Hosting Your Windows Website
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by: MattHedges
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Building a website can be a very technical endeavor. Until now most people shied away from building a webpage because it seemed like a strange uninviting land. More and more web hosts are aware of the general population, and small businesses desire to have their own website, in fact in some cases need their own site, and are making programs available to the less technically inclined. There are several operating systems most often used in website design. These are Microsoft Windows, and Linux, with UNIX and Macintosh also common, but not as often used.
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 you find a website needs to be hosted incorporating the use of Microsoft products it is advisable to use Windows as a platform so that you know the applications will operate correctly. An effective Internet Information Server (IIS) is one of Microsoft's many features. If your hosting environment uses ASP, Microsoft access, and SQL then IIS is absolutely required and you must use the windows platform to create your website. A Windows webhosting environment has a lot of plug-ins and pre-made programs and components such as CGI specifically for use on Windows web servers.
Windows vs UNIX
Web sites that are hosted on UNIX and Windows servers can be accessed universally. The difference between the two operating system lies in terms of the software they provide to server data. Windows can always provide better software services for all purposes. In terms of reliability, UNIX is just a few steps ahead since it is known to be extremely stable and does run for years without rebooting. However, Windows can manage to meet the requirements of modern websites far better than UNIX.
Wherever Microsoft products are in service a Windows operating system must be used. If the host uses MS Access, ASP in order to provide dynamic content, or VBScript to give enhanced features to the sites then UNIX is not able to operate under those parameters. The technologies in those programs require Microsoft Windows. Windows also already accommodates all of the UNIX system provisions so it isn't needed for computers with Windows.
Comparison of Windows with Linux
Both of these programs uses and supports the Cold Fusion, HTML and JavaScript programs that make the most commonly desired applications available. It was once difficult to use Linux with FrontPage extensions but they have made that a possibility in the newer Linux operating environment. The biggest difference is Linux supports PHP where Windows supports ASP.
One of the main advantages of Windows servers is that it can run on Microsoft's software like that of Access and also on MS SQL databases. Windows servers allow the web developers to use Microsoft's programming environments like that of Visual Basic Scripts, Active Server Pages (ASP), MS Index Server. On the contrary, Linux is not fully compatible with that of Microsoft technologies and hence if the users want to use Access, MS SQL, ASP, or VB development tools then Windows is always the better choice.
It is always better to study what the windows package has to offer. Not all packages offer the same facilities but whatever they offer has to be studied for better result and performances:
Some of the basic Windows-based hosting packages are as follows:
* .NET Support
This is the most commonly used feature web hosts use to provide their service. It is the most modern offer that Microsoft's Active Server Page provides. It is a valuable tool in the creation of web pages and is necessary to use with IIS.
* Databases
Generally most of the website owners have a tendency to provide Microsoft Access 2000 Database. But if the business is bigger and the company for whom the hosting would be down is large size, then MS SQL is required.
* 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
Your control panel is your connection to your site. It is how you will create, store and manage your information. It is necessary to be able to use it effectively.
Other very useful features of the Windows platform include such items as POP3 email, IDs and Aliases, Bandwidth, IP, Webmail, and Backup support as well as SMTPs and FTP accounts, along with CDONTS and ASP support.
Windows web hosting will always be popular among the customers as the logo and the name itself generates a trust and reliability. This Microsoft product has created such image in the minds of the people that they are not willing to go for any other option. Windows is in use since several years and has created a brand image for itself. There are several hosts that also provide Windows platform for hosting small business websites. It is an expectation of the people that Windows web hosting would also for a longer period of time and hence would ensure stability which is not available in other platforms.
Windows has a great support system for its users. This includes many free tutorials, and pages and pages of information as well as live and virtual technical support. That is just a part of what makes it so extremely popular amongst average people without technical backgrounds.
About the Author
Republished with permission from http://www.webhostingmadness.com, a publisher of web hosting company reviews, comparisons and detailed articles about the web hosting industry.
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