In the world of Web hosting, Linux hosting and Windows hosting emerge as two contenders for the top position. There are few differences between linux and windows shared hosting which you will know about in detail here.
Operating System :
Linux hosting can run on Linux operating systems such as CentOS, Red Hat, and Debian while windows hosting works on the Microsoft Windows Server operating systems. Though operating system is not a major criterion as you can use Linux hosting on windows operating systems and vice-versa.
Security :
Many people are of the view that security is a major concern with windows servers when compared with linux servers but this is really a false perception. The server security completely depends upon the web hosting company and not on operating system. It is however, believed that hackers favor windows operating systems.
Cost :
Linux server hosting is preferred over windows server hosting as linux is free to use and an open source operating system as well. If that was not all, more web hosting companies of the world provide linux hosting making it win the battle in terms of cost effectiveness.
Performance:
Linux Hosting is more stable and able to deliver better performance as compared to Windows when it comes to handling a lot of processes at the same time, as they call is as server load in their terms.
Server access :
If you are in need of SSH Access ( Secure shell ) or Telnet access, ie. if you want to access files directly on the server without a transfer from/to the hard drive, then only linux gives you the benefits. Some companies do provide this benefit on windows hosting, most offer remote desktop protocol feature or a virtual console.
Language Support :
When it comes to languages support, Windows prevail over linux since windows support many features like ASP, .NET, FrontPage, MSSQL, Access, POP3, HTML, JavaScript, and MySQL that are limited as well as expensive with linux. However, most web designers code web pages on Linux based Languages as they are simple and easy to use, also Open Source as well.
File Names :
If you are using a linux server, file names such as feedback.html and Feedback.html are different names but on a windows server, they are one and the same.
Ease of use :
If you are not a tech-savvy individual, you are more than likely to prefer linux over windows. Linux operating systems are used widely and you ca find lot of references and support in forums. So, whenever you get a coding issue, that can be easily solved on linux based systems.
Downtime :
Windows hosting often waste precious time of its users with more downtime when compared to linux. Moreover, windows server takes more resources than linux when it comes to initiating processes, this means more rebooting and time wastage. Linux is always quite fast. Its fact that whenever a server goes down, it takes minimum 10 mins to go up again.
So, i would say, in most cases Linux hosting is best and Windows Hosting is preferred only if the applications has to run on windows Environment. Hope this helps you to understand the concept about linux and windows hosting Clearly.
Anything left out ? Pls share them below 🙂
An easy to understand, simple yet covering all the aspects of choosing a host machine. Keep it up !!
Thanks pradeep 🙂
Linux hosting coz its too cheap 🙂
ha.. true 🙂 and also that’s best !
Nice one….so bro….what your conclusion about it…….
which one you like the most….
i have said that in last para bro 🙂
Linux is best !
Linux is always the better choice.
Thanks for giving detail summary of Linux v/s window
Well organised matter, that gives users clear understanding what to choose, without much technical terms used…
thank you 🙂
Hey thanks for the info, as i was Planning to Move on Selfhosted wordpress blog!
I think Windows hosting is best that the linux hosting because you can do more with Windows hosting plus it is friendly to internet users.
May be, but most people known to me uses only linux , as its cheap and also good for blogs and normal websites.
Very interesting, I’m glad I found this post. I guess I had never really given it
a lot of thought until now.
I’ve just always used windows, but with the facts above it’s definitively something
to re-consider. Thanks for this!
Jace
glad that it helps you 🙂
Nice comparison, Buddy I think that the Linux is the best the only reason round the globe is they dont have much application like the windows
Thanks to get spreading superb information and facts. We’re interested in these belongings lots of moments, your website is rather handy.
Thanks a lot 🙂
great read.im learning about linux nowdays.this was very helpful.
This is a very informative article!
Under the sub-heading “File Names”, you have put less but very crucial information. I would be pleased if you could change that heading to something like “Capitalization” which sounds somewhat technical and relevant to the data below it. I would like to add one more sentence there- “Capitalization matters in Linux; in windows it doesn’t”.
Thank you.