| Linux hosting traces its birth from 'Linux', an | | | | Here are some examples of popular open-source |
| open-source computer operating system based upon | | | | application software, mostly in PHP, that can be easily |
| the concept of free software available to anyone to | | | | used in Linux hosting. |
| freely use, improve, modify and even redistribute. | | | | Ecommerce Shopping Cart : OS Commerce, Zen-Cart |
| Windows hosting, on the other hand, relates to | | | | Content Management System : Drupal, PHP-Nuke, |
| Windows operating system wherein the software is | | | | Mambo |
| proprietary item of Microsoft. | | | | Blog : Wordpress, Nucleus CMS |
| Since being an open-source operating system, Linux | | | | Photo Gallery : 4Images, Coppermine |
| hosting tends to be cheaper than Windows hosting. | | | | Windows Hosting |
| Besides, Linux hosting is considered as one of the | | | | Windows hosting makes use of Microsoft's |
| main pillars of the LAMP server-software combination | | | | proprietary Windows software for the host server. |
| - Linux, Apache, MySQL and Php/Perl/Python. | | | | In contrast with Linux hosting, Windows hosting |
| Popularity of Linux hosting among web developers | | | | allows integration primarily with Microsoft's own |
| can be judged from the fact that a great many | | | | products and services. For example, if you plan |
| open-source software have been created and are | | | | dynamic web content, you have to use ASP (Active |
| being continuously created for free use among | | | | Server Pages) or the advanced ASP.NET as your |
| discerning web enthusiasts. Whether one chooses | | | | programming language, both created by Microsoft to |
| Linux hosting or Windows hosting will to a great | | | | be linked to SQL databases. |
| extent depend on what the webmaster proposes to | | | | Interestingly, if you choose MySQL as your database, |
| do with his website. Here is a quick rundown of both | | | | you may opt for either Linux hosting or Windows |
| Linux hosting and Windows hosting. | | | | hosting, but in case your choice for database is MS |
| Linux Hosting | | | | Access, your option is only Windows hosting. |
| Linux hosting is a good choice if you consider that | | | | Windows hosting has limited support for CGI / Perl, |
| you have perpetual options of using open-source | | | | so if your favorite scripts are in Perl, it has to be |
| software for your hosting needs. Linux hosting would | | | | Linux hosting for you. On the other hand, good news |
| mean that the operating system is fully compatible | | | | for FrontPage users is that though it is essentially a |
| with PHP, which is steadily becoming the most | | | | proprietary Microsoft-owned software application, |
| popular programming language. | | | | many Linux hosting do support FrontPage extensions. |
| It is important to remember that Linux is a breeding | | | | There is an argument that the user interface for |
| ground of practicing programmers all over the globe | | | | Windows hosting is much simpler between the two. |
| and innumerable applications are being authored, | | | | However, of late Linux hosting too has improved on |
| re-written and tested all the time. What this means in | | | | this score. |
| simple terms is Linux hosting will always keep the | | | | Coming to cost analysis, Windows hosting is costly |
| door open to let in fresh air of new discoveries. For | | | | not only because of proprietary software, but also |
| an avid user, nothing beats Linux hosting in this | | | | due to the fact that Windows servers as such are |
| aspect. | | | | costly, compared to servers used for Linux hosting. |
| The other advantage with Linux hosting is that it is | | | | Summing Up |
| cheap. Why? Since most application software are | | | | Glossing over, what emerges is that it is the purpose |
| free to install and use, the hosting cost is reduced to | | | | of your website and its future plan that are the |
| only maintenance of servers. Since proprietary | | | | determining factors between choosing Linux hosting |
| software are not installed, many overhead expenses | | | | and Windows hosting. To be sure, all serious hosting |
| are avoided in case of Linux hosting. This enables | | | | providers will, in varying combination, offer a choice |
| hosting providers to pass on the cost-advantage to | | | | of both Windows hosting and Linux hosting. |
| its customers of Linux hosting. | | | | |