Unix vs. Windows

How to choose the right server for your site

Choosing the right server type to host your web site has nothing to do with the kind of computer you use at work or home. It does not even matter what kind of computer you've built your web site with.

It does not matter if you run Windows 95, 98, NT, 2000, XP, Linux, UNIX or even Mac as your PC. You can always publish your web site to your web hosting account with us, whether your hosting account is a Linux based account or a Windows 2003 based account.

To determine which server type you need (Windows or Linux/UNIX), it is easiest to determine based on the types of programming languages your site uses or will use. If your site is just a plain and ordinary web site and only uses HTML pages (no database or dynamic pages), then most likely UNIX hosting is your best bet as our Linux/UNIX plans are cheaper than our Windows hosting plans. If your site uses PERL, PHP or Python, then Unix is also your best bet.

If you now know which platform to use, please proceed using the links below:

$17.97 $14.37

Windows Web Hosting Linux Web Hosting

What actually is UNIX?

UNIX is a computer operating system (the basic software running on a computer, underneath things like word processors and spreadsheets). It is the most common operating system for servers on the Internet.

Since it began to escape from AT&T's Bell Laboratories in the early 1970's, the success of the UNIX operating system has led to many different versions: recipients of the (at that time free) UNIX system code all began developing their own different versions in their own, different, ways for use and sale. Universities, research institutes, government bodies and computer companies all began using the powerful UNIX system to develop many of the technologies which today are part of a UNIX system.

Computer aided design, manufacturing control systems, laboratory simulations, even the Internet itself, all began life with and because of UNIX systems. Today, without UNIX systems, the Internet would come to a screeching halt. Most telephone calls could not be made and electronic commerce would grind to a halt.

What is Linux?
LINUX is a version of UNIX that has gained popularity because of its stability as an operating system for hosting web servers. Linux is open source software and is freely available over the Internet. Red Hat is a very popular version of Linux.

The best time to host with Linux
Linux/UNIX web hosting is best used when your site uses a programming language called PHP and / or is connecting to a database such as MySQL. Also, if you just have a simple HTML web site you might as well just use Linux.

 

What is Windows?

Windows is a family of operating systems for personal computers. Windows dominates the personal computer world, running, by some estimates, on 90+% of all personal computers. Like the Macintosh operating environment, Windows provides a graphical user interface (GUI), virtual memory management, multitasking, and support for many peripheral devices. In addition to Windows 3.1, Windows 95, Windows 98,and Windows ME, Microsoft also sells more advanced versions of its operating systems, including: Windows NT; Windows 2000; Windows XP; Windows 2003 Server. One of the main differences between Windows and UNIX/Linux is that a Windows is owned by a company (Microsoft) that sells Windows for a profit, while no one actually owns UNIX/Linux and it is improved by many organisations.

Our Windows servers run Windows 2003.

The best time to host with Windows
You would choose Windows 2003 web hosting when your site uses a programming language called Active Server Pages, or Cold Fusion and / or is connecting to a database such as Microsoft Access or MS SQL server. Here is a list of Windows technologies that require Windows hosting:

• Active Server Pages (ASP)
• ASP.NET and .NET Framework
• MS Access Database
• Cold Fusion based application or websites
• MS SQL Server 2000 database
• Other Microsoft's high end technologies

Publishing your web site with FTP

When it comes to publishing your website, you can use any of the following tools:

FTP client, MS FrontPage, Macromedia Dreamweaver, Adobe GoLive, or any other site publishing software.

All you need to load up your files to our server is the server host name or IP address and your username and password which will be given to you immediately after signing up.

Or, you may like to make use of our Web Site Editor & Builder - Alive Site Builder. This is a great tool to both edit and setup a new web site, without all the code.

 

See detailed feature by feature comparison of Windows hosting and Unix hosting

 

If you would like to have our advice in selecting your web hosting plan, please do not hesitate to contact our hosting consultant.

For more info, please contact Alive Hosting on 1300 721 653 or email us