When you are looking for a good shared web hosting provider, you will be faced with lots of different options to consider, and one of the factors which you will have to decide upon is whether to opt for either a Linux server or Windows shared hosting. Both have their advantages and disadvantages, but it is important to be well informed about the differences and pros and cons of each before making the right choice of your own website’s individual requirements.
Choosing between Windows Linux hosting may not be easy if you are unaware of what each can offer you. However there are differences in functionality and services which can make a big difference to the effectiveness and even the entire operation of your website. Here you can find out everything you need to know about choosing between Linux and Windows shared hosting to enable you to make an informed final decision.
Is Windows Web Hosting as Good as Linux?
When it comes to web hosting there are two options – Linux or Windows web hosting. Although many people still believe that Windows shared hosting is not as good as Linux hosting this is not necessarily the case. The right choice of web hosting operating system depends on the needs and requirements of your own individual website and for many sites, either Windows or Linux hosting is a suitable option. There are some cases however where one or the other is the only suitable choice, for example if your site runs an application which is only compatible with one of the operating systems, and it is important to be aware of this when making a choice of web hosting provider. In other circumstances, either operating system will work equally well for many website users, so it is often better to consider the features of the different web hosting suppliers on offer than which operating system is in use.
Who Should Consider Using Windows Web Hosting?
Although Linux is the oldest operating system used for web hosting servers, Windows is rapidly increasing in popularity. This may partially because Windows is the best known home computing operating system and therefore many users are extremely familiar with the product. As Microsoft is a huge name in the industry, you can benefit from all the advantages that working with a big brand brings. Microsoft takes security seriously and constantly work on updating and fixing any bugs in their products. Their screening process also offers automatic support for any problems so no additional skills are required.
Although anyone can use a Windows web hosting service to meet the needs of their website, Windows web hosting is especially suited to larger businesses as it costs more than Linux web hosting, and therefore requires a larger budget. Windows servers also focus on the server specific applications that are popular with large businesses and can handle very large amounts of traffic.
What are the Benefits of Choosing Windows Shared Hosting?
If you choose Windows web hosting, you can benefit from a number of advantages that are unique to this operating system.
Familiarity
Most people are already familiar with the Windows interface and so will find it very easy to access the user-friendly interface of their hosting servers without developing any special skills.
Using Windows Specific Applications
The biggest advantage of choosing a Windows web hosting is that you can run Windows specific applications on your website. This is essential if you cannot avoid using these scripts on your site as they cannot be run on a server with a Linux operating system. These applications include:
ASP – a framework for designing website pages
FrontPage – a tool which allows you to create a web page and upload it to your website
.NET – a framework offering security, application development and connectivity solutions
Windows Streaming Media – a method of streaming video and audio to the public
Access – a database application
There are also some other Windows specific applications which can only be run on a server running a Windows operating system.
Windows Web Hosting Compatibility
Windows web hosting is also compatible with many new platforms including MySQL and PHP. This makes Windows web hosting extremely convenient.
Are There Any Disadvantages to Choosing Windows Web Hosting?
Although there are some distinct advantages when choosing Windows web hosting over Linux servers, there are some drawbacks too. These include:
Stability – Linux web hosting is well known for its stability and reliability as well as minimal amounts of downtime. This is a clear advantage when running a website, especially an e-commerce one which is essential to generate your income. Windows web hosting is not as stable as Linux hosting and therefore this may be an issue when it comes to minimising the downtime for your web pages.
Speed – Windows web hosting is known to be slower than Linux servers which could be a problem if the effectiveness of your website is reliant upon fast speeds.
Extra Resources – Choosing a Windows web hosting requires extra resources when compared to a Linux one. For example, it will need more disk space, more RAM and even a larger amount of bandwidth. This can contribute to extra costs for the user.
Compatibility – Although Windows web hosting works well with most applications there are some with which there are compatibility issues, including CGI and Perl.
Cost – As Linux is a free operating platform Linux web hostings can keep their costs down, leading to lower prices for users. On the other hand, Windows is not free to use and so costs are passed on to the website user. This leads to paying out considerably more in fees which can be prohibitative, especially for those wanting to set up a small business with minimal start up costs. There are also less free applications available to users than on a Linux web hosting.
How to Know Which Windows Web Hosting to Choose
Once you have decided that a Windows web hosting will meet your website’s needs, you should take the time to compare and weigh up all your options to make sure that the hosting of your choice will offer all the essential features and facilities that you require while offering you excellent value for money. You should also make sure that you select a web hosting company that is known for its good reliability and reputation within the industry to ensure that your website is off to the best start.