Is any special software used for shared hosting?

Shared Web hosting software

No specialized software is needed for shared web hosting. The only thing that is required is a computer running server software, at least one static IP address, and a power supply that is backed up in case of a power outage.

The server software manages all of the different webpages, and is in charge of figuring out how to route traffic properly whenever someone requests to view a Web page. The standard software that comes on a shared server might include FTP (file transfer protocol), mySQL, and support for Microsoft Frontpage extensions.

In the past, mySQL has not been included with a shared server very often, but in recent years has gained popularity because so many people – including individuals – want to set up databases that require SQL support.