ISPs and OSs:
What Kind of "Land"
Do You Want to Build On?

by Barbara Bouton

Another choice you need to make is on which operating system you want the computer that serves your pages to be. This does not have to be the same operating system you use on the computer you compose your pages on, or that you use to upload your pages to the server. The vast majority of hosting ISPs offer a choice between a UNIX based server and a MS-Windows NT server. A much more limited number of ISPs offer servers that use the Mac OS. Which server is best has been the subject of many a flame war--Opinions run very hot on this subject. The decision you make really should be determined by what software you want to use to create and maintain your site. Take a careful look at what kind of services, support, and tools each ISP offers for each kind of server, and then take your pick.

UNIX Servers

The Internet was founded on UNIX servers. UNIX is a proven, robust operating system for networking. Many believe it is the most stable and secure of the three leading operating systems. It is a command line OS, however, similar to DOS, which makes it hard to use. Fortunately, most ISPs offer some kind of graphically based or browser-based tools to help make site management easier. In addition, ftp programs that you use to transfer your pages to the server as well as page creation programs such as NetObjects NetObjects Fusion were designed to make interacting with UNIX servers painless.

If you plan to use Microsoft technologies such as FrontPage extensions or ASP page generation, you can use a UNIX server if your ISP has installed the supplemental software on the UNIX machine. Microsoft offers FrontPage server extensions for most forms of UNIX, and ChiliSoft! offers ASP server software for UNIX machines. Active X is supported on UNIX without any additional software needed on the server. At present, most ISPs haven't installed this support on their UNIX servers and instead offer Windows NT servers for those users who require Microsoft technologies. So if you want ultimate flexibility, the option to use industry-standard technology and Microsoft technology on a UNIX server, you should look for an ISP that already provides Microsoft technology support on its UNIX servers or that will promise you, in writing, that it will implement it.

NT Servers

As Windows NT becomes a more popular operating system for servers, more and more hosting ISPs offer it to customers. It is an ideal choice if you will be using a lot of Microsoft technology, such as FrontPage extensions or ASP page generation. If you are a Windows user, you also may find it friendlier to use because NT and Windows 95/98 share many interfaces and conventions. By the way, you can host your pages on an NT server and use any page creation program, such as NetObjects Fusion or HomeSite.

MacOS Servers

If you want to serve pages from a FileMaker database or co-locate a Macintosh computer, you'll definitely want to seek out a MacOS hosting service. ISPs that are experienced with the MacOS and that offer hosting on MacOS servers are harder to find, but they are out there. Many educational sites are hosted on MacOS servers. MacOS servers are secure, and many argue that they are the easiest to manage. If you use the MacOS on your computer, you may feel more comfortable with pages on a MacOS server.

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