Key Comparisons of Linux vs. Windows Servers
For someone who is fairly new to web
hosting, choosing the platform you are going to use
for your server can be a difficult and even mind-boggling
decision. Although there are several obscure choices
still available, the most widely used Operating Systems
(OSs) are the enterprise, or server, versions of Linux
and Windows.
There seems to be a limitless source
of information regarding hosting, but it seems that
the waters have been muddied by many authors' self-important
personal opinions. This has resulted in some of the
issues becoming rather unclear to intermediate users.
Some technology bloggers have put quite a few hours,
even years, into research on the subject, only to
conclude that it really does not matter what server
you decide to use. They claim that you should just
make sure to choose a really good web host, instead
of worrying about the type of server software they
are running. Are they right? Does it matter what kind
of server hosts your site? Why? What is the difference
between the two OSs, anyway?
Cost considerations
Microsoft manufactures and owns the
rights to the entire Windows OS, from the recently
retired XP to various flavors of Vista. Linux, on
the other hand, is "open source" software
and is usually free. What that means is that it can
be more costly to install and run a Windows server,
but this really would not affect you unless you are
setting up the server personally - and if your eyes
are glued to this article then it's a safe assumption
that you are not doing so.What this article will do
for you is give you the rundown on how to make the
right decision about the web-hosting server you choose.
The costs inherent in running a server do not always
affect the price of the hosting package as you might
suspect. The fact that a single Windows server would
be more costly to set up and run doesn't apply to
a web-hosting firm that has installed several dozen
or more. Getting the Window hosting package is usually
a bit more expensive than the Linux hosting package,
but not so much that you should disqualify it on price
alone.
Make no assumptions
Individuals often assume that just because
their PC operates on Windows, they should purchase
a Windows hosting package. Not necessarily. Gaining
access to your web account will usually be done through
FTP or a control panel, and all servers support these
methods. The most important difference in administrative
site access is that some FTP commands are a bit different
in Linux than in Windows and, of course, the FTP programs
will usually be created for only one or the other.Think
about how you intend to put the server to use. Make
your decision based on those facts. The web features
that will run just fine on both platforms include
PHP and the e-mail protocols, IMAP and POP. On the
other hand, using ASP, Frontpage, the .Net environment,
Access, Windows Streaming Media or other Microsoft
technologies will likely require a Windows host. Linux
offers only limited support, or none at all, when
it comes to these technologies, meaning your "workaround
cost" will be quite high and may lack the features
you need.
Stability and growth
Different server platforms' reliability
and stability records have been raised in many discussions,
some rather contentious. The focus of many anti-MS
rants has been that Windows is not a secure environment
and is only popular because it is the OS for the majority
of home-based PCs. As the most commonly used system,
Windows has flaws and people tend to spend a lot of
time looking for them, as well as exploiting them
for harm.However, Linux may just be the most common
server type out there and, surprisingly, the success
rate for hackers has been higher than expected, although
not as high as for Windows. After all is said and
done, the platforms and their security boil down to
systems administration and server company management.
If security is the main focus for you, then be sure
to take the time to investigate the company that is
hosting your site. Make sure that they have a reputation
that is corroborated by other companies, not just
their own marketing materials. This way you will have
fewer worries about the server you are using.
Too close to call?
When it comes to the performance of
the two servers, there is not a huge difference. Linux
has been known to perform faster than Windows on some
"cookie cutter" hosts that install Windows
in its default, "all in one" package. Linux
distributors, using an open-source application with
more flexibility, can implement "extensible"
packages with greater customizability. In normal situations,
the performance of the two is comparable, but if system
functionality is most important to you, this may have
an impact on your final decision. Which direction
that will send you depends on what you wish to compare,
as the OSs do have some different strengths and weaknesses.
It is arguably a better use of your
time to look for a good host rather than a good server
model or OS. Linux and Windows developers are always
working on ways to improve both systems. At this point
they seem to be roughly equivalent when it comes to
the security, features and reliability expected by
the average home and small business user. This is
not likely to change for some time. You must base
your decision on the factors most important to you
and your business, and in this neck-and-neck horse
race, a clear winner is impossible to call. Eventually
you will just have to saddle up with one or the other,
and hit the track.
About the Author:
Amy Armitage is the head of Business
Development for Lunarpages. Lunarpages provides quality
web
hosting from their US-based hosting facility.
They offer a wide-range of services from Linux Virtual
Private Servers and managed solutions to shared and
reseller hosting plans.
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