Linux Web Hosting vs. Windows Web Hosting

When you come to purchase a web hosting package you will find that you have a choice of either Windows web hosting packages or Linux web hosting packages, primarily because these are the two main operating systems used by most web hosting providers as most consumers demand either one or the other for their web hosting services. Linux and Windows variants of the main forms of web hosting are available meaning that for example you should be able to purchase a Windows shared hosting package and a Linux VPS server from any web hosting provider without any problems. Most users have a preference of either Linux or Windows, and this preference is usually based on their requirements although the characteristics of each operating system can sometimes sway someone towards liking one over the other; although both operating systems are designed to run on most servers and have applications available for most purposes, their aims and target audiences are both very different. Linux is an open source operating system which helps to make Linux hosting services popular with consumers on a budget, and although Windows is a commercial operating system it still has a large audience when you consider the number of Windows web developers and application developers that there are.

Although some may argue that Linux hosting services and Windows hosting services can’t really be compared because they are both based on completely different operating system platforms, web hosting packages based on both platforms can still offer similar features albeit at different prices because of the individual factors which can affect the price of Linux and Windows hosting packages. Linux hosting services are available from most web hosting providers because they are the cheapest web hosting packages to setup, but if you are using a small web hosting provider then the likelihood is that they don’t offer Windows web hosting services; Windows web hosting services are generally reserved for the larger web hosting providers because of the costs that are involved in settings up Windows web hosting servers. When searching for a web hosting package that will suit your requirements it is important for you to be sure of which platform you want your web hosting service to be hosted on – Windows or Linux; your choice of web hosting platform can have a massive effect on your choice of web hosting package as your chosen platform can affect how much you pay for your web hosting package, the specifications of your web hosting package and what you are able to use it for.

What can Linux web hosting offer me over Windows web hosting?

Linux web hosting is normally the popular choice over Windows web hosting for several different reasons, and in some cases you will find that Linux is the sole platform used by some web hosting providers because the demand for Windows web hosting isn’t there. The main advantage of using a Linux web hosting package over a Windows web hosting package is the fact that a Linux web hosting package is going to cost you far less than a Windows web hosting package of a similar specification; the main reason for this is that Linux is an open source operating system meaning that it is free to use, whereas web hosting providers have to pay a license fee to using the Windows operating system and they then have to factor this cost into the price of their Windows web hosting packages. Linux web hosting services are also well known for being much more reliable than their Windows counterparts, and this is mainly due to the fact that Linux as an operating system is a lot more conservative resource wise; reliability is one key factor which people are beginning to take more seriously in a web hosting package, and so it is one reason why people are likely to consider a Linux hosting package over a Windows hosting package. Linux web hosting is also renound for being much more secure than Windows web hosting, and in this day and age where hackers are trying to steal all the useful information they can, it does help to know that the web hosting service which you are using is secure; Windows web hosting services aren’t always that secure since the security measures that can be put in place on a Windows server aren’t as powerful as those that can be used on a Linux server. In summary, Linux web hosting can offer you the following over Windows web hosting:

• Pricing – because Linux is a free operating system which web hosting providers don’t have to pay for, Linux web hosting packages are bound to be cheaper than Windows web hosting packages then you consider that web hosting providers have to pay for the right to use the Windows operating system – those who are looking for a cheap web hosting service are going to go looking for Linux web hosting services to begin with since Linux shared hosting packages are amongst the cheapest web hosting packages available, and of course it is important to save money where possible – you should remember that although Linux web hosting services may be cheap, most web hosting providers try to ensure that they don’t skimp on the quality of their web hosting service
• Reliability – Linux web hosting services are well known for being much more reliable than Windows web hosting services, although the reliability of a web hosting server will mainly depend on how well the hosting server is maintained – reliability is a key factor which many people rely on when making their decision on which web hosting package to use, and as well as those who are looking for cheap web hosting, people who require reliable web hosting services are also going to be looking into Linux web hosting services as a way of meeting their web hosting requirements – in order to be sure that the Linux web hosting service which you have chosen will be able to serve you in terms of reliability you should make sure that you purchase it from a reputable web hosting provider
• Security – like reliability, when considering a Linux web hosting package you should make sure that security is one of the main factors that influences your decision on which web hosting service to use and which web hosting provider to purchase your web hosting package from – security isn’t something that you really have to worry about unless your website is going to be processing or storing personal data of some type, but if that is the case then you should really be considering a Linux VPS server or a Linux dedicated server for your requirements – Windows hosting isn’t as secure as Linux web hosting in most cases because you are pretty limited as to what you can do with a Windows server to keep it secure.

Linux web hosting services are mainly aimed at general consumers as is evident with the pricing and features offered with most Linux web hosting packages. As a business you may not find that Linux web hosting is the right form of web hosting for you, but that’s why Windows web hosting services are available as you may find a Windows based hosting solution is more appropriate for your requirements than a Linux hosting package is.

What can Windows web hosting offer me that Linux web hosting can’t?

Windows web hosting services are mainly designed for businesses and this is evident in the features that are offered with most Windows web hosting packages; it is also important to consider the cost of your average Windows web hosting service when compared to that of a Linux web hosting service of a similar specification. The main feature that Windows web hosting services can offer you that Linux web hosting services are never likely to support is the support for the hosting of classic ASP and ASP.NET web pages and scripts; as both scripting frameworks have been developed by Microsoft, web pages and scripts based on either will only function correctly on Windows web hosting servers and this is one reason why many people still like to use Windows web hosting services over Linux web hosting services. Windows web hosting services also come with the ability to host Microsoft SQL Server databases and Microsoft Access databases under your web hosting account, and this can benefit you greatly if you have made use of either database system as part of your website; like classic ASP and ASP.NET, MSSQL Server and Microsoft Access were both developed by Microsoft meaning that databases created using either platform will only function on Windows web hosting servers. If you consider a high end Windows web hosting service such as a Windows VPS server or a Windows dedicated server then you will also have the added benefit of being able to access your Windows web hosting service via Remote Desktop; unlike Linux dedicated web hosting services Remote Desktop will provide you with direct access to the Windows GUI, and depending on what you want to use your Windows server for this can be very beneficial for most. In summary, Windows web hosting can offer you the following over Linux web hosting:

• Support for classic ASP and ASP.NET web pages and scripts – this is one thing that all Linux web hosting services will lack, and is the main reason for most people who use Windows web hosting to be using their chosen web hosting service – both frameworks are used by many web developers which means that there is still quite a large demand for Windows web hosting services, and since ASP.NET isn’t going anywhere anytime soon there will always be a steady stream of business for web hosting providers who are offering Windows website hosting services – if you have purchased a Linux web hosting package thinking that you could host your ASP and ASP.NET based websites using it then you will find that it isn’t possible
• Support for Microsoft SQL Server and Microsoft Access databases – many people like to use Microsoft SQL Server and Microsoft Access databases for the database backend of their websites when developing them, and if you are one of these people then you will find that Windows web hosting services are the only ones that will be able to cope with this – because Microsoft SQL Server and Microsoft Access have both been developed by Microsoft, they are only compatible with Windows operating systems which leaves you isolated to using Windows web hosting
• Remote Desktop Access – this is more applicable to Windows dedicated web hosting services, but unlike Linux dedicated web hosting services with a Windows VPS server or a Windows dedicated server you will be provided with direct access to the server’s GUI using Remote Desktop – Linux a command line based operating system which means that you need to be aware of the various commands if you wish to manage a Linux server correctly, but things are much more straight forward with Windows servers as you are able to use the familiar Windows GUI for the management of your Windows server.

The price and features of most Windows web hosting packages mean that they are normally aimed at businesses, and in most cases it is only going to be businesses who are using classic ASP or ASP.NET for their web applications. As a consumer you will probably find that a basic Linux web hosting package will be able to cater for your needs appropriately.

In conclusion, Linux web hosting services and Windows web hosting services both have many differences and have different features to offer their relevant audiences. Whilst Linux is aimed at users with a lower budget for their web hosting services as is noticeable with the pricing of Linux web hosting services and the features that accompany them. Windows web hosting services are more suitable for businesses who have a specific need for Windows web hosting for one reason or another, such as for the hosting of a website which has been developed using either classic ASP or ASP.NET.

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