To have any sort of dominance on the World Wide Web for just a year or two is amazing.  That is what makes the run that the Apache Web Server has had all the more breathtaking.  They first hit the top spot in web server technology in early 1996.  They haven’t given it up since.

They did come close recently, though.  Microsoft finally took their gloves off and put real effort into their web server technology.  This resulted in a surge in Microsoft web hosting that, at its peak, gave it a third of all web hosting serve technologies in 2008, just a step behind Apache.

So close, yet…

That surge ran out of fuel, though.  By the time of its November 2011 web server survey, Netcraft showed that Apache’s share of web server software was back up to a dominant 65% of all web sites.  Microsoft had fallen back down to just over 15%, and even Google so far is stuck in low also-ran single digits.  Relative newcomer nginx was third with about 8%.

So why is this dominance so pervasive?  What is it about the Apache web server that gives it such an unshakable place in the web hosting world?  Is there any indication that this will change any time soon?

The flexibility of modules – especially open source modules

Through the use of modules, which are essentially plugins to the Apache web server, the web host is able to configure Apache to their specifications.  These modules allow smooth cooperation with other applications, including other web hosting software packages.  Several dozen modules have been released by the Apache Software Foundation, and several dozen more have been developed independently.

This hints at the thing that gives these modules that bit of extra power: Apache is open-source.  This leads to the usual benefits that attend all open-source packages: individual flexibility, expansiveness of user support, rapid development and bug tracking and fixing, high efficiency, and so forth.

High portability

Another benefit to Apache’s open source nature is that it has been developed for a wide variety of operating systems.  Naturally it works on just about every major UNIX and Linux variant.  But it has also been ported over to Windows, Mac OS, AmigaOS, OS/2, and a few others that you’ve probably never even heard of.  This alone should make it clear why, until they change their philosophy, Windows Server 2008 and whatever variants follow won’t even have a prayer at competing.  It is even available in 10 spoken languages.

Other advantages

• Cost: We could have probably put this into the list of open-source advantages above, but it deserves reiteration in its own right.  In addition to all of the obvious advantages that this entails, consider this also: this makes the barrier to entry so low that anyone so dedicated can run a web hosting service from their basement (Indeed, a lot of people do.  Well, some of them probably use other rooms as well).
• Specific features: There are a few nicely built-in advantages to the Apache web server that only adds to the above list.  Load balancing is one, which is why most Apache web hosts guarantee such high uptime percentages.  Virtual hosts, meaning the ability to create subdomain.domain.com, is another, and a very popular one.
• Security: Again, this almost goes without saying.  It bears asking though: 20 years into the World Wide Web, how many major Apache security incidents can you name?  Can anyone name any at all?  With some software packages and operating systems all but assuming that break-ins will happen, this is no mean feat.

What are the competitors up to?

All of this said, all empires eventually end.  One can certainly not expect either Microsoft or Google to just roll over and play dead.  So what are they doing instead?

Microsoft released this year Windows Home Server 2011, the latest in its own attempts to bring web hosting server technologies to home PCs (reference the basement web host above).  Unfortunately, they shot themselves in the foot right from the start.  Microsoft’s Home Server technology, starting from 2007, had included a feature called “Drive Extender”.  This enabled a few key server abilities, namely multi-disk redundancy, a single folder name space, and the ability to extend storage to any type of hard disk in any combination.

Thus, it was with astonished incredulity from its user base that Microsoft suddenly removed this service, as it was considered one of the server’s main selling points.  The outcry resulted in Microsoft promising to utilize RAID technology instead.  This, however, has not much placated the masses, and third parties have worked to fill the vacuum.  In short: don’t look to Microsoft’s fortunes in this area turning around any time soon.

And the others?

Google, to put it shortly, doesn’t look yet to be really putting that much effort into this yet.  Their focus seems to be using web server technology to serve its own needs.  Granted, these needs are growing with leaps and bounds, but it doesn’t look to be that of all-purpose web hosting anytime soon.

Nginx is the more interesting case.  Most of its market share has been achieved in the last 3 years.  There are specific reasons for this.  nginx can support up to 10,000 simultaneous connections and MP4 streaming.

A hardening monopoly

Nginx has still not yet achieved the broad respect that Apache has.  Then again, it itself is an Apache fork, meaning that most of the former’s advantages are already built into it.  Though that being the case, some would say there’s no point really considering it a “competitor” so much.  Combined, these two own ¾ of the market share, and growing.

In short, as amazing as it may seem, it appears that one of the main parameters of what makes the World Wide Web function, the underlying web hosting technology, is something that is not only not going to change anytime soon but, unless some really meteor of a competitor comes in out of nowhere, is going to solidify even harder.  In a world where technologies change on an almost hourly basis, this is an astounding statement.

Related posts:

• October 1, 2009 – Establishing Your Online Presence with WordPress Hosting
• September 1, 2009 – The Importance of MS SQL in Windows Hosting
• July 1, 2009 – Umbraco: The Microsoft .NET-based Open-source CMS
• February 24, 2009 – Introduction to ASP Hosting
• October 3, 2011 – Tips for Designing a Web Site for the iPad
• September 14, 2011 – Linux Web Hosting – What Makes it Click?
• September 6, 2011 – Is Linux Overtaking Windows Web Hosting?
• September 1, 2011 – SharePoint’s Affect on Information Management
• August 31, 2011 – Top 5 Cloud Storage Service Providers
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Linux hosting derives a lot from the Unix system. Over the past few years Linux has grown to be recognized as an attractive budget hosting platform. Users get ample breathing space to experiment and expand the scope of their online businesses through Linux web hosting packages. The subsequent part of this article discusses a couple of the differentiating features associated with Linux Web Hosting.

Open Source

Linux based web hosts rely on the open source Linux OS to power their servers. An integrated structure defines the Linux web hosting plans, and this is generally referred to as LAMP which signifies the coming together of the Linux operating system, Apache server software, MySQL database and PHP scripting into a unified constructive backbone. Linux based hosts connect you to scores of wonderful open source applications and scripts that let you literally expand in all dimensions as far as the utility of your web pages goes. Some of the more popular open source technologies you would find interesting and useful include CGI, Perl and PHP. Bugs and glitches are not nightmares any more with Linux web hosting, as the open source community often has solutions ready promptly.

Great Services At Affordable Price

Another factor is the affordable costs of Linux based web hosting packages, making the proposition sounds a lot more worthwhile than an ordinary Windows based hosting package. Linux hosts outrun their Windows based counterparts on many grounds. For instance, Linux servers allow you the flexibility to work with Telnet whereas Windows servers would leave you high and dry if such a need arrives. And then, there is concrete evidence that Linux web hosting makes your website a lot more agile. Add to it the fact that there are applications such as Evolution, GNOME Desktop and Open Office to complement your web business with Linux hosting, and there is hardly anything that would inhibit you from trying it out.

Related posts:

• January 25, 2011 – 4 Crucial Aspects to Consider When Choosing a Web Hosting Plan
• December 10, 2010 – Linux Hosting – From Corporation to Consumer
• February 25, 2010 – An Introduction to Linux Web Hosting – Linux Vs. Windows Web Hosting
• August 28, 2009 – Five Reasons to Choose Unix Hosting
• April 23, 2009 – Choosing a Hosting Platform for Your Business
• June 2, 2010 – How to Protect an Apache Web Server from DDoS
• June 5, 2009 – The Pros and Cons of Web Hosting Platforms
• February 24, 2009 – Introduction to ASP Hosting
• October 18, 2011 – coLinux: can Linux and Windows co-exist?
• October 13, 2011 – A Comparison of the Most Popular Linux Distributions

Benefits of Linux and Windows Web Hosting

A solid .NET framework is vital in getting your website hosted. This is a major advantage of Windows web hosting. On the other hand, Linux is an open source system, which is beneficial for the website owners. Native Windows technologies can only be run on Windows web hosting. Static HTML pages work precisely well with both versions. Linux hosting is believed to be stable and can support online shopping websites. The uptime with Linux website is also commendable. Contrary to this, Linux doesn’t work hand in hand with Microsoft technologies.

A Comparison between Both

If we talk about the security aspect, Linux is perceived to be more reliable than Windows. All crucial website details need to be kept secured. In this regard, Windows web hosting is perceived to have more vulnerability. It is susceptible to hacking attacks.

Linux holds an upper hand in the price aspect as well. It is cheaper than Windows. In fact, you get it free in most cases. However, several complex applications are involved in Linux and this makes learning it more challenging and exciting.

The fact is that website developers have equally liked both the operating systems. The decision to choose between the two depends completely on your budget, preferences and website type. If you are new in the field of website development, Linux is recommended. This is because of the ease with which it uploads and runs. On the other hand, experienced developers are likely to go for Windows web hosting. Therefore, take in consideration the above factors and you are bound to make the right choice.

Related posts:

• January 3, 2012 – Battle of the Giants: Linux and Windows Compared
• September 14, 2011 – Linux Web Hosting – What Makes it Click?
• April 12, 2011 – The Popularity of Windows Web Hosting Explained
• March 19, 2010 – Unix Hosting Vs. Windows Web Hosting – Factors to Consider
• December 19, 2008 – The Insecurity of the Open-source CMS
• December 12, 2008 – Do You Need Dedicated Hosting?
• January 20, 2012 – Data Backup and Recovery Solutions
• December 19, 2011 – Windows Hosts with the Mosts
• December 14, 2011 – Avira Antivirus Features
• November 28, 2011 – Bit-Defender Internet Security Review

Control panels are great projects for novice and intermediate web developers because they provide a productive and useful service to the developer and their clients. Although many people have heard of cPanel, vDeck and other popular control panels, there are many custom solutions currently being implemented by independent developers and their clients. Web-cp provides the perfect base platform for such a custom solution, and the following review outlines the reasons why.

Open Source/Full Featured

One of the most appealing aspects about the Web-cp control panel is the fact that it already includes all of the basic features one would expect from a quality control panel, and it comes in various ‘flavors’.

The Web-cp selection actually consists of 4 different control panels – personal, reseller, domain, and server. Each of these solutions is geared towards a different type of user, and therefore provides a different level of functionality. By providing access to personalized and customizable control panel solutions, Web-cp offers the perfect starting platform for any control panel developer. Each version of the software is specifically designed to create the ideal user interface for the targeted user.

Web-cp Versions

The ‘personal’ control panel lets users perform tasks like editing personal information, changing passwords, and adjust spam control settings. The ‘domain’ version of Web-cp is geared towards domain owners, and lets webmasters add new users, sub domains, domains, aliases, databases, and domain pointers. The ‘resellers’ control panel lets hosting resellers efficiently control the domain accounts of their clients, and the ‘server’ control panel, lets server administrators add and/or modify resellers, monitor and control server usage, edit DNS and VirtualHost templates, and restarts server services. Having this diverse functionality at your fingertips will help you create a perfect control panel solution for your clients, without having to start from scratch.

Development Support

Another aspect of Web-cp that makes it perfect for aspiring control panel developers is the extensive development support offered on the software’s web site. There users can find information about recent Web-cp releases, and research detailed documentation, including information about recently added features, software compatibility, and error reports. The site also provides access to discussion forums, live chat, commercial support, a regularly updated bug tracker, and of course a Frequently Asked Questions section. All of these resources help you create the best control panel solution possible, with minimal experience and web development skills.

Although Web-cp is not currently offered by major hosting providers, and its popularity pales in comparison to that of a cPanel’s, it provides the perfect learning and development environment for those looking to create the next big control panel that will be offered by web hosting companies

Related posts:

• August 11, 2010 – The Best Business Control Panel – vDeck vs. cPanel
• December 21, 2009 – Free Alternatives to cPanel
• January 6, 2012 – Control Panel: Advantages & Disadvantages
• September 29, 2011 – The Ins and Outs of DirectAdmin
• September 25, 2011 – What To Remember When Moving To A New Control Panel
• September 13, 2011 – Choosing Between cPanel and Plesk
• September 7, 2011 – The Control Panel B Team – A World Beyond cPanel
• February 18, 2011 – Vdeck – Robust Features, Simplified Functionality
• January 12, 2011 – Simple cPanel Tutorial – Backing up your Website
• December 1, 2010 – Choosing Control Panels: cPanel or Plesk

DotNetNuke

September was a very busy month for the DotNetNuke project.  Shaun Walker, co-founder and Chief Architect of the project, was appointed on the Board of Directors for the Microsoft CodePlex Foundation, where he will lend the expert perspective that helped DotNetNuke become one of the most successful open-source CMS platforms built on the Microsoft technology stack.  Last month also saw the launch of the DotNetNuke Fusion Partner Program, a partner program that offers Registered, Certified and Gold memberships to web hosting providers, system integrators, web designers and training partners.  The most noteworthy news was DotNetNuke’s anointment as a Network Partner in the Microsoft Website Spark program.

eZ Systems

In September 2009, software vendor eZ Systems released version 4.2 of its eZ Publish CMS.  This version release emphasizes usability, better performance and more advanced capabilities for built-in search.  There are also many new extensions as well as a new version of the eZ Find tool, the company’s innovative search engine.  eZ Systems plans to keep itself occupied in the month of October by attending the IFRA Expo in Vienna, Austria on from the 12 to 15^th and hosting its own seminar in Paris for its French base of users and customers on the 16^th.

Hippo CMS

In October, the Hippo team will be organizing an International Forge Friday dedicated to the communities of Hippo and Jetspeed Portal.  The purpose of these gatherings is to bring, developers, system administrators, technical support staff and others together to discuss plugins, add-ons, components and other items that could become Hippo Forge projects.  The event is taking place on October 30 at 9 am to 2 pm PDT from the Hippo San Francisco office and 14:00 to 21:00 CET from the Hippo Amsterdam office.  Interested parties can also attend the event online.

Movable Type

The latest version of Movable Type, 4.32 was just released last week.  This version is mainly a bug release fix as it addresses a number of small bugs.  Version 4.32 also includes the Zemanta plugin, which acts as an editorial management tool that recommends content relative to your blog entries.  The latest version of Movable Type is available free at the official website.

Nuxeo

This October, software vendor Nuxeo will launch a new release of its Nuxeo EP CMS.  Some of the most notable features of the release include a new tag service, an enhanced import/export function, support for Microsoft SharePoint, OpenSocial widgets and a CMIS implementation based on the Apache Chemistry platform.

Xoops

This past September, the Xoops CMS project launched the RC (release candidate) of version 2.4.0.  The enhancements targeted for this particular version emphasize productivity and better usability, focusing on areas such as a new graphical user interface for administrators, the ability to modularize and extend the core via preloads, a much improved installer and centralized support for jQuery among others.  The final release for Xoops 2.4.0 is expected very soon.

Related posts:

• June 17, 2010 – Under 35: The Top Five CMS Executives
• November 25, 2008 – The CMS Drives the Hosting Industry
• December 31, 2010 – Why a CMS is Essential for Doing Online Business in the 21st Century
• October 12, 2010 – Content Management Systems for Multi-User Blogs
• December 24, 2009 – An Overview of Xoops CMS
• July 1, 2009 – Umbraco: The Microsoft .NET-based Open-source CMS
• April 22, 2009 – Is WordPress Really a CMS?
• March 20, 2009 – Meet the Xoops CMS
• February 25, 2009 – Content Management with Post Nuke
• February 11, 2009 – Top 7 Reasons to Drupal

The WordPress Phenomenon

WordPress has become an immensely popular blogging platform due to its ease of use and cost efficiency.  The software is open-source with no licensing fees required, making it absolutely free to anyone who wants to use it.  Being open-source also allows the WordPress software to be customized to meet the specific needs of the user.  Over the years, developers have created a number of themes and plugins that are now widely available to its large community of users.  All this activity gives you the opportunity to start out with a simple blog and later incorporate all the features and functionality needed to enhance your site.

Meeting the Requirements for WordPress Hosting

Perhaps the most unique quality of WordPress is that is can be self hosted through WordPress.com or WordPress.org, with the latter requiring you to install the software on your own web hosting account or server.  Finding the right solution isn’t necessarily difficult, but it does call for you to evaluate all of the available options before choosing a hosting provider.  Because it is such a popular software program, WordPress is widely supported by many companies on the web hosting market.  However, one must still conduct thorough research in order to make sure their requirements and expectations are met.  When shopping for a service, some important factors you want to keep in mind are bandwidth and disk storage so your blog will have enough resources to support traffic and store your files.  There are also some basic requirements that must be fulfilled to complete a WordPress hosting package.  The two most essential features you will need are a MySQL database, and a web server such as Apache with PHP installed, which is the programming language the software is written in.

There are many web hosting providers offering a wide variety of features and options that make it much easier to work with the WordPress software.  For example, some offer auto-install utilities and upgrades that allow you to remain current with the latest functionality and security features.  Others permit the hosting of multiple domains, which gives you the opportunity to host more than one blog under a single account.  WordPress can work wonders for your web presence, but the journey all begins with finding a company that can provide you with a reliable hosting solution.

Related posts:

• April 22, 2009 – Is WordPress Really a CMS?
• January 11, 2012 – WordPress Website and WordPress Hosting
• January 1, 2012 – Fastest WordPress Hosting in Town
• November 15, 2011 – The Resurgence of Apache
• September 19, 2011 – Get Out of the PHP Memory Error Rut with WordPress
• September 14, 2011 – Linux Web Hosting – What Makes it Click?
• September 7, 2011 – An Overview of PHP-Based Content Management Systems Beyond WordPress
• September 23, 2010 – Introducing MODx CMS – The Ultimate in Flexibility and Compatibility
• June 2, 2010 – How to Protect an Apache Web Server from DDoS
• May 28, 2010 – Content Management Systems and Site Design

What is MS SQL?

Microsoft SQL Server or simply MS SQL, is a commercially licensed relational database management system and the main rival to the MySQL open-source software.  As a licensed software application, it is a proprietary product with the source code and copyrights owned by Microsoft.  Some talk negatively about commercially licensed products because you must purchase them in order to use them on the open market.  However, the major advantage of such products is that they come with excellent support, are thoroughly tested functionality and receive continuous upgrades.  In the case of MS SQL, you get all this and much more.

As one of the most widely used SQL systems, MS SQL is supported by a large number of applications and programming codes designed to integrate with its databases.  One of its most common uses is website implementation to generate dynamic content.  In fact, if you have ever visited an e-commerce site and browsed through pages or product listings, more than likely, you have interacted with a database such as MS SQL.

What Does MS SQL Do?

Like any SQL database, an SQL Server database is a data storage facility that allows you to manage significant amounts of information.  Because it is so challenging and time consuming for the average person to manually sort through such large amounts of data, databases are used to request data and retrieve the requested information in a faster and more efficient manner.  Although it possible to directly interact with a database, the mere structure of the data often makes this a difficult process.  Similar to many Microsoft products, MS SQL is are far more user-friendly than other database systems.  This particular software was designed with the premonition that users and applications will frequently need to access its databases, which is why it streamlines the process and makes retrieval easier.

Databases are capable of storing all types of information.  Upon first hearing the term, you may assume that a database is something that stores customers names, telephone numbers and addresses or product inventory for a warehouse facility.  While MS SQL can indeed handle basic text information, it also has the power to store other types of data such as graphics, audio files and even more complex formats.  With all the advancements in web technology, this ability really comes in handy for someone who desires a feature-rich, interactive website.

Whether you need a database to store a list of employee data, create a dynamic website or power an e-commerce storefront, MS SQL makes a perfect solution.  Signing up for a Windows hosting package that offers this feature is well worth the investment.

Related posts:

• November 15, 2011 – The Resurgence of Apache
• February 24, 2011 – The Age Old Question: Linux vs Windows Hosting: Which is the Best?
• July 1, 2009 – Umbraco: The Microsoft .NET-based Open-source CMS
• February 24, 2009 – Introduction to ASP Hosting
• September 14, 2011 – Linux Web Hosting – What Makes it Click?
• September 6, 2011 – Is Linux Overtaking Windows Web Hosting?
• September 1, 2011 – SharePoint’s Affect on Information Management
• August 31, 2011 – Top 5 Cloud Storage Service Providers
• June 9, 2011 – Government Decides to Move Email to Microsoft Exchange
• February 9, 2011 – An Overview of Windows Exchange Hosting

Core Technologies

Umbraco is a content management solution that thrives off Microsoft web technologies, running on the Windows Server platform and SQL Server or VistaDB database system.  Built on the NET 2.0 framework, ASP.NET 2.0 and C#, it supports both NET User Controls and .NET Customer Controls without having to do much at all as they can easily be added using macros.  The CMS also provides you with full access to the Umbraco API, which has more than 15,000 lines of code.

Presentation

Unlike other open-source systems, Umbraco doesn’t have a template engine, yet a single template system, which can be viewed as both an advantage and disadvantage.  The good aspect is that you do not have to learn a brand new programming language in order to create your website.  With Umbraco, you can design your site with a popular tool such as Abode DreamWeaver or FrontPage, cut and paste the HTML code into the template editor and save.  When you render a page using the template system, the content can be automatically displayed in dynamic fashion.

The Umbraco CMS gives you complete control over your website design.  There is no need to scan the web for themes as the design can be anything you desire.

Umbraco Content

In the Umbraco environment, the core foundation of your site is the Document Type.  The Document Type refers to the type of content that can be incorporated into your website.  Prime examples include Articles, News Items, your HomePage and SearchPage.   Determining how Document types work is key to grasping the Umbraco application itself.  While this isn’t the easiest part to decipher, once you get a solid understanding of these concepts, the rest of system will become much easier to comprehend.

Administrative Functions

The Umbraco Back Office is where you can perform a variety of administrative tasks.  The number of tasks others can perform all depends on their roles and permissions.  Some of the management options you have are dealing with scripts, custom templates, media and document types, style sheets and programming languages.  There is also a section made for developers, allowing you to perform actions such as adjusting browser cache settings, manage data types, create macros, Python files and more.

Conclusion

The Umbraco CMS makes an ideal solution for the Microsoft .NET savvy developer.  It has become very popular over the last few years, now averaging approximately 7,000 downloads per month.  Though not an out-of-box, user-friendly content management tool like Joomla or Mambo, Umbraco’s power and straightforwardness makes it a winner.  If you’re looking for a .NET-driven system to create a content-rich, dynamic website, the Umbraco CMS is worth checking out.

Related posts:

• April 22, 2009 – Is WordPress Really a CMS?
• February 25, 2009 – Content Management with Post Nuke
• February 24, 2009 – Introduction to ASP Hosting
• February 11, 2009 – Top 7 Reasons to Drupal
• February 2, 2009 – Mambo vs. Joomla – These CMS Rivals Square Off
• January 8, 2009 – Assessing the Open-source CMS
• December 19, 2008 – The Insecurity of the Open-source CMS
• November 25, 2008 – The CMS Drives the Hosting Industry
• November 15, 2011 – The Resurgence of Apache
• September 15, 2011 – Alternative’s to WordPress – Other Content Management Systems do Exist

In order to determine whether WordPress is a CMS or not, you should first become acquainted with the three main types of content management systems, as outlined below.

Open-source Systems – Software packages like Drupal and Joomla that are becoming more popular for small to medium sized ventures.

Enterprise Systems - Proprietary solutions like Microsoft Content Server.  This type of CMS is geared towards corporate users that require powerful business applications and frequent database interaction.

Home Grown Systems – These systems are developed in-house by webmasters who have specific requirements for content management.

When comparing the WordPress platform to the software in these classifications, it falls short as merely an over-hyped content delivery system.  Though it has a tremendous following and a number of benefits, WordPress doesn’t have what it takes to be called a real CMS.   In fact, it lacks several of the necessary protocols the average CMS provides as standard.  This includes update features, security tools, user permissions and more complex content management functionality.  When considering the all the capabilities it is missing, calling WordPress a CMS may be like unfairly moving it up in weight class.

Should WordPress be a CMS?

Perhaps the real issue should be whether or not WordPress needs to be more like a genuine CMS.  While this software gives you a lot, there are limitations and thus disadvantages.  Ask a fan of Mambo or PHP-Nuke and they will probably tell you that WordPress is highly inferior.

Despite the shortcomings, it still is a very efficient tool and rightly embraced by millions of users around the world.  It can also be a nice alternative to some of the more complex and intimidating content management systems.  For the most part, the user community is happy with the functionality and would probably prefer to keep things as they are.  After all, turning the platform into a true CMS would tamper with a relatively clean code and possibly cause the software to lose some of its natural appeal.  Besides, simplicity and ease of use are two of WordPress’ biggest advantages.

Conclusion

There is no denying the capabilities of WordPress.  The overwhelming enthusiasm the community shares for this platform is certainly warranted.   It is very cost effective and makes and ideal tool for small to medium sized operations and can even move up to a larger scale as well.   Be that as it may, tagging WordPress as a content management system is not inherantly accurate.   In order to earn that title, the software would require a major overhaul which would in turn, cause it to lose so much of the qualities that has made it so popular.

Related posts:

• November 25, 2008 – The CMS Drives the Hosting Industry
• April 1, 2009 – Introducing the phpWebSite CMS
• October 20, 2008 – Meet the CMS Lineup
• September 2, 2011 – When to Transition to a Content Management System
• December 31, 2010 – Why a CMS is Essential for Doing Online Business in the 21st Century
• May 28, 2010 – Content Management Systems and Site Design
• February 11, 2009 – Top 7 Reasons to Drupal
• February 2, 2009 – Mambo vs. Joomla – These CMS Rivals Square Off
• January 8, 2009 – Assessing the Open-source CMS
• October 29, 2008 – Joomla or Drupal? Which CMS is for You?

What is Post Nuke?

Post Nuke began as a fork of the original PHP Nuke CMS.  The project was initiated because many of its users believed the development environment should be more open and demographic.  Users realized that the only way to achieve this was to create their own CMS.  Post Nuke has grown and stands on its own merits apart from PHP Nuke.  Fully modular and capable of running on both Apache and IIS web servers, this CMS offers a wide range of benefits to anyone who interacts with the software.

Benefits of Post Nuke

Cost-effective – Released under the GPL license, Post Nuke is an open-source application that can be used, modified and distributed for free.  The software can be downloaded from online and easily incorporated into your hosting environment.

Easy to Use – Post Nuke is the ultimate CMS, providing a way to easily create and maintain a large community website.  Users can post comments, share messages internally, publish news articles, search the site by word or phrase and much more.

Access Control – The Post Nuke CMS offers a Permissions Control feature that lets certain users access specific areas based on settings made by the website administrator.  This same feature also provides the ability to create a subscriber-based site where users are given additional administrative privileges.

Flexibility – With Post Nuke, administrators can control the look and feel of a website through the software’s comprehensive, flexible theme system.  Those with a basic knowledge of HTML can instantly enhance the presentation of their site without needing to code with PHP.

Fast and Efficient – Post Nuke comes with a built-in catching system that results in a high-performance website that offers excellent value to the end-user.

W3C Compliant - The Post Nuke system is well designed and in accordance with W3C guidelines.  This allows visitors to get the most out of a Post Nuke website from their browser.

Efficient Banner System – An integrated banner module makes it easy for affiliates to keep up with click counts and activity for their banner ads placed on a Post Nuke website.

Quality Support – One of the greatest attributes of Post Nuke is that the software is supported by a large community of developers and users across the world.  These people make sure that bugs and problems are addressed and fixed quickly.  You will find many Post Nuke forums around the web where active users offer tips to help out the user community.

Development for Post Nuke ceased in 2007 but it still remains one of the most widely used content management systems on the open-source market.  The software is robust, feature-rich and easier to use than most other systems.  The only downside is that with the halt in development, finding a web host that supports Post Nuke may be harder than before.

Related posts:

• December 31, 2010 – Why a CMS is Essential for Doing Online Business in the 21st Century
• July 1, 2009 – Umbraco: The Microsoft .NET-based Open-source CMS
• April 22, 2009 – Is WordPress Really a CMS?
• February 11, 2009 – Top 7 Reasons to Drupal
• February 2, 2009 – Mambo vs. Joomla – These CMS Rivals Square Off
• January 8, 2009 – Assessing the Open-source CMS
• December 19, 2008 – The Insecurity of the Open-source CMS
• November 25, 2008 – The CMS Drives the Hosting Industry
• December 9, 2011 – WordPress vs. Blogger
• September 15, 2011 – Alternative’s to WordPress – Other Content Management Systems do Exist