Hosting Your Windows Website
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Creating a good looking, polished website is extremely important to both businesses and personal website owners as well. As the industry of web services continues to develop the expectations of both user and viewer alike are rising exponentially. The ability to create such websites was once a mystery to many and only the most highly trained people could accomplish the feat. Now with the many site building programs available it is easier and easier for everybody to get connected with the mass market available online.
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 use Windows as a base for your production it is imperative that the web host also uses Microsoft products. Windows features the very useful Internet Information Server also known as IIS. When a host is created with ASP and Microsoft Access, using SQL servers, the need for IIS is absolute. The makeup of web hosting like CGI are all included with Windows products. They can be best put to use if the website is available on Windows. Most companies, small business, and personal computers will be compatible immediately with Windows hosting since they operate on the Windows platform.
Windows compared to UNIX
Windows and UNIX websites can be accessed internationally by everybody. The main difference exists in the software provided to the host servers data. Windows most always provides the best software and services in all of its purposes. It is a very reliable operating system and its programs are effective and functional but UNIX remains a little ahead in these areas due to increased stability and the ability to run long periods of time without rebooting. At the same time, in the modern world Windows meets the needs of its users better than UNIX.
Windows is used where Microsoft products are into application like, MS Access databases, ASP for delivering dynamic content, and VBScript for site enhancements. UNIX is not devised to accommodate the mentioned technologies. Therefore those who are in need of these technologies will ultimately have to depend on Windows. Moreover what UNIX provides, is already there 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 features of the Windows operating system are:
* NET Support
ASP.net is the most modern of Microsoft’s Active Server Page and allows for a great integration of information sharing and access. It is an important part of the Internet Information Server or IIS. Some servers charge additional fees for this feature.
* 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
These are advanced features that not all web hosts make available. They usually only give this option if they have it to the most specialized of websites.
* 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 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 operating systems will continue to be the most popular system for use by the most customers largely due to the fact they have come to expect seeing the familiar logo and associate it with a positive image. Microsoft has imprinted that image so heavily upon the minds of the general public they are often not willing to use other systems, or even try them out. Windows has been the most popular operating system since the early 80′s and will continue a strong customer loyalty thanks to its strong brand name presence. People are generally geared to believe that a Windows platform will be available for long periods in the future and won’t disappear.
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.
Article is published with permission from http://www.webhostingmadness.com, a leading provider of comprehensive reviews of web hosting companies. Visit http://www.webhostingmadness.com for more information about and exclusive deals on web hosting.
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