The Ideal Web Hosting Solution: Linux or Windows?
A Web Hosting Article Contributed by Julie Fuller
The First Choice in Web Hosting: Linux or Windows?
One of the most important things to know about web hosting is that there are Linux hosts and Windows hosts. To a beginner looking for basic web hosting, this makes little difference, but once he or she wants to go beyond the basic level, suddenly which type of web hosting was chosen is of prime importance. For this reason, even if it doesn't initially seem as though it will make a tremendous amount of difference to you, you should carefully consider the differences between the two from the very beginning of your search for web hosting.
Web Hosting with Linux: a Wide Variety of Options
Linux hosts often provide cheaper web hosting options. Linux also generally provides shell access, so you have access to the command line of your web host in order to execute files remotely. This type of web hosting also generally has PHP available, although whether it is enabled might be another matter. Traditionally, there is a much wider selection of software (especially free software) that will run on a Linux web host than a Windows host.
Web Hosting with Windows: More Familiar and Wider Compatibility with Local Machines
Windows hosts, on the other hand, have a few unique positives of their own. While Windows-based web hosting can be more expensive, it has the advantage of being the same operating system that the majority of everyday users have on their own machines. Thus, there is no process of uploading programs to the web host just to see if they work properly; they'll work on your own machine.
Windows hosting also generally has some special features, such as Front Page extensions, which enable you to use Front Page's pre-written scripts to accomplish many everyday tasks of web hosting. Other Windows programs are also generally compatible with Windows web hosting (Access, for instance).
Making the Final Decision to Choose a Web Host
Ultimately, of course, there are going to be many other factors influencing which type of web host you decide to use. Perhaps your company is running a local host, and you have to use what they provide. Or perhaps a particular hosting company is running a special deal that you can't pass up, and they only have one option available. If you're migrating from a previous web host, you should very seriously consider staying with the same sort of system.
It would be a terrible thing to transfer your files, only to discover that your web log -- which is based in PHP -- won't work on your new Windows web host. On the other hand, if you don't have a web site already, and you don't plan on using a great many scripts or programs, it probably makes minimal difference which you choose; you can adapt to either type of web hosting.
On the other hand, if you are a business or in charge of the hosting for a company, then some foresight is absolutely essential. Look at what you plan on doing with your web site, and investigate which set of programs -- Windows or Linux -- is best able to handle it. Choose which web hosting system is best for your future needs, do a little research, and then go for it!
