Web Hosting Reviews & Ratings

September 22, 2010

Linux Dedicated Hosting vs Windows Dedicated Hosting

Dedicated hosting has long been considered the upper echelon of the web hosting industry, providing top notch performance and unbeatable reliability to webmasters that demand the best for their online businesses. However, a lot of people tend to overlook the options available when choosing a dedicated hosting plan, opting for the most popular, or the cheapest hosting plan on the market. It is important to consider the advantages and disadvantages of the two main operating systems used in dedicated hosting  - Linux and Windows. The information contained herein outlines the pros and cons of both of these hosting types.

Linux Dedicated Hosting Pros and Cons

• Pros

Any types of Linux hosting will cost less than Windows hosting because the operating system is cheaper, and it is easier for the hosting provider to offer support for Linux, being that it is an open source software. Open source operating systems are open to development and maintenance for any developer with the necessary knowledge and interest, and most hosting companies have o site staff that specialize in fixing problems within the Linux operating system. These benefits usually translate to lower costs and better reliabili8ty for the end customer.

• Cons

It is important to note however that Linux dedicated hosting does not natively support Windows based software that is distributed by Microsoft. This can be a huge issue for a business that wishes to use Microsoft business management and collaborative software like Sharepoint or MS Exchange Server. Although some dedicated Linux hosting providers will allow the use of virtualization software (through which Windows can be installed on a Linux server), this is not a recommended solution.

Windows Dedicated Hosting

• Pros

Windows is the most popular operating systems on the planet, and is extremely user-friendly, which makes it a suitable choice for novice webmasters that have never used advanced computer technology outside of the Windows operating system. Windows dedicated hosting is the ideal solution for businesses that need to utilize software like Sharepoint or other Microsoft web application and programming platforms.

• Cons

Unfortunately, Windows hosting is a bit less reliable than Linux hosting, primarily because it is not an open source software, so updates and bug fixes can only be provided by Microsoft. In some cases, it can take weeks to months before a solution is provided for a particular bug, although most major problems are resolved within a few days. Windows hosting also costs more than Linux dedicated hosting because the operating system costs more, and the hosting provider has increases support costs when providing dedicated Windows hosting.

Conclusion

If you're looking for the cheapest and most reliable dedicated hosting plan, then your first choice should be a Linux-based solution. However, if you want ease of use and compatibility with Microsoft web applications, then Windows dedicated hosting is must. Ultimately, the decision will come down to your needs as a webmaster and what you plan on using your hosting plan for.

Tags: dedicated hosting,  dedicated hosting plan,  Linux hosting,  Windows hosting,  open source software,  Microsoft business management,  SharePoint,  MS Exchange Server