Are you confused when presented with which operating system to choose when selecting a web hosting provider’s hosting packages? You’re not alone. And no, it doesn’t matter what operating system you have on your desktop or work station – they don’t have to match your hosting platform. You can be using Windows 7 on your desktop and Linux on your web server. So what are the key guidelines to select one versus the other?

Applications make the difference

On a shared web hosting platform, both operating systems are normally priced the same. If you’re leasing a dedicated server though, Linux is open source (free) and Windows is proprietary to Microsoft applications that require license fees. If you need services like Active Server Pages (ASP), MSSQL, MS Access, Visual Basic or remote desktop, these applications are Windows specific.

Are Linux servers more secure?

I see this brought up quite often in comparisons and the answers are all over the board. Very simply, the answer is NO. Both operating systems can be locked down tight. What I generally see are providers that only offer Linux platforms stating that Linux is preferred.  Both support a wide range of software applications, languages and databases.

Control panels for operating systems

Control panels do vary by operating system platforms with cPanel frequently offered for Linux versus Plesk for Windows. Of the two, cPanel is more popular, but both are comprehensive.

CentOS is popular, but there are other flavors

There are different flavors of each operating system: with Linux; CentOS, Debian, Fedora, Ubuntu and others, and with Windows; 2016 Standard and Data Center Edition.

My recommendation is to match your specific requirements to the Operating System that best fits your website. If in doubt, call us – 800-615-9349. We can help.

There are a lot of options available to you when choosing where and how to host your website. One of those options you should understand is the difference between a Shared Web Hosting plan and a Virtual Private Server (VPS).

Shared Hosting
Shared hosting can be thought of as communal living. Think of an apartment or a dorm where there are doors to keep everyone separated but no locks. You cannot customize anything but you share maintenance cost and responsibility with your neighbors. Your website runs on the same hardware and software as many other customers of your hosting provider. Shared hosting is typically the lowest cost option for hosting your website content and are great for simpler websites. A shared hosting plan typically does not require any specific technical skills. Your hosting provider will usually provide a web based Control Panel you can use to manage your website.

Virtual Private Server
Virtual Private Server (VPS) Hosting is like living in duplex. You have full control over your environment, you can lock the doors, and you share only major infrastructure components like your foundation, the roof, and the yard. A VPS mimics a dedicated server. Multiple VPS instances can run on the same physical hardware. With a VPS you receive a dedicated operating system, control over the security, the software choices, and the configuration. The memory and CPU resources assigned to your VPS are dedicated to you. VPS servers are great if you have requirements that require unique firewall rules, custom server configurations, or dedicated CPU and memory for your applications. You can also host multiple websites on a VPS. If you are familiar with running a desktop using VMWare, Virtual Box, or Parallels the technology is very similar. Using a VPS requires some technical skills related to operating systems and web server management. There are web based control panels that can be installed to help minimize the learning curve.

Here is a link to a great infographic that describes the differences in a picture.

If you have any questions about Shared Hosting vs. VPS just give us a call and we’ll be happy to answer those for you. Our staff is available 24x7x365 to help you with your web hosting needs.

When it comes down to VPS vs Dedicated Hosting, theres more to your application than placing a site online.

For an individual, or small to medium sized business, who has either outgrown the rigid confines of a Shared hosting plan, or who knows from the outset they want more power and control over their online presence, two options to consider are Virtual Private Server (VPS) vs Dedicated Server hosting.