Server Components are applications that are required to perform duties between the client and the server. These include e-mail, form processing, FTP and in the case of many eCommerce solutions, support for CF (Cold Fusion), ASP (Active Server Pages), PHP (Personal Home Page or now Hypertext Preprocessor) or JS (Javascript).

A full service eCommerce site will also require host database support in the form of MS Access, MySQL or MS SQL. There is generally a monthly administration fee to host an SQL database.

(Most servers hosting business sites support all the features necessary to host a business site with an eCommerce solution. If you are “self-hosted,” are on a basic personal webpage package with your ISP or if your site does not support the necessary platform or protocols, your site will have to be relocated to a server that supports them.)