Hosting Your Windows Website
Thursday, August 7th, 2008
A professional web host is acquainted with all the technicalities related to web hosting. He/she knows that selection of the operating system is one of the foremost duties. Selection on of the operating system, however, depends on the objectives and contents of the website. It is always better to make a wise selection as there are only a limited number of popular operating systems. Microsoft Windows and Linux are the two most popular operating systems that are used by web hosts. UNIX and Macintosh can also suffice client requirements though they are not so popular. This article is designed to help you, the reader, understand how choosing Windows web hosting will affect your website operation.
The most popular of all operating system is Windows, created by Microsoft. It is the main programming software found on computers when consumers and businesses purchase them, and it is the operating system most people are familiar with. The platform that is the operating system is an important consideration when you are choosing your web host as well. In the past most web hosts operated on the technical Linux systems since more of the technical builders used that program. With the huge expanse of mass market web site building programs the need for Windows based hosting grew and is now commonplace. It is important to be sure when you choose a web host that they offer Windows platforms to operate your website.
If a website has to be hosted, that would incorporate the use of Microsoft products, it is always advisable to use Windows as a platform. Microsoft, windows feature an effective Internet Information Server (IIS). Whenever the hosting is based on ASP and Microsoft Access and SQL server, use of IIS is recommended or rather is needed. There are several components used for web hosting like that of CGI. Use of these components can be best experienced if the website is hosted on Windows. Windows web hosting also has a lot of pre-made programs designed for use with Windows web servers.
Windows compared to UNIX
These two operating systems can operate successfully with everyone universally. The main system difference is in the software provided for server data. Both operating systems have the ability to transfer data between the host and the client, but UNIX is a bit more stable than Windows in this feature and it can run for years without a shut down, and re-boot. Windows however will meet most website requirements and software packages more easily than UNIX. Windows is also easier to use for the client.
Wherever there are Microsoft products such as MS Access databases, ASP for delivering content, and VBScript site enhancements you will need to create your site with Windows. UNIX is not compatible with those systems. If your web host uses them you must comply and use Windows even if you normally do not. The things that UNIX provides can be found already available in the Windows environment.
Comparison of Windows with Linux
These two operating systems both can support HTML, Cold Fusion, and Java files. It was necessary in the past to use Linux for FrontPage creation but is now easy to use Windows for the incorporation of CGI and Perl as these platforms are easily supported by Windows even though Linux is still more commonly used to support PHP, where Windows uses ASP.
The biggest advantage of Windows over Linux is that it runs all of the Microsoft software such as Access and can also create MS SQL database that is used by many hosts now. The Windows platform gives developers programming environments such as VBScripts (Visual Basic Scripts), Active Server Pages (ASP), and the Index capabilities of MS Index Server. Linux is not able to access those Microsoft features so if a use requires the use of MS SQL, ASP, OR VBScript as a method of development they must use Windows.
Be sure to inspect all of the requirements of the Window’s system and what it has to offer. Not every Windows platform offers the same abilities and that will affect the performance.
Some of the basic Windows-based hosting packages are as follows:
* .NET Support
ASP.net is considered to be the modern and latest offer of Microsoft’s Active Server Page. This is an integral part of the Internet Information Server or IIS. Web hosts generally combine all these features when they render their service. But at times charge additional fees.
* Databases
Most businesses offer the Microsoft Access 2000 database as a way to use their systems. If a company is larger and requires a lot more space for such information then MS SQL is a requirement for use.
* PHP and ColdFusion
ColdFusion is an advanced option and all web hosts do not provide this tool. Only some specialized websites require this.
* Control Panel
Control panel is the key stone of the arch. This can be used by the website owner to monitor and maintain his/her website.
Other options you might expect from your web hosting service that uses Windows are POP3 email, IDs and Aliases, Bandwidth, Backup, IP, Webmail, STMTPs, and FTP accounts, CDONTS and ASP support.
Windows will remain one of the most popular forms of hosting supports because there is a large popularity in the general public in regards to Windows as an operating system. The company has done well to brand themselves as a stable, reliable computer environment system. The company’s public presence also gives the impression of long-lasting stability and there is less fear that the system will go out of style, or disappear requiring a new purchase. Most web hosts now provide services specifically for the Windows based platform users. All of this makes Microsoft Windows a massive force in the computer operations world.
Ample support available for Windows web hosting also makes it a popular one for most of the users. Therefore, though decision rest mostly of the user, as to which platform to be used, the opportunity to use Windows should not be lost if possible. Web hosts can help better in this regard.
