Windows web hosting is perhaps one of the most established and longest running hosting services on the internet today. From its simple beginnings hosting HTML pages, this hosting service has evolved to include large scale web based applications, facilitating interaction and exchange between site owners and end users. This article aims to have Windows web hosting explained for beginners by defining the features of the system and comparing it to other web hosting platforms (notable Unix).
What is Windows Web Hosting?
Windows web hosting uses the proprietary Microsoft Windows operating system. The service enables the hosting of web sites on the internet. Sites using HTML code as well as ASP or ASP.NET framework are compatible with this hosting service. The information that makes up the pages of a site is stored in a server and whenever an end user views the site with a browser, an application within the server’s operating system renders the code to the browser.
So who should use windows web hosting services?
It all comes down to what code or framework the web site owner is using. Windows hosting is the only one that offers stable and updated services for sites scripted in ASP or ASP.NET. For beginners who have never designed a page before, the hosting services from windows can provide all the basics needed to start designing the site. Windows hosting services are also optimized to run Ajax and PHP codes.
Windows Shared Hosting
One key element to make clear is the distinction between shared hosting and dedicated hosting. Windows provides both of these types of hosting services. Shared hosting is when multiple sites are stored on a single server. Each site is placed onto specific areas or partitions within the server. For beginners looking for a less costly option, shared hosting could be a viable option.
Shared hosting services are generally cheaper since many web site owners share the cost of maintaining a single server. Like with other shared hosting services, an appointed administrator oversees the management of the server. Site owners who prefer someone else take over management duties of the server will find this a very appealing arrangement. However site owners who would want more control over the server management may not be as thrilled.
The downside to this kind of web hosting service is that it cannot possibly put up with sites that run with extensive software and application development. These usually require more than what the typical shared hosting service provides. Nonetheless, Windows shared web hosting is a cheaper solution compared to dedicate hosting and most beginners may only require the standard space provided by shared servers despite the known usage limits that come with server sharing.
Windows and Linux
The main difference between Windows and Linux is commercial, unlike Windows which is exclusively developed and owned by a private company (Microsoft), Linux runs on an open source environment and is generally free.
Linux lacks any extensive features when running on codes like MSSQL and .NET environment. These are all proprietary technologies of Microsoft and any user running in these frameworks should generally go for Windows. Despite the notion that Windows is generally more expensive, at Freeparking we are making Windows hosting plans available to our customers for the same price as Linux.
Having a computer that runs on a Windows operating system does not necessarily mean that one should also a Windows hosting package. Both servers support the file transfer protocol (FTP) that is used in Windows when a user accesses the server. There are just a few slight differences in the way Linux FTP commands are programmed. Some users may occasionally encounter error prompts. However, these are rare and current updates have optimized the FTP to provide a stable application.
The security and overall reliability of both Windows and Linux hosting is more dependent on the skills of the administrator and less on the server platforms themselves. Hack attempts and security loopholes are found in both servers. Having a competent service provider is a more crucial deciding factor than the platform.
Beginners looking for a competent and well established web hosting service should find the features and functionalities in Windows to be up to date with the standards in performance and overall reliability. The choice comes down to which frameworks the site will be running on and the projected cost the user is willing to pay for the hosting service.
