When deciding on a type of shared hosting, it is important to consider two of the most popular types of hosting, these being Windows web hosting and Linux web hosting. The following are a series of the main differences between the two forms of hosting:
Server Access
Server access refers to the means by which the host server is accessed. Both Linux and Windows allow for FTP access to files although Linux hosting is the only type that permits SSH and Telnet access. Although it is certainly possible to perform a telnet setup on Windows, the majority of hosting providers do not provide the service.
Type of Operating System
Windows hosting operates with the Microsoft Windows Server OS with Linux hosting working with several different forms of Linux operating systems. These include the CentOS, Debian, and Red Hat. It is essential to keep in mind, however, that the hosting type that is chosen is not dependent upon the operating system (OS) type that is present on the computer. For example, Linux hosting can be used if you are working with a Windows operating system and Windows hosting can be used if you are working with a Linux operating system.
Cost Effectiveness
Because Linux is a form of open source operating system and does not cost anything to use, it is the cheaper option and more cost effective than Windows hosting. There are also more companies which provide Linux as opposed to Windows hosting, therefore Linux is considered to be more cost effective as well as competitive.
Security
It is commonly believed that the Windows server is less secure than the Linux server due to the large number of individuals who use the Windows OS. Despite this, it is essential to be aware that a server’s security depends also on the hosting company as well as the operating system. The Linux system also has security issues because the source code is public knowledge.
Performance and Stability
Linux is believed to be more effective when it comes to running multiple processes at once. This means that Windows’ stability is more likely to decrease when multiple programs are running than is Linux’s stability. Therefore, although Linux is able to get more work out of the server, it is believed that the server’s performance is more dependent upon the administrator’s expertise and not as much on the form of operating system which is being used.
Languages and Features that are Supported
Numerous features including POP3, HTML, PHP, MySQL, and JavaScript are all supported by both Linux and Windows web hosts. Despite this, Microsoft features such as MSSQL, FrontPage, ASP, Windows Streaming Media, and ASP are primarily supported through the use of Windows Web Hosts. Although these features may be supported by Linux servers, they are often quite limited and often expensive to utilize.
In short, the choice between Linux web hosting and Windows web hosting should depend primarily on your needs, the form of website which you possess, and the features which you will require.
