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