Get unlimited bandwidth from your host for free

NOTE: This applies only to specific hosting companies, due to the

specific setup needed and does have its drawbacks.



While setting up hosting space with a specific company I often deal

with, I noticed that they used a shared IP. (IP shared by two or more

websites/domains.) Well, the rates for unlimited bandwidth were

around $50+ per month, which I found unreasonable. I didnt require

much space, and didnt want to be limited to a mere 3 gig of traffic

per month.



Back on track... When setting up the acct, the hosting company needs

to know the domain name so that they can direct it accordingly.

(example: 'http://www.123.4.567.890/~user1/ ,

'http://www.123.4.567.890/~user2/ etc)

At this point you can give a url that doesnt belong to you at all. As

long as the nameservers dont change, that should have absolutly no

negative effects on you or your site whatsoever.



How it works is this:

The host propogates you a certain amount space on its servers, and

monitors the traffic that enters their space through the domain its

registered under. Being that the domain isn't connected to the site

at all, it registers ZERO traffic.



Zero traffic registered = can't possibly go over bandwidth

restrictions

can't possibly go over bandwidth restrictions = free unlimited

bandwidth



Now the problems with this (besides the ethical ones) is that your

host may offer X amount of mail addys with the acct

(you@y...) and these will not work, as the name isnt on their

DNS. However, some domain companies allow you to set it up

regardless. Another problem seems to be strictly cosmetic, but can be

highly problematic... Once you attach the domain you want onto the

site, each page comes up/w the ip/UN the host propagated to your

acct. Its at this point where you have to have a phenominal 10-15

character alphanumerical or better (#, &, etc) pw, or your site will

be vulnerable to attack since the attacker already has your UN. This

only gives attackers a slight advantage as the amount of time it

would take to brute force a 10 character pw @ a rate of 1,000,000 per

second is 10 years. Add numbers and case sensitivity to that and it

becomes approx 26,980 years.



While I'm on it, I may as well add that if you use this method,

obviously you are going to be using the lowest cost hosting plan

available, which in turn will offer the least amount of space. Thats

why free hosts were invented.



Free hosts suck as a general rule. Who wants a site smothered in ads?

However, if you upload all your programs, graphics and other large

files (have a backup of course) to a reliable free host and target

them accordingly from your site you have just freed up a signifigant

amount of space. The only setback/w this is having to keep an index

card or file around/w your pws, as you should never use the same one

twice, and want to use complicated ones.