The Role of the Server in Web Development
When it comes to creating a web server, there are two major types to choose from and these are the Microsoft Internet Information Services or ISS and Apache. However, there are also those that are made specifically for a company or site such as Google Web Server. The source code is not available to the public so its usage is limited only to Google.
The main function of a web server is to host the contents of the site as well as to process the requests made by the clients. However, web servers are also made to process scripts made by a programmer and such example of a script is PHP. This allows the creation of dynamic website which is what the web currently consist of.
If one wishes to buy a dedicated server, they will mostly find that it is separated to two different operation systems: Windows and Linux. Windows based server often uses the Microsoft IIS while Linux servers operate under Apache or something similar.
Servers run by Windows often cost a lot more as those that are interested have to pay for the Windows Server license. Those with a Linux based server can choose their own distros and most of these are free. Some examples are Ubuntu, FreeBSD and many more. Their open-sourced nature made these servers cost lesser as compared with the Windows server.
IIS is made specifically for Microsoft’s Active Server Pages (ASP) although it is still capable of running other languages such as PHP, JavaScript and many others. In terms of reliability, users tend to have different judgment about these two servers. However, based on recent studies, IIS and Apache are on par depending on the type of machine it is running on.
Running an ASP page on an Apache server is possible given that the user do a few technical tweaks. One of the best things about having an Apache server is not only that it is free, but it can be installed in every operating system. Be it Linux, UNIX, Microsoft, or MacOS, it is highly possible to install Apache on these servers and the method of installing is quite the same despite the difference in the operating system.
Those that would want to save cost can opt for an Apache server. It does more than what is needed and it can be modified to suit the users as well. However, there are programs such as game servers which require certain operating system. In these cases, users may have to go for a slightly more expensive Microsoft Server.
All in all, these two are one of the best and some of the cheapest servers available on the Internet. Most of the time, users will go for the Linux server but those that want to try something new for a change and have some extra money on doing so can definitely try the IIS server. It has dedicated staff available to help in case there are any to be given.