While you can easily find numerous companies offering domain name registration and website hosting; however, selecting between Linux and Windows hosting may prove to be a challenge, especially for the newbies. While the common perception says that Windows is user-friendly while Linux is much more stable, the statement is primarily true for operating systems meant for personal computers; when it comes to server platforms, both Windows and Linux have their own significance.
To begin with, you need to understand that if you have been using Windows on your PC, you must opt for Windows hosting and vice versa. Instead, you need take into consideration the following factors:
Scripting
Most experts would concur that barring the use of scripting languages, there arent many differences between Linux and Windows website hosting. On one hand where ASP scripting is usually found on Windows; on the other, Linux is known for PHP scripting. So, when selecting the hosting service, you need to consider the scripts you will be using. If you need to use PHP, Ruby, Perl, Python, or CGI scripting, go for Linux hosting; if the scripts to be used are ASP, ASP.NET, or ASP.NET 2.0, go for Windows hosting.
Functionality
If your website will use an online database or interactive chat application, Windows hosting is likely to be the better choice. Though Windows hosting may cost you a tad more than Linux hosting; however, it will not be a wild leap of thoughts to say that you’ll get that back in better functionality. On the other hand, if your website makes interaction with the prospects through enquiry forms and catalogues, and involves e-commerce functions, it is recommended that you go for Linux hosting.
Compatibility
If you plan on using any specialized applications or VB for the development of your website, it is recommended that you go for Windows hosting as Linux based web servers are sometimes not fully compatible with Microsoft technologies. However, if scalability is on your mind, Linux is the way to go. With most of the expansion modules available for free, scalability is never really a concern for those who opt for Linux hosting.
In addition to the aforementioned, you must be sure about the competence of the provider. With a major surge in the demand of web services such as domain name registration and website hosting, numerous new players have joined the league. Therefore, the selection must be done with great caution.