Section 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.