We have recently updated our servers to support PHP 5.3 (currently 5.3.8, but we will keep this up to date with the latest version of 5.3).

We are currently running a dual system with PHP, supporting both PHP 5.2 and PHP 5.3. Everything still defaults to the normal PHP 5.2 version. But if you have a special need for PHP 5.3, we can enable PHP 5.3 for your website.

Just shoot us a support ticket and we’ll be happy to switch your account over to PHP 5.3.

Eventually all systems will have to be switched over to PHP 5.3 by default, but we don’t have any time estimate for when that will be. When PHP 5.3 was first released there were a lot of compatibility issues with scripts due to changes in PHP 5.3 from PHP 5.2, so that is why we did not immediately upgrade and it’s why we are not switching to PHP 5.3 by default.

If you have any questions at all about this, please feel free to open a support ticket and our support team will be glad to answer any questions you may have.

Steven

An updated to Joomla! has been release, version 1.7.1. All Joomla! users are encouraged to upgrade. This is a security release and fixes a security hole in previous version. Failing to update can lead to your website being hacked.

For more information see:

http://www.joomla.org/announcements/release-news/5387-joomla-171-released.html

Steven

We have had a couple of requests come in lately confusing parked domains and addon domains. The aim of this entry is to help clear up this confusion.

• Parked Domains – Sometimes called pointers or pointer domains. With a parked domain, you are essentially making two domain names go to the same website. For example, say you have a webhosting account with the domain name mydomain.com, but you also own the domain name mydomain.net, you may want to have both domain names go to the same website, in case of user error (.com vs. .net). In this example, you would park mydomain.net on top of mydomain.com. This also carries over the same directory structure so going to http://mydomain.net/sales will take you to the same webpage as mydomain.com/sales. Parked domains are a one time $10 charge.

• Addon Domains – These allow you to split your webhosting account up into multiple website. You essentially use the space on your webhosting account to host multiple websites. For example, if you have a webhosting account with the domain name animals.com and you want to add 2 other domain names to your account, cats.com and dogs.com. With an addon domain, you give each domain it’s own DocumentRoot. You might set cats.com to have a DocumentRoot of /home/animals/public_html/cats and you might set dogs.com to have a DocumentRoot of /home/animals/public_html/dogs. This means that when someone goes to http://cats.com they will get the directory structure as it is laid out at /home/animals/public_html/cats and when someone goes to http://dogs.com they will get the directory structure as laid out at /home/animals/public_html/dogs. Addon domains are an extra $1 per month per addon domain.

Addon Domains are similar to having two completely separate webhosting accounts, except the cPanel and FTP for each account is shared. This means that you will want the same individual to maintain both website, because you would not want to give out cPanel details to a stranger and let them have access to all of your other hosted domains.

Scott

AMS Computer Services is now on Facebook! You can find our page at:

http://www.facebook.com/amswebhost

Be sure to click Like to become a fan.

We will post special announcements on this page, special web hosting deals, and other notables from the webhosting industry.

Interact with us, tell your friends, and join our social community!

Scott

We are happy to announce that we have a new Script Library and Repository available to all of our shared hosting clients! This new library, called Softaculous, replaces Fantastico in your cPanel.

Any script you installed with Fantastico has been imported into Softaculous. So if you installed a scripts with Fantastico and you need to update it, you should be able to do so from within Softaculous.

When you log into your cPanel you will see the new Softaculous icon in the Software / Services section:

Clicking this link will take you into the Softaculous Library where you have access to over 120 scripts all with the click of a button!

PLEASE NOTE! – Softaculous is a script library and repository meaning that it keeps up-to-date packages of the scripts it has available. HOWEVER, SCRIPTS DO NOT AUTOMATICALLY UPDATE! In order to keep your website and webhosting safe and secure you should always keep your scripts up-to-date. Any script you install with Softaculous you should update with Softaculous.

As always, any questions or comments concerning this can be directed to our support staff at:

http://www.amshelp.com

Scott