Windows Server Hosting
Windows Server Hosting
Windows server hosting is used mainly by web developers who need to host applications which they have developed using Microsoft specific technologies such as classic ASP and ASP.NET. Windows server hosting services are also used by businesses who want to make use of Microsoft’s corporate infrastructure programs such as Microsoft SQL Server, Microsoft Exchange Server and Microsoft Sharepoint services; such programs aren’t able to run on any other server operating system. Windows server hosting services are available in the form of VPS server hosting and dedicated server hosting, although to receive the most up-to-date Windows server hosting services possible it is recommended that you choose Windows Server 2008 dedicated server hosting as many web hosting providers haven’t started to offer Windows Server 2008 VPS server hosting at this moment in time. Although Windows server hosting services may cost a bit more than your average Linux server hosting service, you know that you will be getting value for money as you will be provided with full access to yur Windows server which will allow you to manage and install any application of your choice on it. Windows server hosting services can also be used for many other purposes, for example Windows Media Server is available with Windows Server 2003 and 2008 which will allow you to turn your Windows server hosting service into a streaming media server; however, to do so you will require a large amount of bandwidth. Windows server hosting services also boast applications which many people require but are unavailable on other operating systems; an example of this would be the IIS web server which is a Windows only application and is the only web server capable of running/executing web pages that have been developed using classic ASP or ASP.NET. All Windows server hosting services come with Remote Desktop access which will allow you to manage your own server directly; the Remote Desktop client is installed with Windows by default.
What are the main uses of Windows server hosting?
Windows server hosting services are very useful as they can be used for a number of different things; the main thing to remember is that most things that you can do with a Linux serevr can be done with a Windows web hosting server, but that you can also do things with Windows servers that can’t be done with a server that is running any other server operating system. Windows server hosting is mainly used for Windows web hosting as when used in conjunction with a web hosting control panel such as Plesk, web hosting providers are able to offer feature packed Windows web hosting packages that are going to meet the needs of anyone who is after Windows web hosting. Windows web hosting services can also be useful for the hosting of Microsoft specific corporate programs; for example some businesses like to run Microsoft Exchange Server as it gives them a central location in which they can store all their emails, appointments and contacts – Microsoft Exchange Server will only run on Windows based servers. Finally, the main use that most people have for Windows server hosting services is for the hosting of classic ASP and ASP.NET based web pages and scripts; most Windows web developers will make use of either of these languages at some point, and since they have both been developed by Microsoft, they can only be run on Windows servers. In summary, the main uses of Windows server hosting services include:
- Web hosting – Windows server hosting services make the perfect basis for you to host your Windows web hosting packages on as when used in conjunction with web hosting control panels such as Plesk and the soon to be released Windows version of cPanel, you are able to create feature packed web hosting packages that are going to meet the needs of anyone who is looking into purchasing Windows web hosting services – there are also many other services that you can install on your Windows server over time to increase the number of features you can offer such as Coldfusion web hosting services
- Business hosting services – many businesses tend to use Windows server hosting services for Microsoft Exchange Server hosting so that they can centralize all their communications including emails, contacts and appointments to ensure that the day to day running of the business is much smoother than beforehand – other Microsoft programs are also used by many businesses on Windows server hosting packages such as Microsoft Sharepoint and Microsoft SQL Server, it is also a good idea to note that many web hosting providers offer specific hosting services for these programs to ensure that you receive the best level of service possible from your server
- ASP.NET and classic ASP web page hosting – many Windows web developers use classic ASP and ASP.NET in their day to day work to ensure that they can create web applications that can interact with Microsoft SQL Server and Microsoft Access based database systems, both of which are also Microsoft technologies – as both scripting languages are strictly Microsoft only products you will find that they can’t be run on any other web server or operating system apart from IIS on a Windows server operating system – it is a good idea to note that other scripting languages such as PHP and Perl can also be installed and configured to work with IIS.
As you can see, Window server hosting services have their uses and are mainly used by larger companies who are after a stable web hosting service but also need to make use of Microsoft specific technologies. Since you have to pay a license fee in order to be able to use any Windows operating system, Windows server hosting services are only normally within the budgets of larger companies who have large IT budgets. However, shared Windows web hosting services are available for small developers or those who are running smaller websites that are within most peoples web hosting budgets, but at the end of the day you should always remember that Windows web hosting services are going to cost more than any Linux web hosting service.
Why should I choose Windows server hosting over Linux server hosting?
Whether you choose Windows server hosting or Linux server hosting is your own choice, but there are some situations in which it is advised that you choose Windows server hosting services over standard Linux server hosting services. Windows server hosting services can be much easier to manage that Linux server hosting services for those who are starting out with server management for the first time; for example with Linux you need to be able to know the relevant SSH commands to manage your server, whereas with Windows server hosting services you only need to connect to your server using Remote Desktop from which you can manage your Windows server using a GUI which is similar to that of your Windows desktop computer. If you have a website which is based on Microsoft technologies then you will have no choice but to consider Windows server hosting services over Linux server hosting services as your website won’t function correctly on a Linux server, and a web hosting package is no use to you if your website won’t function correctly. Windows server operating systems also come with many add-ons as standard that you can install as you wish, whereas with Linux server hosting you have to rely on third-party applications to meet your needs. In summary, the main reasons for choosing Windows server hosting over Linux server hosting include:
- Server management – if this is your first time using a server hosting service then you may find it more beneficial to use a Windows server hosting service as you will be able to manage your server via Remote Desktop which offers you your server’s interface, and the first thing that you will notice is that the interface used by the Windows server operating system is very similar to that of your Windows desktop computer which means that you should find it easy to manage – Linux servers can only be managed via the command line/SSH which presents you with several problems as you need to know the relevant SSH commands to manage your server
- Microsoft technologies – if you want to use Microsoft technologies such as ASP.NET and Microsoft SQL Server then you will have no other choice but to consider Windows server hosting services as Linux server hosting services won’t be able to fulfill your requirements of a web hosting package – if you are using Microsoft technologies then the likelihood is that you will have taken the cost of Windows web hosting services into consideration before proceeding with your website or application which is using the technologies concerned, either this or you have the money to pay for the web hosting services anyway
- Windows features – Windows Server as an operating system comes with many programs/servers built in which you can make use of to use your server however you wish, although it is a good idea to only use a few programs to ensure that you don’t overload your server and that there aren’t any software conflicts – for example, Windows Server 2008 comes with the IIS web server built in as well as a POP3/SMTP server that you can use which means that with a few clicks you can be using your server how you wish, whereas with Linux server hosting services you would have to be doing all this from the command line.
However, you may have your own preference for server hosting services which may mean that you prefer to use Linux instead of Windows; in this case you may be able to save yourself some money if you choose to go with a web hosting provider that can offer you Linux server hosting services. The main reason for most people considering Windows server hosting services is because they need to be able to make use of Microsoft specific technologies, after all a Windows server is no use if you can get the same uses out of a Linux server package.
Disadvantages of Windows Server Hosting Services
Depending on who you are or what you require from a server hosting service, you may find that Windows server hosting is not the right form of web hosting for you; in this it is most likely to be because of a number of different disadvantages. The cost of Windows server hosting services puts many off from using them; the main reason for Windows server hosting services costing more than their Linux counterparts is because web hosting providers have to factor in the cost of the Windows server operating system license, whereas Linux is open source meaning that you don’t have to pay for the operating system. The thought of using the Windows operating system on a server also puts other off, since it is a well known fact that Windows as an operating system is more vulnerable than any other operating system around; however, it is easier to remove viruses from a Windows server than it is to remove a rootkit from a Linux server. In summary, the main disadvantages that you may face with Windows server hosting services include:
- Cost – Windows is a commercial server operating system and because of this you will find that Windows server hosting services cost more than Linux server hosting services as web hosting providers and server hosting providers have to factor in the cost of the Windows operating system – if cost is going to be a problem for you then you should consider Linux server hosting services as you will find that a majority of the software that is available for Linux servers is also open source, whereas if you want to make the most of your Windows server you will have to pay extra for the necessary software
- Viruses – although rootkits can infect Linux servers, Windows is much more prone to the viruses that can affect it as it is the most commonly used operating system around both on servers and on the desktop – the fact that Windows servers can be easily hacked and infected with virsues puts many people off from using the operating system on a server as it means that they have to carry out their own regular security checks which includes but is not limited to regular virus scans as well as a security audit to ensure that the necessary measures are in place to ensure that any malicious attackers are unable to compromise the server easily
- Personal opinion/experience – your personal opinion or experiences may put you off from using Windows server hosting services as you may prefer to use Linux as a server operating system or may even have more experience with managing Linux servers than you do managing Windows servers – however, in the case that Windows server hosting is your only choice, you will find that it is important for you to learn the tricks of the trade so that you can easily manage a Windows server hosting service – at the end of the day, they are transferrable skills which you can use in future!
If Windows server hosting is your only choice then such disadvantages are unlikely to put you off. Most people who are considering Windows hosting services have normally been working with Windows as an operating system for years, and this is the main reason why you have many web developers and software developers using Windows server hosting services. When considering Windows web hosting services it is always a good idea to purchase a server that is offering you the latest, such as Windows Server 2008 as by doing this you will be able to ensure that you can keep your server safe and secure.
In conclusion, Windows server hosting services are able to offer you a solution which you can use to host websites that are based on classic ASP and ASP.NET, but for the larger businesses you can also use Windows server hosting for the hosting of other Microsoft products including Microsoft SQL Server and Microsoft Exchange Server. Although Windows server hosting services may cost more than Linux server hosting services, you know you are getting value for money and if you choose a reputable web hosting provider then you are unlikely to face any problems with your server. Windows server hosting services can be used for a number of different purposes, and if you choose to make money from your server such as by using it for web hosting then you can make a nice return on your investment.
