Linux vs. Windows web hosting

One of the most confusing decisions someone new to web hosting will have to make is which platform their server should be on. There are a number of different choices out there but the main two are Linux and Windows web servers. There are also a lot of sources of information about hosting, but the majority of them are tainted by the author’s biased personal opinion unfortunately confusing the issue. Having just put in some solid hours researching the topic I have come to the conclusion that in general it quite probably does not matter which server you use. For the majority of people it will be far more important to choose a really good web host than to worry about the server-type that they implement.

Microsoft developed and owns the Windows operating system. Linux is open source and generally free. This means it can often be more expensive to set up and run a Windows server. However, this fact doesn’t really affect you unless you are actually setting up a server for yourself and if you’re reading this article then I’m guessing that it’s safe to assume you’re not. This article is going to offer information for those trying to decide which hosting company to go with. The cost involved in running a server does not affect the cost of a web-hosting package as much as you may think. Despite the general opinion that Windows servers are more expensive to run, buying a Windows hosting package can often turn out to be just as cheap or even cheaper than an equivalent Linux hosting package.

Some people naturally assume that because their PC runs Windows they need to buy a Windows hosting package. This isn’t true. Access to your web account will most likely be through FTP or a control panel and both servers support these methods. The main difference is that some of the FTP commands are slightly different between Linux and Windows and some FTP programs will be designed with one or the other in mind. This means you may occasionally find that when you try and get your FTP program to do something it returns an error message, but it won’t happen very often.

Your choice of server platforms should be dictated by the use to which you intend to put it. The majority of web features run fine on both platforms including PHP, mySQL, POP3 etc. If you intend to create your site using ASP, FrontPage, the .NET environment, Windows Streaming Media, Access, MSSQL, or any of the other Microsoft proprietary technologies then you probably need to use a Windows host. There is limited support for a number of these technologies in Linux, but they can be expensive and are usually lacking in features. It is probably worth considering the fact that if you use server specific technologies and then change hosts you’ll have a much harder time of it than if you use technologies that can be run on any system. Having it run generic technologies removes the need to focus on specifics and allows you to focus on the quality of service itself.

The reliability and stability of the different platforms have been the topic of many long arguments. The main reason that Windows is seen as being insecure is that it is the most widely used operating system for home PC’s. People spend more time looking for flaws in the most common system. With Linux being the most common server type, it has a surprising number of successful hack attempts made on it. In the end the security of both platforms comes down to the competency of the system administrators. If you are security minded then you’ll do better to make sure that the hosting company is reputable and highly skilled than to worry about the server they use.

In terms of performance there’s not a huge difference between the two servers. Linux reportedly performs faster because Windows (as usual) attempts to offer an ‘all in one’ package instead of the extendable Linux implementation. You’ll generally not notice a difference but if performance is of utmost importance to you then maybe this will influence your decision.

I’ve come to the conclusion that unless you are specifically using features that are unique to one platform or another your time will be much better spent looking for a really good quality host than a really good quality server. Developers are constantly improving both Linux and Windows so they should be fairly close in terms of features, security, and reliability for a long time. It’s the people implementing them that you should be basing your decision on.

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7 essentials of moving to new web host

When a site has outgrown its web host on all counts or when a web host does not keep its promises, moving web hosts becomes imperative. If a web host fails to provide much needed expansion requirements or technical support you need to upgrade to one that can meet your growth needs.

The first step is to ensure that you have all legal documents and contracts with you. Then make sure you have accurate and updated copies of all content, databases, scripts, and clientele lists. A back up needs to be done as a matter of routine not just when you need to move. Trouble can rear it head in the form of hardware failure or unexplained data losses.

Research the market thoroughly before deciding on a new hosting service. List your requirements and look for a host that can exceed your needs. It is not just bandwidth that you need to look at. Consider technical support, upgrading options, as well as whether the host is keeping up with new developments in the field.

It is important to run from the two web hosts simultaneously for a period until all debugging is carried out and problems are solved. Activate your new solution and upload all your pages, databases, and scripts. Use the new IP address provided by the new company and test the site.

Once things function satisfactorily you must transfer the DNS servers from your previous host to the new one. The transition may take around two weeks so it is essential to keep both sites functional during that transition period. Check mails from both sites until such time you don’t receive any communications to the old site. Once you are sure, discontinue your old hosting service.

Be sure to:

• Select a new service that is similar to your old one as far as technology is concerned. And that you are using the latest design software and that the host has the latest server versions. This will maximize site efficacy.

• Check carefully the hosting service agreement pertaining to the new host.

• Choose a dedicated environment that will offer more capacity for dealing with online customers and provide adequate bandwidth allowances.

• Check out the benefits of an annual plan against a monthly one.

• Find out if your new web hosts are reliable, honest, and competent. The people running the web hosting service must comprehend the technology thoroughly and keep abreast of new developments.

• Check forums to see if the new host you have selected has good reviews and whether there are any valid complaints.

• The host must ensure that your site is up and running 24/7 for 365 days. The pages must load instantly; to this end the web host must have state of the art computer systems. CGI routines, autoresponders, PHP, ASP, SSI scripts, credit card gateways, and so on. All systems must function smoothly.

Be a wise and informed mover.

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Aspects for consideration when comparing web hosting services

Of course now that your website is nearing completion you will need a web hosting service for your website as soon as it is done. If you have already taken the time to scout around on the net for a web hosting service you may have noticed a few things and one of them is that there is a massive quantity of web hosting services available on the Internet.

It is virtually impossible to determine just how many hosting services that there are on the net, because new ones are constantly making their debut and many of them are destined to fold up in a matter of time due to the intense level of competition in the web hosting business.

So, what are the requirements that you will want to look for in a web hosting service that you can use in making your final decision? One mistake that many people make when choosing a web hosting service is that they focus exclusively on the technical aspects of a web hosting service. They will look at their amount of bandwidth and gigabytes to the exclusion of all other aspects that should also be considered.

This is due to the fact that too many people are overly optimistic with regards to the projected level of success that their website is going to have. They assume that it is going to take off and run off of its own momentum and there will be little or no need for promotion. The fact of the mater is that the Internet is a very competitive place to do business in and no matter what genre your website is in you will be competing against others.

This is why you should give future search engine optimization or SEO consideration when selecting a web hosting service. SEO is simply the description of the process or processes that are used to better the position of your website on the various Internet search engines. The optimal place of course is the top of page one and the least optimal position is the last place on the last page.

It is for this reason that there is therefore more then just the price and technical aspects to consider when examining a web hosting service. The first tool that you will want a web hosting service to have for you is a tool for researching and analyzing your competition on the Internet and for planing the use of your keywords.

Another thing that you will want to look into is whether or not a web hosting service currently creates site maps and if they automatically ping Google, Yahoo and Ask after you have upgraded or added a page to your website.

This is important, because if they don’t you will have to do this yourself which can be somewhat time consuming. One more tool that you will need to have at your disposal is a tool that will review your web pages and make suggestions for changes that will better your position with regards to SEO.

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