Windows Vs Linux Web hosting

**Cowboy Bob** · 27 April 2006, 13:14

Originally posted by SAPBoy

Hi Folks,

Having set up my new Ltd business I am in the process of designing the website. Which would be the recommended hosting option Windows or Linux? Also, the 'free space' from my ISP won't run ASP (so isn't windows correct?) and I reckon with a bit of googleing I could find enough examples to get it to do what I want. Are CGI/Perl hugely different or more complex?

Any advice or recommendations much appreciated.

As a general rule, Windows hosting will give you ASP capability and Linux hosting will give you PHP capability. There isn't a lot to choose between the two. They're basically the same thing - an interpreted scripting language. I'd avoid CGI/Perl to be honest.

However, Windows hosting tends to be more expensive. Probably to do with licensing costs and higher admin requirements. YMMV.

**SAPBoy** · 27 April 2006, 13:30

Thanks CB,

I have a spare machine at home with FreeBSD on it. Does it have to be Linux for PHP to work? I have some older versions of Ret hat/Fedora I could use - What other software might I need?

**NoddY** · 27 April 2006, 13:52

Originally posted by SAPBoy

Thanks CB,

I have a spare machine at home with FreeBSD on it. Does it have to be Linux for PHP to work? I have some older versions of Ret hat/Fedora I could use - What other software might I need?

No FreeBSD is fine.

For Apache2 and PHP5 on FreeBSD-5/6:
Update your ports tree then:
cd /usr/ports/www/apache20
make install clean
cd /usr/ports/www/mod_php5
make install clean

OR use packages for binary installs (pkg_add -r apache20 etc.)

Then edit /etc/rc.conf
apache2_enable="YES"
apachectl start

They are the only specific instructions for FreeBSD.

Don't forget to enable mod_php in apache + directory index for index.php (these are cross platform user preferences really) in httpd.conf:

LoadModule php5_module libexec/apache2/libphp5.so
<IfModule mod_php5.c>
DirectoryIndex index.php
AddType application/x-httpd-php .php
AddType application/x-httpd-php-source .phps
</IfModule>

**Cowboy Bob** · 27 April 2006, 13:53

Originally posted by SAPBoy

Thanks CB,

I have a spare machine at home with FreeBSD on it. Does it have to be Linux for PHP to work? I have some older versions of Ret hat/Fedora I could use - What other software might I need?

PHP runs on anything - Windows included - just that it tends to be installed on Linux managed hosts.

You should find it on the install discs of your Linux distribution of choice - though I'd get a more up to date version if it's going to be Internet facing. For FreeBSD it may be available in ports, but if not you'll have to compile it from source - http://www.php.net/downloads.php

Compiling from source isn't that painful, I've done it on a FreeBSD box before.

**SAPBoy** · 27 April 2006, 13:56

Thanks Bob - Much appreciated.

**n5gooner** · 27 April 2006, 14:10

I have PHP running on my Windows Server, as well as CGI/Perl

no problems to speak off....

Windows Vs Linux Web hosting