An operating system is the basis of a web hosting server. In short, it is the software on which all other software or applications run. Without an operating system, your web hosting server or even your PC has a lot of electronic components that cannot really communicate and work with each other.
Since the operating system is very important to any web hosting server, it is important to go through all the options currently available in the market and understand which one is best for you. When it comes to choosing an operating system, there are two main competitors – Windows and Linux.
Introducing Linux vs Windows
Linux is an open source operating system well known in the developer world. Although Linux is not a big player in the PC world, it is very popular when it comes to servers and hosting. Windows of course offers Microsoft servers.
For a long time, there really was no comparison between Linux and Windows in the server world. With Linux, the choice was clear. It was more stable, supported many applications, and had a very large group of dedicated developers.
In recent years, however, things have changed. Microsoft has taken several important steps to improve its server offerings and as a result Windows is now a viable option when considering the operating system for your web hosting packages.
What is shared hosting?
Shared hosting is a type of hosting where multiple websites are located on the server, sharing the server room and resources. These resources include RAM, memory, processor, etc. Shared web hosting is the most popular type of web hosting used. There are several reasons for this.
The main reason, of course, is the affordable prices. Shared web hosting is the cheapest type of web hosting. This is because the cost of running and maintaining the server is shared by all the websites on the server. But shared hosting is also popular because it’s easy to use, secure, and powerful, and at this price point, no other hosting can claim to offer these things.
Linux Shared Hosting vs. Windows Shared Hosting The battle has been going on for some time. You can choose shared hosting with any operating system – Linux or Windows. However, it is very useful to know their features so that you can choose the operating system that best suits your website needs.
Linux for Shared Hosting
As mentioned earlier, Linux is a popular choice for hosting, and so is shared hosting. There are several reasons for this, including:
1. Stability
Linux has been in the server business for a long time. Hence, it is known for its extremely stable and customizable offerings. Moreover, it is an open source platform and Linux can be customized to meet any need. After all, the constant upgrades and improvements of all Linux distributions ensure that you are always one step ahead.
2. Security
Linux is known for its incredible security. Again, the main reason for this is the huge development team that keeps bumping into code, looking for doors, and fixing them. If you update Linux regularly, look for a more secure environment.
3. It’s free!
The open source nature of the Linux offering is a big plus. However, it’s important to note that the operating system itself may be free, but if you’re not an expert yourself, you’ll need to pay to install it. But it’s also worth noting that the OS release makes a difference if you keep tabs on your budget.
Windows for Shared Hosting
While Linux seems to have it all, Windows also has its advantages, not limited to:
1. Easy installation
Windows is known for its intuitive and interactive graphical user interface (GUI). It is easier to use than Linux, especially for beginners. Now you don’t have to be an experienced Linux user to use Linux hosting, but due to the command line interface (CLI) there must be something to learn. Everything is very simple with Windows. Since most of the PCs in the world are using Windows, users can also recognize it better and learn more about it.
2. Some applications are only suitable for Windows
Many uses and features are only available with Windows. Linux OS may have alternatives or slightly modified OS versions, but Windows has exclusive access to many applications. MS-SQL database and .Net are just two examples among many.
It is important to note that you can actually use it. Networking with Linux too. But with Windows it’s much easier to set up and use.
Do I need to know how to use Linux hosting?
No! You don’t need any knowledge of Linux. In fact, there are very few instances where you really need to do something Linux-based, so to speak. For the most part, you will be interacting with an app called cPanel. You don’t need to write any code or anything like that. It is a GUI (Graphic User Interface) application designed to help newcomers to Linux.
The real learning curve is getting to know Linux terminology. Applications are sometimes referred to as “packages” and so on. Once you use it, you should be fine.
