Glossary

Apache

Apache is an open source web server. Designed to be small, lightweight and fast. PurpleStone.co.uk runs Apache on its servers believing it to represent the best product availible in the current market. Using our web servers you will be able to host multiple web site domains from a single, central account.

Auto Responder

An auto responder is a system which allows you to send an automated message to anyone who sends you an email. So whilst you will recieve your email as normal, the sender will recieve a message of your choosing. Most often this is used to remind people that you are on holiday, and that you will reply upon your return.

DNS - Domain Name System

The Domain Name System is a network of servers, which all share information enabling domain names (such as PurpleStone.co.uk) to be linked to IP addresses (such as 192.168.0.1). Without this system, no domain name would be useable. When you host a domain name on PurpleStone.co.uk services, you will need to alter your DNS records to point at our IP addresses. If you do not, then people will not be connected to the correct servers when they enter your domain name into their browser.

Currently PurpleStone.co.uk does not offer DNS hosting to its clients, though their are plans to do so in the near future. For the time being there shouldn't be a problem however, as most registration companies offer DNS hosting to clients themselves.

Email Forwarding

PurpleStone.co.uk allows you to setup two different types of email account. One is the 'hosted' or 'POP box' type of account and the other is 'forwarded' account. With a hosted account, emails sent to the address will be stored within your file space on the server, and you will have the option of later downloading them to an Email Client so that you can read them. With a forwarded account, the email is never stored on our servers, but instead passed on to a different email address, of your choosing (once it has undergone virus and spam scanning).

FTP - File Transfer Protocol

The File Transfer Protocol is a long established method of transfering data to and from servers. It allows you to login, and browse your directories on the server, as if they were on your own computer. You can then move files between the server directories, and the local ones on your computer.

PurpleStone.co.uk uses a secured version of FTP, which demands that all traffic be secured using TLS/SSL. This is to ensure the integerity of your data, and to ensure that your passwords are not transmitted to the server in plaintext.

Related Links: Explanation of the FTP, The FTP protocol

HTTPS - HyperText Transfer Protocol over SSL

HTTPS is a version of normal HTTP which works over an SSL channel. This encrypts the data being transmitted, ensuring that passwords and over data sent to or from the server cannot be understood, if intercepted by a third party. PurpleStone.co.uk uses HTTPS for it's client logins, and for Subversion repositories. Users can also request a SSL certificate for a domain, if they so wish.

IMAP - Internet Message Access Protocol

IMAP is an alternative to POP for accessing mail stores, it is however configured more towards reading messages without removing them from the server, whereas POP is geared towards download files from the server and storing them locally, instead of keeping a copy on the server. PurpleStone.co.uk runs an IMAP service for the use of its webmail system, and may in the future make it availible to users at home, if they desire the use of it.

Related Links: Explanation of IMAP, The IMAP

IRC - Internet Relay Chat

Internet Relay Chat is a system for text based communication between many people. The system relies upon a network of servers, and some people like to run 'relays' to help further the network. Whilst PurpleStone.co.uk does not offer an IRC relay of it's own, it is here as an example of the sorts of server applications we will host at the request of our customers.

Mail Clients

An email client is a program that runs on your own computer. It connects to online mail servers using POP, IMAP or SMTP and downloads/uploads your email messages. PurpleStone.co.uk provides detailed information to help you add your hosted email accounts to todays popular mail clients.

Related Links: Thunderbird & Outlook Express mail clients

Mysql

Mysql is an open source database server. Using MySql as a backend, you can make data available to your web applications. PurpleStone.co.uk runs MySql and we allow our users to own more than one database under their account.

PHP - PHP HyperText Preprocessor

PHP is scripting language that enables you to create dynamic webpages that change based upon data provided from databases, or the user. PurpleStone.co.uk runs PHP, with many of the common modules installed. If you require different features to be enabled, please contact us for further information.

POP3 - Post Office Protocol 3

The Post Office Protocol allows you to access your mail from your home machine. PurpleStone.co.uk gives you all the settings you need to add your mailboxes to the Outlook or Thunderbird mail clients.

Related Links: Explanation of POP3, The POP3

SMTP - Simple Mail Transfer Protocol

The Simple Mail Transfer Protocol is what allows you to send mail via PurpleStone.co.uk and also how other servers send us mail to deliever to you. Unlike some other hosting services, PurpleStone.co.uk allows you to send mail for your forwarded addresses, as well as your hosted ones.

Related Links: Explanation of SMTP, The SMTP

Spam Checking

PurpleStone.co.uk is proud to offer a complete spam checking service for all incoming mail, including forwarded mail. We achieve this by passing the mail through the popular SpamAssassin filter, and through the use of Amavis we are also able to offer our clients the ability to alter the SpamAssassin settings for each email address seperately.

SSH - Secure SHell

The Secure Shell is similar to Telnet in that it allows users to access a command line, as if they were physically seated at the terminal. But unlike telnet, SSH transactions occur over an SSL channel, ensuring that private information from the command line cannot be read by anyone who intercepts packets being transferred to and from the server. Most users of PurpleStone.co.uk will never have need to access the SSH server, but access can be arranged if needed.

Related Links: Explanation of SSH, The OpenSSH project

Subversion

Subversion is a version control system. Very similar to the CVS (Concurrent Versioning System), however it is considered by many to be superior. PurpleStone.co.uk offers Subversion repositories to those who want them (normally software developers), which are accessed via WebDAV and HTTPS for security. We also offer clients the ability to create and manage a list of users who can access their repositories.

Talkers

A talker is a small server used for text based chat, whilst PurpleStone.co.uk does not offer a talker of it's own, the concept is used as an idea of the sorts of server applications we will host at the request of our customers.

Related Links: Explanation of talkers, Snowplains (a talker), MBA4 (a talker)

Telnet

Telnet is a service that allows the user to operate a command line on a remote server, as if they were physically at the terminal. For security reasons PurpleStone.co.uk does not run a telnet server, but instead provides shell access through SSH, which is SSL secured.

TLS/SSL - Transport Layer Security / Secure Sockets Layer

Transport Layer Security and Secure Sockets Layer are protocols which allow for secure communications between a server and client. When using any of the services PurpleStone.co.uk offers that involve transmission of personal data or passwords, these protocols will be employed to ensure that your data cannot be ‘overheard’.

PurpleStone.co.uk currently uses TLS/SSL for access to FTP, SMTP, POP3, SVN & Shell services.

Related Links: Explanation of TLS, Explanation of SSL

Virus Checking

PurpleStone.co.uk offers virus checking on all incoming mail, including forwards via Clam AntiVirus. We also offer our clients the ability to disable/enable virus scanning on their messages on a per-message basis.

WebDAV - Web-based Distributed Authoring and Versioning

PurpleStone.co.uk makes use of the WebDAV protocol, to allow it's users to serve Subversion repositories to their clients. WebDAV allows people to read as well as write to web spaces, and combined with the Subversion server extenstions, allows users to retrieve various previous versions of their files.