I'm confused as to whether I can use a Windows host or not. Let's say hypothetically that I can get a Windows host easier than a Linux host.

Outside of plain html:
1. Ikonboard 3 (Perl/Mysql) or phpBB2 (php/Mysql) forums
Will a Windows host run these kinds of scripts as well as a Linux host?

Can a Windows server have these features as well? (in one form or another)
1. mod_rewrite to prevent image and file hot-linking.
2. some other .htaccess stuff like redirects and specifying error documents.
3. SSI (.shtml)
4. gzip compression to save on bandwidth

And lastly, are Windows hosts easier to configure? For my own computer, I can use Windows just fine, but Linux is too confusing.

Since Apache doesn't run on Windows that good I suggest using Linux.

You can run apache on Windows. Check this out http://httpd.apache.org/docs/windows.html

I have never had any problems running it. It is easier to use on a Linux server though.

It really depends on what you like working with. I like Linux better, but some people prefer Windows.

Unless you need Windows-specific features such as full ASP support, or Microsoft Access database, you're better off with with a Linux or Unix-based host.

I've been wondering something about Windows hosts myself.. does IIS support mySQL? Because most of my applications are mySQL, and I know *Windows* supports it, and I know *Apache* for Windows supports it, but what about IIS?

Originally posted by Whitey
You can run apache on Windows. Check this out http://httpd.apache.org/docs/windows.html

I said on windows it doesn't run as good.

Janet: I think you should go with a Linux web server. With a Control Panel interface, the administration of your web site will be simple. Our personal web site (created with MS FrontPage 2000) is hosted on a Linux server at OLM, with the Ensim Control Panel. With a Linux server, you are more likely to have a Dedicated - Static IP address, which I believe is a big advantage. Our first web hosting ISP, halfpricehosting.com has MS Windows servers, but because of some glitch, I was never able to Publish our FrontPage 2000 site to their web server. At halfpricehosting.com I did not have a Dedicated - Static IP address. Now, that is a rigid requirement. Lanny

hey Janet,
I would definitely recommend that you go with linux. Because with your needs, you will find it a lot easier with linux........and you should have no problems finding a good linux host.....

I have installed ikonboard and all the rest on a win2000 server, but it was a bit of a hassle.......

even if you find linux confusing, dont worry, it is very easy when you have a control panel, and you shouldn't have any problems installing phpBB etc.....

Goodluck

Hello Janet.

If you don't need any of Windows specific features (like ASP, MS Access, or MS SQL Server), Linux is always a better solution. Linux is not that confusing, especially if you are getting an account from a host, not maintaining the web server itself. Most web hosts will provide you with web based control panel that will hide most of the complexity from you. On the other hand, the quality of control panels available for Windows so far is not as good as their Linux version. So I believe Linux will be a better solution for you.

Good luck.

hi JAnet,

I highly recommend that you should go for Linux hosting with easy to use Control Panel. I know one of the host from which I have having hosted my own 2 websites, I recommend you to have a look at them and decide yourself what exactly you want they are situated at www.******.com. Ask them to have a look at their control panel demo, its very easy and secure to use.

bye,

Mantra

Thanks for all the advice everyone!

I'm still curious though...will a Windows host have the features that I mentioned?

Can a Windows server have these features as well? (in one form or another)
1. mod_rewrite to prevent image and file hot-linking.
2. some other .htaccess stuff like redirects and specifying error documents.
3. SSI (.shtml)
4. gzip compression to save on bandwidth

Originally posted by Janet
Thanks for all the advice everyone!

I'm still curious though...will a Windows host have the features that I mentioned?



If they use IIS instead of Apache, they won't support stuff like .htaccess. At the end of the day yes they will probably have most of the features, but won't be as stable. Linux machines usually produce better uptime with minimal administration.

Also why would you find it difficult to find a Linux host? :confused:

1. Apache for Windows supports mod_rewrite. But most Windows based web hosts are still using Microsoft IIS which does not support mod_rewrite. There could be some obscure way to do that in IIS, though.

2. Again, .htaccess will be supported if the web server is Apache. But there should be another way to accomplish that in IIS.

3. IIS supports SSI (.shtml).

4. Again, mod_gzip is definitely supported when using Apache. Don't know if IIS has similar feature.

If you decide to go with Windows, I suggest you look for ones using Apache web server.But I strongly recommend that you seriously consider using Linux based hosts.

what does IIS stands for?

Originally posted by theguy
what does IIS stands for?

Internet Information Services, mouthful isn't it?

Well... before IIS 5, IIS 4 and below stood for Internet Information Server, but with the release of Win2K, it switched to Services, to include some of the 'new' features that they added, I think.

where can i download iis?
how much does is it cost?

what other software needed to setup a win2000 server at work?

Originally posted by Skie
I've been wondering something about Windows hosts myself.. does IIS support mySQL? Because most of my applications are mySQL, and I know *Windows* supports it, and I know *Apache* for Windows supports it, but what about IIS?

I'm had scripts running on IIS that would connect to databases using myODBC.

it's on your windows 2000 CD. simply go to add-remove programs control panel, and choose "Add or remove windows components" it will be in there.

Heres my petty 2 cents :)

Apache runs pretty good on Win2k, considering I couldnt get IIS to do squat. Well I like apache better anyway since its free and has a lot of good mods. :)

<rant>
Since I have apache installed, my computer supports:
1. PHP
2. MySQL
3. SSI
4. Python

Its a pity that "sendmail" wont run on windows :( If you would like to see my site which runs Apache on Win2k check out this link (http://www.2thextreme.org).
</rant>

Janet, you sound very much like me a few years ago :)

My first couple of hosting contracts were on Windows machines because I thought the Windows name (TM) was "better," and I also didn't "get" Linux.

Today I have my own dedicated Linux server, and I still don't "get" it, but I have learned a handful of "habits" to keep proper tabs on the system, users, and maintain control of the machine & what it does. Bottom line, what's important is what tools you have at your disposal to make it work for you.

Generally speaking, Windows accounts are:
(1) less stable -- you may occasionally notice little bubbles of latency, downtime, or odd little happenings when accessing your site via a variety of ways. The operating system as a whole is less stable and prone to "memory leaks" which means that performance slowly degrades over time until it gets really bad, and hopefully the server administrator (your host) recognizes this and manually restarts the server. Then the process starts over. The operating system also has a nasty little habit of overwriting itself and other files on the server, so things often corrupt over time. What works today can be broken tomorrow, for "no apparent reason."

(2) more expensive -- the most basic Windows hosting account generally runs $20-25 for a paltry 20-50 megs of space, and anything with increased features (like up to 200 megs of space) is usually $49-60 or more.
(a) Windows accounts almost always have less features than equivalent Linux accounts
(b) Linux accounts can be 1/3 to 1/2 the cost and you get more stuff
(c) Why the $$ difference? Microsoft's licensing fees, and I've also been told that Windows boxes can be more costly to administrate.

(3) harder to find! In my experience, far more hosts run Linux boxes than Windows.

Don't mistake "Frontpage extensions" to mean they are running Windows. FP extensions are available on both Win and Linux packages. ;)


On Linux Accounts...
(1) the file system (how things are set up) is naturally different from Windows systems. A good host will tell you where to put your files, and what to touch or not touch, when you sign up. A good host will also provide support documents which explains how things work on your particular system.

(2) There are excellent control panels for Linux accounts. There will always be hard-core *nix geeks ;) who complain about control panels and how they "mess up" code and are sloppy, yadda yadda..... what they forget is the functionality to the newbie/non-tech oriented person. There are people who do not want to know the underpinnings, but they should not be excluded just because they aren't tech-heads!!! Control panels make this possible.

I cannot think of a standard feature that isn't covered by CPanel, for instance... a person could run an average website entirely through CPanel. There would be no need to do anything via command-line. I ran websites on Linux boxes for years without ever telnetting into a server.

If you need to modify files like .htaccess, then yes you'll need to grab those files, edit them, and re-upload (or do the changes via ssh/telnet) but it sounds as if you already know how to do that? So you should be set.

(3) There's also a super support base for the *nix environment. Go to any # of boards/sites, and post "how do I...?" and people will jump to help. :) Or go to Google and enter your task in the search box: "modify .htaccess" and you will be inundated with free resources and tutorials and articles that people have posted for any variety of user groups. :) Like a 700-word how-to that Professor Dick at University of Your Choice posted for his secretary. :cool: I have learned that what I do not understand, I can still do rote...


Don't let the odd commands and concept of telnet/ssh frighten you. I figure, the server can think however it wants, I can set up the features I need most through the control panel. There are a handful -- literally -- of commands that I do via ssh maybe once/month, and those are for server management, not even to make any particular site run/work.

Linux all the way, girl!
:D Bailey

windows = :bawling:

linux = :D