Linux (and its close relation Unix) and Windows 2000
(and its close cousin Windows NT) are types of software
(known as operating systems) that web servers use
to do the kind of things that web servers do. You
do not need to know any real detail of either to make
a decision as to which you need but here a few guidelines.
Just because you use a windows desktop PC doesn't
mean you have to opt for Windows web hosting (and
the reverse is true as well). The operating system
you use on your desktop has little to do with your
choice of web hosts. As long as you understand how
to use your FTP or web publishing software, your can
use either operating system.
But what is important is that you know what you want
your website to do and what you want to offer on it.
This is what will ultimately help determine the type
of web hosting that will work best for you. As mentioned
earlier, interactive websites usually rely on ASP,
PHP, or Perl type languages.
Linux Web Hosting or Windows 2000 Web Hosting
? Make your Choice !
When it comes to Web hosting, Linux has, for some
time, been widely considered the best OS for Web servers.
It's typically found to be the most reliable, stable
and efficient system and, as such, it's commonly used
for the demanding environment of Web and mail servers.
Indeed,Most of the clients websites of aalpha NET
runs on the Linux OS precisely because of this traditional
stability.
The million-dollar question is what application are
you looking to use for your hosting? Consider the
tools and scripting languages you plan to use - if
you use PHP, Perl or MySQL, Linux is the way forward.
If apps are Microsoft-specific, then Windows is what
you need.
If your site, like most web sites, is what might
be termed "brochure-ware" then Linux servers
are ideal. By brochure-ware I mean a site that offers
the kind of information that in the past might have
been provided on paper in the form of brochures, newsletters
or data sheets. Brochure-ware sites will offer some
interaction through enquiry forms and can certainly
incorporate online purchasing and other routine e-commerce
functions.
If however your site incorporates an online searchable
database or interactive chat facilities then Windows
2000 or NT will be a better bet in most cases. It
will cost a bit more but you'll get that back in reduced
development time and simply better functionality.
The following are the advantages of using
Linux based web server compared to Windows based web
server :
Stable: Linux/Unix operating systems has traditionally
been believed to be very stable and robust. A web
site housed on a Linux operating system will have
very high up-time (of the order of 99.9%). Of course,
other factors such as power supply, network admin
skills, and network load etc. also matter when it
comes to maintaining the system uptime.
Low cost of ownership: The Linux OS comes free of
cost (or at very insignificant cost, usually cost
of distribution). Also, it has full fledged server,
and desk top applications that comes free along with
the OS. These server applications (such as FTP, Web
Server, DNS Server, File Server etc.) being free,
are also very stable.
Ease of use : When it comes to web hosting, it is
easy to host on Linux web servers. The process of
uploading and hosting is almost same for both Linux
and Windows web servers. If you want to use a Windows
based tool such as Front Page for uploading a web
site on to a Linux based web server, make sure that
the Front Page extensions are enabled. This is only
required if you are uploading using HTTP feature (http://www.yourwebsite.com)
of Front Page. Front Page also makes it possible to
upload a web site using FTP. You need to select ftp://www.yourwebsite.com
for up loading using front page FTP option. Note that
if you select "Front Page Extensions" during
web site design, you must enable Front Page extensions
on a Linux web server also. These days, all Linux
web servers are coming with installable Front Page
extensions, and this should pose no problem for hosting
on a Linux platform.
You can use almost all types of file extensions (or
scripts) when using Linux web server. Commonly, the
following extensions are supported: .cgi, .html, .htm,
.pl, .php, .shtml, .xml, and others. Basically it
means that you can host web sites that use different
types of server side scripts including .cgi, .pl,
.php, and .asp (with plug-in).
Easy to move between hosts : A web site designed
to be hosted on a Linux based web server can be hosted
on a Windows web server easily, where as the reverse
is not always true.
Most widely used : Linux/Unix based
web hosting is most widely used compared to Windows
based web hosting.
Scalability : A web site is dynamic. Usually, a web
site starts with a few pages of html and grows over
a period of time to suit the customers requirements.
It is preferable to design a web site keeping this
requirements in mind. A web site designed for compatibility
with a Linux/Unix based web server meets the scalability
requirement easily without making any site wide design
changes.
On the downside, Linux based web server is not fully
compatible with Microsoft technologies. If you are
using any specialized applications or VB for development
of your web site, it is preferable to host with a
Windows based web server.
However if you are not sure then email me or call
Teeyes Siva on 00 91 452 3105858 and I'll help you
decide by talking through the issues.
