Are you confused when presented with which operating system to choose – when selecting a web hosting provider’s hosting packages? You’re not alone. And no, it doesn’t matter what operating system you have on your desktop or work station – they don’t have to match your hosting platform. You can be using Windows Vista on your desktop and Linux on your web server. So what are the key guidelines to select one versus the other?

On a shared web hosting platform – both operating systems are normally priced the same. If you’re leasing a dedicated server though, Linux is open source (free) and Windows is proprietary to Microsoft applications that require license fees. If you need services like Active Server Pages (ASP), MSSQL, MS Access, Visual Basic or remote desktop, these applications are Windows specific.

Are Linux servers more secure – I see this brought up quite often in comparisons and the answers are all over the board. Very simply, the answer is NO. Both operating systems can be locked down tight – what I generally see are providers that only offer Linux platforms stating that Linux is preferred.  Both support a wide range of software applications, languages and databases.

Control panels do vary by operating system platforms – with cPanel frequently offered for Linux versus Plesk for Windows. Of the two, cPanel is more popular, but both are comprehensive.  

There are different flavors of each operating system – with Linux; CentOS, Debian, Fedora, Ubuntu and others, and with Windows; 2008 Standard, Express, Enterprise, Web Edition and more.

My recommendation – is to match your specific requirements to the Operating System that best fits. If in doubt, call your prospective providers and discuss your concerns.

What makes DirectAdmin different?

Ease of use. DirectAdmin is the easiest to use control panel, period.

Speed. DirectAdmin is programmed to be the fastest running control panel available.

Stability. DirectAdmin avoids downtime by automatically recovering from crashes.

Integrated Ticket Support System

With DirectAdmin’s integrated ticket support system, you’ll provide better customer service with less hassle. You have XX messages waiting is displayed every time you sign in — and you can set DirectAdmin to notify you of support requests by e-mail, ensuring that no request will be missed.  If you prefer to offer support in a different way, simply turn this feature off.

Live Updates

Server administrators can click the “licensing / updates” button to view the current license and version status.  There is no need to manually download, extract, and install — DirectAdmin performs all updates automatically.

Completely Customizable

DirectAdmin is designed to be as unique as your business.  Every aspect of the DirectAdmin interface can be changed, and new designs are easily imported through the “skins” menu. 

Automatic Recovery From Crashes

DirectAdmin TaskQueue ensures that all services are up, all of the time.  If something crashes, DirectAdmin will attempt to fix the problem by restarting the service.  If this fails, DirectAdmin will notify the server administrator immediately. 

All Licenses are Unlimited-Domain Licenses

There is no limit to the amount of domains or user accounts that can be hosted with DirectAdmin

Site-Helper.com — Helping you get the most out of DirectAdmin and your web site!

E-Mail Menu.  Users can create POP3 accounts, catch-all e-mail addresses, forwarders, mailing lists, autoresponders, and webmail.  Filters allow users to block mail by domain, keyword, and size.  Adult Filter is also available.

FTP Menu.  Users can create FTP accounts and set directory permissions for each account.  Anonymous FTP is also supported.

DNS Menu.  Users can can add and remove records, change MX settings, and anything else that goes with full DNS control.

Statistics Menu.  Users have available every possible statistic about their account.  More advanced options and Webalizer are also included. 

FrontPage Extensions.  Users can enable or disable Microsoft FrontPage Extensions at any time with the click of a button.

Subdomains Menu.  Users can list, create, delete, and get statistics on subdomains.

File Manager.  A user-friendly and fast alternative to FTP.  Includes every feature needed to build and maintain a web site. 

MySQL Databases.  Users can easily create, modify, and delete MySQL databases from this menu.

Site Backup.  Using this powerful tool, users can backup and restore only what they want to.  For example, account data but not web site files.

Error Pages.  Users can create custom messages and outputs for 401, 403, 404, and 500 error codes.

Directory Password Protection.  Users can password protect any directory with a username and password.

Advanced Tools.  Users can install SSL certificates, view sever information and installed perl modules, set cron jobs, mime types, and apache handlers, and enable site redirection and domain pointers.

It also has great Reseller Features

Create / List / Modify Accounts.  Account creation, listing, modification, and deletion is done quickly and easily.

User Packages.  Resellers can create predefined account packages using this feature.  When creating an account, the reseller simply chooses a package instead of manually setting each account feature.

Reseller Statistics.  Resellers are provided with a complete overview of their total usage.  Resellers may also sort data by users to quickly assess the overall situation.

Message All Users.  Resellers can quickly send a message to all their customers by using DirectAdmin’s built in ticket support system.

Import / Manage Skins.  With this menu option, resellers can quickly import and apply new skins with the click of a button.

IP Assignment.  Resellers can allocate IP address to their customers by using this menu option.

System / Services Information.  By clicking this feature, resellers have instant access to server status and system information.

Name Servers.  Resellers can create personalized nameservers for their customers from this menu.

Check out DirectAdmin’s Administrator Features

Create / Modify Admins and Resellers.  Admins can create resellers or extra admins quickly and easily with this feature.

Reseller Packages.  Admins can create predefined account packages using this feature.  When creating an account, the admin simply chooses a package instead of manually setting each account feature.

Show All Users.  This feature allows the admin to quickly view every single account on the system and sort this list in various ways.

DNS Administration.  This feature allows the admin to create, modify, or delete any DNS records on the server.

IP Manager.  This is where the admin sets the IP address available to the server.  The admin can also allocate IP address to resellers from this menu.

System / Services Info.  The admin can view, stop, start, and restart services from this menu.

Complete Usage Statistics.  This feature provides the admin with a complete overview of system usage.  Exact input and output from the server’s Ethernet card is also monitored.

Licensing / Updates.  The admin can view his or her license status and download the latest DirectAdmin security and software upgrades from this menu.

Need online help managing DirectAdmin?

Site-Helper.com is a great online resource for getting the most out of your DirectAdmin Web Control Panel.