5.1 Why Use a Server-Based Solution?
Currently, Movable Type is not an out-of-the-box solution. And, of
all the software options profiled in this book, it would be the
package voted "most likely to require a thorough
read of the manuals." Still, a growing number of
bloggers, diarists, and developers are choosing Movable Type as the
solution for their blogging and site maintenance needs.
Independence and control are primary reasons for choosing this
server-based solution. While you accept a more proactive role as
maintainer of the system (installing and upgrading the software
yourself), you reap the benefits of reliability, accessibility, and
customization.
5.1.1 Independence from a Central Server
Because you install the software on your own server or
on server space offered by a hosting provider, you are not reliant on
a central server that may be subject to universal network outages due
to system maintenance and upgrades. However, this is not to say that
a server-based application is not susceptible to inaccessibility due
to server outages. If you opt to install Movable Type on server space
provided by a hosting provider, be aware that the quality of the
provider greatly affects the overall performance of the application.
If you install Movable Type and, subsequently, host your blog with a
provider that is notorious for network outages and lackluster
maintenance, the independence you gain from a server-based solution
is a moot point.
To some users, total independence means running Movable Type and
hosting your blog on a self-maintained server. If you fit into this
group, you can expect an installation process fundamentally similar
to the process of setting up Movable Type on a hosting
provider's server. However, before you install the
application, you may need to install some of the core prerequisites,
which most hosting providers offer as a matter of course (for
example, web server software and Perl).
A complete list of Movable Type's requirements is
given later in this chapter.
5.1.2 Ability to Store Your Data Behind a Firewall
In addition to server
performance,
network security is another benefit of using a server-based
application. While the average blogger actively seeks an audience for
his content, there are some users who want to keep their blogs and
data securely tucked behind a firewall. Blogs as portions of
intranets and company sites are increasingly common, and developers
need to seek solutions that require data security. In other words,
hosting their content on a centralized or shared server is not an
option.
5.1.3 Control over Your Data
As you begin publishing to your blog, backing up your data might not
be a pressing concern. However, 2,000 posts down the road, the
ability to back up your content is certainly a desirable option. In
addition to the ability to manually back up all the datafiles,
Movable Type ships with export functionality that allows you to
export your data into a text file. Should you experience data loss on
your server, you can import this text file back into the system to
restore your data.
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