Archive for May, 2009

As more and more people fire up web pages for their businesses or their personal enjoyment, there are continuous questions about which hosting platform is the best choice. Most experts agree that when it comes to choosing between Linux and Windows for your web server software, the final decision really depends on the preferences of the individual. Here are some of the main differences between the two, and what that might mean for your web pages.

Windows

Familiarity. Windows is the product of Microsoft, and Microsoft has proven that it is a force to be reckoned with when it comes to common usage. This has come about largely due to ingenious marketing strategies, but the end result is that the Windows operating system is the most used in the world. It stands to reason, then, that the Windows server software would have a certain amount of appeal as the functions are familiar to any computer user.
Usability. Aside from marketing, the straightforward approach of the Windows system has also contributed to its popularity. “Wizards” await to help at any turn, tool bars are click-accessible, and you can have several programs running at once and easy to recall. Because of the ease of use, Windows software is usually a better option for those new to programming.
Built in software. Windows platforms come with everything you need to fire up a web site, including email applications. Again, this software platform is much easier for the newer programmer than setting up one’s own applications.

Linux

Price. The most commonly cited pro about Linux platforms is their price. Linux is open source software, meaning that it has no intellectual property restrictions and thus skips the expense of copyright. Many would say that the Linux platform is the perfect complement to the idea of the Internet.
Reliability. Linux has proven to be reliable in almost all areas a web master might be concerned about, from security against hackers to guards against memory leaks over time.
Support options. As Linux itself is essentially free as far as intellectual property, it should come as no surprise that the platform supports some of the most popular free systems out there, including PHP and MySQL.

At first, Windows Dedicated Server has a visual, familiar interface with easy server management. Windows dedicated servers are superb for running Microsoft Exchange, SQL Server, hosting web sites or hosting large ASP or ColdFusion applications.

Moreover, if you plan to build a website; which is expected to draw high traffic, you should go for dedicated server. There are some activities that only a fully dedicated server can adequately handle, such as very large, high traffic databases, large media hosting, processor intensive web applications etc. If you have to tackle mail servers, complicated scripts, and large number of databases, web-oriented projects and fresh testing systems, you need a dedicated server. Thus, if you use the Windows operating system for your website and your website has a huge number of visitors, you should opt for the Windows dedicated server.

The recent 2008 Windows Server is the most substantial upgrade to the Windows Server product line since Windows 2000. It includes many upgrades and additions to Windows Server including new web, security and virtualization technologies. The product is available in multiple editions to support the varying server needs of businesses of all sizes.

A dedicated server for Windows operating system is fully managed and comes with full console administration or root access to give you complete control, as well as the ability to customize for individual needs. So, a Windows dedicated server is completely at the disposal of a single user, to administer as they see fit.

Generally, the Windows Dedicated Servers are placed at redundant, high quality data centers. With Windows Dedicated Servers, you can install any software that you might deem important, you can also allocate web server space and customize the server for greater control.