Wolfgang Webprofi has developed your website and hosted and published it at Hans Harddisk GmbH. You have a contract with Wolfgang Webprofi so that he can take care of content updates and a contract with Hans Harddisk so that you can park the website with him.
Thousands of visitors swarm in and then – right at the start of the big summer campaign – your customers stare at a blank white page. Desperate, you call Wolfgang Webprofi, but he hasn’t changed anything and sends you to Hans Harddisk, but Hans Harddisk doesn’t want a solution either. All the lights are green, the fault is not his. Back to Wolfgang Webprofi. Miraculously, the site is working again. Neither Wolfgang Webprofi nor Hans Harddisk have done anything. A bad feeling comes over you. When will it happen next?
Have you ever experienced it?
Let’s first clarify the various tasks
Responsibility of the host
The host operates the servers and, in the case of so-called shared hosting or managed hosting, also the operating system and the server programs (database, web server, etc.). He is responsible for ensuring that the computer is running, that it is connected to the Internet and that the resources ordered are available. If there is a power failure, all the lights come on and the host solves the problem. If there is a security gap in the operating system, the host will close it.
Responsibility of the webmaster (or operator)
He installs the website on the server, fixes errors on the website and makes changes to the content. Many use a so-called framework such as WordPress, Drupal, Kirby CMS or Joomla to create the website. The webmaster is responsible for the maintenance, development and upkeep of this system.
Possible problems
Unfortunately, the distinction is not always clear. It is particularly annoying if the errors do not occur regularly. Certain errors only occur in certain combinations or under a corresponding load (20 simultaneous visitors), but nobody wants to have been there or nobody wants to go to the trouble of looking for the error. Webmasters and hosts are blaming each other.
As the end customer, you are left out in the cold and have no say. You are overwhelmed with PHP error messages, the buffer for InnoDB is too small, the shared memory is not big enough, we were attacked via DDoS. You just want the site to go back online; it doesn’t matter if it’s a memory leak, a hack or a syntax error.
Our recommendation
Especially if errors only occur in certain situations (often depending on the number of simultaneous visitors), the error can be corrected on both sides. Depending on what is more expensive or cheaper. If the site crashes every time 20 visitors come at the same time, you can either buy more server power or optimize the site (usually the former is cheaper). You need a person who is not responsible for the functionality of individual parts, but for the functionality of the website.
We offer you hosting. If something doesn’t work, we are your only point of contact.
also interesting for you: Web design companies vs. freelancers: advantages and disadvantages