Compatibility with Existing Systems - Launching an e-commerce site is a tremendous process.  Therefore, you should not make it even more complex by setting yourself up to encounter technical problems.  Whether it is a shopping cart or payment gateway, make sure any e-commerce component you plan to integrate is compatible with your existing hardware, operating system and applications.

Ability to Support Existing Data – An ideal e-commerce solution is one that allows you to easily import data from one location to another.  This becomes a must for large stores that maintain databases in environments where it could be complex and costly to manually transfer large amounts of data into a new system.  Keep in mind that this feature is usually included in high-end enterprise solutions but may not be included in cheaper, entry-level systems.

APIs with Linking Support – Integrating inventory management and finance systems is one of the most challenging aspects of e-commerce.  If this is something you wish to do, you may want to look for a solution that offers flexible APIs.  Short for application programming interfaces, these APIs enable developers to write code that will connect your legacy system to your e-commerce server.

Functional Shopping Cart - The shopping cart is the most obvious and important feature of any e-commerce solution.  You need to put special emphasis on this application as it will allow visitors to browse your store and purchase the items they want to purchase.

Diverse Payment Systems – Most consumers prefer to shop online with credit cards or third-party services such as PayPal.  On the other hand, a complete e-commerce solution goes that extra mile and supports additional payment options.  This will give you the opportunity to maximize your profits by catering to a broader range of customers.

The features listed in this article are just a few that must be obtained to form a complete e-commerce solution.  This means you need to keep your eyes peeled for several more qualities.  Despite how insignificant some of these features may seem, each is equally critical as they will determine the failure or success of your venture with e-commerce.

]]> http://webhostinggeeks.com/blog/2009/11/18/how-complete-is-your-e-commerce-solution/feed/ 0 http://webhostinggeeks.com/blog/2009/06/05/the-pros-and-cons-of-web-hosting-platforms/ http://webhostinggeeks.com/blog/2009/06/05/the-pros-and-cons-of-web-hosting-platforms/#comments Fri, 05 Jun 2009 13:17:11 +0000 CommunicateBetter http://webhostinggeeks.com/blog/?p=364 The operating system forms the core of a computer as it enables the hardware and software to work in perfect harmony.  While there only a few systems used in home-based computers, the spectrum broadens when entering the server arena.  This article will weigh the pros and cons on the most widely used server platforms: Windows, Unix and Linux.

Windows

Microsoft Windows is popular in the web hosting environment because it offers a plethora of functionality and a user-friendly interface.  Unlike older systems, almost all critical tasks can be done through a point-and-click method rather than writing DOS commands.  The Windows platform is usually preferred by those that require ASP (Active Server Pages) technology or MS SQL Server databases.

Pros: Maintaining a Windows server is much easier than any other operating system.  The platform is largely supported by software vendors because of its name and domination in the PC sector.

Cons: Versions of Windows Server applications are costly, ranging in the hundreds of dollars per license.  These costs are often tacked on to the price of a web hosting service.  While the platform has been greatly improved over the years, older versions, some of which are still in use, have a higher vulnerability to security threats.

Unix

Many refer to Unix as the granddaddy of all operating systems.  This system has been used as a server platform for decades now.  Known for its stability, Unix is a reliable application mainly used for larger and more complex computer systems.  The software often comes bundled with server hardware made by vendors such as IBM, HP and Sun Microsystems.  These servers are powerful but they are also quite expensive, sometimes climbing into the hundreds of thousands of dollars.  Those with smaller scale needs typically utilize FreeBSD, a free Unix-like platform that runs on cheaper server hardware.

Pros: The Unix platform offers unparalleled stability and reliability.  It creates a rock-solid server that can thrive for years upon years without memory leaks or needing to be restarted.  Unix was built with security in mind and is therefore less susceptible to security flaws and threats.

Cons: The Unix platform can make for a very costly option.  The system also tends to be more complex and harder to find that Windows solutions.

Linux

The Linux operating system has become a major force as a web hosting platform.  Though it shares many characteristics of Unix, Linux is far more cost effective due to being released as open-source software.  The platform comes in many different distributions and is compatible with a variety of open-source technologies such as PHP and MySQL.

Pros: As a Unix-like system, Linux provides great stability and performance in the server environment.  While it isn’t exactly free, Linux always tends to be more affordable than both Windows and Unix in terms of web hosting.  Due to widespread use, the platform has great support from a community of users and software developers.

Cons: Similar to Unix, Linux requires a special set of skills to work with as most configurations must be performed from a command line.  Though it is becoming more mainstream, the platform isn’t as largely supported by software vendors as Windows.

]]> http://webhostinggeeks.com/blog/2009/06/05/the-pros-and-cons-of-web-hosting-platforms/feed/ 1 http://webhostinggeeks.com/blog/2009/04/23/choosing-a-hosting-platform-for-your-business/ http://webhostinggeeks.com/blog/2009/04/23/choosing-a-hosting-platform-for-your-business/#comments Thu, 23 Apr 2009 15:08:13 +0000 CommunicateBetter http://webhostinggeeks.com/blog/?p=301 If you are looking to make your mark as an online business owner, one of the first things you need to do is find yourself a web hosting solution.  The web has grown tremendously over the years and so have your choices.  Web hosting services are not hard to find as companies have the industry covered from every angle of the market.  While there are many critical factors involved in choosing a service, one of the most important is the platform your business site is hosted on.

What is a Platform?

In web hosting terms, a platform refers to an operating system like Mac OS X or even an something older like DOS.  This type of software stores critical files, gives basic commands, tells the server how to interact with applications.  In the early days of the internet and World Wide Web, most servers ran on the Unix platform, a very powerful system that while flexible, has always required a considerable amount of technical skill to administer.  Though still a popular choice, hosting customers now have a greater variety to choose from in platforms such as Linux, Windows and FreeBSD.

Linux

Linux is a newer version of Unix and perhaps the most popular variation.  This platform is incredibly versatile and made to perform in the server environment.  It is makes an ideal solution for demanding tasks and activities such as messaging and multimedia streaming. Unlike Unix, Linux is an open-source system under the GNU General Public License, making it a cost effective solution for both web hosting providers and their customers.  Perhaps the greatest advantage of this platform is its compatibility with various open-source technologies.  A Linux hosting package typically means you also get the benefit of tools like Apache, PHP and MySQL.

Windows

Often regarded as the main competitor to Linux, Windows is the server version of the popular Microsoft desktop operating system.  Upon first entering the server environment, these platforms were powered by systems like Windows NT and 2000.  Most plans now are based on either Windows 2003 or 2008.  What makes this system so popular is the user-friendly interface that gives IT teams a familiar environment to work with.  Not only is it supported by a large number of applications, but also Microsoft technologies that were specifically designed to work with the platform.  Some of the main selling points of Windows hosting include ASP or ASP.NET programing, the SQL Server and other services like Exchange and SharePoint.

FreeBSD

The FreeBSD platform is based on the BSD system, which is one of the many Unix variants.  Similar to Linux, FreeBDS offer cost efficiency as an open-source system.  Extremely well integrated, this platform is well known for its speed and stability, making it an excellent choice for mission-critical operations.  FreeBSD is becoming increasingly popular and offers support for a growing number of technologies.

Choosing a Platform

All the platforms mentioned in this article are great for business hosting, Windows especially.  The key is finding a web host that delivers a reliable infrastructure and enables the chosen system to effectively meet your needs.

Here are some of the benefits that come along with VPS hosting:

Stability: Unlike shared hosting, the traffic and activities of other VPS customers will not adversely affect your operation.

Performance - Having your own allotment of resources allows you and your visitors to enjoy faster load times.

Dedicated Resources - VPS hosting provides you with more disk space, CPU and RAM.

Flexibility - You have the freedom to choose the operating system and software you want to install on the server.

VPS Features

The features and services of VPS hosting vary depending on the provider.  Although the ones you will need all depends on personal requirements, here are a few you may want to look out for:

Root Access: Root access will grant you with complete control over your VPS account from configurations to software installations.  All of the actions can be handled from the interface of your control panel application.

Management and Support: Similar to a dedicated hosting account, VPS hosting calls for you to manage your own server .  However, there are many companies that provide support and management services to assist with administrative tasks.  This feature is invaluable if you lack technical savvy.

Server Monitoring: A good VPS provider will actively monitor its network and hardware your account relies on.  This ensures the physical security of the server and also helps defend against virtual threats such as hackers, malicious software and DDoS attacks.

Multiple Domain Hosting: Although shared hosts offer multiple domain hosting, most of them do not provide enough resources for you to do so and still enjoy a smooth performance.   Many VPS providers offer plans that allow you to host multiple websites without suffering performance issues.  In most cases, you can set up separate email accounts and allocate specific resources for each individual site.

Managed Data Backups: As with any hosting solution, a VPS plan should offer a way to backup your data.  Because anything could occur within the provider’s network, it is recommended that you choose a service that allows you to manually backup your own data to assure that it can be restored at any time.

VPS hosting offers an inexpensive way to get many of the features, resources, control and flexibility of a more costly and complex dedicated server.  With the technology increasing in popular, prices are dropping rapidly, assuring that you can find a reliable VPS solution that meets your hosting needs.

Microsoft Windows

One platform you are sure to come across during your search is the popular Microsoft system, server editions of Windows NT, 2003 or 2008.   These systems offer the intuitive graphical user interface found on desktop versions of Windows.  This platform is easy for IT professionals to work with as a wide variety of commercial applications are available.  Many designers are attracted to Windows because of its integration with other Microsoft technologies such as ASP, FrontPage and the MS SQL database system.

Linux

If Windows is not offered, it’s usually Linux.  Linux is a variation of the Unix system, a platform well known for its reliability and stability.  It is especially useful for common internet functions such as messaging, multimedia streaming and file serving.  As the Linux source code is freely available, this system tends to be the most cost effective solution in comparison to Windows.  When hosting your site on this platform, you are likely to receive other open-source technologies such as the MySQL database, the Apache server application and the PHP scripting language among others.  Linux is also compatible with a few Microsoft products such as FrontPage and MS SQL.  Many experienced developers prefer Linux because of the flexibility, security and authority it provides, able to offer root access depending on the hosting plan.

FreeBSD

Often compared to Linux, FreeBSD is a variant of BSD which is based on the original Unix system.  FreeBSD offers excellent flexibility, stability and performance to its users.  The system is proven and well designed with a wide variety of supporting applications available.  As an open-source solution, FreeBSD hosting tends be one of the most affordable options on the market.

Sun Solaris

Sun Solaris is one operating system you will not find offered by a shared host.  This platform is quite powerful and makes for some of the most robust web servers available.  With a proven track record, the system is primarily used by large Fortune 500 companies. Sun Solaris has been around for a considerable period of time and is supported by a large amount of programs and development tools.  Due to it’s high capacity and stability, this platform is ideal high traffic servers and mission-critical tasks.

Colbat RaQ

RaQ is deployed by numerous VPS (Virtual Private Server) hosting providers.  VPS hosting with this platform is simple with a clean interface that offers root access and allows you to share administrative functions among your employees.  Cobalt RaQ makes a great option for someone new to server management.

How Do You Choose?

Your requirements will certainly become greater as the business grows.  Although many platforms will give you a good running start, not all of them are scalable.  The best move is to anticipate the explosion you’re looking for and find a system flexible enough to support it.