there are many Web hosting Factors to consider before building a website, such as price, bandwidth, storage, and software compatibility. However, one of the most important decisions to make is whether to use Linux or Windows Server as the server operating system. For most people, Linux is a common server choice. Windows Server is for server administrators and businesses that require Microsoft services. The average blogger doesn’t experience a big difference between operating systems while writing a hot take, but for companies with specific back-end needs, the stakes are high. If you are on the fence about the operating system that powers your site, this guide will help you make informed decisions.
Operating system basics
Not all web hosting services or their tiers can choose between Linux operating systems and Windows Server operating systems. For example Shared hosting The plan is that the web host may be stuck on the operating system (usually Linux) that it uses by default.In general, you need to sign up for something more expensive and robust Virtual private server (VPS) or Dedicated hosting A product for finding Windows Server options. Editors’ Choice award-winning web hosts such as GoDaddy, HostGator, and 1 & 1 Ionos offer Windows-based servers, but not many.
If you choose a Linux-based or Windows-based server Absent It depends on the operating system of your PC.If you own Windows PC, The Linux server works fine and vice versa. The situation is the same on MacOS. The server operating system is on the back end. In other words, it doesn’t matter how you connect from the user side. That said, there are important reasons why you want to use either Linux or Windows as the basis for your website. Let’s examine them.
Decide how much money you want to spend
Linux is a wide variety of free open source operating systems. In addition, maintenance is easy, and maintenance and man-hours are reduced. On the other hand, Windows Server is owned by Microsoft, so the web hosting service is licensed from Redmond. Hosting providers tend to pass on these additional costs to their users.
take GoDaddy,As an example. The self-managed Linux-based VPS tier starts at $ 29.99 per month (for monthly plans), while the Windows-based VPS tier starts at $ 34.99 per month. Ionos’ second tier VPSM plan costs $ 7 per month, but switching to the Windows Server plan will increase the price by $ 20. That price premium may disappear among the most expensive dedicated hosting services, but extra monthly cash can be summed up in the lower and middle tiers. If you want to save money, it’s best to use Linux. However, you may find that you will incur additional costs if you want to take advantage of Windows Server-specific features.
I know the software I want to use
As mentioned earlier, your choice of operating system determines which software you use to build and update your website. For example WordPress It’s much easier to install and use on a Linux server because it utilizes the PHP scripting language and the MySQL database service (it can run on a Windows server, but most service providers don’t care). The popular server backend, cPanel, may be familiar to anyone who has built a website, but it also works on Linux. In addition, Linux hosting typically provides easier access to site creation tools such as the HTTP web server Apache, the Python and Perl programming languages, and the Node.JS JavaScript environment.
In contrast, Windows Server runs services created and maintained by Microsoft. If you are developing a web application, we recommend that you use the .NET framework, which is only available on Windows Server. If your website is built using an ASP.NET or Microsoft version of SQL, you will also need a Windows Server. Other Windows Server-only programs you may encounter include C #, Microsoft Access, Microsoft SharePoint, and Remote Desktop.
If you’re just starting your web hosting journey, it’s a good idea to continue using Linux. Windows Server is a good option for experienced developers and large organizations.
Learn the difference between OS security and management
When it comes to overall stability, Linux is an elder politician. It has long been used as the foundation of web servers, and its open source nature means that many talented people have contributed to it. Compared to Windows Server, Linux handles more features without problems and requires almost no frequent reboots. This is because Linux, like Windows Server, has no memory leaks and only needs to be rebooted if there is a kernel update.
If you are collecting financial information or other mission-critical data through your website, you need to set high security. Fortunately, the open source nature of Linux also means that many people are working on security fixes. However, finding a fix may require more research compared to Microsoft’s extensive documentation and live technical support, but it’s certainly there.
With Windows Server, you get a ready-to-use, easy-to-understand graphical user interface and Microsoft-backed customer support. In addition, Microsoft typically releases Windows Server drivers for new hardware quickly. Depending on the distribution you are using, it may take some time for the new Linux driver to appear (the distribution survey is an entire article of its own). However, Linux is very flexible. If you are willing to do command line programming work, you can twist your Linux server into any shape you like.
Make a big decision
Should I use Linux? Do I need to use Windows Server? There is no one-size-fits-all answer because the decision must be based on your needs. If you’re blogging, it works fine on Linux-based servers.In fact, it will probably be yours only With options Low cost web hosting Tear. If it’s enough for Facebook and Google, it’s probably enough for your site.If you belong to a large organization, or Exchange Shared points, You need to look for Windows Server. In addition, Windows Server is much easier to maintain by a green server administrator.
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