logo ModularMerchant
Shopping Cart Software
Sales hours 9am - 5pm PST Mon-Fri (888) 288-9910
Support Hours 9am - 5pm PST Mon-Fri (800) 660-1352
Modular Merchant 10 Years of Service!
  Home Features Services Contact Support Pricing Free Trial   Client Login Help  
Home  >  Solutions  > Shopping Cart Hosting Options

Shopping Cart Hosting Options

Modular Merchant provides several flexible hosting options, so that you can have your shopping cart and website set up exactly the way you want.

Three hosting configuration options are available:
1. Host just your store in Modular Merchant's "starter" client area.
2. Modular Merchant hosts both your store AND website under your domain name.
3: Modular Merchant hosts just your store under a subdomain.

Option 1: Host just your store in Modular Merchant's "starter" client area.
All new Modular Merchant accounts are installed in our default "starter" area, which provides all the basics you'll need in order to open your store and provide a secure checkout area to your customers.




Your website (MyWebsite.com) remains hosted under its domain. Add buttons on your website that link to your store, which is hosted in Modular Merchant's default clients area (ModularMarket.com/MyAccount).
 
Just your store is hosted on the Modular Merchant website. Your non-store website remains hosted under its own domain name.
 
SSL Security certificate included. Your store will used the shared SSL certificate assigned to Modular Merchant's client area. No additional SSL certificate to install.
 
Upload files and images using the tools built-in to your store's administration area.
 
Administration. Use the store's administration area to manage your products, customers and orders.
 
Option 2: Modular Merchant hosts both your store AND website under your domain name.
Hosting accounts start at just $9.99 and allow your website and store to both be hosted under your domain name.




Modular Merchant hosts your website and shopping cart under your domain name. Admin tools to manage website's email accounts, FTP access, site security and more are included.
 
Your store and website are hosted by Modular Merchant. Your web address of your store can be the same as your website.
 
Will I need to buy a SSL certificate? Yes. Since SSL certificates are registered to the domain name, the shared modularmerchant.com certificate can't be used. You can buy your SSL from any provider, including Modular Merchant. Buy your SSL from us, and we'll configure, install and annually renew it for you!
 
FTP access is available to upload files and images directly to your store and website.
 
Administration. In addition to your store's admin area, website admin tools are available to manage email accounts, FTP access, security settings, scheduled tasks, and more.
 
Option 3: Modular Merchant hosts just your store under a subdomain.
Hosting accounts start at just $9.99 and allow your store to be hosted by Modular Merchant under a subdomain while your website remains hosted elsewhere under your domain name.




Your website (www.MyWebsite.com) remains hosted under its domain. Add buttons on your website that link to your store, which is hosted by Modular Merchant under a subdomain of your domain name (store.MyWebsite.com).
 
Just your store is hosted by Modular Merchant. Your non-store website remains hosted under its own domain name.
 
Will I need to buy a SSL certificate? Yes. Since SSL certificates are registered to the domain name, the shared modularmerchant.com certificate can't be used. You can buy your SSL from any provider, including Modular Merchant. Buy your SSL from us, and we'll configure, install and annually renew it for you!
 
FTP access is available to upload files and images directly to your store and website.
 
Administration. In addition to your store's admin area, website admin tools are available to manage email accounts, FTP access, security settings, scheduled tasks, and more.
 
Question: What is a SSL Certificate, and do I need one?
What is a SSL Certificate?
A SSL (Secure Socket Layer) Certificate is a file containing the "fingerprint" of your server and your domain name. This fingerprint is encoded for security, so that it cannot be forged. The certificate is uploaded to a specific location on your server, where it will be looked for when a page on your website is loaded in a secure environment. If the certificate is found, and its contents match the fingerprint of your server and domain, then the secure version of the web page will be allowed to load. Otherwise, a security warning will be displayed by your web browser software.
 
What does the SSL Certificate do?
The SSL certificate allows webpages to be loaded in a secure, encrypted environment. You can tell if a webpage is being displayed in a secure environment because the "http://" in the web address will be replaced with "https://" and the yellow padlock will be present (See following example).



When a webpage is loaded in a secure "https://" environment, the page content is encrypted by the server before it is displayed on-screen, so that it cannot be read by third parties keeping your customers data (credit card number, personal information, password, etc) safe and secure.
 
Do I need a SSL Certificate?
If your store is hosted in Modular Merchant's "starter" client area, such as http://www.ModularMarket.com/MyAccount, then you will not need to purchase a SSL certificate for your store. Accounts hosted in the starter client area share the SSL Certificate used by the Modular Merchant website.

If your store is hosted under your own domain name, such as http://www.MyWebsite.com/store, then you will need to purchase a SSL certificate for your store if your store accepts credit cards. Credit card companies will only accept online orders that come from a secure "https" connection. The presence of a SSL certificate also increases customer confidence in your website, and, as a result, increases sales.

SSL Certificates are assigned to a site's subdomain. That means that if your site is split into two subdomains, such as http://www.MyWebsite.com and http://store.MyWebsite.com, and you want them both to be secure, you will need two SSL certificates: one for the "www" subdomain and a second for the "store" subdomain.
 
What kind of SSL certificates does Modular Merchant provide?
Buy a SSL certificate from Modular Merchant, and we'll configure, install and annually renew it for you.
  • 2048 bit future proof SSL Certificates
  • SGC security for minimum 128 bit to 256 bit SSL encryption levels
  • Universal Compatibility with all browsers and devices
  • Secures both www.domain.com and domain.com (without the www)
  • Trust enhancing clickable Secure Site Seal
  • Free configuration, installation, and annually renewal
 
How do I get a SSL Certificate?
There are many SSL Certificate providers, such as GeoTrust and Verisign. Modular Merchant also offers SSL Certificates to our clients at a discount. If you purchase a SSL Certificate from Modular Merchant, we'll configure, install and annually renew it for you! No fuss, no muss.

If you choose to purchase and install your own SSL Certificate, instructions are available in the Plesk Domain Administrator's Guide.