| So you're finally ready to publish your finished | | | | traffic websites and add-ons such as chat rooms, |
| website and you're searching through the myriad | | | | email and website statistics with ease. The biggest |
| of web hosting plans and providers. You may | | | | differences are price and software compatibility. |
| have noticed that most hosting companies use | | | | Because Windows must be purchased and |
| Linux or Unix operating systems on their web | | | | licenses renewed continuously, Windows hosting |
| servers. Microsoft Windows is less commonly | | | | plans are usually more expensive than Unix-based |
| offered as a choice. So what's the difference? | | | | plans. Also Unix-based plans often come with free |
| Most people are familiar with Microsoft Windows | | | | email, databases (MySQL), statistic, and |
| having used it at home, work, or at school. It is | | | | community programs. While Windows plans come |
| very easy to use for novices and it doesn't | | | | with Microsoft software (MS SQL, for example) |
| require command-line knowledge. In Windows | | | | that must be purchased by the hosting company. |
| Home and advanced Server editions, you can | | | | Both Linux and Windows platforms can run |
| simply point and click your way to a different | | | | popular programming languages such as php, perl, |
| folder using your mouse. Unix and Linux are | | | | or java. If your website uses active server |
| open-source – meaning that the operating | | | | pages, then it will be less risky hosting it on a |
| system is free and the source code is well | | | | Windows server. Well it still may function on a |
| documented and easily distributed. There are no | | | | Unix server, there may be small glitches that are |
| major differences between Unix and Linux. Unix is | | | | not immediately apparent. Similarly, if you are |
| much older and cannot run on x86-based personal | | | | using with Microsoft SQL databases, these |
| computers (like the one you're using now). In | | | | databases will be supported by most Windows |
| contrast, Linux can run on both high-powered | | | | plans. However, Linux or Unix plans often include |
| servers and x86-based computers. | | | | MySQL which would require that your databases |
| Linux is available in many flavors, though most | | | | be converted to this format in order to function |
| hosting companies use Red Hat Linux, or | | | | properly. If you are currently using any Microsoft |
| Mandrake Linux, which are proven workhorses | | | | programming (especially active server pages) or |
| able to handle hundreds of websites and millions | | | | third-party applications (MS SQL 2000), you may |
| of hits per day. FreeBSD and OpenBSD are | | | | want to play it safe and choose a Windows |
| versions of Unix which are also available. While | | | | hosting plan. |
| ease-of-use is very important for a home or | | | | From the average web designer's standpoint, |
| work computer, it is generally not a big issue | | | | there isn't much difference between hosting on |
| when working with a web server. After all, you | | | | Linux/Unix or Windows web servers. However, |
| are doing most of your website design offline on | | | | before signing up for a hosting plan, ensure that all |
| your own computer. Unless you have very | | | | facets of your site's design, programming, |
| advanced programming or operating | | | | databases and the like will work with that plan. If |
| system-specific modules, you will not notice the | | | | you are unsure, ask the company's sales or |
| difference between Windows and Unix servers. | | | | technical staff before you commit. |
| Both Linux/Unix and Windows can handle high | | | | |