Choosing an operating system (OS) that runs the web server hosting ones site is as old as the business of web hosting.
All the functions of web server and hosting a site are controlled by operating system, so one should pay particular attention while choosing operating system.
Options one really have while choosing an Os are:-
One can choose between webhosting based on Windows, Linux or UNIX operating systems. List of options will narrow to only two just if one has a brief description and analysis of the different systems.
Microsoft’s Windows server operating systems (NT/2000/2003) makes IT teams to easier in this aspect with its quite friendly and familiar user interface feature. Their range is absolutely impressive and its excellent integration capabilities with other applications developed by Microsoft gives another plus to its feature.
The beginning of the Internet era was powered by the OS UNIX and is still used today due to its qualities whereas Linux OS was developed having Unix as starting point and thus both share many features. Due to higher licensing costs and specific hardware requirements for UNIX, Linux version of the UNIX system is more common on web servers today. With taking UNIX into account this is the reason why we will continue with Linux only. Linux hosting fulfills all requirements for a good web server and Web serving, file serving, mailing, and streaming. It has also proven to be a very cost-effective choice from using hardware efficiently; it also allows more web sites per server ratio, which results in decreasing the cost of hosting per account.
Windows v/s Linux.
Trustworthiness
Linux OS were seen as more reliable over Windows during the past period. So here are our two choices Windows and Linux. But with the release of Windows 2003 server Microsoft has closed the gap in this area. Both Windows and Linux servers are compatible with definite Microsoft extensions and applications.
Web Programming
One might want to add up some simple scripts to add some spice to ones site even if one is trying to host a simple website. Matter becomes bigger when one is trying to host an e-commerce site supported by some serious server-side programming.
What do our two competitors do in this aspect?
As java scripts are executed on the client side (the user’s web browser) and both Linux and Windows have no problem feeding this content to ones visitors supporting java scripts is not a topic to be argued upon. Discussing server side scripting is a whole different matter. It is common perceptive that ASP is supported by Windows and PHP is the tool to do just that under Linux for web site owners trying to put into operation forms on their site. Even Though both OS have developed solutions to support each other’s programming language for web development this support is not ideal and the limitations propose Linux for a good PHP support and Windows for ASP, especially when it comes to hosting websites that require the full use of advantages offered by PHP or ASP.
Front Page extensions are supported by Linux. If Perl is the scripting language of ones choice, one should opt for Linux as Windows offers only limited CGI/Perl support.
Databases
Few databases are required for dynamically driven web sites. Often one will come across mySQL or MSAccess for sites employing databases. Web site has no problems while hosting it on either Windows or Linux if it is relying on mySQL, but for MSAccess databases, one has only option of Windows.
Price
Webhosting on Linux is cheaper. As the licensing costs, are lower than that for Windows and Linux has the ability of web servers to support a higher web site per server ratio without compromising the quality of service.
Even though hosting on Windows cost a bit more, one will get something for ones money i.e. quick development and functionality.
Choosing an OS one over another depends chiefly upon ones actual needs and of the plans one has made for the future of ones web site. For instance will it move from static web site to one relying heavily on server side scripting? And if it is so which programming language would be used: PHP or ASP? Accordingly ones web site will be placed on a Linux or on a Windows web server.
Option between Linux and Windows is offered by almost all serious web-hosting providers. No one is the actual winner as yet of this contest. Preference of one system over another is given only by ones requirements and the needs of the visitors.
Linux
Beginning Of The Internet, Hardware Requirements, Linux Version
Microsoft Windows is the most popular operating system (OS); thus, most web hosting companies cater to sites running on Windows, as expected. However, there is an increasing demand for hosts that can support websites running on other platforms such as Mac OS and Linux, just to name a few. For this article, we will focus on Linux web hosting.
Why do some people choose Linux web hosting? To start with, Linux is an open source OS designed after Unix. It means Linux is free, which is a fact that is easily a factor in some people’s choice of operating system. Aside from being free, Linux is also known to be very stable even in the midst of some heavy-duty multitasking. It’s also known to be flexible, powerful, and portable. The graphical user interface (GUI) looks great, too.
Whatever the reason may be, there’s no denying that more and more people are turning to Linux web hosting. If you’re comfortable with using Linux with Perl programming language, now is the right time to go for Linux web hosting. It has its place in mainstream, so any worries you may have about lack of suitable choices for Linux web hosting should be thrown out the window. There are a lot of affordable packages being marketed by web hosting companies for the Linux user.
Surprisingly, even if Windows is the most popular OS, Linux web hosting has more presence on the internet than Windows web hosting. The reason behind this is Linux’s open source nature. A lot of technological developments in web hosting are also open source. It’s easier for developers and programmers to experiment with different innovations when high fees and licenses are not part of the equation. Thus, Linux web hosting provides you with a lot of flexibility at almost no cost. When technologies update, you can go along with them without worrying about your budget because they are free.
Linux web hosting is also highly standardized because Linux, as an OS, is a standard platform. Thus, you can easily add to your website without too much hassle since everything is streamlined. You’ll appreciate this more as your website steadily and quickly grows. Long-term management with diligent maintenance is one of the most difficult things you need to do as a webmaster; luckily Linux web hosting can help in that aspect.
Take note, though, that there’s a downside to all the good stuff, and it’s up to you if it’s worth looking over when you finally choose Linux web hosting. Since Windows still dominates as the number one OS, Linux web hosting does not have a lot of technical support available for applications and languages that are based on Windows. Sure, you have a wide range of Linux-based applications and languages to choose from, but there are very useful ones that are Windows-based. You either don’t use them at all, or prepare yourself to encounter difficulties when you do.
Weigh your needs and wants before choosing Linux web hosting over Windows web hosting. Both have positive and negative aspects to them, and choosing what works better for your website is something only you can decide.
Linux
Graphical User Interface, Linux User, Midst
Linux and Windows 2000 are the types of software also known as operating systems that web servers use to perform, the kind of thing that web servers perform.
The following are the guidelines to assist in the decision making as to choose which among the two: -
It’s not compulsory to opt for Windows web hosting if one is using a windows desktop PC and the reverse is also true. Web host choice has very less to do with the operating system one is using. The only requirement is having knowledge of using FTP or web publishing software and then anyone can opt for any of the operating system. The most important factor is one must be fully aware of the functions of his/her website and also the purpose for which it is designed. That will help in determining the type of web hosting that will be most fruitful. Usually, interactive websites rely on ASP, PHP, or Perl type languages.
How to choose between Linux Web Hosting and Windows 2000 Web Hosting?
In Web hosting, Linux was for some time, been widely considered the best OS for Web servers. Due to several factors like reliability, stability and efficiency it is most widely used for the demanding environment of Web and mail servers. In fact due to traditional stability most of the client’s websites of aalpha NET runs on the Linux OS in particular.
However the most important question is what application one is searching for? One must consider the tools and scripting languages that he/she is planning to use i.e. if one is using PHP, Perl or MySQL then Linux is the best option. But if applications are Microsoft-specific, then Windows is what is needed.
If one’s site is what might be termed as “brochure-ware” then Linux servers will serve best. Brochure-ware means a site that provides sort of information that in the past might have been provided on paper in the form of brochures, newsletters or data sheets. Thus brochure-ware sites offer some interaction through enquiry forms and can certainly incorporate online purchasing and other routine e-commerce functions.
However if one’s site incorporates an online searchable database or interactive chat facilities then Windows 2000 or NT is considered best in most of the cases. It is little bit expensive but in return it provides reduced development time and better functionality.
Thus compensating the extra cost.
Advantages of using Linux based web server compared to Windows based web server:
Stability: Traditionally Linux/Unix operating systems were considered to be very stable and robust. With up time as high as 99.9%, a web site housed on a Linux operating system was considered best. While talking in reference to maintaining the system up time other factors like power supply, network admin skills, and network load etc. also matters a lot.
Reduced cost of ownership: In terms of cost the Linux OS comes absolutely free of cost or at very insignificant cost that too mainly cost of distribution. In addition it is well equipped with full-fledged server, and desktop applications that are free along with the OS. The server applications like FTP, Web Server, and DNS Server, File Server etc are free as well as very stable.
Easy to use: In case of Linux web hosting it is quite easy to host on Linux web servers. There is no major difference between uploading process and hosting in case of both Linux and Windows web servers. One must make sure that the Front Page extensions are enabled while using a Windows based tool such as Front Page for uploading a web site on to a Linux based web server. However this is only required if one is uploading using HTTP feature of Front Page. Also it is possible to upload a web site using FTP, as Front Page makes it possible. Just one needs to select an address with ftp for up loading using front-page FTP option. However one must take care that while selecting “Front Page Extensions” during web site design, he/she must enable Front Page extensions on a Linux web server also. Now days, all Linux web servers comes with installable Front Page extensions, making hosting on a Linux platform easier. One can almost use all types of file extensions or scripts while using Linux web server. The following are some of the commonly supported extensions-.cgi, .html, .htm, .pl, .php, .shtml, .xml,etc.
That means one can host web sites with different types of server side scripts including .cgi, .pl, .php, and .asp along with plug-in.
Easy movements between hosts: It’s quite easy to shift to another server in case of Linux based web server. A web site designed to be hosted on a Linux based web server can be easily hosted on a Windows web server but that facility is not available in case of Windows based web servers.
Wider Use: Linux/Unix based web hosting has wider use in comparison to Windows based web hosting.
Scalability: A web site designed is quite dynamic and needs modifications from time to time as per customer’s requirement. Therefore it is preferable to design a web site keeping the requirement of scalability in mind. A web site designed for compatibility with a Linux/Unix based web server fulfills this requirement easily without making any site wide design changes.
In against to that, Linux based web server is not fully compatible with Microsoft technologies. So if one is using any specialized applications or VB for development of his/her web site, it is preferable to host with a Windows based web server.
Linux
Web Host, Windows 2000, Windows Desktop