lot of bandwidth. What does that mean too?

[dglienna]

Sure. A basic web page is fairly small, but a long flash movie can take up a lot more space on the server, which has to be sent to each client. As long as you have used less than 10% after 3 weeks, you have nothing to worry about.

Also, pages are cached on cleint machines. As long as the page doesn't change, then most of it is already saved on the client machine, so it doesn't have to be sent. Flash movies tend to change often, so they don't exist, so they have to be sent.

[penagate]

If it's free hosting they will probably close your site for the rest of the month if you go over your bandwidth limit. If its paid you might have a premium, they might close it, or you might be asked to upgrade, it depends on your plan details.

[mendhak]

Free hosts block the site. Take a look at any geocities or angelfire website that's gotten popular overnight.

dglienna is right about the 'concern' though, you have no need for it unless your website becomes a major hotspot all of a sudden in which case you should start asking for donations and get a real hosting plan.