subject: Linux Vs windows server hosting [print this page] Linux Vs windows server hosting Linux Vs windows server hosting
Choosing the platform you are going to use for your server can be a daunting and even overwhelming decision for someone who is fairly new to Web hosting. Although there are many obscure choices still available, the most widely used Operating Systems (OSs) are the enterprise, or server, versions of Linux and Windows. Here we have given you the specific situations where one is better than the other and what considerations should guide you into choosing the correct Operating System for your server.
Cost considerations:
Microsoft manufactures and has the rights to the entire Windows OS, from the recently retrograded XP to various flavors of Vista. Linux, on the other hand, is "open source" software and is usually free. What that means is that it can be more costly to install and run a Windows server, but this really would not affect you unless you are setting up the server personally. Getting the Window hosting package is usually a bit more expensive than the Linux hosting package, but not so much that you should disqualify it on price alone.
Make no assumptions:
People often have a misconception that just because their PC operates on Windows, they should leverage a Windows hosting package. Not necessarily. Gaining access to your web account will usually be done through FTP or a control panel, and all servers support these methods. The most significant deviation in administrative site access is that some FTP commands are a bit different in Linux than in Windows and, of course, the FTP programs will usually be created for only one or the other. Think about how you intend to put the server to use. Make your decision based on those facts.
Stability and growth:
Focus of many anti-MS rants has been revealed a fact that Windows is not a secure environment and is only popular because it is the OS for the majority of home-based PCs. As the most commonly used system, Windows has flaws and people tend to spend a lot of time looking for them, as well as exploiting them for harm. However, Linux may just be the most common server type out there and, surprisingly, the success rate for hackers has been higher than expected, although not as high as for Windows.
Too close to call?
When it comes to the performance of the two servers, there may not be a huge deviation. Linux has been known to perform faster than Windows on some "cookie cutter" hosts that install Windows in its default, "all in one" package. Linux distributors, utilizing an open-source application with more flexibility, can implement "extensible" packages with greater customizability. In normal situations, the performance of both the servers might be comparable, but if system functionality is most important to you, this may have an impact on your final decision. Which direction that will send you depends on what you wish to compare, as the OS's do have some different strengths and weaknesses.
Take time to search for a good host rather than a good server model or OS. Both Linux and Windows developers are always finding on ways to enhance their systems. At this point they seem to be roughly equivalent in terms of security, features and reliability expected by the average home and small business user. This is not likely to change for some time. You should made the decisions based on your business needs, and in this neck-and-neck horse race, a clear winner is impossible to call. Eventually you will just have to saddle up with one or the other, and hit the track.
