Tag Archives: able
The Disadvantages of Windows Hosting
Windows hosting certainly has its advantages; it’s easy to use, and is compatible with Microsoft Access, Microsoft Frontpage, .NET and Visual Basic. However, there are some disadvantages to Windows hosting, too. While this doesn’t necessarily mean you shouldn’t use a Windows hosting package, there are significant drawbacks to using one that you will need to know about before you choose. Let’s take a look at some of the best advantages that come with using a Windows hosting package; then, you’ll be able to make an informed decision.
Instability
Unfortunately, Windows is not as stable as, for example, UNIX. Therefore, if you are planning on running Windows instead of UNIX, you can count on having some downtime, perhaps significant. Most Windows servers will have some issues, because the platform itself is not particularly stable. If at all possible, it’s much more desirable from a stability standpoint to go with UNIX.
Slow performance
UNIX servers run much more quickly than do Windows servers. Therefore, if you want your content to come up quickly, you’re better off using UNIX. The slowness of a Windows server relates to the programming, and it’s not something you can easily fix.
System resources hog
Unfortunately, most Windows servers use many more resources than servers running on UNIX do. This means you’ll need more RAM, more bandwidth, and more disk space, likely, which can cost you significantly more money than if you were to go with a UNIX server.
Frequent reboots
You’ll need to reboot your Windows server more often than you will your UNIX server, which can mean your site will be down significantly more than if it were run on UNIX.
Incompatibility with Perl and CGI
Perl or CGI applications can cause Windows compatibility issues. These were developed in UNIX, which means that many scripts are going to be incompatible as written and you’ll need to be able to work around them. Many Perl and CGI scripts do indeed function correctly on Windows, but you have to do some research to find them, and they’re not particularly common.
No SSH or Telnet administration
You won’t be able to administer your site using SSH or Telnet, since these are UNIX based. If you’re used to being able to do so, you’re out of luck if you decide to go with a Windows server.
No “free lunch”
Because Windows is not a platform that is free operating, your Windows hosting package will likely cost more than if it’s based in UNIX. Very few free applications will also run on Windows server, which means you’ll have significant out-of-pocket expenses, likely, because you’ll need to pay for applications you could get free with a UNIX server.
What do these disadvantages mean?
Do these disadvantages mean you shouldn’t use Windows hosting? Not necessarily, but you most certainly need to look at the drawbacks a Windows server will give you versus one that runs on UNIX — as well as the advantages.
If your website is relatively basic AND you use FrontPage and/or Microsoft Access on your website, then Windows hosting may indeed be your best fit. For anything more complicated than that, though (and if you don’t need the “perfect fit” that Windows hosting provides FrontPage or Microsoft Access users), consider going with UNIX instead. UNIX provides you so much more flexibility and stability that it’s well worth your time.
The Disadvantages of Windows Hosting
Windows hosting certainly has its advantages; it’s easy to use, and is compatible with Microsoft Access, Microsoft Frontpage, .NET and Visual Basic. However, there are some disadvantages to Windows hosting, too. While this doesn’t necessarily mean you shouldn’t use a Windows hosting package, there are significant drawbacks to using one that you will need to know about before you choose. Let’s take a look at some of the best advantages that come with using a Windows hosting package; then, you’ll be able to make an informed decision.
Instability
Unfortunately, Windows is not as stable as, for example, UNIX. Therefore, if you are planning on running Windows instead of UNIX, you can count on having some downtime, perhaps significant. Most Windows servers will have some issues, because the platform itself is not particularly stable. If at all possible, it’s much more desirable from a stability standpoint to go with UNIX.
Slow performance
UNIX servers run much more quickly than do Windows servers. Therefore, if you want your content to come up quickly, you’re better off using UNIX. The slowness of a Windows server relates to the programming, and it’s not something you can easily fix.
System resources hog
Unfortunately, most Windows servers use many more resources than servers running on UNIX do. This means you’ll need more RAM, more bandwidth, and more disk space, likely, which can cost you significantly more money than if you were to go with a UNIX server.
Frequent reboots
You’ll need to reboot your Windows server more often than you will your UNIX server, which can mean your site will be down significantly more than if it were run on UNIX.
Incompatibility with Perl and CGI
Perl or CGI applications can cause Windows compatibility issues. These were developed in UNIX, which means that many scripts are going to be incompatible as written and you’ll need to be able to work around them. Many Perl and CGI scripts do indeed function correctly on Windows, but you have to do some research to find them, and they’re not particularly common.
No SSH or Telnet administration
You won’t be able to administer your site using SSH or Telnet, since these are UNIX based. If you’re used to being able to do so, you’re out of luck if you decide to go with a Windows server.
No “free lunch”
Because Windows is not a platform that is free operating, your Windows hosting package will likely cost more than if it’s based in UNIX. Very few free applications will also run on Windows server, which means you’ll have significant out-of-pocket expenses, likely, because you’ll need to pay for applications you could get free with a UNIX server.
What do these disadvantages mean?
Do these disadvantages mean you shouldn’t use Windows hosting? Not necessarily, but you most certainly need to look at the drawbacks a Windows server will give you versus one that runs on UNIX — as well as the advantages.
If your website is relatively basic AND you use FrontPage and/or Microsoft Access on your website, then Windows hosting may indeed be your best fit. For anything more complicated than that, though (and if you don’t need the “perfect fit” that Windows hosting provides FrontPage or Microsoft Access users), consider going with UNIX instead. UNIX provides you so much more flexibility and stability that it’s well worth your time.
Why Do You Need Access to Support from Your Web Hosting Provider? (Page 1 of 2)
With most hosting providers, tech support comes as a standard as part of the hosting package; however, the standard and quality of the tech support provider is often what defines a good or bad web host. For many business owners, they leave the technical side of the website up to the web designer. They therefore don’t necessarily understand why having reliable tech support is so important. If, however, you are a smaller business, you may have had the need to call the support desk in which case you will know how valuable it is to have a helpful and friendly voice on the other end of the line.
Day and Night Accessibility
Your web host should have a support desk that is accessible 24/7. You should be able to reach them by email or telephone at any time of day or night. Many people may ask why the 24 hour accessibility is important. Your website is accessible around the globe 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. If clients browsing the web try to log onto your website and it’s down, they may think you are no longer in business or they may simply get frustrated when they can’t access web pages. That just creates a bad impression of your company. Customer expectations are so high these days with technology making websites ever more efficient that if a website is not working properly, they usually just go onto the next company. If there is a problem with your website, no matter how small, you need to be able to fix it right away. Usually, you need to be able to contact the web host to find out if it is a server problem or a problem just with your website. This is why it is important for them to be accessible 24/7.
Technical Expertise
Even for many web designers, there are times when they need to consult the expertise of web hosting providers. Your web host service provider can glance at the server on which your site is hosted and troubleshoot to see if there are any problems. This can save you and your web designer many hours of hassle trying to find the problem on your website. A good web hosting provider will also have advanced technical expertise. They can give you advice when needed and help you find solutions to any hassles you are experiencing with your website. This expertise can prove to be very valuable when you are trying to decide what hosting package best suits your needs and if you need to upgrade your website at any stage.
Website Maintenance
For most types of hosting packages, your web host service provider is responsible for maintaining the server on which your website is hosted. This means that they check and make sure that all the operating systems of the server are functional. This is important to your website because, without proper maintenance, the website can slow down and become problematic. Part of the maintenance is to ensure that the anti-virus protection is current and active. This is particularly important if you have a shared hosting package. A virus that gets into one website can infiltrate other websites on the shared server if the server is not properly maintained. If you suspect that you may have a virus or spyware on your website, you can contact the web host support desk and ask them to run some diagnostics. Their superior knowledge and systems should be able to help you pinpoint the problem.