Linux is a Unix-like computer operating system assembled under the model of free and open source software development and distribution. The defining component of any Linux system is the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released October 5, 1991 by Linus Torvalds. Linux system distributions may vary in many details of system operation, configuration, and software package selections.

Linux runs on a wide variety of computer hardware, including mobile phones, tablet computers, network routers, televisions, video game consoles, desktop computers, mainframes and supercomputers. Linux is a leading server operating system, and runs the 10 fastest supercomputers in the world. In addition, more than 90% of today’s supercomputers run some variant of Linux.

Windows hosting is indeed quite popular, but the level of popularity of Linux hosting has been increasing steadily. The biggest reason behind this is of course the pricing, and at the same time Linux web hosting has been discovered to be quite secure and reliable too.

Basically, it all depends upon the functions you wish to incorporate in your website which decides which platform you should opt for whether windows or Linux. If you plan on developing your website and web applications based on ASP and .NET, you can’t dream of Linux web hosting, because there would be no compatibility between the two.

On the other hand, if you’re a developer who needs root level access to the web server and needs to execute Shell scripts, or just an ordinary website owner who wishes to host a traditional website with low-to-moderate level of complexity, there won’t be any problems with Linux hosting. Conversely, if you’re looking to set-up WordPress blogs, phpBB discussion boards and other software that run exclusively on Unix/Linux environment, Windows hosting may not be an ideal choice. Therefore, there’s always a trade-off while selecting the hosting platform and depending upon your needs, you should pick the one that meets all your requirements.

In general, UNIX and Linux hosting services are known to be the most stable, reliable, and secure web hosting platforms. However, it all depends upon your host. If a host who’s providing cheap Linux web hosting is hosting spammy websites on the same web server on which, your site is also hosted then there could always be chances of trouble. On the other hand, if your web host ensures that only genuine and informative websites are hosted on the web server, there are very low chances of any security issues arising even in few years time. Depending upon the features that you require, you should pick an appropriate affordable Linux hosting plan that comes with everything that you’re interested in. When you pick a Linux website hosting plan, you must not consider the features that you aren’t really going to use, and rather concentrate only on those things, which are going to be used frequently by you.

The top advantage of Linux web hosting is of course that it is Open Source and hence absolutely FREE.

• Linux web hosting services are lot reliable and stable
• Linux based web hosting is cheaper and easier to maintain
• Linux web hosts have the flexibility to use open source goodies.

Cons of Linux Hosting

Set-up and configuration is difficult in comparison to the Windows hosting. Linux Hosting can’t support Microsoft proprietary coding platforms like ASP .NET and some of the Microsoft FrontPage extensions and latest offerings. The user-interface is not as friendly as Windows.

Linux is a Unix-like computer operating system assembled under the model of free and open source software development and distribution. In fact it was derived from UNIX. The defining component of any Linux system is the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released October 5, 1991 by Linus Torvalds. Linux system distributions may vary in many details of system operation, configuration, and software package selection.

Linux is the preferred operating system in the web hosting world. It comes for free, it’s much more secure than Windows, and being open source-based, it’s easy to modify as well. Used by the majority of the web hosting companies, Linux was the natural OS environment choice when the concept of the virtual machines was introduced.

Very soon virtual machines became very easy to create and use. Plus, any operating system out there could run on a Linux-based machine. This solved many compatibility problems, which had existed between Linux and Windows for ages.

Virtual hosting is a method for hosting multiple domain names (with separate handling of each name) on a single server (or pool of servers). This allows one server to share its resources, such as memory and processor cycles, without requiring all services provided to use the same host name. The term virtual hosting is usually used in reference to web servers but the principles carry over to other internet services.

When people realized that LINUX allow them to offer customers the ability to be hosted on a virtual server, which had all the access benefits of a stand-alone dedicated server, the term “Linux virtual hosting server” quickly appeared. The Linux-based virtual hosting solution allows the user to run their own instance of a Linux distribution, such as CentOS, Debian or Ubuntu on their machine, as if it was a real server offering complete root access.

Virtualization is all the rage these days, with a lot of different solutions available – from hardware virtualization to OS virtualization. Different software solutions are available to perform the needed operations as well. The virtualization method is especially applicable in the web hosting field – it allows hosting providers to reduce the total number of the servers used, improve their services, reduce their prices and offer a brand new service – Virtual Private Servers.

The Linux Virtual hosting plans are reliable and powerful enough to host from a small e-commerce site to a huge corporate portal. Each server also comes with a free domain reseller account and other facilities like high bandwidth and large storage space all this at a affordable price.

Java is a modern programming language, very popular and actively developed. There are numerous frameworks for Java that ease developer work like Springs, Struts, JSF, GWT, Grails, Stripes, Tapestry and others. All these can be used in our Java hosting with dedicated JVM.

Java, brought to you by the fine folks at SUN, is a simple to learn, tag-based programming language that, among other uses, can be inserted into HTML code to provide additional features and functionality to your websites.
One of the broadest appeals of Java, and in fact, one of the primary objectives behind its invention, is that Java can run within disparate networks consisting of multiple devices that are using different operating systems. Its status as one of the first and most comprehensive cross-platform language makes it one of the most widespread and commonly used today, both online and off.

Running Java on your sites, therefore, and using the services of a Java hosting server, gives you the confidence that almost any computer in the world will have little to no trouble reading your website in all its luxury. Java’s ubiquitous nature ensures that the programs embedded in your sites will function properly on almost any visitor’s machine.

Java offers libraries of reusable code with diverse functionality in email, networking, databases, XML, Microsoft Office, and PDF files, among others. Java libraries can help generate bit-maps and vector graphics. With Java and Java hosting, you can create server-side applications for such varied uses as forms and forums, online stores, and polls, to name a few.

An applet is a program written in the Java programming language that can be included in an HTML page, much in the same way an image is included in a page. When you use a Java technology-enabled browser to view a page that contains an applet, the applet’s code is transferred to your system and executed by the browser’s Java Virtual Machine (JVM). For information and examples on how to include an applet in an HTML page, refer to this description of the <applet> tag.

To compose Java applets, you really need only know two kinds of HTML tags:

The first is <APPLET> and it merely informs the visitors’ browser which applet class file is being used and its dimensions on the screen. As with any html command, you would start an applet code with <APPLET… and end it with </APPLET>. The rest of the APPLET tag will read something like this <APPLET CODE=”filename class” WIDTH=”640″ HEIGHT=”480″> Between this tag and the closing tag </APPLET> come the second set of tags.

These next tags describe the parameters of the applet, meaning the applet’s behavior and the resources it will use to do so. This tags are written as <PARAM> and composed of two elements: a NAME and a VALUE. Any given applet can have one or many <PARAM> tags, or none at all, but every single one is written the same way. <PARAM> tags do not require any closing tag.

After you compose your applet, all you need to do before sending it to your Java hosting company is cut and paste it into your HTML code on the respective web page where you intend it to appear.

One useful piece of advice when uploading Java applet files to your Java hosting provider’s server is to put them all in the same directory. This makes the inevitable updates and edits so much easier for you down the line. And make sure, when uploading files to your Java hosting provider, that you don’t leave behind any resources like image files that is needed to execute the applet properly. This is a common error that can be easily avoided.

Another file that newcomers to Java often forget to send up to their Java hosting server is the class file, and make sure it’s sent it binary format; text won’t work. Without the class file on your Java hosting provider’s server, your code is useless.

Now for the most exciting part: now that you understand how simple it is to insert Java applets into your Java hosted web pages, you don’t even need to invent your own programs or come up with your own code for the applets you desire. The web is saturated with a myriad of prewritten Java applets for your use and enjoyment, many of them totally free!

There’s a plethora of web hosting plans out there – so many that even the popular host comparison sites don’t really make the initial choice easy anymore.

While in fact two often overlooked factors are of much more importance than small differences in price, presuming that you are somewhat serious about running a web site.

When it comes to managing web sites, efficiency is of great matter, even for small setups. Like with anything computer-related, it’s easy to waste an hour or five on tasks which in principle only require the press of a button.  Although wordpress for example is not difficult to install if you have done it a few times, you will appreciate a 1-click install if available – as a starter for the ease, as an advanced user for the efficiency of it.

Check the number of MySQL databases offered with a web hosting plan you are interested in, and the price to buy additional ones. One day you may need them, and you will hate to be suddenly restricted by “little things” like that.

Second, if your website targets potential clients which could be in need of web hosting as well one day, especially if you are a web designer, an artist or sell domain names, you should from the beginning consider a hosting provider with reseller web hosting plans. Because sooner or later one of your customers may need a web hosting plan too, and this provides not only an opportunity for additional income, but, because you then already know your web host in and out, you will be able to give a good recommendation and great support, i.e. as a web designer you can install your clients web site on web space you are comfortable and have experience with.

A good hosting plan includes disk space, bandwidth, domain name, unlimited sub domains, unlimited MySql databases, unlimited FTP account, latest CPanel, unlimited email accounts, IMAP & SMTP, PHP 4 & 5, CGI & Perl, Ruby on Rails, SSH, SSI & Python, Free Billing System, Free Templates, Instant Backups.

The prices of various hosting plans depend on the amount of disk space, bandwidth and no. of domains. It also depend on the type of hosting you opt for and the type of server you choose like dedicated server cost much more than the vps server or shared hosting server.

VPS stands for Virtual Private Server. It is a term used by Internet hosting services to refer to a virtual machine. The term is used for emphasizing that the virtual machine, although running in software on the same physical computer as other customers’ virtual machines, is in many respects functionally equivalent to a separate physical computer, is dedicated to the individual customer’s needs, has the privacy of a separate physical computer, and can be configured to run server software.

The terms virtual root server (VRS) and virtual dedicated server (VDS) are also used as synonyms of VPS it involves a way where the physical server is partitioned into multiple servers. Each of the multiple servers in effect carries the appearance & capabilities of running on its own dedicated machine. Each virtual server can be rebooted independently and can run its own full-fledged operating system.

However, VDS also occasionally indicates that the server does not use burst/shared RAM through multiple machines and may use individual CPU cores. The term cloud server is also used to describe the same concept, normally where such systems can be setup and re-configured on the fly.

Virtual Private Server offers a good balance between total control and a tight budget. Having a VPS account is just like operating a dedicated server.

In a traditional shared hosting environment, one account can access other’s files when not secured properly. It is a well known fact that people can read other’s passwords located in php files since they are all running under the web server’s privilege, and gain access to sensitive data.

A VPS account is totally isolated from other VPS accounts, because each VPS account is located in its own “Virtual Environment”. Other VPS accounts cannot access your files or data in the memory. You will have your own copy of apache, DNS servers, database server, and user accounts.

Performance guarantee : VPS utilizes virtualization technology that provides performance guarantee to your VPS account, so that no matter what other VPSs are doing, your VPS environment will continue to receive guaranteed amount of CPU, Memory and network resources.

Since VPS gives you full root access, you can set up any services or daemons as you like, such as DNS servers, email servers, web servers, java servlet, database servers and more. Imagine having a dedicated server now with at a very affordable price. Virtual private servers bridge the gap between shared web hosting services and dedicated hosting services, giving independence from other customers of the VPS service in software terms but at less cost than a physical dedicated server. As a VPS runs its own copy of its operating system, customers have super user-level access to that operating system instance, and can install almost any software that runs on the OS. Certain software does not run well in a virtualized environment, such as virtualizes themselves; some VPS providers place further restrictions, but they are generally less compared to those in shared hosting environments. Due to the number of virtualization clients typically running on a single machine, a VPS generally has limited processor time, RAM, and disk space.

UNIX web hosting refers to the hosting services and system architectures provided on UNIX platform to open source companies.

Hosting means a service offered by company to allocate some disk space to physically place all website related information on a server to enduringly stay in the internet. UNIX web hosting is an operating system which has the capability of providing a user website with security which cannot be penetrated by any means. UNIX hosting is entirely compatible with the latest craze among all the programming languages, PHP. UNIX hosting provides reliability and has very easy usage, with quicker problem solving capabilities.

UNIX is one of the most famous operating systems next to Windows and Apple’s Macintosh. UNIX web hosting has several advantages in comparison to Windows hosting, but at the same time there are certain downsides to it, as well. UNIX was developed during the 1970s, at AT&T’s Bell Laboratories, and has greatly evolved in due course of time.

Free BSD and OpenBSD are the two most popular flavors of UNIX environment. Both these versions are highly stable and secure. OpenBSD boasts of being the most secure open source operating systems throughout the world. Above all, it is free and maintenance cost of the web servers running on UNIX environment is also on the lower side.
UNIX offers support to all the common scripting languages like Shell, C/C++, Python, Perl, PHP and Java. However, these days the latest web servers developed on UNIX environment also offer support to Ruby-on-Rails and all other technological developments.

As far as database support is concerned, the popular UNIX hosting providers usually support MS SQL and MySQL databases. However, the UNIX web hosting service providers may not support all the databases. Therefore, it is important that you enquire about this aspect and pick a web host that support the database you intend to use.

The most important aspects to be kept in mind which selecting UNIX web hosting services and which have enormous impact on by UNIX operating system are:

1. Performance
2. Price
3. Stability
4. Features

Due to the benefits particularly in these four areas, UNIX web hosting is the mostly opted by many users around the world. However, Windows is trying to bridge the gap between the services provided by both the web hosting service providers.

A good UNIX web hosting provider must ensure that the customers get all the necessary resources and a good control panel to manage their website with great ease. A good UNIX web host will never let you make out that you’re making use of UNIX hosting, while the poor hosts don’t give enough resources, thereby causing discontentment amongst the users.

Ideally a UNIX web hosting plan must include all the features offered by a shared Windows web hosting plan, and there must never be any difference between UNIX website hosting and Windows hosting plan.
One will always get the added advantage in terms of pricing, if you pick UNIX web hosting services, and the reliability and flexibility of the web server hosted on UNIX platform is always higher.

Therefore, if you don’t have any business requirements that can be exclusively accomplished only on UNIX hosting environment, UNIX hosting can be a better bet. Moreover, if you happen to be a developer, UNIX hosting environment will give you the choice of making changes to the codes and also getting complete access to the root level of the web server.

Last but definitely not the least, Windows hosting can’t match the offerings of UNIX hosting environment, while vice-versa doesn’t hold true in majority of the cases. Hence, this gives an unfair advantage to UNIX hosting over Windows hosting environment.

BY:
Harshita Bhambhani

A service web hosting is a type of Internet hosting service that allows individuals and organizations to make their website accessible via the World Wide Web. Web hosts are companies that provide space on a server owned or leased for use by clients, as well as providing Internet connectivity, typically in a data center. Web hosts can also provide data center space and connectivity to the Internet for other servers located in their data center, called colocation.

The most basic is web page and small-scale file hosting, where files can be uploaded via File Transfer Protocol (FTP) or a Web interface. The files are usually delivered to the Web with minimal processing. Many Internet service providers (ISPs) offer this service free to subscribers. Individuals and organizations may also obtain Web page hosting from alternative service providers. Personal web site hosting is typically free, advertisement-sponsored, or inexpensive. Business web site hosting often has a higher expense.

Types of service hosting

Free hosting service: offered by different companies with limited services, sometimes supported by advertisements, and often limited when compared to paid hosting.
Shared web hosting service: one’s website is placed on the same server as many other sites, ranging from a few to hundreds or thousands. Typically, all domains may share a common pool of server resources, such as RAM and the CPU.

Reseller web hosting: allows clients to become web hosts themselves. Resellers could function, for individual domains, under any combination of these listed types of hosting, depending on who they are affiliated with as a reseller. Resellers’ accounts may vary tremendously in size: they may have their own virtual dedicated server to a colocated server.

Virtual Dedicated Server: also known as a Virtual Private Server (VPS), divides server resources into virtual servers, where resources can be allocated in a way that does not directly reflect the underlying hardware. VPS will often be allocated resources based on a one server to many VPSs relationship, however virtualization may be done for a number of reasons, including the ability to move a VPS container between servers.

Dedicated hosting service: the user gets his or her own Web server and gains full control over it however, the user typically does not own the server. Another type of Dedicated hosting is Self-Managed or Unmanaged. This is usually the least expensive for dedicated plans. The user has full administrative access to the server, which means the client is responsible for the security and maintenance of his own dedicated server.

Cloud hosting : is a new type of hosting platform that allows customers powerful, scalable and reliable hosting based on clustered load-balanced servers and utility billing. A cloud hosted website may be more reliable than alternatives since other computers in the cloud can compensate when a single piece of hardware goes down. Also, local power disruptions or even natural disasters are less problematic for cloud hosted sites, as cloud hosting is decentralized.

Clustered hosting service: having multiple servers hosting the same content for better resource utilization. Clustered Servers are a perfect solution for high-availability dedicated hosting, or creating a scalable web hosting solution. A cluster may separate web serving from database hosting capability.

Grid hosting service: this form of distributed hosting is when a server cluster acts like a grid and is composed of multiple nodes.

Apart from these service hosting there are other service hosting like managed service hosting, File

hosting service: hosts files, not web pages, Image hosting service, Video hosting service, Blog hosting service, Shopping cart software, E-mail hosting service etc.

Web hosting service is often provided as part of a general Internet access plan; there are many free and paid providers offering these types of web hosting.

If you have started your business then this is the time when its presence must be felt online through your website. To have your website you need business web hosting services. Now there are many business hosting firms available on internet. The problem is to choose the right one that suits your needs and fulfil your requirements of business. Actually the success or failure of your business can be very much dependant on your website.

Online web hosting generally serves two kinds of web sites, first are those which are developed for personal use and the 2nd ones are developed for business purposes. Each of these categories further has more sub categories like free or paid personal hosting. Similarly there are different levels of business and hosting services are offered according to the requirements of the business web site. The key difference between two categories is that first one is hosted on same servers or shared servers, and they generally don’t allow you to run business websites through those servers. As there is business web hosting companies which offer you to have your business websites hosted at them.

Business web page hosting services have special servers to run your business websites. The cost of business hosting depends upon the factors like the traffic on your website, the storage capacity you will need for the data on your website. There are many other great features offered by business web page hosting firms like more database table, enhanced CGI packages and sometimes business email hosting too. There can be a facility of customer support depending on your need. Mostly small business website hosting firms are not really good at customer support department, so if you want to have good support in case of any problems, then find out what means of customer support they use.

Before signing up with any web hosting for business first you must check all the packages in detail offered by the firm along with the reviews of people about them. It is very helpful most of the time to read the views of people about different companies and their packages to have the real idea about the deal. As, not all companies provide services according to their claims.

Business web page hosting must have a very good system of customer support. Your business may not require the support 24/7 but still make sure that the support is available in reasonable hours to be availed in case of need.

If you have plans of selling things on line through your website then check for the required facilities with your host. Internet business hosting firm must provide you with the service of shopping cart also check if there are any extra charges for these services or are they included in the basic package.

It is very important to ask your provider of web hosting for business that how much bandwidth will be allocated for your website. Let’s say if they allow you to use bandwidth of 500MB per month and you have website which is 50 KB in size then you can only have ten thousand visitors on your website per month. If you have expectations of visitors more than this then you must ask for more bandwidth, but in that case you will have to bear extra charges. Business web page hosting can play vital role in getting your business a successful future.

Apart from that there are few more things which must be kept in mind like domain name which should be registered and easy for users to remember then there is security which is of utmost importance, then there is disk space with its entire graphics.

Now days it has become very important to use internet as wisely as you can for the spread of your business. As through this medium you can reach millions of people at a time without spending too much money. All you need to do is choose right firm to host your site and make it attractive and easy to browse for people.

BY:
Harshita Bhambhani