Web Hosting Blog

Linux is an open source and free operating system. The correct pronunciation of Linux is LIH-nux. A Finnish programmer Linus Torwalds created Linux in 1991. He took support from many developers from around the world. Linux has a lot of resemblance with Unix.

Linux can be freely downloaded and run on computers, the source codes written by programmers too are available free of cost. Having access to the source codes enables users to modify the programs according to their needs.

Linux can be made to run on variety of hardware platforms such as Cell Phones, Personal Computer’s and huge mainframes.

Linux is licensed under the Free Software Foundations GNU projects GNU General Public License, version 2 and under this license users have the right to modify and redistribute the software.

Linux can be taken in two ways: GUI (Graphical User Interface) and Application programs. The different versions of Linux are known as distributions.

Some versions of Linux can be installed alongwith other Operating System on the same hard disk this is called Dual boot, whereas some versions solely needs to be installed on a hard disk. Some versions are designed to run as live CD’s or DVD’s.

If users are completely new to Linux and want to check it out then CLICK to view the ways of testing Linux without altering the Windows computer or installing Linux while keeping Windows.

Ubuntu 8.04 is one of the distributors of Linux that offers a Graphical User Interface similar to Windows. It is based on the “Point and Click” environment which presents delivers attractive visual layout and interface experience. Linux offers users to chose from a variety of interfaces. Most of the distributions have complete desktop environments. They contain tools, games, utilities and other applications. GNOME (Pronunciation : guh-NOME) and KDE (K Desktop Environment) are two of the most popular desktop environments.

KDE is capable of running on any Unix as well as Linux operating system. KDE too is licensed under the terms of GNU General Public license. It is supported by the free software development community which is provided free of cost to Linux users.

GNOME, the GNU Network Object Model environment is a ever-present GUI for linux. This too is licensed under the terms of GNU General Public License.

Before starting the user needs to be aware of the service packs that have been installed on the Operating System (OS).

The preparation starts with the standard procedure of Disk CleanUp and Disk defragment.

• DISK CLEAN-UP : Start >> Run >> Cleanmgr.exe
• DISK DEFRGMENTER : Start >> Run >> Dfrg.exe.

• Before the disk is mede to follow these procedures. Users need to make sure that the disk has a minimum disk space of 1.5 Gb (Giga bytes) for the completion of the setup. The set up occupies a temporary storage and after the set-up is complete the occupied space can be available.

Before the Set-up Users must back up the files:

Before the migration users must do a thorough virus scan of all the drives and disks.

The back up must include back up of the complete disk which includes System State Data, further details are available in the Help and Support column.

The server must be Offline before the back-up initiates.

• The users must be asked to log off from every domain, before the migration.
• Then the server must be disconnected from the internet connection.
• Every service provided through the servers must be halted until the migration is successful. (For location of active services : Start >> Run >> Services.msc)
• Disk utilities must be turned off such as Anti-virus, back-up softwares.

When migrating to Windows Server 2003 R2 Standard Edition, the Windows Business Server 2003 R2 transition pack Wizard must be run.

Following Steps needs to be performed before migration:

1. Insert the Windows Small Business Server 2003 R2 Transition Pack CD into the drive and step through Setup. If Setup does not begin automatically, from the root of the Windows Small Business Server 2003 Transition Pack CD, double-click the shortcut to Setup.exe.

2. Re-installation might be required of service packs.

3. Restart services for third-party applications that were stopped before the migration.

4. Internet Connection must be restored.

5. Go to Windows Update and review the available service packs and hotfixes to be sure that you have installed all the ones that you need.

AIR is a cross platform operating system runtime which enables web developers to empower their existing web development skills. It enables developers to build and deploy web applications and content to the desktop.

Few reasons why web developers prefer AIR are as follows:

Cross platform desktop application : An application written for a desktop can be run on any platform MacOS, Linux, Windows, etc.

Applications acts as desktop applications : AIR is full featured application framework which gives users access to file system, system tray and web all at the same time.

Desktop Applications written in JavaScript or HTML

Better integration for web applications.

Adobe AIR was released on June 16 2008. AIR provides support for building international languages. Its 1.1 version includes support for Windows XP tablet PC edition and 64 bits edition of Windows Vista Home Premium, Business, Ultimate and Enterprise. Its applications can operate offline too, and can upgrade itself when reconnected to the web. More than 180 applications are available on Adobe AIR market place.

Plesk and cPanel are the most common control panels provided to users by the web hosting services. Using the control panels users can create and modify the websites. Plesk can be availed with Linux as well as Windows operating systems, whereas cPanel can be available with Linux only. But the engineers are working on cPanel to be made available with Windows as well.

Users need to decide the between the control panels at the time of obtaining a web hosting account. The control panel should be easy to use and should have better built-in utilities. Depending on the users requirements the selection of control panel should be done. Though Plesk and cPanel offer similar basic features, which is the reason they are so popular. Using any one of the control panels users can create, modify or delete e-mail accounts, manage them, maintain domain or sub-domains and upload files and manage them as well. Add-on’s too are available with both Plesk and cPanel which helps creating and managing websites.

Plesk

As stated earlier, now-a-days Plesk is the highly preferred control panel. The reason is because it is highly reliable if compared with any other control panel. Its compatibility with Windows operating system (OS) makes it so popular amongst web hosting service providers. Plesk includes various versions for Linux and Windows OS’s. Plesk can be very easily learned. Due to which user’s time and money are saved.

The only drawback of Plesk is, the web developers and web designers do not have the privilege of creating their own add-ons and applications. Plesk has some security issues too, which means hackers can easily drop into the control panel no matter if the user changes its username and password.

Yet, if the user wants a control panel which is compatible with both Linux and Windows, Plesk can be the one. But if the user needs to install any programs and wants more easier control panel, then cPanel would be preferred.

cPanel

cPanel or Control Panel is another much preferred graphical web hosting control panel which is simple and easy for administering the websites. cPanel is supplied by cPanel Inc. cPanel is majorly used by commercial web hosting services. It requires monthly licensing as it is a proprietary product.

Most of the web-developers and web designers prefer cPanel. cPanel was designed for Speed hosting, its based on Perl scripts and mostly do not require access to databases. cPanel is helpful for designing and development of attractive websites as it is an excellent Graphical User Interface (GUI).

Few of many features of cPanel are database management, domain and sub-domain control, FTP, back-up facility, e-mail management etc. Loading is a very quick task with the use of cPanel. Fantastico and RVSkins can be installed using cPanel. cPanel provides each and every detail of the web-site due to its statistics sidebar. Web Host Manager (WHM) is available with cPanel. Reseller web hosting can be simplified with the use of WHM. WHM can also be used to set up reselling account and resell web hosting service.

With the use of site migration module in cPanel, websites and web hosting accounts can be easily migrated to other web hosting service.

Both the control panels have excellent graphical user interface. But cPanel has a better GUI than Plesk. It is more user friendly. Most of the web hosting service providers provides cPanel. Fantastico Deluxe installer is included in cPanel, which has many web utilities and powerful scripts. Installation of blogs, forums, content management systems (CMS), community boards, e-Commerce shopping carts, e-mail accounts and many other web tools can be easily done with the use of Fantastico. Users need not be a web programmer neither s/he should have knowledge of databases coding. One can install utilities and scripts easily. Plesk too provides an application pack but cPanels Fantastico cannot be compared.

With the use of latest web technology, Windows Web Hosting can be very easily achieved. As the name suggests Microsoft Windows which is the most popular operating system till date is used for Windows Web Hosting. Windows if used in such a way can prove to be fruitful for many businesses as well as individuals purposes. Windows not only provides an Operating system but also a web hosting server which is used for Windows web hosting services.

Windows has developed many standard tools which are now-a-days used by users across the globe to design and develop different web-sites. Windows OS is a useful highly web compatible operating system(OS) . No matter if you have a Linux operating system installed at our local computer, yet one can opt for hosting your website on a Windows web hosting server. Users usually prefer a Windows web hosting, incase they intend to build the website for personal purposes or for the purpose of their small businesses. Internet Information Server is a built-in technology by the Windows Web hosting service. Internet Information Server (IIS) has its own server which sends out that provides web-pages to web browsers, it also supports Windows NT operating.

REASONS TO CHOOSE WINDOWS WEB HOSTING

Users are assigned a new e-mail account and web tools as a part of Windows Web hosting package/service provided by the web host. The web host provides a control panel, with the help of which a windows web hosting server can be setup. The simplest control panel well suited for Windows is Plesk designed by Sw-Soft. It is more user friendly because of its GUI (Graphical User Interface) which simplifies designing and developing the websites. The scripts supported by Windows are HTML, CGI and PHP which can be used in developing websites. Many of the software’s and programs are offered free of cost.

As Windows have developed many easy to access tools, it has become one of the most preferred web hosting services and also Windows being the oldest player has developed efficient end effective technology and support.

TIPS TO CHOOSE A SERVICE PROVIDER

There are many web hosting providers active in the market, but to chose between them one simple method is searching Google and chose from the ones on the first page itself. The web hosting provider should have excellent customer and technical facility. The provider should have highly trained professional staff who are available on a 24×7 basis for the purpose of getting instant solutions. The web hosting provider should have all the three mediums of communications: Over the phone, Chat and E-mail. Reputation of the service provider too is very important.

Microsoft has released the latest version of Windows Operating System after taking feedback from the users of Vista.

The new version of the OS includes new features such as on screen multi-touch technology. This feature allows users to zoom in pages using finger tips. This technology was first introduced in Apple’s iPhone.

The new version includes a new taskbar which has been designed to offer quick access to files and applications. It also enables users introduces a new feature known as the Home Group that enables users easily share data across computer’s and other devices. The update also includes additional support for camera’s, printers and mobile phones, it offers a single window for managing work for every device.

The new interface seems to be pretty cool and user friendly. Just have a look at the pictures below.

We usually format the Hard Disk drive when we try removing errors from the drive, if there is a malicious virus or just a general maintenance of the computer system or some other reason.

When the procedure is performed for the first time it is called Formatting. Later if the procedure is done on the same Hard Disk, its called Re-formatting.

Steps to Format or Re-format the HD drive.

Back Up : All the necessary data or files should be backed up before formatting. But if there is a virus that has caused serious damage, then back is not recommended.

Usually at the time of purchase of the computer, you might have received a master CD. If yes then the CD would take care of formatting the Hard Disk Drive. If you do not have the master CD then the formatting needs to be done manually. It is important to know the operating system installed in your computer before you can proceed with formatting. You need to make changes in BIOS as boot from CD. Insert the CD of operating system now you can start the formatting procedure.

Formatting Commands

Format is a Microsoft DOS command. It is an external command seen in many operating systems. Following are the steps for formatting the Hard Drive.

Low level formatting creates the physical structure of the hard drive. Partitioning divides the hard disk into logical pieces. High-level formatting defines the logical structures on the partition and places at the start of the disk any necessary operating system files.

The format command syntax is the following:

FORMAT drive: [/parameters]

where drive: specifies the volume to format (the hard disk letter followed by a colon)  — example format c:
— where [parameters]  formats the disk with different options — example format c: /s will copy system files to the formatted disk or format c: /q performs a quick format.

As we all are aware that Linux is a free downloadable Operating System (OS). Linux has made a strong establishment not only in corporate information technology but also in the embedded market. This is probably because of reusable source code, its support for different types of hardware and an anticipated cost reduction. Linux is highly flexible and offers complete control over development tools, OS and associated packages.

Is Migration A Problem? Here’s how its done.

If you are choosing Linux as the Operating System for migration, then you need to outline a well-organized action plan. Determine the migration goal and evaluate the risk involved.

Migration Methodology

Your maximum effort should be given for application re-design. Existing source code is suitable for porting if the API (e.g., UNIX or POSIX) and the internal structure of the application are similar to Linux.

The software Wind River is a professional Services migration methodology, the migration model used by them is shown below.

Incase the source code is strongly interwoven into the current OS`s API, then an API intermediate layer should be inserted for the purpose of communication between the current operating system`s API and Linux API. API stands for Application Programming Interface. Else, the application can be bundled with the current OS and and layered onto Linux.

The figure below shows the application can be reused, redesigned or ported, with a legacy Operating system too.