Posted: Mon Jan 05, 2004 1:09 am Post subject: Windows Servers VS Linux Servers??
This ones got me going around in circles. I do all my web
building and publishing w/ FrontPage 2002. I have been
w/ 3 WebHosts in the last 2 months. The problem I'm
having is that Windows Servers seem to be semi-new to
the industry (please don't argue that!) so I have been going
with Web Hosts that offer Linux Servers. I was also led to
believe that the Linux Server is a more reliable, stable and
quicker Server to use. I have been having a problem pub-
lishing to the Linux Servers w/ my FP and now that I have
had similar problems w/ 3 different Hosts I'm considering
trying a Host that offeres Windows Servers.
My Question:
Is this a good move?
What should I do? - Any suggestions would be appreciated.
I just want to be able to go w/ a host (multiple Domain w/
a Web Host Manager), go into my FP, bring up a site, make
changes, hit "publish web" - and actually have it publish
without any problems (no missing pictures, no non-working
reply forms, index htm not copying to index.html etc...)
Does anyone have a solution?
Should I stay w/ the Linux Servers but publish w/ an FTP
program like cute FTP and just use Formmail or one of it's
clones for forms?
Someone REAL EXPERIENCED please reply!!
Send replies to ietmm@accessbee.com - thanks.
First off, your hosts weren't necessarily the problem. FP is and it's extensions. I used FP and FP extensions for years on Unix and NT (Windows) servers. They both had the same problems, why?
Because FP extensions are not stable. Now this is my opinion, so no flames please. I did use them a few years ago and that was my opinion then and I've seen nothing to change my mind yet.
One of the things that makes them unstable? If you use ftp software to upload a file to your site, say a script, special image, anything ... when you access your site via other FTP, you run a high risk of corrupting the FP extensions installed. Maybe some hosts have no clue how to properly install the extensions, I don't know. But I haven't seen much good written about using them in many years online.
Here is what you want to consider with FP ... if you use the proprietary features of FP, you have to have FP extensions installed. You want a host that let's you reset the extensions as needed, at no extra charge. Then check daily, or multiple times a day, to be sure the site is handling things correctly.
If you don't use the FP extensions or proprietary features, and you use a free FTP program to upload your files (instead of FP which requires the extensions), you don't need FP extensions installed and will have much more stability, and a lot less hassle.
Secondly, don't use formmail! You are asking for email hacks, find another solution, believe me. Not to say you shouldn't use the email features of your host, you can, just stay away from the actual "formmail" script itself ... it is a hacker's paradise. Find a host that uses other scripting for email, easiest solution.
Hope this helps,
Debs _________________ Learn how to turn keyphrases into quality, well-targeted articles your visitors and SE's will love with Gary Antosh's new ebook "Web Content Made Easy!"
Posted: Mon Jan 05, 2004 1:55 am Post subject: My 1.46534217 cents
Debs...your opinion is totally correct... FP in itself was the worste thing that ever happened to web development...(unstable isn't even a good description...total junk might be better)
This is in no way a flame to you...but if you want to really design pages well...try Dreamweaver or something similar. Because Frontpage is just asking for server and browser incompatabilities. Plus it is notorious for mucking up code and causing those wonder ful browser incompatabilities...Much like the OH so wonderful Adobe Pagemill was like.
As far as FrontPage goes...I recommend always using a windows server if you are going to do everything in frontpage.
If everything is going to be PHP,Perl,MySQL based on your pages stick to linux/unix...if it is going to be frontpage and asp stick with windows.
However a friend uses the Winsave host I listed here...and he has had no problem with his frontpage extensions...
Also good call debs on the formail...If your email contains sensitive material don't use formail..if it is just for comments like: "What do you think of my site?" Then it doesn't much matter...
If you use a Windows server with your frontpage you can use ASP and CDONTS for your mail forms which will work rather well for that enviroment.
If you are going to use Linux use a PHP script with encryption.
Joined: 14 Jul 2003 Posts: 1761 Location: Bangor, Maine
Posted: Mon Jan 05, 2004 3:56 pm Post subject:
I ran FrontPage for about 3 years (before I knew better )
It ran with no problems... but I rarely used anything other than the "Shared Borders" feature of FP. I didn't use any of the extras.
I now use Dreamweaver and TextPad to design my sites... and nothing else. I host on Linux servers ( www.1and1.com ) and they process what I have perfectly fine.
I use Front Page for purely html sites and never had a problem with the extensions on any host, NT or Unix/Linux. It's convenient being able to view your work instantly and you can set it so that it does not use proprietary features.
The purist notion that one program is a better than another for making web sites is largely bogus.
Dreamweaver (I use MX) has it's own little quirks like FP or any wysiwyg editor which generates non-standard code. It has a huge price tag too.
FP is a marvellous tool for people who wish to learn web design and, because it doesn't have the steep learning curve of DW, it gives almost instant access to the internet for beginners. Although I have never seen it in action, I imagine this is part of the appeal of SBI also.
The bottom line is software does not make web sites, web designers do.
There is a free to use HTML validator on the W3C site which will identify non-standard code or incorrect syntax etc. if you are having problems. Using the validator will help ensure your creation is viewable in most browsers too.
Joined: 14 Jul 2003 Posts: 1761 Location: Bangor, Maine
Posted: Tue Jan 06, 2004 1:59 pm Post subject:
I agree that Dreamweaver has its quirks too... But you can set options that help diagnose and eliminate bogus code... whereas FP still likes to put in extra code. And it will often display a site correctly in FP and IE, that will not show at all in Netscape or Mozilla...
But your right. software doesn't create the site... web designers do. So use what you have... and if something isn't working... don't always blame the sever... check your tools (regardless of what they are). _________________ Eric D. Burdo They Made $6,513 a day With Clickbank Doing This...
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