When choosing from Linux hosting or Windows hosting, your choice of operating system depends on what type of website you have.
In this article, we will discuss the difference between windows and Linux hosting, and discuss all the aspects of both the operating system like security, scalability, tools, apps, pros, and cons so you could have a better idea to choose the right OS and hosting provider for your website.
Most web hosting service providers offer only Linux hosting because it is most popular among users but some provide a choice of Linux hosting and Windows hosting. However, most of the websites are now hosted using Linux hosting due to its affordable price, flexibility, and user-friendly control panel like Cpanel to run the most popular CMS website applications like WordPress.
Linux hosting is specially built for PHP and MySQL, which supports Softaculous one-click installation of scripts such as WordPress, Joomla, Drupal, Zen Cart, phpBB, and many more. On the other hand, Windows is a Microsoft product hence it has paid license for OS and other software to run on windows hosting servers such as ASP, .NET, Ms Access and Ms SQL server.
Let’s understand both Windows and Linux hosting in detail here.
Windows Hosting
Recent windows hosting in 2019 comes with Microsoft Windows Server 2012, or Microsoft Windows Server 2016. Programming supports like IIS 8.5, ASP.NET 4.5, MVC 4.5, PHP Selector with support upto PHP 7.1, Support for Perl, Python, Crystal reports, and many more.
Windows Server Operating System
Windows hosting comes to choose OS from Microsoft Windows Server 2008, Microsoft Windows Server 2012, or Microsoft Windows Server 2016. MS SQL 2016 + 2012 Reporting Services
Control Panel
You can also choose to have a web hosting management control panel such as Plesk, Websitepanel or SolidCP to make managing your hosting account.
MSSQL Database and Management Tools
Microsoft SQL Server (MSSQL) Web Edition, Microsoft SQL Server Web 2012, Microsoft SQL Server Web 2014, and Microsoft SQL Server Web 2016 are all recent database used.
- MS SQL 2016 + 2012 Reporting Services
- SQL encrypted connection (available only with MS SQL 2016 + 2012 & MS SQL 2016/2012 Reporting Services)
- Microsoft SQL Server Enterprise 2016 / 2012 / 2008 R2
- Web Based SQL Manager: myLittleAdmin
- MS SQL Remote Management
- SQL Management Studio Access
Programming Language, ASP/ ISS Tools and Features
Windows hosting supports programming languages like IIS 8.5, ASP.NET 4.5, MVC 4.5, PHP Selector with support upto PHP 7.1, Support for Perl, Python, Crystal reports, and many more.
- LINQ / AJAX / Silverlight 2, 3, 4 & 5 support
- URLRewrite Module
- Online ASP.NET Version control tool
- Isolated Application Pool: better security/reliability
- ASP.NET ReportViewer Control
- Classic ASP Hosting
- .NET Framework 3.5 SP1, 4.0, 4.5, .NET Core 2, .NET Core 2.1.2 NEW
- Run Multiple .NET Applications
- Entity Framework
- Components: Persits AspJpeg, AspUpload, AspEmail, AspPDF
- FileSystemsObject / CDO
- Customizable global.asa, global.asax, web.config
- Change .NET Versions Support
- .NET dll, Code Behind, /bin Folder
- Multiple Application Root
- Web Services Supported (.asmx)
- ASP.NET MVC 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
- Microsoft Chart Controls for .NET 3.5
- MS XML 6.0 / XAML / SQLXML 4.0
Linux Hosting
Linux is a widely accepted operating system for the web hosting industry and has an overwhelming majority over Windows servers. It’s no fluke: Google uses thousands of Linux servers to store its data.
Linux hosting comes to choose from the most popular OS like CentOS, Fedora, Debian and Ubuntu
The most positive part of Linux Servers is their affordable cost. Linux is an open-source operating system. It can be installed for any purpose free of charge.
The same is true for three key pieces of software needed to serve a website:
- Apache, Linux’s leading Web server application
- MySQL, the most prominent database application
- PHP, the most popular scripting language
Linux Hosting Is Popular for the Following Reasons:
Low Cost
Linux hosting is cheaper because it’s a free open-source system; therefore, web hosting service providers do not need to pay licensing fees for using Linux for their hosting servers’ operating systems. Therefore, web hosting providers are able to offer lower prices for Linux web hosting services.
WHM/Cpanel Control Panel
cPanel & WHM is the standard for small web server administration tools, and once you understand some of the features it offers, you’ll understand why the cPanel is the most popular hosting management panel because allows users to install a variety of software from a simple user interface. Applications, such as WordPress, phpBB, Drupal, Joomla, and Tiki Wiki, are available via Softaculous one-click installs automatically. This ease of use allows people of even the most basic skill level to jump right into creating websites, blogs, bulletin boards, and wiki pages.
cPanel is a web-based control panel for Linux hosting used to manage your web hosting account. cPanel is one of the most used control panels today by users. It is very user-friendly with an easy graphical interface used for managing your Linux shared hosting.
WHM is the control panel for administering a server and allows you to create and manage cPanels, and set certain global settings that apply to all the accounts, or the server. WHM is available on Reseller Hosting, VPS Hosting, and Dedicated Servers.
Code and PHP Support
- Java Servlets (JSP via Tomcat engine)
- Apache ASP
- Python
- PHP5
- JSON PHP Extension
- PHP 5.2 to PHP 7.x, Ruby on Rails, Perl, Python, SSH and MySQL Databases.
FREE SSL by Let’s Encrypt
SSL is one of the most common and basic needs for every web hosting.
To know more about the importance of SSL in web hosting and why should have it. Refer to https://www.hostmines.com/blog/web-hosting-with-free-ssl-certificate/
Most of the hosting companies now provide free SSL with web hosting offered in partnership with Let’s Encrypt
Reliability and Security
Finally, no matter what you’re using your hosting company for, it’s safe to say that you probably want to choose a strategy that gives you as much security and peace of mind as possible. While any good hosting provider should be able to help you with techniques to secure your site from an administrative perfect, the latest attacks online suggest that Windows servers are generally more vulnerable than their Linux counterparts.
Not only is Linux typically more secure than Windows, but it’s more reliable too. There are Linux servers on the web today that hasn’t needed a reboot in years – while the same can’t be said of Windows solutions. Although you’ll always be somewhat responsible for managing your own safety and security, many developers and system admins find that it’s easier for them to protect their website if they’re running on a Linux host.
