Websites may be hosted on Windows or Linux operating systems which are two competing hosting options. Both have their unique set of advantages and disadvantages.
However Linux is the most popular choice for various reasons which we will see here.
Windows Hosting
Advantages
Windows plans are costlier because of the license costs by Microsoft. Windows server hosting plans are at least 20% costlier than Linux server hosting plans. Also windows hosting is difficult to administer and keep up to date
When to choose Windows hosting?
If you are using any Windows-centric technologies like Visual Basic, ASP Dot Net, Access Databases, Microsoft’s SharePoint services then Windows-based servers would be the required choice for you
Linux Hosting
Advantages
Linux is typically a good match for Web hosting servers and applications because of its stability.
Linux web hosting is very economical as Linux is a free operating system.
Linux hosting provides a lot more freedom in terms of what you can accomplish even when the resources are not available
Linux options are adaptable to a variety of non-native softwares and can even be made compatible with a variety of Windows based software options as well
Linux server hosting is the most reliable and cost effective solution when the scripting language like PHP, MySQL, or Perl etc. are required for your website
Linux server hosting is also the more popular choice for web designers and programmers as it is supposed to be much securing than Windows hosting
About half the servers used to support Rackspace’s 10,000 worldwide customers are running Linux
Let us see the advantages of Linux hosting in detail below
Database Compatibility:
Linux hosting does not require additional plugins and provides database compatibility.
Users have an option to choose from database systems such as SQL or MySQL which are usually safe and secure and are the most commonly used ones. Many types of databases run on Linux hosting, but the most widespread and likely among web host providers are SQL, MySQL and PostgreSQL which permit optimized communication with your website.
Performance:
In general, Linux servers can take more loads compared to Windows based servers. Usually, Linux servers are almost 50% better than that of any other hosting servers in terms of performance. This prevents frequent shut down of the server in case of spike in web traffic and load on the servers.
CPanel, PHP and MySQL Databases:
Linux supports other hosting tools such as CPanel, PHP and MySQL Databases. These features are essential for all types of hosting plan.
Flexibility:
Linux works well with all types of systems which is the reason for the popularity of Linux hosting among business owners. Linux hosting also allows businesses and web developers to use applications and tools in the manner they like.
Support:
Linux being an open-source platform has many support forums which allows people to find solutions to their problems for free without much trouble. It also helps in getting a lot of free applications from developers all over the world.
Switching to Windows:
Switching from Linux based hosting plan to a Windows based hosting plan is comparatively more easy.
Reliable Linux hosting service providers:
Some of the reliable Linux hosts are:
