Web server software allows you to run web pages on your own computer. When your business has an Internet presence or engages in e-commerce, you must decide what kind of Internet server software is best for you.

Note that sometimes "web server" is sometimes used to refer to the software, the actual computer the software runs on, or both components together. For this guide, "web server" means the software platform that runs on the computer.

The right software will increase your efficiency, help drive your Internet business and create a seamless integration with your other software applications. There are a few key questions you should be able to answer before deciding what type of web server software application to purchase for your business:

1. What platform do you want to run the software on? The most popular operating platforms for web servers are Unix, Windows 2000, Linux, and Macintosh.

2. What languages should the software support?

3. How easy is the installation and maintenance of the software?

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Compare and review Internet server software options

You can find a good deal of web server software information to assist in understanding your options when you buy Internet server software. There are plenty of industry surveys, technology journals and online experts to assist you.

I recommend: Compare functions of different Internet server software at acme.com. Consider surveys like port80's survey of the Top 1000 Corporations' Web Servers to gain understanding of the industry standard. Read this useful article by writer Jennifer Kyrnin about what to know before purchasing your web server software.

Choose the right web software solutions

After you have learned more and selected functions that are most important to you, start shopping for your solution. Be sure to compare the choices for all the important factors you need including support from the vendor and cost. Decide if you need additional web server programs such as web server monitoring software, security features or specialized ecommerce options.

I recommend: Purchase Microsoft's Internet Information Services server, or download a trial version of BEA Weblogic Server 10.3 to test it out. BEA also offers training to help you get the most out of the software. Explore some useful web server solutions for ecommerce at Xcent.

Consider your growth when looking at web server solutions

If your business will grow in the future, the online server software and the hardware you run the software on must be scalable; in other words, as your business grows, your computer and software must easily allow for added capacity to account for the increase. Software that doesn't scale properly can result in a slow website, and loss of sales or visitors.

I recommend: Read more about scalability of online server software from Adobe, or learn about the specifics of each software's scalability at the respective product's website, such as Microsoft's ISS Scalability page.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  When purchasing web server applications, think about how the software is licensed, and how your server is set up. If you have dual core processors, for instance, you may have to pay for two licenses for the Internet web server software depending on the vendor's licensing metrics.