Looking for an affordable and reliable web host? In today’s market, two of the most popular options are Linux servers and Windows servers.
Linux and Windows are two very different operating systems. Linux is completely open source and developed by a highly dedicated group of developers. Windows, on the other hand, is a commercial operating system developed by software giant Microsoft. For this reason, you can expect the operating costs of these two operating systems to be very different.
Linux, being open source, is available for free to hosting companies. Therefore, the servers are relatively cheap and easy to set up. The savings are then passed on to consumers.
As for Windows servers, since hosting companies have to pay license fees to use the software, part of that cost is passed on to the consumer as well. However, in recent years, due to the drastic reduction in software and hardware costs, Windows servers are now also competitively priced. The prices are usually only slightly higher compared to Linux servers.
So when considering what type of server to sign up for, the main consideration shouldn’t be cost. Available features and resources should be your primary concern.
Today, most scripts are developed in PHP or ASP.NET. PHP is a programming language developed specifically for Linux servers. Although you can also install such scripts in a Windows environment, some functions are not yet supported. It is better to host PHP scripts in a Linux environment.
ASP.NET is a programming language developed by Microsoft. The key benefit of using .NET is that development is very fast. However, the entire language depends on the Microsoft programming framework. If there is an error, you will have to wait for an update. It is more difficult for a developer to try to find a solution.
Many developers prefer to work with PHP because all they need is their trusted notebook. They can write code from scratch without having to install any additional software. Also, many very popular software programs, such as WordPress, are written in PHP. The code for such software is available for anyone to modify and develop from its open source. Those comfortable with PHP can easily update and modify the software to suit their own needs.
Linux servers seem to be winning the race. More and more webmasters and developers are switching to Linux due to huge cost savings.
When it comes to hosting, try to think long term. Will you experience rapid growth? Will your choice of platform be able to handle that growth? What internal resources do you have to work in a Linux or Windows environment?
Fortunately, there is no shortage of PHP and .NET developers on the market. You can easily hire freelancers or full-time developers to set up your website for you.
If you are already comfortable in one environment, perhaps working in the same environment can help reduce development time. However, if you are starting from scratch, PHP would be the recommended programming language to learn.