This looks like it could be a huge help to me. Thank you very much. After I asked the question I feared it was a really dumb one. I'm so glad to see the answer.
It sounds to me like the big things that you will need from a webserver is the ability to use PHP and MySQL, which aren't OS-dependant (though, for those, I would personally go with Linux). A lot of hosting companies offer "one-click" installs that will set up the software for you (such as for a blog). How easy they make it and how experimental you are would affect your choice. Also, some companies aren't very good at keeping up with the software updates. If there are a few sites similar to what you are wanting yours to be, see what host they are using and see if the plans offer what you need within your budget. It's worth noting that registration and hosting are separate. You could have your domain registrar be one company and your host be a completely different company. Some people use the same company for both, others use different companies.
"It's worth noting that registration and hosting are separate. You could have your domain registrar be one company and your host be a completely different company. Some people use the same company for both, others use different companies." __________________ I'm wondering if some people use a different company for each for security reasons??? When you do a look up on a sites domain you can see their name, address, phone, fax, and other information that seems dumb to have available to everyone.
People use different companies for all kinds of reasons (features, ease of access, easier to switch away from non-responsive host, etc.) It's a good idea to go with a registrar that will allow you to edit the information or at least have proxy/privacy options available.
Interesting....are you saying there is a way to point your site to a domain name that is located somewhere other than your webhost? If so, how would a person do that? I'm asking because my current webhost won't allow me to transfer my domain name to them.
If I was starting from scratch, I would go with Unix - PHP is great, MySQL works well and the free site admin tools are awesome. However, I have too many existing ASP pages, so it's hard to even consider fully moving to Unix. As for PHP on Windows it, I wouldn't recommend it. The stuff that works perfectly on Unix, requires extra tweaking for IIS and good PHP/Windows info is scarce. Extra considerations for Unix hosting: 1) mod_rewrite - allows you to use simpler URLs for dynamic pages 2) Easier banning of offending user - I got a jerk who's been hammering my Windows site for months, despite getting the 403 error message from IIS. In Unix, I can just use route to deny the IP. In Windows 2003, I haven't found a working solution yet.
I have to go with Unix with this one. Windows are more for user-friendly in usage but Unix are more stable.
It sounds like most members who have commented recommend Unix. Thanks so much for all of your help. J.C., I guess I do mean redirect but I don't know how to do that. I'll investigate it though. Thank you. Ozzie
Best free open source script thingie = PHP Best free open source database = mySQL Best free open source operating system = Linux Recommended set up is separate your domain registrar and your web hosting provider. Example: Get a domain with GoDaddy, host with Pair. Plus Linux tends to have a lot of free open source scripts, modules, etcetera. Note: Best is generalized. What I mean is, one of the, if not the best, or more specifically, it's in the top 5 or top 10.
All of these replies are so helpful. I have been taking a lot of notes when I read this thread. "Recommended set up is separate your domain registrar and your web hosting provider. Example: Get a domain with GoDaddy, host with Pair." Would the above recommendation be done by what someone else referred to as "redirect"? I'll be looking that up too because I don't know how that is done. This website really is better than reading a book to learn. I'm sure I must have a great reputation as the site dummy by now though.
Think of it like this: You pay the registrar for the name. You pay the host for the space. They don't have to be the same company. The registrar's records just have to point to where the space is. This is done with name servers, which resolve the names to the IP addresses. Think of them like a phonebook. You know you want to go to Bob's Gourmet Restaurant, so you look in the phonebook and find the address is 123 Main St. Knowing "Bob's Gourmet Restaurant" doesn't get you where you are going, but it's easier than remembering the actual address. That's the way it works with domains (the name) and IP Addresses. For instance, is it easier to remember www.google.com or 66.102.7.99? A redirect is different and not what you're after.
Gordaen, your post is so helpful! Thank you very much. I really appreciate you taking the time to "draw me a picture", as my husband sometimes says.
That article is a little goofy, though, and appears to be written by an amateur. The internet runs on *nix and was created on *nix. Everything runs on *nix and interoperates on *nix easier, safer and more stable. The web isn't the desktop and, there, *nix rules that universe. Windows hosting runs Windows software best but who cares? You don't need Windows software to have a web site. Interfacing to anything outside of a Microsoft product can be iffy and would probably cost you money to do so.
Linux is the best when it comes for hosting. In terms of stability and server client response time, Linux is the best