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Linux/Unix Hosting Guide
What is Linux?
Linux is a complete operating system that is similar but not
identical to Unix. It runs on a wide variety of hardware, ranging from Intel and
AMD CPUs to more exotic hardware such as Digital Alpha computers, PowerPCs, and
Silicon Graphics workstations. Probably the most unique characteristic of Linux
is that it is freely distributable. Freely distributable means that the source
code for the kernel and most software cannot be withheld. It does not mean that
companies cannot charge for it. By means of comparison, hosting a website on
Unix or Linux is nearly identical.
Who invented Linux?
A young student, named Linus Torvalds, from the University of
Helsinki in Finland, created Linux in 1991. Since it’s inception, Linux has been
developed by thousands of developers from all over the world. Developed under
the GNU General Public License, the source code for Linux is freely available to
everyone, making it an attractive alternative to the pricey Windows platform.
Do I
have to purchase licensing fees to operate my site on Unix?
A majority of the software written for Unix and Linux is
developed under the same GNU General Public License as the operating systems.
What this means, is that it is fairly simple to locate and install the software
you need with minimal, if any, out of pocket expense. Compared to the Windows
platform, this is a big plus for the Unix and Linux markets.
What is Apache, and what can it do for me?
Apache is the name of the software that allows you
to run a web service on a Unix server. Apache is very popular and provides
access to most web sites on the Internet.
Why should I choose to host my website on a Unix-based
machine?
Unix has a proven
track record of performance, stability and security. It has been in a state of
constant refinement since its inception 30 years ago, and is based on open
standards, allowing easy access to operating system features and applications.
Unix is, by default, text-based and does not use a graphical user interface
(GUI), which means it can dedicate the full power of the server to your web
site.
What scripting languages are available for Unix?
There are many options available when it comes
to writing CGI scripts on a Unix machine. The most common at the time of this
writing are PHP and PERL. There are many introductions, tutorials, and even
sample scripts available on the Internet when it comes to PHP and PERL.
What databases are available for my Unix
website?
That depends mostly
on the web hosting provider you select to host your website. There are many
flavors of databases that run on Unix, but the most prevalent among web host
providers are mSQL, MySQL., and PostgreSQL. These databases are all relational
in nature, and allow highly optimized communication with your website for quick
retrieval of information.
Is it more or less expensive to host my site on a Unix or a
Windows platform?
That
depends on what you mean by “hosting your site”. If you plan to host the site
yourself, and you own the web servers or the software on them, then Unix (or
Linux) would definitely be a less expensive option. If you plan to sign up with
a web hosting company, and they own the servers and the software installed on
them, you will find that there are excellent hosting options available for each
platform at very comparable prices.
How does Unix hosting compare to Windows
hosting?
Here is a
short comparison of key
features, and which are available for the Unix and Windows platforms.
| Features |
Unix/Linux |
Windows | |
| MS FrontPage
2000, 2002 |
X |
X |
| Flash |
X |
X |
| Shockwave |
X |
X |
| Real
Audio/Video |
X |
X |
| Cgi Scripts |
X |
X |
| Perl |
X |
X |
| PHP |
X |
X |
| SSH (Secure
Telnet) |
X |
X |
| MySQL |
X |
|
| Web-Based Control
System |
X |
|
| Anonymous FTP |
X |
|
| Web Site Graphical
Statistics |
X |
X |
| Web-Based Email
System |
X |
X |
| SQL 2000 |
|
X |
| Miva/XML |
X |
X |
| Cold Fusion |
X |
X |
| ASP (Active Server
Pages) |
X |
X |
| MS Access |
|
X |
| Visual Basic
Scripts |
|
X |
| Windows Media |
|
X | |
Glossary of terms: Apache
Web Server
software freely available for both Unix and Linux.
CGI
Common
Gateway Interface. In Layman’s terms, a CGI program is a program that can be
executed as part of a web server process.
Cold Fusion
Special software package that simplifies the creation of database driven web
sites.
GNU General Public
License
An agreement by the author of certain software to offer his or
her software for free, and to abide by the stipulations of copyleft.
Specifically, the copyleft philosophy stipulates that anyone redistributing free
software must also pass along the freedom to further copy and change the
program, thereby ensuring that no one can claim ownership of future versions and
place restrictions on users.
Kernel
The kernel
is the essential center of a computer operating system, the core that provides
basic services for all other parts of the operating system.
PERL
Perl is a
script programming language that is similar in syntax to the C language and that
includes a number of popular Unix facilities.
PHP
In Web
programming, PHP is a script language and interpreter that is freely available
and used primarily on Linux Web servers. |
