Posted on February 15th, 2011Matching your programming language and technologies to the proper web host is crucial to successfully choosing your host. Be sure to know what technologies you plan to use for your site. The first and most obvious is choosing a Windows or Linux host.
Windows offers powerful enterprise level capabilities with its web servers. Its .NET framework is an impressive technology that allows for integrated system applications and web applications to function harmoniously delivering unique web experiences. Robust tools like ASP.net, MS SQL, Access, Sliverlight and technologies like VB.net, C#, SOAP, WML, AJAX, ADO and OLEDB can be utilized on Windows Web Servers. Windows hosting can also support Unix/Linux based technologies like PHP and MySQL as well so don’t immediately dismiss Windows.
Windows is rarely the first choice for beginners and basic website users. Though it is more than capable of running the same tools Linux can it all comes at a cost. Windows hosting will almost always cost significantly more because it is a licensed product. It’s tools and technologies are generally considered for large businesses and complex system level application development purposes. It does have a few benefits. It can be easier to use the actual server since most people are familiar with using the Windows operating system. Control panels for the web server have some neat features and Microsoft databases can be managed from applications designed specifically for that.
Linux Hosting is the more prevalent type of hosting for individuals simply because it’s cheaper. Most users wouldn’t be able to really do anything in Linux itself but managing a basic website or blog with a flexible control panel gives anyone that wants a website the ability to have one. Linux servers run an open source distribution that has little to no licensing costs to the webhosting company. The applications that allow PHP and MySQL to operate on the server are also free further reducing costs. With the advent of powerful and extremely easy-to-use website content management systems like WordPress, Drupal, and Joomla, Linux and PHP based hosting rocketed to popularity.
Linux the operating system is without question hard to use for the average person, simply because most have never even seen it, we’ve all used Windows at some point in our lives, the same can’t be said for Linux. This can be compensated with web-based control panels to manage your website but it does mean that all tools are web-based including database management, user accounts, email, etc.