Web Site Host Root Access

A Web Hosting Article Contributed by Frances Rhea

Do You Need Web Site Host Root Access?

When you first begin to work with a web site host, people often wonder what root access is and if they need it. Root access is receiving the privilege to access all of the places on a host server. This can most easily be explained f you think of a server/computer as a tree. The roots control the tree allowing water and minerals in. They are what makes the tree. Anything that goes into the roots, goes into the entire tree. Anything that affects the roots of the tree, affects the entire tree.

Web site host servers can be compared to this tree in some aspects. The Web host site server is set up with parts of the computer separated into different areas. Each different area is given its separate privileges. One area cannot affect another area.

What This Means to You When You Host Your Web Site

A good example would be if there are three web sites hosted on a server and one Web site has problems, the other two are not affected. Each Web site hosted is in its own section of the server and can affect only itself. Each Web site that is hosted has an account where they control their portion of the server.

But wait! There has to be a master account or a way into all areas or Web sites. If you did not have a master account to access all Web sites at once, it would be very difficult to take care of your server. If something needed to be fixed or updated on every Web site on the server it would take a lot of time and effort for the Web site host. This method or access to all of the parts of the server is known as "root access".

When someone has root access they can affect or change everything on the entire server. Root access has no restrictions. If an error is made in root access it could wipe out the entire server and therefore all Web sites hosted on the server.

So Why Do People Want Root Access on Their Web Site Host?

There is no reason to. Unless you are leasing your own server where you host several Web sites for yourself and others and need to make a global change that will every account on the server, you do not need root access.

It is a Web site host's job to manage their servers. Allowing their customers to do this for them could cause havoc on their servers. This could cause problems that could cost them additional time and money since most of their clients do not have enough technical knowledge to manage the delicate processes.

So, just be satisfied with managing your small area where you Web site is hosted and enjoy the benefits of having someone else do the hard part of managing the server. It can be enough just to adequately manage your Web site let alone taking care of what happens with other accounts.