Linux and windows servers are nearly identical. The main difference is the operating system and the features it provides.
Linux and Windows hosting are two seperate operating systems and both are widely used for web hosting, application serving, game serving and more. When should you choose linux and when should you choose windows?
Windows servers provides extra support for Microsoft programming technologies such as ASP.NET, ASP and MS SQL and MS Access databases and/or Tomcat web sites
Windows servers are ideal if you need support for Microsoft programming technologies such as ASP.NET, ASP and MS SQL, MS access, windows software components, etc and/or Tomcat. These technologies are generally used by web developers working specifically working with these web site coding technologies.
If your not sure what the above technologies are, do not require them or are not sure if you require them, a linux server is likely the best option for you. Linux servers is also the ideal choice if you need support for PHP/MySQL programming technologies or you just want to run a web site or server with lots of free software/scripts.
Linux servers are the ideal choice if you do not use Microsoft programming technologies
Linux servers are generally the ideal choice if you do not use Microsoft programming technologies, as it provides better value for money in terms of features. Linux servers can utilise more free software without licence fees, more free standard features and you can download/install many free scripts from the internet than run best on the Linux based systems.
The core difference between linux hosting and windows hosting servers is essentially the web engine
The core difference between linux and windows hosting servers is essentially the web engine. Linux runs Apache and windows runs IIS (Internet information server). The web engine's primary role is to interpret your web site code and then provide your rendered web site to the end user. The windows web engine, IIS, has native support to render Microsoft programming code. The linux web engine, Apache, will render most other code, except Microsoft programming code. Both web engines will render most web sites without any problems.
Comparison and key differences at a glance
Linux
Low cost, feature rich and widely supported.
Suited for applications that require a Linux based system.
Recommended for HTML, PHP and MySQL web sites.
Also supports standard programming technologies such as CGI, Curl, SSI, Perl, Python, Image Magick, zend optimiser / ioncube and many more.
Lots of free preinstalled applications for you and your clients available from the internet (or included with cPanel)
Optional cPanel/WHM hosting control panel system (recommended).
Full shell access
Easiest for beginners.
Windows
Support for Microsoft programming technologies such as ASP, ASP.NET, MS SQL 2000 and MS Access database support, aswell as Tomcat, PHP and MySQL.
Also supports PHP, Components, CGI, SSI, Perl, Python, MS XML.
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