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BeOnTheNet's
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The Virtual Server Core Services
The core virtual services of the Virtual Server System
include http (web), ftp, pop, imap, and smtp (e-mail). Each of these
virtual services are linked to your own domain name and are
explained in detail below (use our
Domain Name Availability Form to check if your domain name is taken).
The capability of the core virtual services are complemented and
extended with utilities such as Microsoft FrontPage.
Furthermore, Beonthenet has compiled a large array of cgi scripts and
Java applets each with easy installation instructions customized for
our clients. Many popular third party applications are also supported
by the Virtual Server environment.
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The Virtual HTTP (Hyper Text Transfer Protocol) Service makes it possible for you to create a business presence on the Internet and reach the millions of homes and businesses that are online every day. You can do this and not have to hassle with the cost and manpower involved in maintaining a full blown dedicated server! Not only will you benefit from the cost savings, the Virtual Web Service also gives you a more professional appearance to your customers. Your home page address will appear as "www.yourcompany.com" and not "www.beonthenet.com/~yourcompany" as it would with a non-virtual shared service or web mall.
You also have the option to add Netscape Compatible Encryption to your Virtual Server. With Netscape compatible encryption, your customers will feel confident sending you their credit card information online because they know it will be a secure transaction. Many other extensions, cgi scripts, Java applets, and popular third party applications are also available.
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The Virtual Server FTP Service
The majority of Internet traffic is FTP. FTP (File Transfer
Protocol) is a tool that allows users to download files made
available to them on other computer systems. Today, FTP
is the workhorse of Internet tools and can become a powerful
tool for your business.
With your Virtual FTP Service you can allow your customers to download files that will give them more information about your company. For example, you could allow them to download a catalog of your products or a price list of your services. This would allow your customers to have instant access to your information and also would save you on printing and mailing costs!
Your Virtual FTP Service will also allow you to have a simple FTP address such as "ftp.yourcompany.com" that will appear to your customers as if you have your own dedicated server. Both anonymous and non-anonymous capability is available.
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The Virtual Server POP Service
Post Office Protocol or POP allows users
to read their e-mail without having to log into
a server and learn a cumbersome mail program.
Instead, the user uses the operating system he
or she is used to and a POP client. There are
many high quality POP clients to choose from
for nearly every major operating system including
Windows, Macintosh, and OS/2.
The Virtual POP service allows your company to establish an Internet mail system at a very low cost saving your company money on a connection to the Internet. With your Virtual POP Service you can establish as many e-mail accounts for your business as you choose. Unlike e-mail aliasing, with the POP service your mail is stored on your Virtual Server. You can then very easily configure your POP client (Eudora, Pegasus, etc.) to dial in through your local access provider and read your mail.
Since you can create as many e-mail addresses as you like, your company has much more flexibility. Without a Virtual POP Service, you would need to establish a commercial gateway at your company using a Novell or Microsoft e-mail solution. This can cost thousands of dollars! Another solution would be to purchase multiple e-mail POP accounts from your local access provider. This can also become a very costly option.
The Virtual POP Service allows you to establish multiple e-mail addresses at no extra charge and access all of them with a few dial-up accounts from your local access provider. The Virtual POP Service will literally save you hundreds, or even thousands of dollars.
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The Virtual Server IMAP Service
Internet Message Access Protocol or IMAP
is a method of accessing electronic mail that is kept on a
remote mail server (your Virtual Server). It permits a client
email program to access remote message folders as if they were
local. For example, email stored on an IMAP server can be
manipulated from a desktop computer at home, a workstation at
the office, or a notebook computer while traveling, all
without the need to transfer messages or files back and
forth between these computers.
IMAP's ability to access messages (both new and saved) from more than one computer can be extremely important as reliance on electronic messaging and use of multiple computers increase (which is exactly what telecommuters need). However, if the mail is only accessed from one server then Post Office Protocol (POP) works best since it was designed to support "off-line" message access, where messages are downloaded to the local computer and then deleted from the Virtual Server.
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The Virtual Server SMTP (e-mail) Service
Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP) or e-mail
is used to send letters
across local networks or Internet lines.
With your Virtual Mail Service you can use
your e-mail as a very useful business tool.
Providing e-mail access to your customers allows
them to communicate with your company without
incurring a long distance phone charge or waiting
on the line for the "next available operator".
Your company also has the option of answering the
most urgent e-mail messages first. By doing
so you will foster your company's relationships
with both your existing and potential clientele.
Your Virtual SMTP Service also allows you to alias e-mail addresses. e-mail aliasing allows your company to have e-mail addresses linked to your own domain. Your address might be "sales@yourcompany.com" and not an extension of your local access providers name. The Virtual SMTP Service forwards your incoming mail to your e-mail account with your local access provider or an existing POP account on your Virtual Server.
With unlimited e-mail aliasing, you can have an e-mail address for customer support, an e-mail address for service, a set of e-mail addresses for your marketing department, and even an e-mail address for your Mother, all at no extra cost! The aliasing will forward the mail received for these addresses to any e-mail account on the Server or remote accounts you already have established with your local access provider.
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Microsoft FrontPage support
There are quite a few web content and web publishing software packages
available. Some of which require specific server side software be
installed. In order to use Microsoft® FrontPage® to publish web content
to your Virtual Server, you must first install their proprietary server
extensions. Microsoft® FrontPage® delivers great web publishing power
for non-programmers, is very easy to use, and offers advanced web
publishing features all tightly integrated with Microsoft Office.
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This Page Last Updated: 2/20/98
Copyright (C) 1998 BeOnTheNet Inc.
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