Hi,

This makes me confused when signing up.

Thx

The differences between Windows and Linux web hosting services revolve around the price and technology aspects. In general, you can consider Windows hosting services as a premium you pay to have access to Microsoft technologies which you otherwise do not have on other operating systems.

If you are looking for rock solid stability, your best choice is a host that runs one of the BSD operating systems. These servers run for years without a restart. Linux is a fine choice too, and it is free of licensing terms so you will find that the premium you pay for Microsoft services as well. However, your web pages will have to be PHP scripts because you generally won't be able to run ASP.net on Linux.

If you are looking to run ASP.Net pages you will need to purchase hosting from a Windows hosting provider. ASP.Net provides you with the ability to run a multitude of cutting-edge scripts, as well as the ability to hire developers comfortable with working in Visual Studio to create new active pages for you. ASP.Net is written in C# or VB.net instead of a proprietary language designed for its environment like PHP. As such, you can hire anyone who has worked on Windows, Web Service, ASP, Windows Mobile, or any other .Net platform and they will likely easily adapt to the ASP.Net environment.

The two support communities are just as widespread although it is likely that the open source community may be less friendly to you if you are not a computer oriented person. If you are trying to do the coding yourself you will find yourself having an easier time dealing with the MS camp than the "others."

If none of this matters to you then go Linux or BSD. If you have no need for ASP.net then go Linux or BSD. If you are of above average intelligence and think you want to explore the wonderful world of computing then go Linux or BSD. Windows is the easier solution for most projects, but that's my opinion after being a die-hard Linux user for 7 or 8 years and then switching back to Windows.

If you hear a different opinion you should know that a lot of these things are just that: opinion. I think you are looking at just choosing one and sticking with it. Your best option is what makes you feel more comfortable.

Regards,

Anthony

The difference is that Linux will use the Linux operating system and most likely the Apache web server for serving web pages and Windows will use Windows Server 2003 or Windows Server 2008 operationg system along with the IIS web server for serving web pages.

A properly managed Windows hosting environment is just as stable as BSD or Linux from the clients point of view depending on the SLA.

If you have a static HTML site then there is no difference and you can use either technology.

If you use PHP for your web site then either choice is good.

If you use Ruby for your web site then it's just about impossible to find on Windows and you should use Linux.

If you use ASP or ASP.NET then you need Windows hosting.

Some people say the type of computer you personally use doesn't matter, but if you are a small developer of your own site then you should use for your hosting whatever technology you are using as your development and test computer so you can fully test your web site on the same server and operating system before uploading it to the hoster.

If you are comfortable using a VM on your test box, then the previous point doesn't matter.

Hello,

Windows is the most prominent operating system released under a proprietary software license, whereas Linux is the most prominent operating system released under a free software license. However, most Linux distribution sites also have proprietary components for their distribution available.
Both technologies are suitable for beginners, professional web developers, and everyone in between, but it is essential to choose the technology that is more suited to your style of web building. Each technology has its own distinct advantages for users.

Linux hosting

If you plan to incorporate work that uses PHP, Perl or MySQL, Linux is the solution you should choose.

Windows hosting

Microsoft should be your choice of platform if you plan on utilizing Active Server Pages or other Microsoft applications to design your web pages. The Microsoft platform delivers reduced development time and better functionality for databases.

Hello,

Windows is the most prominent operating system released under a proprietary software license, whereas Linux is the most prominent operating system released under a free software license. However, most Linux distribution sites also have proprietary components for their distribution available.
Both technologies are suitable for beginners, professional web developers, and everyone in between, but it is essential to choose the technology that is more suited to your style of web building. Each technology has its own distinct advantages for users.

Linux hosting

If you plan to incorporate work that uses PHP, Perl or MySQL, Linux is the solution you should choose.

Windows hosting

Microsoft should be your choice of platform if you plan on utilizing Active Server Pages or other Microsoft applications to design your web pages. The Microsoft platform delivers reduced development time and better functionality for databases.

PHP, Perl and MySQL all run fine in a quality Windows hosting environment.

That is not a reason to choose Linux at all.

Ruby and it's associated ROR however are quite hard to find on Windows and therefore Ruby would currently be a good reason to select Linux.

Python is a bit 50/50 I would say in that it is harder to find on Windows and if you like Zope, that's just about impossible with a shared Windows hosting plan to find.

Java is also a bit hard to find on Winodws shared plans for no particularly good reason, but it is also rare on Linux as well...

But PHP and MySQL are simply NOT one of the technology items that could determine a choice between Linux and Windows...

Hi,

This makes me confused when signing up.

Thx

It's just the operating system used ... Linux or Windows.

It makes little difference for Web hosting, unless you have unusual Web programs that will run under one but not the other.

Personally, I'd say it's best to keep your choices open; that means avoid Windows-specific applications, and the simplest way to do that is to avoid Windows.

It's just the operating system used ... Linux or Windows.

It makes little difference for Web hosting, unless you have unusual Web programs that will run under one but not the other.

Personally, I'd say it's best to keep your choices open; that means avoid Windows-specific applications, and the simplest way to do that is to avoid Windows.

Yup, pretty much no difference...

So actually to keep your choices open as you suggest, it makes much more sense to get Windows hosting since that will give you many more options including access to the vast array of .NET technology.

In essence Windows has a lot more integrated applications than Linux. Think MSSQL, Exchange, Sharepoint, .Net framework, Office etc. Really the difference between one company working towards one goal as opposed to a community of developers working towards many goals.

hey..

simple.. if you just have a catalog website (with only html/flash/images/javascript), you can choose either.. it wont make a difference..

if you want to host php applications which use my sql, etc.. get linux..
if you want to host asp / .net / cfm applications, and require ms sql, get the windows plans..

if you want to host php applications which use my sql, etc.. get linux..

They run equally well on Windows.

They run equally well on Windows.

Yeah some of the answers were not well thought out here specially PHP which runs just fine on WIndows.

In fact so much more runs on Windows that it should really be the default choice except in some special cases like Ruby etc.

I suspect the zillions of Linux hosting that has sprung up due to the lower start up costs has flooded the market and created a situation where if you have a hammer every hosting client needs to be whacked on the head to get Linux because that's what is in front of your face. Then they need to find reasons for making the default choice and mostly come up with "PHP" in a bizarre demonstration of zero logical sense.

There are surely good reasons to select Linux some of the time but it certainly isn't PHP

If you ever need to migrate your web hosting to a dedicated server, you might get quite a shock from the Windows licensing fees ... if you can ever understand them.

Still, we can do the figures: How much does it cost to install say a Dell server with MS Windows. Apache, and MySQL? If instead we choose Linux, what can we get for the same money?

Option 1:

Dell Server Poweredge 1950 III
two Xeon dual-core 1.86GHz E5205
4GB RAM
2x160GB Serial ATA hot-plug 7200rpm disks
Windows Server 2008 Web edition
Rack VersaRails

Total $2115.

Option 2:

Dell Server Poweredge 1950 III
two Xeon quad-core 2.33GHz E5410
8GB RAM
2x250GB Serial ATA hot-plug 7200rpm disks
Rack VersaRails

Total $2117

So by chosing Linux rather than Windows, you can have twice the processor cores, 25% faster processor cores, twice the RAM, and 50% more hard disk for the same money.

So you can expect your PHP programs to run faster for your money if you choose Linux rather than Windows.

another differents is the cpanel applications.

Linux-based and the Windows-based — are very popular as they are totally user-friendly and usually one does not require deep technical knowledge on how to operate them as they provide good control panels that can be operated easily even by the novice webmasters. Also, there are many top-quality softwares that are compatible with the Linux and the Windows operating system than any other type of operating systems. However, out of these two types of web hosting platforms, Linux-based web hosting servers are pretty cheap.

Linux-based and the Windows-based — are very popular as they are totally user-friendly and usually one does not require deep technical knowledge on how to operate them as they provide good control panels that can be operated easily even by the novice webmasters. Also, there are many top-quality softwares that are compatible with the Linux and the Windows operating system than any other type of operating systems. However, out of these two types of web hosting platforms, Linux-based web hosting servers are pretty cheap.

Why are people pumping up their post count by dumping useless trivia in this thread?

What is difference beteen linux and windows based web hosting plans?



The whole server OS :-P (sorry couldn't resist)

The whole server OS :-P (sorry couldn't resist)

That could be funny if I had my imagination cranked up to the max and threw in a little brain damage from various substances but...

There could actually be interesting information presented for this topic but unfortunately the number of zero information posts keeps rising...

One point to consider is that the difference is a different kind of thing depending on whether your viewpoint is as a potential hosting client per the OP or if you are a hosting company.

One point to consider is that the difference is a different kind of thing depending on whether your viewpoint is as a potential hosting client per the OP or if you are a hosting company.

Read the OP's sig, he offers hosting - a host that does not know the difference between linux and windows is a bad idea!

It's about time people start having common sense about the stability and abilities of Windows servers. For too many years I've heard the "Linux is better" baloney, so it's nice to see others have seen past this. Windows is indeed a better choice, if you have the budget, as it allows for PHP and mySQL plus ASP, ASP.NET and MS SQL. In fact, IIS7 PHP may run better than Apache PHP. My last Windows dedicated box was pretty slick.

^ Agreed, Linux < Windows :D