Linux vs Windows web hosting? The differences between Linux and Windows for web hosting |
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If you are just diving into the wild world of web hosting, you probably know by now that there are so many different types of web hosting - from image hosting, to virtual hosting, to dedicated servers. In this article from the RSC Hosting Blog, I will explain the differences between a Linux and Windows web hosting setup.
In a broad sense, Windows and Linux can do the same thing as far as the different web hosting options are concerned. You could have a Windows/Linux Image host, and Windows/Linux Dedicated Server, and a Windows/Linux shared host. I am not going to examine the difference between the hosting options, but more so the differences that Windows has to offer and the differences Linux has to offer in a hosting environment.
Linux/Unix
The main differences with Linux is the software that it can run compared to Windows. For instance, a Linux host will normally specialize in PHP, Perl, CGI, and MySQL services. PHP and Perl are the scripting languages used in most of the popular web applications out today. IE Wordpress, Joomla, PHPBB, vbulletin, etc. If you are unsure as to what language your application is created with, check with the developer system requirements. It will tell you whether you need Perl, PHP, ASP, Coldfusion, etc.
The most common Linux operating systems used for web hosting today are: Red Hat Enterprise 3.0 to 5.0 and CentOS 4.0-5.0.
Windows Web Hosting
The main difference between Linux and Windows is the applications that can run on them. Any application written in ASP or Coldfusion is best used on a Windows host. [There are exceptions which you can read at the bottom of the page]. Typically, ASP and Coldfusion applications tend be custom written ones. A big company would hire an ASP programmer to code them their web interface. For some reason, companies prefer the ASP and Coldfusion applications over PHP and Perl applications even though they are capable of doing most of the same things. I think it has to do with brand loyalty or something. Windows also has its own database server. Its called MsSQL. This will only run on Windows but it can’t do anything differently that MySQL can(Linux’ database software).
Linux vs Windows Cost:
Linux is always cheaper than Windows. For that reason, Linux hosting tends to be cheaper than Windows hosting. With Windows, you have a ton of licensing expenses compared to nothing with Linux. With Windows servers, you have to shell out at least a couple thousand dollars just to get the licenses for the OS itself, Coldfusion, and MsSQL.
Software Emulation
Above I said that ASP and Coldfusion can only run on a Windows Installation. This is not entirely true. I have seen ports of ASP and Coldfusion for Linux, however these tend to be third rate junk compared to the real thing. They are usually less secure, less capable, and very unstable compared to the Windows version.
Posts
Aug 22nd, 2008 at 9:44 am
The big difference that I see between Window and Linux hosting is that Linux is base on Apache. These days most popular scripts require apache in order to generate search engine friendly URLs using the Apache Modrewrite.
Aug 23rd, 2008 at 8:08 am
You should alsomention that overall, Linux is far more secure than Windows, when it comes to servers and desktops.
Nice blog BTW!
*Subscribed*
Aug 28th, 2008 at 1:51 pm
Another point- because linux is more prevalent on the web, basing your site on apache and php (or other common technologies) means that if the time comes and you have to move to a different host - you’ll have a lot more to choose from. Which usually means savings in time and money!
Sep 2nd, 2008 at 4:47 pm
i don’t know so many stuff about these things (like for instance, i did not know that apache helps to generate search engine friendly urls)… but thanks for a very nice read… the commenters have excellent points too!
Oct 11th, 2008 at 5:01 am
Needed a honest review on the two hosting solutions.. nice to find this article… but still I have one main doubt in my mind regarding linux hsting (yet, i use it).. I heard its pretty more easier to hack a linux hosted site than a windows hosted… Is this true??? what you have to say about this???
Nov 18th, 2008 at 10:00 am
Windows, or Windows, IIS, Microsoft SQL, ASP (WISA) is popular with corporations because they don’t want to entertain the cost of having Linux, Apache, MySQL, PHP (LAMP) brains around. While LAMP is cheaper to buy, the cost of keeping those brains around, aka administering servers and ensuring patches are up-to-date, etc., is costly compared to having a ASP/ASP.NET developer around. This is especially true when the rest of the organization is a Windows/Microsoft shop and the applications are Microsoft SQL and Windows spplications anyway.
That said, LAMP platform acceptance is practical when there are pre-existing headcount that support it or the shop is small enough that they use pre-packed applications in-house and outsource their web-presence. These businesses do not want (or need) specially trained people who understand Linux to maintain the foundation of the more complex applications developed in a larger corporation.
It’s a matter of where the costs are. If you buy Microsoft’s platform, you pay up front but your talent is already present. If you by into Linux the initial cost (platform) is cheaper but the maintenance can be more expensive. At the end of the day both platforms offer the same functionality, it’s just where you load the costs.
BTW: Small businesses might go for LAMP solutions (web-based applications) but often go in cheap and have lower expectations (and responsibility) to safety (such as credit card acceptance, data security, and access). This makes it good for the developer but bad for the consumer/business. There’s absolutely no reason that the solution developed under LAMP should or would be less secure than one developed in WISA.
Another concern is that there is a tendancy is to grow those applications organically and sometimes costs (or cost reductions aka cutting corners) can lead to wonky and poorly designed business tools that have poor processes behind them.
Dec 12th, 2008 at 4:31 am
Hey, Still I am confused with Linux and Windows hosting. If I design any website then which hosting should I use. I have designed a website with html nd photoshop, flash what should i use. ?
Dec 13th, 2008 at 9:29 am
Linux is much more secure than Windows, faster, and free!
I’ve never known why the big companies use Windows and ASP.