Hi friend,

Newbie in the dedicated community. I have no experiences and knowledge of FreeBSD and Linux. I’m trying to open an online shopping center. But I have heavy O.S. headache. While I'm starting to learn, I also need help from you:

1). I’ve heard that FreeBSD is more stable and secure, Linux is more buggy and cPanel is more buggy, too. Is that true?

2). If I use FreeBSD and cPanel together in a dedicated server account, are there any contradictory problems?

3). Does FreeBSD have many features as those of Linux?

4). Is FreeBSD OR Linux a better operating system for an online shopping center?

5). If I choose FreeBSD, do I have to add cPanel to easily get some subdomains that I need?

6). Do I need cPanel to better run an online shopping center?

7). What other important things that I must configure with a dedicated server for properly running an online shopping center?


I’ll highly appreciate any word from you!

Best Wishes to you,

Henry

1) FreeBSD is an operatings system and I beleive cpanel is just a web management tool.

2) Cpanel can run on FreeBSD, check out there website www.cpanel.net for more info.

3) I don't think you will really need to worry about that. The only difference you would probably notice is if you were going to install software yourself. It seems most dedicated servers that use linux use Red Hat in which case you would be using RPMs for installing software. I've never used FreeBSD so I'm not sure what they use (probably just use ./configure;make;make install)

4) They are both extremely similar to each other. FreeBSD is a BSD version of unix. Linux is based off of unix. Since you don't have any experience with unix you might be better of looking for a dedicated server that uses windows. I think www.rackshack.com has some for $90 a month.

5) I've never used cpanel as an administrator. Sorry can't help. However, I have a feeling that cpanel is going to appear to work the same regardless of what operating system you run it on.

6) Nope. You don't need to use any of the management software at all. That software is just there to make it easier for you.

7) I've never run one. I would imagine you'll need to use ssl. You'll want to turn off services you don't need to make your server more secure. I guess you will need a merchant account. Somebody that has actually created an online store will have to help you.


From your questions I would suggest that you pay someone to set it up for you and show you how to make simple changes.

Hi jacobh,

Thank you very much.


Henry

1). I’ve heard that FreeBSD is more stable and secure, and cPanel is more buggy. Is that true?The discussion of what is the better choice between Redhat and FreeBSD is an endless one nobody is probably going to win. It all boils down to what the admin is used to. If both are adminned correctly, both are as stable and secure as each other.

2). If I use FreeBSD and cPanel together in a dedicated server account, are there any contradictory problems?Cpanel has been running under Redhat for far longer than it has on FreeBSD. In other words, running it on FreeBSD is going to be more adventurous than running it on Redhat (i.e. more little bugs etc. to put up with).

3). Does FreeBSD have many features as those of Linux?They're basicly the same thing. FreeBSD can basicly do everything Redhat can if the right modules are installed and vice versa.

4). Is FreeBSD OR Linux a better operating system for an online shopping center?It doesn't make a difference.

5). If I choose FreeBSD, do I have to add cPanel to easily get some subdomains that I need?No, you could do everything via SSH (I'm not familiar with FreeBSD, so I don't know how difficult that would be) or you could install some other control panel. If it's only you that will use the server, I recommend you look at webmin. It's free and it's a very powerfull aid for system administration. It will work on Redhat and FreeBSD.

6). Do I need cPanel to better run an online shopping center?To better run it, no. To make it easier to run, yes, it would do that.

7). What other important things that I must configure with a dedicated server for properly running an online shopping center?That would depend on your exact situation, but I would imagine Apache, FTP, SSL, ...

A bit off topci.
I'd suggest osCommerce for the site itself :D

Hey, Tazzman, jacobh and Reality Hosting, you guys are hosting experts! And what's more, you're good guys, having real, precious interest in helping others! You also run your own hosting companies? Great!

My best wishes to your business!

You also run your own hosting companies?Not yet, but I'm working on it ;)

You have a nice day too, Sir.

Don't mention it FriendMore. Let me know if you need any help with osCommerce. We are in the process of helping a client implement a rather large osCommerce store, so it's fresh in my mind :D

Hi Reality Hosting, Tazzman, jacobh,

I’m considering your advices. You guys taught me important knowledge.

Again, thank you very much!

My Best Wishes to You,


Henry