SERVER OPERATING SYSTEMS

A very confusing aspect of webhosting for new webmasters is what kind of server should you buy? There are a few different operating systems but primarily you will see the Windows and Linux operating systems. What does that mean to you? Well, for the average webmaster the biggest difference is the types of scripting language and database systems that you can run.

On a Windows server you can use ASP or Active Server Pages and utilize the Microsoft Access database system. For Linux, you have access to the easy to learn, and powerful PHP language and the MySql database system. When in doubt, I would favor the Linux servers, unless of course you have some special script you plan on using that requires ASP support. Linux servers are typically cheaper too.

I mentioned MySql and Access database features. This is what drives many websites. If your site accepts input from visitors and stores that data, then a database is necessary. If your site is displaying static information only then you may never need a database.

Well there is a lot more that we could cover, but the few items we did cover is enough to make a educated decision on a webhost. Any of the webhosts displayed are a safe bet as we do not display hosts that don't maintain a satisfactory record with our consumer reviews. Now go pick a host and get yourself online.