One of the factors you may have to consider when choosing a web hosting service is whether you want to opt for a Windows or a Linux shared hosting service. Making the wrong decision could put your website at a disadvantage, so you should take the time to learn about the various differences between the two operating systems in order to make an informed choice about which one would be the best option for your site. Both operating systems have their advantages and disadvantages, but this helpful guide should enable you to get a good understanding of the pros and cons of each type of system and to come to a conclusion about which is the best choice for you.
What is Linux Web Hosting?
A Linux web hosting is basically a server which is operated using the Linux operating system as opposed to Windows. While Windows is probably the best known operating system on the market, Linux is in fact the most popular choice when it comes to web hosting. Linux was developed in 1991 for the Intel x-86 computers. It is a Unix-like operating system and was intended to be a free, open source operating system. There is a widely held school of thought which says that if you are running a website for a blog or small business, a Linux web hosting company is the best option to meet your needs. Linux server hosting is generally considered to have several benefits over the Windows operating system, and there are some differences between the two.
What are the Differences Between Windows and Linux Shared Hosting?
While Windows operating systems are better known than Linux when it comes to home computing, the Linux system has emerged on top when it comes to web hosting servers. Although there is nothing wrong with choosing a Windows operating system for your shared hosting, there are some differences between the two operating systems which could cause some problems for your website.
The main difference between Windows and Linux shared hosting is the cost, Linux being significantly cheaper than Windows. Linux is also a free source operating system with a public licence, unlike Windows which has a proprietory source code. The underlying file systems between both operating systems are also significantly different meaning that there are some applications which specifically require the use of either a Windows or a Linux server as the other type will not support their use. Different control panels are used by either type of server and there are also differences with file names as on the Linux operating system the file names are case sensitive, unlike on Windows.
What are the Benefits of Choosing Linux Shared Hosting?
With Linux shared hosting being the most popular choice, it is important to know the benefits of opting for a Linux web hosting in order to assess if it is right for your website. Here are some of the main advantages of using a Linux server hosting company.
Linux is an Open Source Platform
Unlike Windows, Linux is an open source platform. This means that it is able to be downloaded, altered and improved upon by any developer who has computing knowledge. It can then be distributed to the public without any extra cost, with large numbers of people all around the world who are working on rectifying any problems with the system and making sure that its functionality is continually improved upon.
Lower Costs
Cheap Linux hosting is easier to find that cheap Windows hosting. This is because there is no fee charged for using this system as it is an open source platform. Windows, on the other hand, charges for its use and therefore these costs are passed on to the consumer. As there are no licensing costs to pay when using Linux web hosting, it is especially appealing to those running small businesses as they are able to launch an e-commerce company with relatively low start up costs. Cheap Linux hosting services also generally offer a range of well known free scripts for use including Drupal, WordPress and Joomla together with several others. It is easy to see then, why cheap Linux hosting is so appealing.
Linux Offers Flexibility
Linux web hosting is much more flexible than the Windows alternative, allowing users to run a much broader scope of applications. From blog websites to e-commerce applications as well as multimedia options, the Linux platform is simple to both update and modify. As Linux has a general public licence it can be used with lots of different distributions such as Ubuntu and Red Hat.
Stability and Performance
Linux operating systems are generally believed to have better performance than Windows operating systems when it comes to web hosting. Shared Linux hosting is much more stable than the alternative and is widely thought to be a more reliable choice for running a website as it suffers from less downtime than Windows web hosting servers. As Linux was one of the earliest web hosting platforms, it has had longer in the industry to prove and hone its performance, which now shows in its reliability scores.
Linux Offers Better Security
There is evidence to show that Linux web hosting systems are generally much more secure than the Windows alternatives. With hacking becoming more of a problem these days, security is a major issue and especially if you are running an online business, it is paramount that you choose an operating system that has a good reputation for its security features. Over the years, Windows has been dogged by problems with viruses, trojans and worms which have taken over websites and caused numerous security issues. Although Windows have fought back to improve their security measures it is still a very high profile target and so the high cost of protecting its systems are passed on in fees to the consumer. As Linux has a large community of users who are able to work continuously on altering the code to protect against hackers it is a much safer system to use.
Linux Web Hosting is Simpler to Use
As Linux was specially designed to support basic web hosting it is known to be much more user friendly than those web hosting systems that use the Windows operating system. Linux comes with software pre-installed for ease of use and allows users to install Perl Script, MySQL and PHP to ensure that their website is functioning with maximum efficiency, performance and productivity. It can also handle more processes at the same time, giving it the edge over Windows systems.
Specific Applications Which Require Linux
There are some applications which require Linux in order to run on your website. If you require SSH or some specific Apache modules you will need to use a Linux web hosting as they are not compatible with the Windows operating system.
How to Choose a Shared Linux Hosting
You can choose from many cheap Linux hosting options, but make sure that your final decision is the right one to suit your website. Make sure that you select a company that have a good record for minimising their downtime and that have a good technical support team behind them. Take the time to compare and check any extras that you will be getting for your money, and make sure that you are getting good value while benefiting from all the essential features that your website requires.