20 Essential Ingredients for Windows Hosting

Windows based hosting is one of the most important and also rare hosting plans to be undertaken in any project. Hence it is obvious that unless you are provided with a thorough technical guideline, your Windows hosting plan is bound to capsize mid-way. There is a fine line between Windows web hosting and Linux web hosting plans. Mixing them up is a bad way to start your Windows hosting project and will not incur satisfactory results. These are some of our user-based guiding points that will allow you to judge and select the best and optimized way of initiating a Windows hosting package.

1.Hosting difference – Windows based hosting needs applications that are Microsoft based, while Linux based web hosting is piggy-backed on MySQL, Perl or PHP languages. This basic difference in both the hosting plans should be the first point in the endeavor to start a Windows hosting plan.

2..NET support – ASP.net is a new-age Microsoft Active Server Page (ASP) which is a special entity in the Internet Information Server (IIS). It supports compilation languages such as C++, VB, and Perl etc while a special feature of it maintains controlled separation of code and content that allows editing of pages by the WYSIWYG methodology. Charges vary from nil to a minimal amount, and the feature is avoidable on circumstances.

3. ASP support – ASP is a Microsoft feature. It allows HTML documents and pages to be converted into dynamic as well as interactive user-friendly material by script embedding. This is basically not charged for, and should be checked before embarking on a Windows hosting plan.

4. Databases – MS Access 2000/2003 Database is usually supported by all Windows hosting packages. The controls for a Database are given in the Control Panel. Amateurs can make do with this while a better option for experienced Windows hosting professionals is the MS-SQL. Most Windows hosting firms charge fairly for this added feature.

5. Database Connections – DSN (Data Source Name) or sans-DNS connections should be checked for and if a negative is implied for allowance of a DSN then Connection String for sans-DNS connections should be acquired.

6.CDONTS – A messaging element with the Windows NT/2000 package, it stands for Collaboration Data Objects for Windows NT Server. This is one of the most basic needs of a Windows hosting package. This feature allows messaging through your site’s ASP pages, if they are supported by SMTP.

7.ASP components – Third party software are aplenty in a Windows hosting plan. If a host provides such stuff, collect them. ASP Upload, ASPImage, Dundas Mailer etc are some of the more popular entities. Many a times, you may also install self-initiated DLLs but must be checked in the server environment before being applied. The latter is not free of charge.

8. PHP – PHP and MySQL are often packaged with the Windows hosting plans and many firms charge for them. Hence, be on the lookout for such packages.

9. Coldfusion - A web development tool that is in concise a server-side scripting language. CFML are akin to HTML tags and back-end ODBC database connectivity and makes data manipulation and validation amidst the web pages possible. This is not a common Windows host provided feature.

10. Control Panel - The focal point of a web site, it allows you the versatility to manage your web space. Every Windows hosting firm is to provide you with this feature (popularly known as CP) to allow you control over the project.

11. POP3 e-mail Id – yourselectedname@yourselectdomainname.com is an epitome of POP3 id. This is provided to you for ease of use and more user interaction. It depends on the size of your Windows hosting project.

12. Aliases – Same as the previous point. But a host will only provide you with a plethora of these if you have a bigger Windows hosting plan in shape.

13. FTP account – This is your file manager. You upload, delete, update and manage them. The Control Panel carries this within itself.

14. Back-up – Most hosts allow automated and independent backups. Most Windows hosting initiators ignore this basic fact which is a basic requirement for a flawless Windows hosting project.

15. Web Statistics – the monitoring and analysis of the visitors to your web site is an important factor in controlling and achieving success in your Windows hosting plans. The web traffic to your web site is a meter to your web site and your Windows hosting plan’s success rate. This may be looked up by switching on the Report using Statistics program that is usually provided in the server background.

16. Web Mail – the information you receive and provide using your e-mail or web mail id plays a key role after the launch of your new Windows hosted web site. The host may provide a web mail such as mailed.urdomain.com to inspect mails through web based interfaces such as Squirrelmail Horde and a hoard of others!

17. SMTP – This is one option along with IMAP that enables corporate and conglomerates use to download mail load via an application or e-mail clients such as MS Outlook or Outlook Express etc. This may or may not be provided by your host.

18. Spam – Email and web mail users are regularly affected by spam mails that send unsolicited mails and others. A spam filter installed on your web site or mail server may cull this problem.

19. Bandwidth – If your web site and Windows hosting plans are huge, then you must choose the bandwidth requirements accordingly. A better option is to acquire maximum bandwidth as the Windows hosting project starts. Later, as you progress and realize the need of a lesser bandwidth, make due corrections. This is a cost-effective and easy way to maintain an optimum use of bandwidth to your web site.

20. IP – A dedicated IP (Internet Protocol) as your web site builds up on time. This is mainly when your web site requires SSL support (https://). This needs a Digital Certificate to be bought as well as monetary fees to your Windows hosting provider for the former.