If you plan to build your home on the Internet, you come across various options you have to choose among, various decisions to make, various procedures to follow etc. One such important decision while hosting your page on the web is between UNIX/LINUX Web Hosting and WINDOWS Web Hosting.
Each Windows hosting and Unix hosting has its own set of unique features, advantages and disadvantages. Its is difficult to say which one is better, but one can decide which one is better according to his hosting needs.
However advanced developers should be aware of which hosting environment will best suit their needs. Some hosting companies only offer one of the two software options.
Windows web hosting specializes in providing the necessary server-based technology support for Web and non-Web applications, including ASP.NET v1.1 support, SQL Server 2000, ODBC Access Databases, SSL + CGI-BIN and various other windows 2003 hosting based applications and add-ons.
Some Basic Features of Windows Web Hosting
There are various managed windows hosting providers that provide you hosting services with a windows specific set of features. You should select from yourself which package provides you with the best set of features for your needs. Lets list some particular windows hosting features:
OPERATING SYSTEM
The operating systems used in case of windows web hosting are Windows NT hosting, Windows 2000 hosting, Windows 2003 hosting or Windows XP hosting.
WEB SITE DEVELOPMENT FEATURES
Windows web hosting come with unique set of web site development features that include:
- Windows - ASP: Active Server Page is a server-side scripting technology that can be used to create dynamic and interactive Web applications. An ASP page is an HTML page that contains server-side scripts that are processed by a Web server before being sent to the user's browser.
- Windows - .NET: A programming infrastructure created by Microsoft for building, deploying, and running applications and services that use .NET technologies, such as desktop applications and Web services.
- Server Side Includes (SSI): A type of HTML comment that directs the Web server to dynamically generate data for the Web page whenever it is requested. SSI can also be used to execute programs and insert the results.
DATABASE FEATURES
Windows web hosting provides the following database features:
- Windows - MS Access: A fast and flexible relational database management system, developed by Microsoft, which utilizes SQL.
- Windows - MS SQL Database: An advanced server-side relational database system, designed for corporate users or those with intensive transactions.
- Cold Fusion MX: A Web application server that integrates Web pages and databases. When you enter a request Cold Fusion queries a database and returns the results in HTML form.
ACCOUNT ACCESS
Under Windows web hosting the hosting account can be accessed through FTP, Multiple Sub-FTP Accounts, Virtual FTP, C-Panel and Web Shell etc.
WEB SITE MANAGEMENT FEATURES
For managed windows hosting, Microsoft® FrontPage® Server Extensions (FPSE) are used frequently by hosting providers to enable users to upload their FrontPage-created sites. Microsoft® FrontPage® is a Web site creation and management software tool that allows you to create and maintain Web sites. Comments on Windows Web Hosting
Windows web hosting is usually more expensive than UNIX web hosting but windows hosting provides extra features that are not available in UNIX hosting. So if you require those windows specific features for hosting your site, then you should go for windows hosting.
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