|
What
should I choose, windows 2003 or Linux ?
Introduction
to Linux and windows 2003
e-serves.com's Guide
Summary
When planning an Internet venture, one of the most basic questions for
any Webmaster is what platform to base the Web site on. The two most
popular platforms, Linux and windows 2003 are widely available and offer
various options and have differing abilities. Your choice of platform
will define the utility and type of software that you can use, the kind
of applications that your site can run, what kind of server can host
your site, the amount of control you have over your site and how
efficiently your site will work as it grows in scale.
When deciding on whether or not you will choose a Linux or windows 2003
platform it is important to keep in mind what Web host will host your
site. Established Web hosts (such as e-serves.com) offer service on both
platforms, while others offer service only on windows 2003 or Linux,
this doesn't give a professional impression on such a host. Any Web Host
can offer service in either platform but the main difference is in
customer support, e-serves.com offers one of the largest and most
valuable support
arena to support both 2 platforms.
Introduction to Linux and windows 2003
The fundamental difference between Linux and windows 2003 stems from how
they came into existence. Linux was designed to integrate with large
network systems, while windows 2003 was made to serve the needs of
individual users or companies that don't want to deal with the
complexities of Linux administration.
Linux has been around, in one form or another, for the last twenty years
and as such is a very mature platform. Because of this, the system is
very well developed and stable, and there is a lot of software and
applications designed to work for it. windows 2003, on the other hand,
was created more recently by Microsoft as a system specifically designed
to handle the user-friendly software, which it has developed for Web
page design. With windows 2003, you get a platform that runs a series of
naturally compatible programs and applications that mesh easily within
the ubiquitous Windows environment. The main thing is to decide which
system suits the projected needs of your Web site.
MelliniumNetworks.com's guide :
1. How will your customers or visitors view your site?
When you are planning your site, think of how your visitors view
your site. The technology is improving every day and users are upgrading
their systems in kind, but it is important to remember that a great
number of users are working with technology that is a few years out of
date. This concept is important at every level of Web site planning,
even when deciding what platform to use. Creating a complex web site
that requires a lot of data transfer will be slow on older equipment and
this may be counter productive for you. Remember to think of your
visitors when deciding what software you are planning to use. This is
important because the software you want can some times determine what
platform you must use!
2. What programs and application will work for you?
FrontPage 2000 by Microsoft, Cold Fusion by Allaire, CGI scripts,
Cybercash, and Java servelts are just a few off the many names and buzz
words that float around the Internet business. Deciding what software
you need and what features you want, and therefore what kind of platform
you run your site on, is one of the most important decisions you will
make. For instance, if you or your are skilled systems administrator you
might choose the Linux platform so that you can take advantage of it
programming flexibility. On the other hand if your Web site is and
accessory to your business and your time and staff resources are small,
you should work with an integrated package like Microsoft's FrontPage
2000 and run on an windows 2003 platform.
3. How large do you expect your site to grow?
When you are making the plan for your web site try and think of how
large it is going to grow. Is your Web host going to need to support a
lot of features? Do you need Real Audio, Video or chat capability? Are
you going to have a lot of web pages and a lot of traffic, e-mail
accounts and E-commerce activity? In the beginning, even if you start
out small, on a virtual host (or shared host), remember that one day you
may grow large. At the present time, you may be advised to go with a
Linux platform because of its flexibility, its multiple application
possibilities and its proven robustness in large Web site environments.
Keep in mind, however, that recoding from one platform to another is
difficult and time-consuming. Many believe that Microsoft will soon have
features comparable to Linux: Features that are not only easier for the
average Webmaster to use but ones that will integrate easily into
already existing Web sites.
4. How much administrative control do you really need?
In this category, Linux is generally considered superior. This is
because its system allow for programming closer to the base of the
programming hierarchy. In Linux an experienced Webmaster or Web
developer can fine-tune a Web site, using CGI scripts, to create
applications and site features specific to their needs. In fact, some
Web hosting services even offer free CGI scripting as part of their
Linux packages. Find out about these when choosing your Web host. But
the question is 'how much administrative control do you really need?'
Many users do not need the kind of direct control that Linux provides
and are better off with the simpler, pre-prepared (and integrated)
programming that Microsoft supplies for the windows 2003 platform.
Summary :
In the end, it will be the needs of you and your visitors that will
define what programs and applications you want to work with. Once this
is decided the kind of platform you need will become apparent. If you
need help answering these questions, ask a professional Web developer or
sales representative from a reputable Web hosting company. They will be
able to help you wade through the details and decide whether you should
use a Linux or an windows 2003 platform. Defining whether one platform
is superior to the other is relative to you and your visitors needs.
Linux is older and offers some network and programming advantages, but
you can be sure that Microsoft is working overtime to produce similar
capability in a Webmaster friendly environment. windows 2003's
simplicity and integration may make it a better long-run solution for
your web site.
Check
our windows 2003 and redhat Linux plans
top of page
|