October 28, 2008

Windows Hosting: More About it


We know that the word 'Windows' indicates the Microsoft-branded OS so it has become the standard for use in both home and business environments. For many, it is the only system we know. Aside from being an end-user platform, Windows is also prevalent in web hosting and has quickly become a preferred option for many.

Windows introduced a number of web developing tools that have gained momentum and become standards in the industry, making it an attractive setting for creating websites.

IIS
IIS (Internet Information Server) is the base technology behind modern Windows hosting. IIS is a group of internet servers which includes both an HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol) server and an FTP (File Transfer Protocol) server.

It has additional capabilities to support Windows NT and 2000 server operating systems. IIS consists of numerous programs designed for creating and administering websites with solid support for database management. Of course, IIS is tightly integrated with Windows NT and 2000 servers which results in the more efficient serving of web pages.

Hosting with Windows
Even if you run the Linux operating system on your computer, you can still choose to host your site on a Windows server. However, if you plan to implement Microsoft technologies such ASP and FrontPage, a Windows operating system is recommended. The same holds true for Windows databases such as Microsoft Access and MSSQL. While adjustments can be made to suit both environments, this is something that can prove to be time consuming and expensive.

Aside from it’s own technologies such as ASP and ASP.NET, Windows hosting supports a number of other scripts as well. CGI scripts and PHP can also be used to enhance the presence and functionality of your site. There are also a number of programs and object-oriented code that can be implemented into Windows hosting. The price for these components range from free to rather expensive. The good thing as that several developers cater to the Windows environment and offer affordable products and services.

Finding a Provider
Web-based hosting should come with solid support by a trained staff capable of handling all the issues that may arise on the server. You can actually look for these credentials as a company may have acceptable certifications from the MCSA (Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator) or the MCSE.

The MSCA provides certification from an administrative aspect, cover areas such as the management of complex computing environments. MCSE certification covers the planning, development and implementation of Windows server solutions and infrastructures.

When searching for a Windows provider, your main concern should be the foundation of the company itself, not the Microsoft product. You need to conduct research and find a reliable business who is likely to provide quality service over a great length of time. The web hosting business is a prominent industry and many companies fail and crumble every year. As with any hosting platform, you should find out about their customer support and security, their method of connecting to the internet, uptime and features. All of these elements are crucial to the establishment of your website.

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