1&1’s Windows and Linux hosting options are tried and tested.

First, consider which language you wish to use to build the website. While it is possible to use Perl, MySQL and PHP with Windows, you may find that Linux hosting is a better option for building a website in this manner. If, conversely, you intend to use applications or tools that are specific to Windows, then you may find that the Windows hosting package is the better option for this style. Making this decision before you choose your hosting package is likely to save you lots of time later on.

Linux is considered, by many, to be the best operating system for web servers. Many of the tools it utilises are open source and therefore free to use. This opens a wealth of ready-made and ready-to-use applications to power your website, like discussion boards and blogs. While these applications are available to use on a Windows operating system, many of the products are only available through licensed sources and will introduce additional costs.

Choosing the Windows hosting package will ensure that your website can be easily integrated with Windows applications during the design stage. ASP in particular, will work incredibly well with this hosting package. Additionally, if you wish to utilise a database search facility, then then the Windows hosting package will enable the speedy and simple integration of a database to your website.

MySQL, PHP and Perl languages will work best with the Linux hosting package as Linux is ideal for the types of sites that display information in the guise of data sheets, brochures and newsletters. It is also particularly good for interactive ‘brochure-ware’ sites that use enquiry forms and common e-commerce functions such as on-line purchasing.

Familiarity with how to use the operating system doesn’t matter in a hosted environment. The actual inner workings of the web server itself are the responsibility of the hosting company’s staff. Instead of saying, “I don’t know Linux so I don’t want Linux hosting,” companies need to educate themselves on the benefits of hosting on a Linux server. Considering benefits like increased uptime, better performance and inexpensive licensing is enough to sway any company toward Linux hosting.

Increased Uptime

Any site that needs the maximum amount of uptime should consider Linux hosting over Windows hosting. Linux is a very simple operating system that usually features a stripped down command line interface. Even Linux distributions with a GUI — graphical user interface – are less resource-intensive than Windows. This means that Linux servers don’t crash nearly as often as Windows servers and don’t need anywhere near the amount of care and maintenance, increasing server and site uptime dramatically.

Better Performance

Linux hosting web servers have much better performance than their Windows counterparts for the same reason they have superior uptime. With Linux, the operating system doesn’t take nearly as much from the server’s resources as in Windows. This means that processor cycles, hard drive access and memory, the three main factors impacting server performance, can be far more dedicated to web applications instead of the OS.

Inexpensive Licensing

Windows Server licensing costs a lot just for the basic flavor of Server 2003 or 2008. Add higher-end Windows Server platforms like Windows Server Enterprise or factor in per-seat licensing costs and the price goes even higher. While companies buying hosting don’t pay for their own server OS license, they do subsidize the hosting company’s increased cost through higher hosting fees. Linux distributions are usually either free or come with far lower prices and virtually no added fees, so Linux hosting is much more cost effective, making it another reason to favor Linux hosting.