Linux vs. Windows Hosting

Difference Between Linux and Windows Hosting Web hosting is the process to accommodate the resources needed to make…

Difference Between Linux and Windows Hosting

Web hosting is the process to accommodate the resources needed to make the websites on the Internet. Resources are stored in web servers, which run the server software on top of the operating systems (mostly server versions). The two operating systems, which are most popular for web hosting, are Windows and Linux. Based on the operating system used in the web server, web hosting is differentiated as Windows and Linux hosting. The web hosting which makes use of Windows operating system is called Windows hosting, while the web hosting which uses the Linux operating systems (Fedora, Red Hat, Debian, etc.) is called Linux hosting. There is continuous discussion on which operating system is best for web hosting because both Windows and Linux differ in many ways: how easy they are to use, how they provide support for different technologies, cost, etc.

What is Windows Hosting?

Microsoft provides a wide range of products for web hosting. The Windows 2000 Server, Windows Advanced Server and Windows Server 2003 are the popular versions of Windows Server that are used for web hosting. The different versions of Microsoft Windows Servers allow integration with all other Microsoft products. It also supports ASP (Active Server Pages) and ASP.NET, which is required if the web servers handle dynamic Web pages. Microsoft’s SQL database, which is very powerful DBMS, can be used with Windows servers. Microsoft Access can also be used with Windows hosting. Microsoft also provides complete technical support for its servers, but using these servers can be very expensive compared to other types of hosting options. For this reason, they are much more suitable for large to mid-sized companies rather than for small businesses. Windows servers are preferred by new directors as they have simple interfaces and easy to use to work with. The additional software, which may be required such as firewall, remote login applications, Encrypt, ASP mail and the like, will also increase the price. Windows servers ideally run on a clean Microsoft IIS server; but these servers can be configured to be compatible with PHP / MySQL also.

What is Linux Hosting?

In Linux server hosting, operating systems like Linux Fedora, Red Debian and Slackware are used. Mostly, the Linux systems are free (versions of Red Hat Enterprise is known to be an exception). Linux is fully compatible with PHP / MySQL; thus, Linux operating systems are very stable and secure. The additional software which are required for hosting Linux, such as the APF Firewall, Apache, Send mail and Bind mostly free or quite inexpensive. For Linux hosting, virus scanners like Clam, the F-plot or Mail Scanner can be used. The shells do all the configurations and maintenance tasks; for this reason, the administration of Linux servers could be more difficult compared to Windows. Nevertheless, you can gain more control of your server compared to Windows.

What is the difference between Linux and Windows Hosting?

Compared to Windows, Linux hosting provides the highest level of security. However, the installation, configuration, and the maintenance tasks are highly technical and may be more difficult with Linux hosting. When it comes to the price, Linux hosting is always more cost effective than Windows. Linux supports PHP / MySQL, while Windows supports all Microsoft products.

 

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