A web host is needed for individuals who wish to own a website. When starting a website or moving an existing site, an owner must make a decision regarding what web host is best for them. When a website is in need of a web host, there are three choices to choose from, including Macintosh, Linux and Windows. MAC servers host a low amount of websites, making Windows and Linux the most popular choice of web hosts.

Windows and Linux provide a variety of options. Decisions regarding applications and the amount of control the website owner wants, will influence the choice of platform that will be used.

Linux

Out of all the operating systems, Unix is the oldest and one of the most chosen, where Linux is an Unix-based OS. Most web servers originally ran on a version of Unix and is considered to be the foundation of the Internet. One of the popular features of Linux is that it offers an operating system that can handle multiple tasks. This means that many applications can operate at the same time without affecting one another. Linux makes it possible for tons of websites to run on the same server.

Many choose Linux because it is reliable and has the ability to host many sites on the same machine. Linux provides flexible programming and allows an owner to possess increased administrative control. Another positive is that almost all CGI scripts tend to run better on Linux. Webmasters can improve their websites with Linux and achieve the most advantageous levels of operation.

Some of the disadvantages to working with Linux is that it is case sensitive and it is not that easy to get the hang of. When making changes in Linux, Telnet or Ftp must be used.

Windows

When comparing Windows to Unix, the system is catching on quickly, but has not been around as long as Linux. Windows was introduced to correspond to Microsoft’s Frontpage, which is a web-authoring tool. Windows is a nice choice for webmasters who do not want to bother with CGI programming or HTML. Windows also avoids the daily inconvenience of administering a web server.

Advantages associated with Windows include the fact that it is not case sensitive and is easier for the average webmaster to use and administer. Windows does not require the use of Ftp or Telnet, but uses Microsoft Frontpage for publishing websites. For those who wish to learn the minimal amount of information regarding the web and how to administer a site, Windows can be a helpful tool.

Some of the negative aspects that Windows possesses include poorer security than Linux. Tighter security measures will be needed to counteract these security issues. This should be available through the hosting provider. Although great strides are being made, this system cannot run all CGI scripts.

Issues Concerning Web Host Choices

The type of web host and platform that is needed, will be determined by the webmaster and what they feel will fulfill the needs of their visitors. A good idea is to conduct a bit of research into the different types of platforms that are available.

A few issues to consider when choosing a web host include uptime, as well as bandwidth usage. In regards to uptime, the amount of time that a server goes down is an important factor concerning web hosting. The longer a server is down, the more business and sales are lost. When looking into bandwidth usage, there are some web hosts that offer traffic that is not monitored at no extra cost. Other web hosts will charge extra once a certain amount is reached. The server space of a web host should provide more than 50 MB of space; but as a general rule of thumb: the more space, the better.

Another important concern of web hosts is whether or not CGI access is possible. Webmasters need to be able to use CGI and it is not good when a host does not feature this option. Since the Internet is always changing and progressing, the web host that is chosen, should be able to handle applications, such as MSQL, Real Audio, Real Video and Cold Fusion.

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