serverside
Linux
Linux, created by the Finnish then-student Linus Torvalds, is an operating system
based on UNIX. It is available under the GNU
Public License, which means that anyone can use it, copy it, and make changes
to it freely, as long as those changes are also released. The source code is freely
available to all. Although UNIX is predominantly a server and high-end workstation
OS, Linux is making significant inroads into the desktop market.
FreeBSD
FreeBSD is another open-source variant of UNIX, based on the original Berkely
(BSD) code. While native FreeBSD applications tend to be less cutting-edge than
those of Linux, products tend to be more mature. There are three main BSDs out
there: FreeBSD, which is an excellent all-purpose, stable and secure OS; OpenBSD,
which is designed from the ground up for security; and NetBSD, which is designed
for extreme portability. FreeBSD is probably the most user-friendly, but the other
two are stronger in different areas.
Windows
Microsoft's Windows operating system is in the process of making a successful
move from the desktop to the server. Even its detractors have to admit that
Windows 2000 represents a significant step forward in server technology, bringing
closer integreation between data sources, business objects, and information
publishing. However, it is far from perfect; bugs number in the thousands, and
new security holes are found almost daily. Compare this with NetBSD, which had
the first serious (for the technically-minded, root compromise) bug discovered
in three years recently - and a patch was released within days.
Apache and IIS
Apache is the software used by many web servers. It allows people to read web
pages stored on the server, using browsers such as Internet Explorer. Apache has
earned a reputation for being quick, reliable and secure. The major alternative
to Apache is Microsoft's Internet Information Services, or IIS. By simply counting
web sites, Apache appears to have a clear lead in the web server stakes; however,
many if not most large corporations use IIS due to its superior integration with
other business objects.
PHP
PHP is a programming language used to provide dynamic content and run programs at the time a web page is requested. It is yet another open standard, so everything about it, up to and including the original program code, is available on the internet.
ASP
Active Server Pages is a Microsoft standard similar to PHP. ASP is not a language
in itself, but a term for pages generated dynamically by IIS. ASP pages can be
written in JavaScript or VBScript, and can use the business objects accessible
to the rest of the system.
SSL
SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) is the system used by us and many others to make secure internet communication possible. The sites below offer information on the standard.
Security Issues
No computer is totally impregnable. As and when new weaknesses in security are identified, they are publised on the sites below. These sites also provide some general information about computer security.
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