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| Can I use both VBScript and JavaScript in one web page? | Yes. You can use all the client-side technologies together in one web page. Just remember that not all browsers support the same technology, so the desired results may not be viewable by all users. |
| Can I run more than one Web server on a single machine? | You can, but there are few reasons to do so. You can run multiple Web servers on different ports of your IP address. Most Web servers run on port 80, but you can run another Web server on another port or even another IP address that is on your machine. You cannot run two Web servers on the same machine using the same IP address and port. |
| When it comes to performance, which Web server is best? | Many options come into play. Performance can rely on the database server that is being used (if any), on the serving of static HTML documents, and so on. It’s a good idea to research each Web server individually and then decide which server accommodates your needs and will perform best in your proposed architecture. |
After reading the sections on the technical features of different Web servers and Web browsers, take some time to read and understand the last section of this chapter. Although Microsoft does not really test you on this information in the FrontPage 98 exam, it is one piece of advice that cannot be given enough.
Many students who pass through programming and development classes simply want to get their hands in the dirt, so to speak. Unfortunately, this desire always turns into more time spent at the end of a project fixing functionality that was supposed to be available or removing functionality that was never requested. Always make it a point to plan before starting any project, because planning will save you time in the long run. Although problems will always occur, failing to plan is like asking problems to multiply.
– By Ted Kieffer, MCT, MCSE + Internet
Certification Summary
This chapter discussed many of the issues that project managers confront when they first implementing a website, ranging from the server that hosts the web to the client technologies used to present the web page. You must take in account your existing configuration and how it will accommodate the new project. If the system cannot handle the new load, you must come up with a plan to upgrade or modify your system to handle it.
During this stage of conceptualization, you should be able to learn more about all the possible options. After the site is in production, you can then spot potential problems and perform the required solutions. These solutions may include upgrading equipment to handle a heavier server load or scheduling additional training for personnel who are involved in the production of the web.
To be successful as a project manager of a large web, you may need to wear many hats and gain knowledge on a variety of topics, including systems, development, graphic production, and networking. The more you can learn, the better your chances of success in identifying problems and coming up with the right solutions.
A large portion of the FrontPage 98 certification test focuses on project-management issues. Applying critical thinking and making decisions on what technology to use in what situation will help you pass this portion of the exam.
Two-Minute Drill
 | After you establish your network connection and have a solid understanding of TCP/IP networking, you can start to evaluate the server technologies that are best suited to support your project. | ||||||||||
| Some issues to keep in mind when you decide which Web server to use are:
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| FrontPage Personal Web Server is provided on the installation disks that come with FrontPage 98. |
| The main benefit of running a web on FrontPage Personal Web Server is the small amount of overhead required to support it. |
| If you plan to conduct transactions over the web or need to track and send information to your user, you need to use some type of database on the back end to distribute this information. |
| If you have an existing NT network or plan to use NT in your Web server setup, a good choice of Web server for your FrontPage web is Microsoft Internet Information Server (IIS). |
| Apache Web server is one of the oldest Web servers in existence and has been free for use since its inception. Its primary support for the UNIX environment has also contributed to its success. |
| Netscape Enterprise Server 3.0 has a Graphical User Interface (GUI) to help you administer the Web server. |
| Understand the different client-side technologies, such as VBScript, JavaScript, Java, and ActiveX controls. Know that Internet Explorer can use VBScript and ActiveX, whereas Netscape does not provide this support built into Navigator. |
| VBScript is a subset of the Microsoft Visual Basic language; it is very easy to use and implement on a web page. |
| The major drawback of VBScript is the lack of support in non-Microsoft Web browsers. |
| Most DHTML effects are achieved through JavaScript. |
| JavaScript is not the easiest language to use compared with VBScript, but because of its broad acceptance as a client-side scripting language, JavaScript is good to use for implementing client-side scripting for the Internet. |
| Dynamic HTML is actually a combination of HTML and client-side scripting. |
| A huge variety of browsers support Java, so a large audience can view your Web page the way that you intend it to appear. |
| ActiveX controls are Microsoft’s technology for creating objects that can be used in a web page or development environment such as Visual Basic. |
| To use some of the FrontPage components, you need to have the appropriate FrontPage server extensions installed on your Web server. |
| Before you implement any of the technologies, it’s a good idea to know what you want to accomplish and what your current limitations are. |
| Understand the technical limitations that are imposed on a web. Know how the bandwidth and technical structure of the web can affect its performance and what changes you can make to improve it. |
| Many of the issues that you have to confront for your technical architecture, you will confront again when you implement the client-side technologies and your basic web-page design. |
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