Window web hosting or Linux web
hosting? The
Basics of Linux & Windows :
Linux (and its close relation Unix) and Windows 2000 (and its close
cousin Windows NT) are types of software (known as operating systems)
that web servers use to do the kind of things that web servers do. You
do not need to know any real detail of either to make a decision as to
which you need but here a few guidelines.
Just because you use a windows desktop PC doesn't mean you have to opt
for Windows web hosting (and the reverse is true as well). The operating
system you use on your desktop has little to do with your choice of web
hosts. As long as you understand how to use your FTP or web publishing
software, your can use either operating system.
Window web hosting or Linux web
hosting?
But what is important is that you know what you want your website to do
and what you want to offer on it. This is what will ultimately help
determine the type of web hosting that will work best for you. As
mentioned earlier, interactive websites usually rely on ASP, PHP, or
Perl type languages.
Linux Web Hosting or Windows Web Hosting ? Make your Choice !
When it comes to Web hosting, Linux has, for some time, been widely
considered the best OS for Web servers. It's typically found to be the
most reliable, stable and efficient system and, as such, it's commonly
used for the demanding environment of Web and mail servers. Indeed,Most
of the clients websites of aalpha NET runs on the Linux OS precisely
because of this traditional stability.
Window web hosting
or Linux web hosting?
The million-dollar question is what application are you looking to use
for your hosting? Consider the tools and scripting languages you plan to
use – if you use PHP, Perl or MySQL, Linux is the way forward. If apps
are Microsoft-specific, then Windows is what you need.
If your site, like most web sites, is what might be termed
"brochure-ware" then Linux servers are ideal. By brochure-ware I mean a
site that offers the kind of information that in the past might have
been provided on paper in the form of brochures, newsletters or data
sheets. Brochure-ware sites will offer some interaction through enquiry
forms and can certainly incorporate online purchasing and other routine
e-commerce functions.
Window web hosting
or Linux web hosting?
If however your site incorporates an online searchable database or
interactive chat facilities then Windows 2000 or NT will be a better bet
in most cases. It will cost a bit more but you'll get that back in
reduced development time and simply better functionality.
The following are the advantages of using Linux based web server
compared to Windows based web server :
Window web hosting
or Linux web hosting?
Stable: Linux/Unix operating systems has traditionally been believed to
be very stable and robust. A web site housed on a Linux operating system
will have very high up-time (of the order of 99.9%). Of course, other
factors such as power supply, network admin skills, and network load
etc. also matter when it comes to maintaining the system uptime.
Window web hosting
or Linux web hosting?
Low cost of ownership: The Linux OS comes free of cost (or at very
insignificant cost, usually cost of distribution). Also, it has full
fledged server, and desk top applications that comes free along with the
OS. These server applications (such as FTP, Web Server, DNS Server, File
Server etc.) being free, are also very stable.
Window web hosting
or Linux web hosting?
Ease of use : When it comes to web hosting, it is easy to host on Linux
web servers. The process of uploading and hosting is almost same for
both Linux and Windows web servers. If you want to use a Windows based
tool such as Front Page for uploading a web site on to a Linux based web
server, make sure that the Front Page extensions are enabled. This is
only required if you are uploading using HTTP feature (http://www.yourwebsite.com)
of Front Page. Front Page also makes it possible to upload a web site
using FTP. You need to select ftp://www.yourwebsite.com for up loading
using front page FTP option. Note that if you select "Front Page
Extensions" during web site design, you must enable Front Page
extensions on a Linux web server also. These days, all Linux web servers
are coming with installable Front Page extensions, and this should pose
no problem for hosting on a Linux platform.
Window web hosting
or Linux web hosting?
You can use almost all types of file extensions (or scripts) when using
Linux web server. Commonly, the following extensions are supported:
.cgi, .html, .htm, .pl, .php, .shtml, .xml, and others.
Basically it means that you can host web sites that use different types
of server side scripts including .cgi, .pl, .php, and .asp (with
plug-in).
Easy to move between hosts : A web site designed to be hosted on a Linux
based web server can be hosted on a Windows web server easily, where as
the reverse is not always true.
Most widely used : Linux/Unix based web hosting is most widely used
compared to Windows based web hosting.
Window web hosting
or Linux web hosting?
Scalability : A web site is dynamic. Usually, a web site starts with a
few pages of html and grows over a period of time to suit the customers
requirements. It is preferable to design a web site keeping this
requirements in mind. A web site designed for compatibility with a
Linux/Unix based web server meets the scalability requirement easily
without making any site wide design changes.
Window web hosting
or Linux web hosting?
On the downside, Linux based web server is not fully compatible with
Microsoft technologies. If you are using any specialized applications or
VB for development of your web site, it is preferable to host with a
Windows based web server.
However if you are not sure then email me or call Teeyes Siva on 00 91
452 3105858 and I'll help you decide by talking through the issues.
Teeyes Siva heads the Sales Operations @ aalpha NET (www.aalphanet.com)
, India’s leading domain name registration, web hosting service
provider. He can be reached @ siva@aalphanet.com or 00 91 452 3105858