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In general, there are two main installation types which software developers use. One is the web-based installation, the other is single file installation. This article highlights the differences, answers many user questions about web-based installation, and helps you to choose the one that is best suited for your needs.

Single file installation

This is the most popular type of installation. Most software developers use this for distributing their software freely. Such setups can be placed anywhere and run at any time; that is the main advantage of this installation type. However, this type has its own disadvantages. Many software products come with or consist of a set of components, some of which are not required to install. This means that software developers have to include all components and options as one package. Of course, we can make a set of packages with different options, but this solution is not suitable for software with a wide variety of components. This is why single file installations are best fit for large data transfers such as those from CDs and DVDs.

Web-based installation

This is the new generation of installation packages. It has appeared recently, and is becoming more and more popular among internet users. In this type of installation, you download an initialization setup module, which will download only those components of software which you specify.

Advantages

This approach dramatically increases the efficiency of installation. First, it saves your time. Second, it saves your disk space, since installation files are located on the web and setup downloads them to a temporary folder and automatically removes them after the installation is completed. This is very useful for an upgrade process. A new version of a software product does not necessarily mean the new version has all updated components. Therefore, by using web-based installations, you can download and upgrade only those components that were modified in the new version; you may not even need download the initialization setup module onto your disk, as some web browsers like Microsoft Internet Explorer allow you to run such setups directly from the web. However, the file is downloaded regardless, although to temporary folder.

Disadvantages
What are the downsides of web-installation? First, in most cases you must download an initialization setup module any time a new version of the software becomes available for web-based installation. Second, some users find it insecure. Third, you cannot install the software if you are not connected to the internet or other network. Forth, it is impossible to specify the size of the software on such download listing sites such as download.com and zdnet.com, which irritates some users on low level internet connections.

Security and Privacy
Security and privacy are important for the internet, so software developers have to place the installation packages that are downloaded by setup to reliable websites. They also can digitally sign web-based installation packages if they distribute it freely. However, if you download such packages from reliable websites, such as the official website of a software developer or any other site that you trust, you should not worry about privacy. This rule is not limited to web-based installation. However, how can you be sure that the web-based setup package does not send data from your computer? Well, this is a problem. You have to trust the software developer, as it is very difficult to determine whether a setup sends your private information to the internet or not. Nevertheless, some software developers inform you about the protocols utilized in the installation that will be used for downloading. If it is FTP, be aware, the setup can upload any information to any website. If it is HTTP, you can be sure that no information will be sent to the web, because with use of HTTP setup cannot send any data just as your browser cannot. However, it can send short streams of data to CGI scripts to any website. The only way to prevent this is to install firewalls such as ZoneAlarm or Norton Personal Firewall.

Slawdog and installation

Slawdog E-Solutions tries to satisfy each of their customers as much as possible. This is why we feature both types of installations. We do not force you to use any specific type; this is up to you. Single file installation packages include all components available for certain software. Web-based installations give you the absolute freedom of what you prefer to download. You can even download only the newest documentation or anything else at any configuration. We use the HTTP protocol for web-based installations and place packages on our official website at slawdog.com. However, you may find single file installation packages on sites other than slawdog.com and other Slawdog websites. Slawdog does not guarantee that such files are original and were made by Slawdog E-Solutions.

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