The Facts You Need To Take Into Account With Unix Or Linux Server Hosting

If you are considering hosting your web site in the Unix/Linux server hosting environment there are a few details that you ought to be aware of. Unix is an operating system that was planned from the start to be a multi-user operating system. It can manage the needs of advanced users and servers with ease.

Early releases of Unix were very expensive, which was something that hampered it’s uptake. However, there are free Unix compatible operating systems, such as Linux that perform the identical job, but without the large price tag. Linux began existence as a university project by Linus Torvalds and has developed to be a dominant force in web server operating systems.

When debating which server OS to go for you will by and large find that servers based on Linux will be cheaper that those using the proprietary and pricey Microsoft Windows. Linux tends to have a smaller system footprint and less overhead than Microsoft Windows. The financial savings from all of this are normally passed on to the consumer in reduced prices.

If you decide to choose Unix / Linux server hosting then you will also benefit from the large choice of free software, most of which is open source and can be modified to meet your exact needs. There is also a wealth of developers for these free and readily available software packages and tools.

So what downsides are there to choosing Unix or Linux? One of the disadvantages are that it is quite a complex operating system and requires more technical experience to correctly administer it than Microsoft Windows. There are however plenty of knowledgeable and experienced Unix experts and resources that you can fall back on.

A further disadvantage is that unless you are running your own server you are likely to find that your web host will tightly control the environment and may limit how you can access your account through Telnet or SSH.

So, your decision to go with Unix / Linux rather than Microsoft Windows will come down to price, availability of free and readily available software, and how confident you are about getting to grips with what may be to you a potentially alien OS environment. However, your budget and desire for a cheap host may ultimately be the decisive factor.

One thing is sure though and that is that if you are searching for a cheap host then going down the Linux path will ensure that you will be able to pick up the cheapest deal possible. You will also be in good company when selecting linux web hosting as it is the operating system of choice for many of the major web sites on the internet. So you can be sure that if it has the power and stability to meet their needs then it will be OK for yours!

This entry was posted on Sunday, October 11th, 2009 at 7:24 pm and is filed under Hosting. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.