Work From Home

Definitions Of The Differences Between Unix And Windows Web Hosting?

If you are a web site designer you should know that the differences between Unix and Windows web hosting is very little. Once you are ready to publish a site you have designed and you are faced with the decision of hosting, you might have noticed that there are a lot of Linux and Unix options, but less Windows based server options.

Everyone is familiar with Microsoft Windows, we use it in schools, in the office and at home. It is a familiar and easy to use brand and this is the same for Windows Home or advanced Server editions. The mass popularity of Windows has been attributed to it ease of use, and the same applies to server options.

Novices are able to make use of it and operating Windows does not include having any knowledge of command-line. All you do is point your mouse and click you way to different folders, no mess no fuss.

As open source operating systems both Unix and Linux are easily distributed, well documented, free source codes. Out of these two web hosting server option, Unix is the oldest and therefore has some limitations. For example it cannot run with x86 PC’s. But on the whole, this is the only real difference, Linux being more modern compensates for this gap and runs with these high powered servers.

Linux is a proven workhorse and is available in different flavors too. For example Mandrake Linux and Red Hat Linux are able to manage websites in the hundreds and millions of daily hits. Unix versions such as OpenBSD and FreeBSD are also available.

When working with web servers, office and home PC’s are fine, they are easy to use and website design is generally completed mostly offline. System-specific programming that has to be undertaking whilst online is very advanced, and in this instance a difference between Windows and Unix based servers can be quite noticeable.

Both systems handle statistics, add-ons, chat and email, and can cope with websites that receive heavy traffic, the only very noticeable difference is in compatibility and the price.

Windows server has to have licenses renewed and this means it is constantly purchase so it makes offering web hosting plans more expensive as a rule. Unix or Linux plans offer more added value to the customer, such as free email, MySQL databases, statistics and community. In the case of Windows based servers all of these add-ns generally have to be purchase separately.

Popular programming languages may be run by both systems and this includes java, php and perl as well as others. Active server pages will be more secure when they are hosted on the Windows server, but they will still function on Unix, although perhaps with not immediately noticeable glitches.

Active server pages and third party applications which are designed with MS SQL 2000 will obviously run better if they are hosted by Windows based hosting plans. But you don’t have to be un a rush to sign up, with a hosting company. If you have any concerns regarding whether the site will be fully functional, ask before you take that final step.

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