Can anybody give me information into what the differnces are.

I was about to sign up to some hosting until it asked which server i would like, Linux or Microsoft.

Here is the part that confused me the most...

Windows Features:
- ASP, Perl, CGI, ISAPI, SHTML and IHTML scripting support:
Our Windows 2000 servers have full support for ASP, Perl, CGI, ISAPI, SHTML and IHTML.

- ODBC/MS Access Support with DSN or DSN-less connections

ODBC offers quick, easy access to a variety of databases, from web scripts on Windows servers. Supported data source types include: Microsoft Access, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Visual FoxPro, Microsoft SQL Server, DBase, Paradoxm, Plain text.

Linux Features:
- MY SQL DATABASE(S) :
On this package you get 5 My SQL Databases. MySQL is a powerful database engine designed to provide fast access to stored data. MySQL is very fast, reliable, and easy to use. It enables easy database creation and administration. You can add additional databases to your account at any time. MYSQL is the open-source standard for databases and is ideal for web applications based on our Linux Servers.
- PHP My Admin:
PHPMyAdmin is a powerful web based tool to allow complete control over your MySQL database..
- CGI, C, Perl AND Python scripting support:
CGI scripts are small applications that run within your webspace and can provide interactivity. Common CGI scripts include Guestbooks and Forms. Our servers support the three most popular CGI scripting languages, Perl, C/C++ and Python.

I wanted PHP and wanted Mysql. I dont get the differences in Mysql, Mssql and Microsoft sql server.

If anyone can break it down just a little for me so i can set up teaching myself the basics. It would be most appreciated.

If you want php & mysql usually linux is the way forwards...

ASP is, basically, Micro$oft's version on php.

If you're wanting mysql & you're not used to it, the phpmyadmin option with the linux hosting would be very useful.

The only difference reaaaaally between MSSQL & MySQL is $$$

I work mainly on LAMP (Linux/Apache/MySQL/PHP) systems and find them to be far faster and much more robust than the microsoft equivilents so I would go with the linux version for that reason alone. As to the various flavours of RDBMS you will probably find that the differences between MySQL, MsSQL and microsoft server to be minimal as they all support a subset (at least) of SQL. MySQL seems to be the most widespread of the free RDBMSand the best supported so I would be inclined to favour that over any of the others. If you are running complex or heavy databases you may want to look into postgreSQL - but only if MySQL REALLY won't support what you want to do! As for scripting languages - if possible I would go with modPHP (i.e. PHP embedded into webpages and parsed by the server). For CGI applications the choice of scripting language is more one of personal choice and either PERL or PHP would do a good job. I find PHP to be rather better for anything that uses databases and PERL marginally better for text processing (though PHP is fast catching up).

I thought that Asp and php were rivals. Thats good. i am on the right route.

So basically its the same with the Sql's

Can anyone give any disadvantages of using linux?

Originally posted by Lickable
Can anyone give any disadvantages of using linux?

Ermmm I have heard that some of the newer version of microsoft software won't play nicely with open source software. Oh and with *nix style systems it's far easier to ***** up disastrously than with a windoze based system if you don't know what you are doing!

I think due to my desire for pain and torment when it comes to technology. I will take the linux path.

Besides, I have been quoted £199 for a MS SQL database and nothing for 5 MySQL's

Originally posted by evildrneil
...and with *nix style systems it's far easier to ***** up disastrously than with a windoze based system if you don't know what you are doing...

Yes, but only through ssh, & with shared Linux web hosting they don't exactly let you ssh into their server as root, do they?

Originally posted by steev
Yes, but only through ssh, & with shared Linux web hosting they don't exactly let you ssh into their server as root, do they?

Only if they are stupid!!:loopy:

we had a case of somebody buying hosting from some one that allows root access over ssh and that box did not last very long. It is unbelievable some of the silly things some web hosts do.

Well it's OK if they're renting the entire box, it's their OS to break then.

I have a primary box that I'm good with & a guinea pig box for those "what happens if..." or "how do I..." moments.

Only had to re-install the second box 3 times or so mumble-mumble-in-three-months-mumble-mumble *looks at ground & shuffles feet*

Hey I'm learning!!