Web Hosting Blog

Parallel’s Plesk Control Panel is considered to be a highly recommended and one of the most used control panels in the Web Hosting Industry today. Plesk control panel can operate with Windows as well as on Linux platforms.

Plesk is an ideal solution for Dedicated, Shared and Virtual hosting. Plesk control panel is the most stable and secure multi-platform web hosting control panel available for users. Most of the leading web hosting service providers use Plesk for the purpose of increasing their per server profitability. There are many benefits of using Plesk Control panel. Windows and Linux server’s can make use of Plesk.

Dedicated Web Hosting

Plesk’s RPM installation and modular design allow Dedicated Hosting providers to satisfy the needs of tech savvy customers. It deploys and is ready in a very short time. It provides high performance solutions which is comprehensive yet inexpensive. There are many unique features such as XML-API which automize the provisioning process and integrating 3^rd party applications, included in Plesk. It includes a complete Software Development Kit with multiple backend utilities delivering service providers and customers more power to adapt their offerings as well as an avenue for easy up selling and additions.

Shared Web Hosting

Plesk’s tiered self administration and uniform multi platform design is perfect for the management of a shared web hosting environment. The control panel strengthens providers for managing multiple domains running reliably on highly scalable  architecture optimizes for the reseller channel. A person with no technical background too can easily create, manage and set-up accounts while customers can administer their virtual domains without the support from the technical staff. Plesk satisfies the needs of both simple and complex web hosting system configurations at the same time allowing full customization.

Virtual Web Hosting

Plesk efficiently delivers management power with a small footprint making it an ideal for Virtual Private Server Hosting solution. With the use of Virtuozzo, Plesk users can deploy templates of Plesk control panel systems. Virtual servers provide an isolated dedicated server environment. Getting upgrades has never been so simple before from a single VPS console. Plesk and Virtuozzo are unsurpassed in their ability to increase ROI and generate revenue for the professional web hosting provider.

Windows Web hosting is able to support variety of scripts just like Linux. Windows offers two common options are ASP and PHP. In the Web Hosting Industry ASP is exclusively used for Windows Web Hosting and Web Hosting platforms also use PHP. SQL server and My SQL databases are relational in nature allowing communication with customers websites for quick retrieval of information through the Internet.

The major benefit of Windows web hosting is that it also comes with many pre-installed applications specifically written for Windows Servers. Some of these programs are free small in size whereas some are expensive and have the ability to power prominent corporations. Web Hosting with Windows as a platform can be a unique experience.

There are few factors that make Windows a better choice for Web Hosting of a site on Windows Server.

Use of ASP for Windows Web Hosting

Windows hosting has the advantage of the use of ASP scripts where Linux lags behind in this feature. But a Linux server can make the transition of hosting a site running on Windows operating system, it is not designed for compatibility with ASP. Because of the popularity of ASP, it has its own web hosting platform. Most of the hosts implement Windows operating system, not to forget the fact that this often is expensive than the open source Linux Hosting. The common web hosting platforms users often find for this scripts are ASP.net and ASP4 as it supports VB and Java scripts. ASP is an abbreviation of Active Server Pages. When the ASP pages are sent to the user they are dynamic in nature.

ASP Dynamics

PHP and ASP are designed to perform the similar functions but Windows based scripts are bit more advanced. Internet web pages can be distinguished between: static pages and dynamic pages. Static web pages show simple contents which do not change throughout, whereas Dynamic web pages get modified when they reach the users computer. Java Script has the capability of automatically changing page appearance, a process known as the client side scripting. Scripts written in ASP can modify a page before it gets loaded in the web browser. This is known as the server-side scripting. The Dynamic web pages that are created in ASP are embedded in the base language and the URL.

ASP enables web programmers create a web site and produce dynamic content based on commands. The powerful commands give users more control over the web pages and hence the complete web-site. Integration with MS SQL provides strength to ASP and also allows users to build a phenomenal website without self scripting the design, other contents and background for each page. Database is an essential element in the appearance of a website. ASP pages do not necessarily need the aid of a database for loading the dynamic content.

ASP’s role in Enhancing Web Hosting

There are multiple reasons to reside with Windows web host, ASP scripts is one of them. Like PHP, ASP too is easy to translate. ASP.net is a user friendly language. ASP.net takes very less load time. ASP language is capable and compatible.

ASP Features

Due to the popularity of ASP, users search for a Windows Web host that uses ASP. For such seekers users need to check for: frequent updates, scripting support and add-ons.

• Add-Ons: The add-on application for Windows have the capability to make a website prosper in performance and presentation. ASP is bundled with programs that are pre-installed on the server. Apart from the initial payment and agreement of terms, these applications mostly are free and easily available on demand.

• Scripting Support:

If a user intends to implement dynamic web pages in the web-site the scripting support prove to be very important. The Scripting support from the web host assists the users with all the programming issues. Most of the Windows Web Hosting providers provide support through phone calls, e-mails or support tickets, interactive applications such as blogs and message forms. By seeking help on ASP through such services can offer most from the Windows hosting.

To summarize, ASP is an absolutely solid script which has earned reputation in a short span of time. The Dynamic web language usage causes Windows Web hosting grow and make the best websites over the internet. The ASP feature can be helpful for users who wish to publish their websites on the Windows Server.

Clustered web hosting is designed to eliminate the problems inherited from the typical shared web hosting technology. This type of hosting provides customers with a clustered handling of security, load balancing and necessary resources.

Human interference is not required in clustered hosting as the clustered hosting platform is data driven. The resources are virtualized beyond the limits of a single physical server which removes the limitation of the website to be present on a single server. The processing power and application resources are shared in Cluster web hosting. Incase of any changes done to a customer’s account then it gets propagated to each server present in the cluster. Whereas in shared web hosting changes to a configuration file takes effect after the server is re-booted. In clustered hosting multiple layers of security are integrated into the platform whereas in other types of web hosting the security layers are not integrated in the platform. The Clustered hosting network layer protection require intelligent routing, built in firewalls and proxy technology. It comprises of redundant switching fabric.

Shared web hosting service refers to the hosting service in which many websites are hosted on a single server. Each website is assigned a particular limited space (Depends on the Shared Hosting Package) in which the web server resources are shared between many web-sites hosted on the same server. Shared web hosting is the most economical type of web hosting service available. Shared web hosting requires web based control panel such as cPanel, Plesk, Direct Admin etc. The servers might have Windows or Linux operating systems installed on them. Both have similar interfaces and functionality with only difference in the operating system. As the resources offered by a single server are used by each website optimum performance cannot be expected which is not the case with dedicated web hosting service. The secure websites are not properly supported in shared web hosting platforms. All the websites share the same IP address and the same domain name. Improper configuration of file permissions with shared files might lend access of file to other users present on the same server.

Linux server hosting is more recommended than Windows hosting as more scripts can effectively run on Linux. Linux server hosting is designed for the users who require a VPS or dedicated server hosting with Linux. Most of the businesses opt for Linux server hosting as it enables them to have access to a Linux hosting server. Users can host their website and applications which are specifically designed for use with a Linux web hosting server.

Linux server hosting is cheaper that windows server hosting as many applications are available on Linux for commercial use. Many businesses and individuals have been able to receive reliable web hosting service at low costs. For many Linux programs does not require licensing fees. A web hosting company initiates its service of web hosting with providing Linux web hosting with shared hosting packages and as the fund increases start giving Linux server hosting.

Standard set of applications are used by most of the web hosting providers. Same services are also available for Linux server hosting since like Linux they all are free to use in a commercial web hosting environment. The applications include Apache web server, Exim mail server and the Dovecot IMAP/POP3 server. Apache web server has a higher percentage market share of the web server market than Microsoft’s IIS web server, the reason is that Apache can run on Windows operating system too. Hence the web hosting providers who provide services for both Linux and Windows web hosting service can easily do it.

Linux VPS server hosting another web hosting solution for individuals and small businesses who need their own dedicated web hosting environment but are unable to afford higher costs of Linux dedicated server. Linux server hosting providers use applications such as Parallel’s Virtuozzo inorder to provide reliable Linux VPS server hosting to the clients. Virtuozzo allows clients to mange their own VPS web hosting servers from anywhere on the planet using web based administration panel.

Linux Vs Windows

Debates on certain topics started right from the early days of the Internet. One of the few topics which did not end is which operating system is the better one, Linux or Windows. This is the topic which is still in debate. Many of the people tried to find an answer to this but unfortunately could not. However, this topic is much related to the factors which are in regards to the Web Hosting industry and this is due to the client’s needs and requirements, but which operating system provides the usability and a secured environment is the matter of concern. Microsoft has been in this industry for a long time now and has released many versions for almost every scenario in due course. Linux however is not much used as an operating system for desktop computers but is much used as an operating system for servers.

Windows

Windows is the world’s most commonly used operating system at the moment and this is a big achievement for Microsoft as nowadays Computers and the Internet industry is one of the most rapidly growing industry world over. Windows is one of the most recognized operating systems and has many versions which you have to buy if you want to use them. It is Windows due to which Bill Gates is now the richest man on the Earth and is also one of the famous personalities in the world. The main versions of Microsoft’s operating system at the moment are Windows Vista and Windows Server 2003. Windows Vista is widely used as an operating system for desktop computers and Windows server 2003 is used as an operating system for servers. The latest version of Windows server 2008 has also been launched this year which is yet another option for Windows server users. The reason that Windows has become so famous and is preferred by many people around the world is Windows was the first main-stream computer operating system due to which it got a very good start in the market but as time is passing by, other Unix based systems like Linux and Mac OSX have started capturing the market and the market share of Windows is decreasing because of this reason.

If you are using Windows you will have to spend money for the operating system as well as for some of the anti-virus software’s and internet security software’s as currently there are thousands of viruses that are able to cause damage to your Windows operating system and your computer if you have Windows installed on it. Developers do not prefer windows for use and the reason for this is Windows is not very versatile to use as you can only run a few selected languages on windows and these languages also are a product of Windows. The main languages are Microsoft’s classic ASP and ASP.NET. However, you can also run RoR and PHP to run on Windows.

Linux

Linux is also an operating system like windows but Linux is an ‘open source’ operating system, this means Linux is available for free. Linux has many versions or say distributions; they are called distros for short. One of the best features of Linux includes the flexibility for use that is not the case with other operating systems. For example: - The Ubuntu Linux which is one of the distros of Linux was actually produced as an operating system for home computers or say desktop computers only but now it can also be used as an operating system for servers also. Comparatively, Linux is more secured than Windows. The reason for this is, Linux has a very less number of viruses in comparison to Windows and the few which exist as viruses for Linux do not affect Linux. In fact, viruses do not affect Linux even if they are present in the Linux environment. Viruses can reside in the Linux environment but Linux operating system is not affected by them. So this is a great benefit for the users of Linux as there are thousands of viruses that can affect Windows operating system and can cause damage to the system.

Linux is less resource intensive in comparison to Windows which means, Linux can also run on machines which are old or on machines which do not have a good specification. If you are a web developer than Linux can be a better option for you in comparison to Windows as you can work easily with Linux rather than Windows and this is due to the fact that you can run many languages on Linux which is not possible on Windows. Also, there are many free resources and scripting languages that can work efficiently within a Linux environment and this is a great benefit for developers working on Linux. When web hosting is concerned, Linux servers are available at a cheaper rate than Windows servers as the software price of Linux servers is much cheaper or nothing in comparison to Windows server software.

Conclusion:-

As both the operating systems provide many features you can choose any operating system from Linux or Windows, make sure that enough support is available with Windows in comparison to Linux as you are paying for the operating system or the software. Linux is free so you will receive support only from the Linux community and it is possible that you might not get the answer you need for your question, but there are enough websites available on the internet that can help you if you have any of these operating systems. If you think that your prior requirement is the security then you should go for Linux but if you think that you are able to spend out extra money for windows security software’s then you can go for Windows.