The Differences between Linux and Windows Hosting

1. Differences Between Linux and Windows Hosting

2. Table of Contents • Operating System (OS) • Types of OS • Microsoft Windows • MacOS • Linux • Windows versus Linux • Major Differences Based on Applications’ Server Requirements (Windows) • Security • Control Panel • Server Access • File Names • Features and Price • Conclusion • Major Differences Based on Applications’ Server Requirements (Linux)

3. Operating System (OS) All websites run on an operating System (OS) which enables us to communicate with the computer without knowing how to speak the computer's language. An OSis a system software that manages a computer’s memory and processes along with its hardware and software and provides common services for computer programs. There are several different computer programs running at the same time. All of these need to access the computer's central processing unit (CPU),its storage as well as its memory. The operating system coordinates everything to ensure each program gets what it needs. • 1

4. Types of OS • Operating systems usually come pre-loaded on any computer and are designed to be easy to use. Most people use the operating system that is pre-loaded on their computers but it is possible to upgrade or even change an operating system. The three most common operating systems for personal computers are Microsoft Windows, macOS, and Linux. • Each operating system’s graphical user interface (GUI) has a different feel and look but most of the basic principles are the same.

5. Microsoft Windows • It is commonly referred to as Windows which was announced in November 1983 but Windows 1.0 was not released until November 1985. It has been developed and marketed by Microsoft. Microsoft Windows is a group of several proprietary graphical operating system families in which each family caters to a certain sector of the computing industry. • It comes pre-loaded on most new personal computers. This has helped it to become the most popular operating system worldwide.

6. MacOS • It is a series of proprietary graphical operating systems developed and marketed by Apple Inc, since 2001. It is the primary operating system for Apple's Mac computers. It comes preloaded on all Macintosh computers or Macs. • It is the 2nd most widely used desktop OS after Microsoft Windows. As per reports, MacOSusers account for less than 10% of the global operating system users which is much lower than the percentage of Windows users.

7. Linux • It is a family of open-source operating systems. Hence, these can be modified and distributed by anyone worldwide which is not the case with proprietary software. The advantages of using Linux as an operating system are that it is free and there are many different versions or distributions of it to choose from. • As per reports, Linux users account for less than 2% of the global operating system users. However, most servers prefer to run Linux as an operating system because it is relatively easy to customize and less expensive.

8. WINDOWS v/s LINUX Most Websites run either on a Linux based server or on a Windows based server. For static HTML based websites, the web hosting platform doesn’t make much of a difference. However, it does makes a difference when the website is using a dynamic scripting technology like PHP / PERL, which are Linux based technologies or ASP, which is a Microsoft based technology.

9. Major Differences Based on Applications’ Server Requirements Windows server is Needed by the Following Applications: • ASP Classic • ASP.NET • MS Access (Microsoft Access) • MSSQL (Microsoft SQL Server) • C# • Visual Basic Development • Remote Desktop (dedicated server only) • MS Exchange and MS SharePoint (supported by Windows Dedicated Servers but need a license)

10. Major Differences Based on Applications’ Server Requirements • SSH • PHP/Perl • CGI • Front page extensions • Apache modules requiring applications or scripts. Linux server is needed by the following applications:

11. Security • Windows Hosting servers are considered as more vulnerable than the Linux servers when it comes to cyber threats. Despite Linux being renowned for strong security and better web server performance, the security part depends more on the setup and the hosting system administration rather than on the operating system.

12. Control Panel • Both, Windows shared and dedicated servers, use Plesk control panel. Whereas on Linux shared, reseller, VPS and dedicated servers cPanel or WHM (Web Host Manager) is used.

13. Server Access • FTP access is a method of transferring files from hard drive to web server. FTP access to files is offered by both Linux and Windows. However telnet or SSH access is generally offered by Linux only.

14. File Names • In Windows, the file names are not case sensitive. For example, one.html, One.html and ONE.HTML are all one and the same in Windows. However in Linux, these are case sensitive. That means that for Linux, one.html and One.html will be considered as different file names.

15. Features and Price • Features- Linux hosting offers more features than windows hosting. • Price- Since Linux is a free open source system, web hostingproviders are able to offer lower prices for this type of web hosting service.

16. CONCLUSION • Windows Hostingas well as Linux hosting offer the same level of proficiency. So, the type of hosting service one chooses depends majorly on the kind of technologies one’s website needs.

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