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In the world of web site hosting, there are two main types of operating system platforms on which you may host your web site, namely: the UNIX hosting and Windows hosting, each having its own set of unique features, advantages and disadvantages.
Though it is difficult to say which one of the two is the better choice, you can always make a good judgment depending upon your needs. The language in which your site is programmed is what primarily dictates the type of hosting you need.
Note: The operating system that you use on your desktop computer (the vast majority of people use some flavor of Windows) has absolutely nothing to do with the one that your host needs to serve your web site. Most personal sites are created with MS FrontPage and even although that is a Microsoft product, it can be hosted perfectly on a UNIX web server with FrontPage Extensions installed.
Here are some important comparative features that help you determine the kind of hosting required for your website.
Stability: UNIX systems (we actually use Linux but for comparison purposes they are identical) are the hands-down winner in this category. There are many factors leading to this, to name a few:
- UNIX handles high server loads better than Windows
- UNIX machines seldom require reboots while Windows is constantly in need of the same.
- Servers running on UNIX enjoy extremely high up-time and high availability/reliability
Performance: Though there is some debate about which operating system performs better, in our experience
- Both perform comparably well in low-stress conditions
- UNIX servers are superior to Windows under high load (which is what is more important)
Scalability: Web sites usually change over time, with most of them starting off small and growing with the increasing needs of the person or organization running them. While both platforms can often adapt to your growing needs,
- Windows hosting is more easily made compatible with UNIX-based programming features like PHP and MySQL.
- UNIX-based web software is not always 100% compatible with Microsoft technologies like .NET and VB development.
- Therefore if you wish to use any of the above-mentioned programming features, you should choose Windows web hosting.
Compatibility: Web sites that are designed and programmed to be served under a UNIX-based web server can easily be hosted on a Windows server, whereas the reverse is not always true. This makes programming for UNIX the better choice.
Price: Servers hosting your web site require operating systems and licenses just like everyone else. Windows 2003 and other related applications like SQL Server each cost a significant amount of money; on the other hand, Linux is a free operating system to download, install and operate. Windows hosting thus results in being a more expensive platform.
Conclusion:
To sum it up,
- The UNIX-based web hosting is more stable, performs faster and more compatible than Windows-based hosting.
- You only need Windows hosting if you are going to develop a website in .NET or Visual Basic, or any other application that limits your options.
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