Comparison: Windows Vs Linux Web Hosting

When choosing a web hosting provider for Linux, make sure he offers all the basics services on security, including firewall, load balance for the servers, Denial of Attack (DOS) protection.

Also, there are some basics services any service should include, such as MYSQL services, statistics (preferably two scripts), antivirus and antispam services (added or included) and the possibility to add your own scripts via FTP. If provider doesn't include SSH access (this is very common), make sure they can offer you support to install those scripts. Of course, if your script presents a security flaw, your provider may ask you to change it or deny installing it altogether.

Windows web servers

Windows web hosting solutions provide many benefits such as NET support, ASP, visual basic C++ and pearl scripts. Windows are also known for their dynamic page displays. All windows plans, as well as MSSql for more experienced webmasters support the Microsoft Access 2000 database and are generally easy and strait forward to apply codes to.

Be aware that a Microsoft Access database, although simple to use is a limited option, and should not be considered if you are planning your site to grow. However, it is a very good option for small sites with little growth.

Although Windows hosting packages offer a large number of benefits and extras, the fact that they have the odd security problem, are prone to down time, and scheduled rebooting on a regular basis remains a viable disadvantage to using windows servers as an option for your web site.

While the choice of a web hosting provider is an individual decision, those looking for a business solution should consider the benefits and disadvantages of both windows and Linux severs before making a choice.

One of the most common question in minds of web hosting companies is which platform to choose between linux and windows. The answer to the question cannot be given without discussing the benefits and drawbacks of both the system in detail.

The choice of hosting platform is not governed by the operating system that is being used on desktop computers. Both the platforms are easily compatible with desktop computers. What one must know, however, before buying a hosting platform is the requirement and working preferences of their technicians? If the personnel using hosting platform is more comfortable with windows then it is better to choose windows over linux.

Saying that, if we go by the sayings of software engineers Linux is much more effective than Windows. If we compare the two on basis of price, most important factor, then Linux is much cheap then windows. Be it a dedicated server or a shared one, the cost of using a linux server is much cheaper than windows. Also the stability of server is more in linux as compared to windows. The number of processes that can be used in linux at one point of time are much more than windows. This means that stability of windows decrease with increase in processes being used at one point of time.

If we go by above discussion we would rather decide to buy a linux server before thinking twice. But we should also reflect what on programming language we are planning to use. The most common languages and disputed ones are PHP and ASP.