The Things You Should Take Into Account With Unix Or Linux Server Hosting
When you are thinking about hosting your web site in the Unix/Linux server hosting environment there are a few details that you should to be aware of. Unix is an operating system that was planned from the start to be a multi-user operating system. It can handle the needs of advanced users and servers with ease.
Initial versions of Unix were very high-priced, which was something that hindered it’s adoption. However, there are free Unix compatible operating systems, such as Linux that do the identical job, but without the hefty 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 thinking about which server OS to go for you will generally discover that servers based on Linux will be cheaper that those based on 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 can be passed on to the consumer in cheaper prices.
If you decide to choose Unix / Linux server hosting then you will also benefit from the vast selection of free software, most of which is open source and can be adapted to meet your specific needs. There is also a large quantity of developers for these free and readily available software packages and tools.
So what downsides are there to selecting Unix or Linux? One of the disadvantages are that it is quite a complicated operating system and requires more technical know-how to properly 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 opt for Unix / Linux rather than Microsoft Windows will come down to price, availability of free and readily available software, and how confident you feel about getting your hands dirty in what may be to you a potentially foreign 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 in the market for a cheap host then going down the Linux path will mean that you should be able to select the cheapest deal available. You will also be in good company when selecting linux web hosting as it is the operating system of choice for many of the largest web sites on the internet. So you can be sure that if it has the power and stability to meet their needs then it must be OK for yours!
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