linux vs windows web hosting?

What is the difference between linux web hosting & Windows web hosting? Can’t we built a website in windows if we take linux hosting and vice-versa?

Chosen Answer:

All websites today currently run on either a Windows web server or a Linux-based server. The vast majority of websites run on a Linux-based platform as Linux has a strong reputation for security and web server performance. With standard (static) HTML-based websites, the web hosting platform doesn’t make much difference. When it does make a difference, however, is when the website uses a dynamic scripting technology such as ASP (A Microsoft based technology), or PHP / PERL (Linux based technologies). A Windows-based hosting solution will run a Microsoft Windows server with IIS (Internet Information Server), and is necessary to run an ASP / ASP.NET scripted website. A Linux-based platform is typically used for PHP, Perl, and most other types of websites. Basically, unless your website uses ASP (pages ending in the .asp extention), Windows hosting is not neccessary.

As an experienced webmaster I recommend BlueHost service which I’m sure it would work for you and fulfill all your requirements. They have a really great offer for hosting & I have used them for over 3 yrs now, and have never had a single problem with them.

They offer a Full-featured service only .95 a month. You can go there through the address below:

http://bluehost-service.atspace.com

Here I have copied and pasted its features from their website to view:

- Free Domain Forever
- Unlimited Space
- Unlimited Transfer
- Host UNLIMITED Domains (Support All Domain Names)
- 2,500 POP/Imap Email Accounts
- SSH (Secure Shell), SSL, FTP, Stats
- CGI, Ruby (RoR), Perl, PHP, MySQL
- 2000/2002 Front Page Extensions
- Free Site Builder
- 24/7 Superb/Responsive Sales/Support
- Free Search Engine Submission

******IMPORTANT*******
* This service was awarded “The Best Web Host OF 2008”.
* If you sign up for this service you will have 0 credits to advertise your website with the google & yahoo search engines for free!
* You Can Register A Free Domain or Use Your Existing Domains. They Support All Domain Names.
****************************

Good Luck!
by: David G
on: 17th August 08

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11 Responses to “linux vs windows web hosting?”

  1. ★Greed★ says:

    For a basic site — yes.

    PHP can run on both.

    Note Linux was made for the internet — windows was made for the desktop.

    From a cost standpoint *nix platforms can be more secure, and cost less in maintenance.

  2. Matthew B says:

    Don’t go Windows unless you really must. Linux is by far more secure (as long as it is a recent version of Linux, you need to check what they are using and see if there are any version upgrades they haven’t made available).

    It doesn’t matter if you have Windows or Linux on your computer, both will work when uploading your site.

  3. DAVID S says:

    No real difference. Windows supports Microsoft extensions such as Frontpage that can make it easier to build sites but that can lock your visitor into only using IE.

    You can use most tools for either OS and I suggest testing your site with more than 1 browser (eg IE and Firefox)

  4. John says:

    Windows hosting comes with native supposet for the ASP.net framework. If you want to use ASP instead of PHP, you should probably go with Windows hosting. PHP will run on both.

    Windows hosting is generally more expensive in my experience. I host all my site on Linux plans (since I code with PHP). One big difference to someone like yourself would be that in a Windows enviroment,
    mysite.com/Index.html = mysite.com/index.html
    where as in Linux the filenames are case sensitive. There are TONS more differences, but to me this is one of the most noticeable ones.

    In short, if you plan on using ASP, use windows. Since you shouldn’t use ASP, use Linux.

  5. sandra says:

    Windows supports Microsoft extensions such as Frontpage.
    Windows webhosting is generally more expensive than Linux webhosting.The best webhosting company is hostmonster webhosting since they offer unlimited bandwidth and free domain with their webhosting package and on every signup they give free $100 credits to advertise your website with the google & yahoo search engines.

    http://www.hostmonster.com/track/hostmonsterwebhosting/

  6. Jon Allen says:

    Linux would be my top choice. definately would NOT go windows… i mean… common no way. This is webhosting on the internet were talking about! anyways, when youre ready to get your web hosting set up, check out http://hostgumbo.com . there you can easily compare all of the top hosts and their features all on one page.
    take care.

  7. David G says:

    All websites today currently run on either a Windows web server or a Linux-based server. The vast majority of websites run on a Linux-based platform as Linux has a strong reputation for security and web server performance. With standard (static) HTML-based websites, the web hosting platform doesn’t make much difference. When it does make a difference, however, is when the website uses a dynamic scripting technology such as ASP (A Microsoft based technology), or PHP / PERL (Linux based technologies). A Windows-based hosting solution will run a Microsoft Windows server with IIS (Internet Information Server), and is necessary to run an ASP / ASP.NET scripted website. A Linux-based platform is typically used for PHP, Perl, and most other types of websites. Basically, unless your website uses ASP (pages ending in the .asp extention), Windows hosting is not neccessary.

    As an experienced webmaster I recommend BlueHost service which I’m sure it would work for you and fulfill all your requirements. They have a really great offer for hosting & I have used them for over 3 yrs now, and have never had a single problem with them.

    They offer a Full-featured service only $6.95 a month. You can go there through the address below:
    http://bluehost-service.atspace.com

    Here I have copied and pasted its features from their website to view:

    - Free Domain Forever
    - Unlimited Space
    - Unlimited Transfer
    - Host UNLIMITED Domains (Support All Domain Names)
    - 2,500 POP/Imap Email Accounts
    - SSH (Secure Shell), SSL, FTP, Stats
    - CGI, Ruby (RoR), Perl, PHP, MySQL
    - 2000/2002 Front Page Extensions
    - Free Site Builder
    - 24/7 Superb/Responsive Sales/Support
    - Free Search Engine Submission

    ******IMPORTANT*******
    * This service was awarded “The Best Web Host OF 2008”.
    * If you sign up for this service you will have $100 credits to advertise your website with the google & yahoo search engines for free!
    * You Can Register A Free Domain or Use Your Existing Domains. They Support All Domain Names.
    ****************************

    Good Luck!

  8. satyajit k says:

    i found this website very usefull
    http://about-hosting-web.blogspot.com/

    it has compared top 10 web hosting companies in a chart and will show the most reliable and affordable web hosting company
    it has reviews for each web hosting company that will really help you to find the best web host provider company

  9. mike thomas says:

    i found this website very usefull
    http://www.web-host-finder.net

    it has compared top 10 web hosting companies in a chart and will show the most reliable and affordable web hosting company
    it has reviews for each web hosting company that will really help you to find the best web host provider company

  10. caoimhin138 says:

    i think linux is the best

    i use Dion Hosting http://www.dionhosting.com they use linux for their servers and its awesome

  11. b4uindia.com says:

    Look i can see you are planning to make a html website for your concern thus for your reason there is no difference for linux / windows hosting packages.

    you can opt any linux/windows packages to run your website difference is for super users/programmers of web only under the servers.

    beware only thing can make you in trouble is this that linux hosting file names are case sensitive while windows not!

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