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ColdFusion is a product that acts as “middleware between any ODBC database (Access, Oracle, etc.) and Web server for the delivery of “live” data to Web pages. It allows users to develop applications that dynamically input data to and output data from a database via the Internet and the Web.

ColdFusion, which is made up several components, is a powerful application development tool that that enables developers to create interactive, dynamic Web sites. As a ColdFusion developer, you can create CF files by simply extending your existing HTML files with CFML (ColdFusion Mark-up Language - tag-based server-side scripting language) and SQL (Structured Query Language). These pages are processed by the CF server and sent back to the Web server as an HTML page, which is then passed to the browser.

Specifically, ColdFusion allows a developer to: query existing database applications for data; create dynamic queries facilitating more flexible data retrieval; execute stored procedures in databases that support them; execute conditional code on-the-fly to customize responses for specific situations; enhance the standard HTML form capabilities with data validation functions; dynamically populate form elements; customize the display of dates, times and currency values with formatting functions; and ease the creation of data entry and data drill-down applications with wizards.

ColdFusion is available on the NT platform from most reputable Web hosting firms. The most effective ColdFusion deployments are made on managed and dedicated platforms that have been specifically built for the customer. ColdFusion is also available on the UNIX platform, but is not widely available from hosting companies on this platform.

Usually the more inexpensive option for the developer on the UNIX platform is the use of the Hypertext Pre-processor (PHP). PHP is a server-side, cross-platform, HTML embedded scripting language that extends HTML so that database information can be queried as well. PHP is quite popular amongst open-source developers, because of its low-cost and speed to implement.

PHP itself is a module that plugs directly into the Apache Web server, the most popular server software in use. Once the PHP module is enabled, authorized users can add PHP code to their Web pages to tie into SQL relational databases. These databases run on open-source databases packages such as “mySQL.”

As with most open-source software, the cost for individual deployments of “mySQL” are free and organizational deployments are nominal. This makes PHP and mySQL a huge value for those deploying dedicated servers with database/Web integration capabilities. Many virtual hosts will offer mySQL and PHP, but performance will vary based on the number of shared hosts deployed on a multiplexed server. The can also be said of ColdFusion application.

Both ColdFusion and PHP however are excellent methods for integrating dynamic database content into your Web presence.

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The ColdFusion development suite includes a server and toolsets designed to integrate databases and Web pages. It is a rapid application development system that integrates browser, server and database technologies into Web applications.

ColdFusion helps programmers and Web developers trust VodaHost to build and deploy powerful Web applications and Web services. Using the proven tag-based scripting built into the ColdFusion environment, Web application developers can easily harness the power of the Java platform without the complexity. Available for stand-alone installation or for deployment on industry-leading J2EE application servers, ColdFusion enables over 10,000 customers and hundreds of thousands of developers worldwide to deliver powerful Web applications in record time.

ColdFusion Web pages include tags written in ColdFusion Markup Language that simplify integration with databases and avoid the use of more complex languages like C++ to create translating programs. ColdFusion is the industry’s leading cross-platform Web application server. With ColdFusion, Web developers can quickly develop and deliver a new generation of large-volume, transaction-intensive Web applications for everything from e-commerce to business automation and more. For large businesses that require complicated Internet applications and increased scalability, there is the Enterprise edition. On the other hand, the Standard edition is ideal for smaller companies that require less advanced applications.

Smaller businesses need not worry about which edition to buy, since they can lease the use of advanced ColdFusion services through their hosting companies. Most Web hosting companies that specialize in the Windows platform offer ColdFusion to their clients. This allows smaller organizations to quickly develop and deploy their own customized e-commerce or product management systems.

Choosing a ColdFusion host will involve various criteria. Many of these decisions can be made in consultation with a Web developer who will build your applications. A prospective customer, in conjunction with that Web developer, will want to consider the version of the application offered. Currently, the latest version is ColdFusion MX. Consumers will want to use the latest version of the application, as it will support the most advanced options and most databases.

Consumers, in conjunction with their Web developers, should also evaluate whether they need to use “high risk” ColdFusion tags within their applications. Many shared hosting providers will not allow the use of these tags because they present a security risk. Some tags can be used to locate, and then delete, important files from a server. As a result, the required use of most powerful tags might mean that a small business user may need a dedicated server to obtain full access to such programming power.

Along with security considerations, the server platform is especially relevant. Which platform to choose depends on the functionality and database needed for the application. The ColdFusion Application Server software has been tested with several platforms including Windows, Linux, and Sun.

The most important parts of the equation for any business purchasing ColdFusion hosting are three-fold: pricing, experience and support. Small businesses should only pay for services that they budgeted and can afford. Consumers should also know what the hosting firm’s service is like.

Questions that should be addressed include:

# How long has the host been in business?
# How many users do they have?
# Do you know anyone who’s currently hosting with them?
# If so, what has their experience been?

The host should have a reputation for reliable service. The host should also be known for its accessible, helpful and knowledgeable technical support. Questions that should be asked about support include:

# What type of support does your prospective host offer?
# Do they have a toll-free telephone number?
# How long is their average response time?
# Are customers given honest, easy-to-understand explanations if there are problems?

By making these inquiries, prospective ColdFusion customers will have a better chance at choosing a quality ColdFusion host.

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VodaHost knows that the intricate nature of the Windows operating system means major differences in hosting services, dependent upon the class of site package you select.

Choosing a virtual or shared hosting option will mean that you will have highly compartmentalized options and no access or control over the operating system itself. Shared hosting on the Windows platform acts to bundle different services together, typically unified through a control panel interface. No access to the operating system means that consumers are not able to deploy their own applications. Instead, users can only access hosting tools through control panel or FTP interfaces.

Normally, services that are bundled include ASP.Net components, PHP, Perl, server-side XML, and unique CGI-BIN directories for scripting. Most shared hosting operations will grant database connections to SQL applications, and separate disk space for SQL databases.

From the end-user’s client perspective, the most advanced shared Windows hosting packages support multiple iterations of FrontPage (from 97 to 2005), and integration with Visual Studio 6.0/.Net, Macromedia Dreamweaver, NetObjects Fusion and Macromedia Flash.

While end-users are able to interface with these products from their client computers, they are not able to tweak the application configurations of the server. In order to be able to change, install, update and upgrade applications, an end-user would have to lease a dedicated server.

An unmanaged dedicated server will permit the consumer to make any specific adjustment to the operation system, or deploy any application. The user is able to achieve full graphical access to their Windows services by using terminal services. Terminal Server, a plug-in native to Windows 2003 Server deployments, lets consumers deliver Windows-based applications, or the Windows desktop itself, to virtually any computing device, including those that cannot run Windows, over the Internet.

Terminal Server can enhance software deployment capabilities for a variety of scenarios that remain difficult to solve using traditional application distribution technologies. When users run an application on Terminal Server, the application execution takes place on the server, and only keyboard, mouse and display information is transmitted over the network. Users see only their own individual sessions, which are managed transparently by the server operating system, and remain independent of any other client session.

Via Windows Terminal Server, consumers can also obtain full administrative access to their dedicated server and can install and deploy any software they deem necessary upon it. The consumer can pull up their server’s desktop display as if the machine was sitting on their own desk, though the reality might be that the server is actually in a data center half a continent away.

With such power, a consumer can configure their server’s Internet settings, including DNS and FTP. Full access also allows the user to configure the Web server to his or her own specifications. The ability to install and run any software that you deem necessary allows for the deployment of unique SMTP/POP server software to accounting packages, stats servers and productivity software.

The main challenge, of course, is attempting to install these packages from far away. Often, co-ordination is required between the host and customer if a software package needs to be installed via the server’s CD-ROM. Smaller software packages can always be uploaded by way of FTP and installed.

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A virtual private server (VPS) solution uses a software platform that permits a hosting vendor to multiplex a single dedicated server into multiple “virtual” machines. In essence, a VPS solution is a private and protected Web services infrastructure that operates as an independent server.

A virtual private server allows multiple customers to share the expense of hardware and network connections without sacrificing privacy, performance or preference. For this reason, VPS is considered one of the most sophisticated modes of automation available for provisioning small to mid-sized enterprise Web hosting.

The use of such technology allows hosting providers to save money by simulating the features of a dedicated server multiple times upon a single physical hosting environment, while concurrently allowing them to deliver high-quality Web services to their end users. VPS solutions allow Web hosting resellers to provide a full range of services usually only afforded by dedicated hosting technology. Resellers can therefore offer their clientele full administrative or “root” access to their Web services.

The virtual private server was first implemented by hosting giant NTT/Verio to bridge the gap between shared hosting environments and customized dedicated servers. By using a virtual private server, Web hosting resellers and Web designers can provide small businesses the performance, security, and control of dedicated hosting services at a fraction of the cost.

A virtual private server eliminates the restrictions of virtual hosting by providing all of the administrative features of a dedicated server. Each VPS user therefore receives their own set of services that they can customize to their specific needs. Virtual hosting is limited in comparison because its users do not have root access and software configurations cannot be customized, despite the fact that physical resources are also multiplexed. A virtual private server on the other hand, contains its own unique file system and CGI-BIN, disk space, system resources, bandwidth and memory allotments, which allow for a high level of customization.

Due to the fact that a VPS solution truly simulates a dedicated server, some technical understanding of server administration is required. Any true VPS solution will provide users with: “root” or full administrative access; guarantee a specific allocation of server resources, including CPU, memory and bandwidth; and allow the user to manage multiple servers and file areas through a sophisticated control panel.

A virtual private server will ensure “performance isolation” so that heavy traffic or CPU loads will not affect other VPS solutions on the same infrastructure. Others major features that characterize VPS solutions include: “fault tolerance,” which ensures that errors, which affect one specific private server, do not affect others; and “enhanced security,” which ensures that e-business applications can be deployed with greater privacy.

The most popular feature that VPS customers use, however, is the virtual private server’s capacity for “functional isolation.” Because a VPS has its own contained services, it is possible for users to install and customize their own open-source and commercial software packages.

Many virtual private servers on the Unix platform have become so advanced that they even permit users to install Linux RPM packages. This allows users to take source code for new software and package it into source and binary form, such that binaries can be easily installed and tracked, and source can be easily rebuilt. The use of RPM packages also allows VPS users to maintain a database of all packages and their files that can be used for verifying packages and querying for information about files and/or packages.

Small businesses that run their own e-commerce Web sites also appreciate the functional isolation of their private server, because it allows them to obtain their own secure certificates and shopping cart software for their e-business operations. Many sophisticated VPS solutions will even offer third-party plug-ins or modules, allowing users to take advantage of control panel functionality in order to install everything from the simplest CGI scripts to the most advanced shopping carts.

Due to these advantages, virtual private servers are very popular and are a relatively inexpensive choice for small to mid-sized enterprises seeking to maintain their own Web presence. VPS solutions are the natural choice for SMEs and individuals wishing to upgrade a shared or virtual hosting package. The following are descriptions of popular VPS packages now available through an assortment of major Web host vendors:

Ensim
Ensim’s award-winning product line includes control panels, virtual private servers, server management, as well as Microsoft Exchange hosting software.

H-Sphere
Hsphere is scalable multi-server, centralized hosting automation software with fully brandable resellers support, comprehensive recurrent billing, trouble ticket system as well as complete account provisioning automated signup. It supports Win2000, Linux & FreeBSD. It provides fully features, easy-to-use end user web based control panel, and powerful admin user interface.

SW-soft
SW-soft develops the Virtuozzo technology and the HSPcomplete hosting automation solution. SWsoft’s products deliver powerful, comprehensive solutions that power data center management and provide excellent return on investment.

Sphera
Sphera is a leading developer of Web hosting automation and management software for Internet data centers, ISPs and hosting providers. Sphera’s HostingDirector enables cost-cutting and revenue increases by automating Web hosting management, facilitating sales of value added applications, services and more.

These above hosting software firms develop popular and dependable VPS packages. Consider using a hosting firm that elects to use one of the above virtual private server systems.

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