Windows Hosting

Web Hosting For Windows

Does your website utilize programming languages such as ASP, C#, or require Microsoft SQL? Did you design your site using Microsoft Frontpage or Expressions? If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, then you will most likely want to purchase a web hosting package on a Windows server.

Which World Are You In?

The web hosting world is divided primarily into two different camps – the Linux hosting world, and the Windows hosting world. Both are similar in that they can both host and display websites built in HTML or PHP, but they differ in how well they can perform when it comes down to certain specific programming languages and development environments.

Headaches Or Reliability?

For example, sites developed using Microsoft Frontpage can be hosted on Linux servers provided that server makes use of Frontpage extensions. Unfortunately, the implementation of Frontpage extensions on Linux servers is shaky at best, and completely non-functional at worst. Often, they will fail for no apparent reason, which can cause headaches for users and tech support alike. The implementation of Frontpage on Windows-based servers, on the other hand, is much more reliable due to the intentional compatibilities between Microsoft products.

Will Your Site Work Or Fail?

When it comes to sites developed using Microsoft programming languages, on the other hand, they cannot be used on Linux servers at all. Sites that require ASP, Visual Basic, and C# cannot function in a Linux hosting environment, and will fail. Likewise, sites that require Microsoft SQL or Microsoft Access databases will be unavailable for use on a Linux web server.

Know What You Are Getting

When selecting a web host, always ask if your site will be supported on their servers before buying. If you developed your site to use common or open source languages and services like HTML, PHP, and MySQL, it will most likely be platform-agnostic (meaning it will work on either Linux or Windows servers). On the other hand, if you used proprietary languages or Microsoft products to create your website, you will most likely need a Windows web server. Never assume that your site will work right off the bat, and always be sure to confirm with your web host before committing. Photo by Wafflers