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A professional web host is acquainted with all the technicalities related to web hosting. He/she knows that selection of the operating system is one of the foremost duties. Selection on of the operating system, however, depends on the objectives and contents of the website. It is always better to make a wise selection as there are only a limited number of popular operating systems. Microsoft Windows and Linux are the two most popular operating systems that are used by web hosts. UNIX and Macintosh can also suffice client requirements though they are not so popular. This article is designed to help you, the reader, understand how choosing Windows web hosting will affect your website operation.

The most popular of all operating system is Windows, created by Microsoft. It is the main programming software found on computers when consumers and businesses purchase them, and it is the operating system most people are familiar with. The platform that is the operating system is an important consideration when you are choosing your web host as well. In the past most web hosts operated on the technical Linux systems since more of the technical builders used that program. With the huge expanse of mass market web site building programs the need for Windows based hosting grew and is now commonplace. It is important to be sure when you choose a web host that they offer Windows platforms to operate your website.

If a website has to be hosted, that would incorporate the use of Microsoft products, it is always advisable to use Windows as a platform. Microsoft, windows feature an effective Internet Information Server (IIS). Whenever the hosting is based on ASP and Microsoft Access and SQL server, use of IIS is recommended or rather is needed. There are several components used for web hosting like that of CGI. Use of these components can be best experienced if the website is hosted on Windows. Windows web hosting also has a lot of pre-made programs designed for use with Windows web servers.

Comparison of Windows with UNIX

Web sites that are hosted on UNIX and Windows servers can be accessed universally. The difference between the two operating system lies in terms of the software they provide to server data. Windows can always provide better software services for all purposes. In terms of reliability, UNIX is just a few steps ahead since it is known to be extremely stable and does run for years without rebooting. However, Windows can manage to meet the requirements of modern websites far better than UNIX.

Wherever Microsoft products are in service a Windows operating system must be used. If the host uses MS Access, ASP in order to provide dynamic content, or VBScript to give enhanced features to the sites then UNIX is not able to operate under those parameters. The technologies in those programs require Microsoft Windows. Windows also already accommodates all of the UNIX system provisions so it isn’t needed for computers with Windows.

Comparison of Windows with Linux

Both of these programs uses and supports the Cold Fusion, HTML and JavaScript programs that make the most commonly desired applications available. It was once difficult to use Linux with FrontPage extensions but they have made that a possibility in the newer Linux operating environment. The biggest difference is Linux supports PHP where Windows supports ASP.

One of the main advantages of Windows servers is that it can run on Microsoft’s software like that of Access and also on MS SQL databases. Windows servers allow the web developers to use Microsoft’s programming environments like that of Visual Basic Scripts, Active Server Pages (ASP), MS Index Server. On the contrary, Linux is not fully compatible with that of Microsoft technologies and hence if the users want to use Access, MS SQL, ASP, or VB development tools then Windows is always the better choice.

Be sure to inspect all of the requirements of the Window’s system and what it has to offer. Not every Windows platform offers the same abilities and that will affect the performance.

Below are some of the features that will have to be there in the Windows-based hosting package.

* NET Support

This is the most commonly used feature web hosts use to provide their service. It is the most modern offer that Microsoft’s Active Server Page provides. It is a valuable tool in the creation of web pages and is necessary to use with IIS.

* Databases

Most businesses offer the Microsoft Access 2000 database as a way to use their systems. If a company is larger and requires a lot more space for such information then MS SQL is a requirement for use.

* PHP and ColdFusion

Most web hosts do not offer ColdFusion because it is an option that requires an advanced technology. It takes a very specialized website to use this.

* Control Panel

Your control panel is the way you communicate with and access your website. It is important to use the same operating system that your host uses to provide this feature.

Other options you might expect from your web hosting service that uses Windows are POP3 email, IDs and Aliases, Bandwidth, Backup, IP, Webmail, STMTPs, and FTP accounts, CDONTS and ASP support.

Windows operating systems will continue to be the most popular system for use by the most customers largely due to the fact they have come to expect seeing the familiar logo and associate it with a positive image. Microsoft has imprinted that image so heavily upon the minds of the general public they are often not willing to use other systems, or even try them out. Windows has been the most popular operating system since the early 80’s and will continue a strong customer loyalty thanks to its strong brand name presence. People are generally geared to believe that a Windows platform will be available for long periods in the future and won’t disappear.

Another reason for the massive popularity of Windows as an operating system is the company’s extensive support available to everyone who uses their products. They go over and above most other companies to give tech support, online free tutorials for all of their products and many upgrades and additions to each program.