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