subject: Web Hosting on Linux vs. Windows [print this page] Web Hosting on Linux vsWeb Hosting on Linux vs. Windows
Choosing a suitable web hosting operating system is one of the most important decisions that publishers, webmasters and business owners need to make. Basically, there are just two main choices despite the existence of various operating systems that a web hosting company can utilize. These are Linux and Windows. Both these major operating systems have their advantages and disadvantages so choosing one over the other is just a matter of personal preference.
Linux is the first operating system to be introduced. It is an open source type of server platform which means its source code is freely available to everybody. Its use as an operating system for home and office desktop computers has also increased through the years.
Windows, on the other hand, is fast catching up as a preferred server platform. Statistics as of October 2009 show that it had captured about 91 percent of the market share in terms of usage as client operating system. Since its introduction, it has had several versions of its server operating system with the latest being Windows Server 2008 R2.
Hosting. On the part of hosting companies, using a Windows server platform can lock you into always having to host on Windows. With Linux, however, a website built on this operating system will still be made portable to a Windows based host.
Security. In terms of security, both OS can be well secured as long as the administrator knows his job well and keeps abreast of the latest updates. Windows servers, however, require a restart of the server every time security updates are carried out. The disadvantage of restarting a server is the down time. It is also worth noting that there will be security risks in the event the server is not restarted after an update.
