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Vendors are coming out with new Web server products at a furious pace, each claiming to outdo the next. But, as the chart on page 42 shows, there are more similarities than differences in the vendors' wares, so you'll need a sound buying strategy and an understanding of some key attributes to ensure you choose the Web server that's right for you.
The first step in selecting a Web server package is determining what you need it to do and which type will fit best with your existing infrastructure, says Thomas Nolle, president of CIMI Corp., a technology assessment firm in Voorhees, NJ. Resist being drawn in by claims of superior performance or some other feature, he says. The claims may be true, but if it means you'll have to support a new operating system and implement new management practices, it may not be worth it.
You'll also need to estimate the size and scope of your Web site, as well as how it will be integrated into your business. "Choosing the right product will become more complicated if you have a popular Web site that gets hundreds or more hits per hour, or your content is mostly dynamic," says Eric Rose, senior consultant at Data-base Technologies, Inc. in Newton, Mass., a Web...