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Which Is Right For Me: Windows Hosting or Linux – Unix Hosting?

We all have our preferences when it comes to operating systems some people prefer one of the many flavors of Windows, while others prefer one of the several distributions of Linux. It is all the matter of what works best for you. another aspect that should be taken into consideration when determining which type of hosting you should use Windows or Linux/Unix, is what you intend to do on your website.

There are many differences between the two operating systems. However, when it comes to hosting there are just as many differences. Some people with Windows operating systems choose to use Linux/Unix hosting. On the other side of the coin, some people who use Linux/Unix operating systems choose to use Windows hosting. Do you find this confusing? if so, you are not alone. You may be wondering how this would work.

Well essentially, when you acquire hosting for your website, you are basically paying someone else to host your website on their computer. These computers also have operating systems. Therefore, when you choose Windows or Linux hosting, this will mean that the computer your website is run from is using that chosen operating system.

Windows is perhaps one of the most well-known and popular forms of operating systems. there are many advantages to using Windows hosting. Because millions of users have Windows and use the many Microsoft products such, using Windows hosting would allow you to easily integrate any of these products into your website. Windows hosting would also allow you to run ASP (Active Server Pages) on your website, which is placing dynamic content on your website using computer scripts.

What is great about Windows is that it boasts an easy to use interface perfect for beginners. there are usually many options such as ASP mail, Access Database, ASP.NET, and SQL Database, IIS, and PHP. Windows hosting also allows for publishing websites with FrontPage,

As with almost anything in this world, Windows hosting does have its disadvantages. one of the main disadvantages is the costs. one Microsoft server, if buying your own, will cost you a couple of thousand dollars, if you were running the software yourself. You have many choices when it comes to software such as Windows 2003, Advanced, and Windows 2000 server. However, with the competitiveness of the hosting industry, you will find the Windows hosting is extremely affordable when using a remote server.

Linux and UNIX hosting are two different types of operating system that are extremely similar to one another. In essence, the two are closely related something like cousins; therefore, they are generally combined in hosting. Now what is great about Linux/Unix is that you have the ability to integrate unmatched security into your website. there are also many other benefits of the duo that make it the choice for many people.

One such benefit is the fact that Linux/Unix is extremely compatible with PHP, which is the latest craze in programming languages. Cost is another very attractive benefit of the duo. In many cases, the operating system is free. Some distributors have begun to charge for the system, but many are still available for no costs. For little to no cost, additional software can be obtained for Linux/Unix such as BIND, Sendmail, Apache, and APF Firewall.

Security is probably the most popular benefit of using Linux/Unix hosting. The level of security offered by this duo is unmatched by Windows hosting. To add to the benefits, statistics show that this operating system offers more overall stability and control in operation as well.

With Linux/Unix hosting, you have the ability to integrate Chmod permission, Mod Rewrite, Apache Web server, as well as MySQL and PHP.

Of course, as with Windows hosting there are some disadvantages to using Linux/Unix hosting. The main disadvantage being ease of use. Unlike Windows hosting, Linux/Unix hosting does not contain an easy to use, user-friendly interface. Basically, it requires a large list of commands to use and is not recommended for the beginner. This type of hosting requires a great deal of technical knowledge and familiarity to install and control.

Which one is for you?

Well, in short, it depends on what you need. if you need intense security, PHP compatibility, have technical knowledge, and you do not need to have all the latest website features, Linux/Unix hosting may be the right choice for you.

However, if you need a website that offers ASP, an easy to use interface, and the ability to integrate Microsoft products, then Windows hosting is the best decision for you.

As you can see choosing between Windows hosting and Linux/Unix hosting, all depends on what you need on your website, your level of experience, and of course, your overall budget.

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Web hosting firms, telcos aim services at SMEs

Posted at 6:36 pm June 07, 2010

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MANDALUYONG CITY, METRO MANILA – Businesses in the Philippines are becoming more IT savvy, especially small to medium scale enterprises or SMEs whose owners are young and  familiar with technologies that can help in their operations.

With a goal of reaching a wider market, some SMEs are taking their business to the Internet, putting up websites that feature products and services.

According to SME.com.ph, having a website conveys credibility and promotes trust from the public. it is also one of the most effective advertising techniques since a company can already tap millions of potential customers. What’s more, a website can be used as direct link to the company, creating easy access for customers.

But many entrepreneurs, especially in provinces, are not yet familiar with the Internet, more so on how to put a decent website. such a need is being addressed by online services providers and private firms that are hoping to tap into a potentially lucrative business.

SME.com.ph offers an online web hosting package, which costs around P1,000 per month, that includes a template for a business website and hosting. SMEs will also be included in the company’s supplier directory, thereby facilitating the company’s introduction to potential customers.

Another company that provides webhosting is Mabuhay Web Hosting, which provides both Microsoft Windows and Linux hosting (the latter is more cost-effective). going the open source Linux way would be more cost-efficient for startup firms, though they can move towards using Windows later.

Even telecommunications firms are jumping into the fray; Globe Telecom recently upgraded its Biz Online Package with a Sitebuilder tool, as well as a .ph domain for clients. Emmanuel Aligada , Globe Business, Corporate and SME Segments Head, says the Sitebuilder tool, in particular, is easy enough that non-technical users can create their website from scratch.

Globe’s Biz Online Package costs P750 per month to use and it can also be bundled with other Globe services such as Internet connectivity for additional costs.

Rival player PLDT is also supporting SMEs to go online through an online service called Suki. Although this service is limited only to SMEs who register, it already allows companies with no websites to start promoting their products and services.

On the other hand, the online trading firm Sulit also provides companies without websites to start offering their services. Sulit also allows registered members to send queries to the sellers and also comment about their service.

Other tools are available online. As such, SMEs and startup companies can easily tap into even if they have little knowledge with the Internet.

Web Hosting for Small Business: 5 Things to Consider Before You Buy

Take a look at these five things before you purchase web hosting services for your small business. Don’t get be the one to get burned Learn about the things that make a web hosting company stand above the rest

1. Price

Obviously, the first thing you should base your web hosting decision off of is the price. you should definitely compare the prices of a few of the best web hosting companies to get an idea of what a reasonable price for web hosting is. Hosting prices change often so it is likely that the prices have changed since the time this article was originally written. First, do a few searches online to see which companies are currently providing the best prices, services and discounts for your small businesses. When looking at web hosting prices you should look for discounts the web hosting company offers for new members and for members who pay for bundles of hosting service up front.

Introductory web hosting discounts range anywhere from paying only one cent for the first month of your hosting to having no customer discounts at all. most hosting companies offer discounts if you purchase their services in lots of a few months or years at a time. some companies also offer discounts to new customers. Make sure you do your hosting company pricing research before you make your final decision, it’s the first thing you will save money on. Worst case scenario, you don’t like the hosting services and cancel the service. That’s one penny wasted.

2. Customer Service and Support

The next thing you should consider is the quality of customer support. This quality is often overlooked or sacrificed for cheaper monthly rates. Don’t make this mistake One of the best and only services a web hosting company can provide for your small business is great customer service. after all, a hosting company without a dedicated customer service team is just a couple of rooms filled with cables and servers. Reputable hosting companies offer 24/7 customer service and are always friendly and willing to help at any time of the day. Make sure the company you choose offers great customer service and support for your small business the service is really what you’re paying for. also be sure to look online for reviews of the company and see what others are saying about their services, mainly customer service.

3. Service Discounts

Another factor you should think about is whether or not the hosting company offers you free credit for online marketing services. most people don’t consider this before they decide on a web hosting company. Don’t overlook this almost all web hosting companies offer coupons and discounts for popular online marketing services, most of the time these coupons offer free service just for signing up with the hosting company some of the best web hosting companies offer coupons for free search engine marketing from huge media sites like Google, Bing and Facebook. I’ve seen companies offer up to $300 dollars in free advertising credit to customers.

Don’t miss out on a couple hundred dollars worth of free marketing for your small business your business could be selling the best, most interesting product in the world but if nobody knows your business exists then you’re not going to make any sales. Marketing your website is the key to being successful. Additionally, some companies also offer money-back guarantees for a certain period of time in order to let you evaluate their services risk-free. Free things are always a nice little bonus.

4. Number of Services

You should also look at the variety of services your website host will provide for you based on what your small business will be doing. the number of services the companies provide will often be slightly different. If you plan on starting an e-commerce business, make sure the hosting company offers services that will make it easier for you to get your products online and available for customers to buy. some web hosting companies are entirely dedicated to hosting customers with e-commerce who want e-commerce websites.

If you plan to start a blog, make sure the company offers things like free automated WordPress installs and databases that can support your blog. If you plan on starting an e-commerce website make sure they offer secure checkout and allow you to take credit card payments. most web hosting companies offer services like e-mail accounts and templates for your website at no extra charge so don’t place too much emphasis on standard services like these. Think of what your business goals are and look for services that are specific to your what your small business plans on doing in the future.

5. Disk Space and Bandwidth

Finally, you should consider the amount of disk space and bandwidth that your web host offers. most web companies will give you more than enough space to host your website so don’t worry about this unless you plan on storing a massive amount of large files or creating massive databases. the thing you really need to look at is how much bandwidth the hosting company offers your business every month. Bandwidth is basically a measure of how much user traffic your website can handle. If you don’t have enough bandwidth your website won’t be available to your customers after the maximum bandwidth is exceeded.

A lot of companies offer hosting plans with unlimited bandwidth which enables your website to handle all the traffic it could possibly want. the last thing to look at is the uptime percentage rate. This is basically a measure of how often your site will be available on the web. all web hosting companies experience occasional problems or require some time to do server maintenance so it’s important to check this uptime rate. a 99.9% uptime guarantee means that a web hosting company guarantees that your website will be viewable by people on the web 99.9 percent of the time. be extra cautious if a web hosting company doesn’t have an uptime guarantee.