What is Windows Hosting?

Contrary to what you may have thought, Windows hosting is completely unrelated to a Windows operating system on a desktop. Windows servers are often necessary if you use .NET script to compose your website, use Microsoft Access or MS SQL databases, or use ASP or ASP.NET scripts for server-side programming. Windows hosting offers ASP, ASP.NET, and Access Database support, the MS SQL server database, a IIS server, and is PHP and MySQL compatible. Users often run Active Server Pages (ASP) technology when using a Windows hosting server. Windows hosting is ideal for FrontPage support and comes with the promise of an experienced and knowledgeable company.

Advantages of Windows Hosting

Windows hosting also has its share of advantages over Linux as follows:

All varieties of Windows come from the same company (i.e., Microsoft).

Installing Windows from scratch is much easier than installing Linux from scratch. (Different distributions of Linux each have their own installation programs which may change with different versions of the same distribution).

Linux terminology and documentation are much more difficult to understand than that of Windows, particularly for those who have not used a Windows server. Windows has more application software available for purchase.

Installation of applications under Windows is simpler, easier, more consistent, and more obvious than Linux. More hardware works with Windows than for Linux since vendors write drivers for Windows more often they do for Linux. Each computer printer ships with drivers for last few versions of Windows. Linux supports far fewer printers than Windows. Windows provides more comprehensive and reliable help for newcomers to website construction.

100 ODBC DSN Connections Database Source Names (DSN), are data structures used to describe a connection to a database. Using the control panel, you can add up to 100 DSNs for connecting to Microsoft Access, Excel, SQL Server or MySQL.

Unlimited Microsoft Access Databases You can deploy unlimited number of Microsoft Access Databases within any windows hosting package. We have created a Private Database Folder within your web space where you should upload/create all Microsoft Access Databases. This folder has been placed outside your primary web folder for security reasons, so that visitors to your website do not get direct access to your databases.

Please note that for performance and reliability reasons, we strongly recommend the use of Microsoft SQL Server for the deployment of production-quality web sites/applications. Microsoft itself has stated the following - "Microsoft Access was designed as a single-user desktop database, and not for server use. When multiple, concurrent users make requests of a Microsoft Access database, unpredictable results may occur."

Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Database Services If the hosting package that you have purchased includes MSSQL Database(s) then you get 5 Database Users per Database that you have purchased. Using the Database Manager section in your control panel, you can add / delete MSSQL Databases, add multiple database users for a single database, change passwords etc.

Each database user can use Enterprise Manager or Query Analyzer to connect to and manage the MSSQL databases.

.NET Support All our windows hosting packages support the following .NET technologies:

• .NET Framework v1.1 and v2.0
• ASP.NET
• ADO.NET
• ASP.NET Web Services
• XML Web Services
• .NET Mobile Internet Toolkit

Other Supported Web Development Technologies All our windows hosting packages support all the popular windows-specific web development technologies, empowering you to create your website or web application in the language of your choice.

Supported web development technologies include:

• Active Server Pages (ASP) 3.0
• MSXML 4.0
• XSL 2.1
• CDO
• Cdonts
• Window Media
• Wireless Application Protocol (WAP)
• Real Audio / Video HTTP Streaming
• Macromedia Flash
• Macromedia Shockwave

If the hosting package that you have purchased includes Custom DLL Registration, then you can also register Custom DLL and OCX files instantly using the Control Panel.

Supported Web Publishing Tools You can upload data / publish content on your website / transfer files to and from the server using any of the following:

• FTP Based Clients
• Drumbeat

Macromedia Dream Weaver

This browser-based control panel allows you to manage every aspect of your hosting account. From email or FTP accounts, adding and removing of domains in real-time over to managing password protected directories, SQL databases and you’re shopping carts configuration.

Best of all, it is a *totally automated* solution. Don't wait on our response for a request - simply use your control panel and get it done INSTANTLY.