Space: Unlimited
Traffic: Unlimited
Price: $6.95

Space: Unlimited
Traffic: Unlimited
Price: $3.95

Web Hosting servers running Microsoft Windows Server is an industry standard in network management and internet services. Until the recent addition of PHP as a scripting standard, if you needed inline server side access from your web pages, you pretty much had to use a Windows Based Server. Active Server Pages (ASP) was the Microsoft favorite, and a viable option to using CGI scripts including Perl. Even with the inclusion of PHP, the Microsoft Windows Hosting Server is still able to hold its own with its inclusion of new .NET services, running its own flavor of PHP and the many varieties of databases usable on other systems as well. Yes, if you want diversity, a Microsoft Windows Server can provide it.

One characteristic of Windows Hosting is the cost. Traditionally Windows Shared Hosting accounts cost a small percentage more than Linux shared hosting accounts. Generally speaking, the additional cost goes towards technical and administrative support. The name Microsoft alone, chased by its trouble riddled Operating Systems in the past, have made it a prime target for hackers and malicious software. Keeping a Windows Server up to date and running smoothly can be a chore, and technicians available for these servers need to be paid – the web hosts pass this savings on to you. Another factor in price is the actual cost of Windows Server Software itself. It is no secret that the cost of the operating system is a sore point with small business, corporations, individuals, and yes, web hosts. Again, this cost is shared by the users of the OS (Hosting Customers).

One of the fantastic characteristics of Windows hosting is the number of choices you have available to you. For instance, databases, there are three types of databases that are almost always available to you in one form or another with a Windows hosting account. Microsoft SQL Server that is used by many large corporations as it is – and transferring or integrating your data can be a snap with import and exporting tools. MySQL, which is an Open Source database structure, is widely used amongst smaller companies and individuals. This database engine is actually available for free (without support) and can be run on a PC. Finally there is the popular Microsoft Access Database – which is portable and can run from a desktop and easily be changed and re-uploaded to a web server to continue online processing. The Access database is not a robust option, but can handle a decent number of simultaneous transactions – a great entry-level database.

With your Windows Shared Hosting Account, you can expect to receive an FTP account and possibly access to a control panel for quick routine tasks. A trouble ticketing system is generally in place, and access to most server-side scripting languages including the most recent .NET framework. ASP is still a widely used application language and is being heavily competed with JSP and the later inclusion of PHP. Each of these languages is equally powerful and some experience is required to program in either set. Windows hosting however is not reliant upon this technology and there are flavors of blog software, forums and site builders that can operate without intimate knowledge. Also don’t forget simple HTML processing and SSI routing for dynamic page or template inclusions.

If you are looking for an industry standard web server or hosting account – you can rely on a reliable host running a Windows Web Server – staffed by knowledgeable server technicians.