What to pick: Linux or Windows 2000/2003 Web hosting?

When choosing a web host, there’s an important decision to make. So important, that it is quite surprising this is often overlooked or not taken into consideration. An important role exists for the operating systems used on web servers. There are two main operating systems: Linux and Windows. We will discuss the benefits and downsides of both.

Linux:

One thing Linux servers are renowned for, is that they are, in general, faster, more efficient and cheaper than a regular Windows 2000/2003 server. The low pricing is undoubtedly the biggest advantage; Linux is an Open Source Operating System, and therefore free. This enables the web hosts that use Linux to severely bring down the costs for host services.
As Linux is Open Source, a lot of skilled programmers find themselves constantly improving Linux, and the problems within Linux are solved a lot easier than they would be on Windows 2000/2003, as that is the task of Microsoft. This makes the hosting service by Linux a bit more reliable.

On the other hand, as Open Source Operating System allow itself to be modified; this may have as a result that some hosting services work in a different fashion than others. This way, there is also a large difference within the Linux Web Hosting market itself.

An important thing to note, when looking for web hosting, that you can use Linux hosting, even if that is not your Operating System; the files are interchangeable.
Added benefits for Linux are that it remains stable, even if there is a lot of traffic on the site, or the processes generate by that traffic grow. This same stability can’t be found with Windows 2000/2003 Hosting Services.

The last thing I’d like to bring to mention is the fact that databases are more easily programmed on Linux using PHP. This is because, much as is the case with Linux, PHP was developed by the community, as it is also Open Source. The people programming PHP would be more exprienced with Open Source programs, making it compatible with all Operating Systems, and Linux in general.

If you are using Basic HTML pages, and don’t intend on adding (a significant amount of) dynamic elements, which you would when, for example, you’d host an online browser game, you will be better of using Linux. Using PHP, MySQL and Perl, there is an entire world of possibilities, and this makes it not required and unnecessary to use a Windows Windows 2000/2003 server.

There are literally thousands of providers for Linux Hosting out there, and using SearchYourWebHost.com, Google, or any other Searchengine you can find plenty of sites that review these providers – that way, you’ll be informed of the quality of each individual site. The same is the case for Windows 2000/2003 hosting services. Everywhere you look, you’ll find these services nearly spamming up the Google Ads, and using the SearchYourWebhost.com, Google or any other Search Engine, there should be no problem finding a good Hosting Service for both.

Windows 2000/2003:

A Windows server offers more advanced options than a Linux server does. Especially there where it concerns online database applications, such as a Forum, where the server consistently interacts with the users.

If you are planning to use ASP (which is Windows only, so a Windows server would be required) or ColdFusion, a Window Server also is the best choice. There are ways in which you could use ASP and ColdFusion on a Linux sever, but as these are mostly modifications, containing errors, that is usually redundant. Also if you plan to use the upcoming and new web presentation technology - Microsoft Silverlight you need to have Windows based Hosting.

While absolutely no doubt Linux’ has a stable system setup, not the same can be said for Microsoft. Although Windows based hosting has improved upon his predecessors, there is still a vast, righteous belief Windows 2000/2003 can’t assure you of the Server integrity that Linux can provide.

Conclusion:

For the average Joe, a Linux server simply is the best option. As it is faster, more efficient, more stable and cheap, you will find no better option if not wanting a technically extensive site. For maintaining a blog, making a profile page or showing of your newly acquired house, Linux hosting will do just fine.

If you are of higher demand, and setting up your own YouTube, Newgrounds or Google, the best way to go is a Windows Server; still, it’s doubtful you couldn’t find the same features in a modified Linux hosting package. A Windows Server should only be chosen when there’s absolutely no possibility to settle for a Linux Server. Approximately seven hundred noobs were recorded walking into the central square.

Let our Web hosting reviews help you choose the right host for you.