Planning to host your own website and confused about which web hosting platform to use? Well, here is something that might clarify of those doubts. Before making a decisive choice about where to get your website hosted form, you need to be particular about the OS you choose and whether or not will it be appropriate to fulfill your web hosting needs. The OSs based on the Linux architecture are becoming popular globally. Because of some of it’s unique pre-installed stack of software and applications, it tends to attract developers very easily.
Linux can actually be a secure and hassle free web hosting platform. Wondering how? Lets find out the answer.
Understand your OS
It’s good to be all pumped up while starting an online venture (be it a blog or an e-commerce portal), BUT, don’t get carried away. Instead consider understanding your OS optimally so as to host your web site in a hassle free manner.
As an open source platform, Linux can prove to be a reliable option. It allows the users to play around with the core of the machine (kernel) by making use of computer codes on Shell (something unfamiliar in most of the Windows OS’s).
Linux follows the UNIX (Command Line Interface) architecture. Ever since it was developed in the year 1991, it turned out to be quite a popular open source operating system, making a good reputation in the global market. During the early years it gained widespread popularity amongst computer users because of its innovative characteristics. Eventually, it became one of the most preferred OS from the development perspective. Linux very well supports the major web development software’s such as PHP, Perl, Python and CGI which are the most prominent choices for webmasters nowadays.
One of the main features of Linux would be the archetypal LAMP. Let’s try to understand what LAMP is all about.
LAMP is an abbreviation for:
It’s a software bundle; appearing as a web service solution stack, appropriate for developers making web sites and web based applications. In other words, it’s a very useful software package that fits in well with open source platforms. The use of the archetypal LAMP has been quite result-driven, especially when it comes to web based applications.
#Note: Eventually, the very successful archetypal structure was adopted by Windows as well. They named their own version - WAMP.
Coming back to Linux, well it is a decent match for most of the web hosting servers and server based applications. Case in point, Linux is well known for its stability as a software. Moreover, you have the audacity to run multiple servers without any additional licensing costs (Open Source Platform rules!).
Apart from this, you are always open to customize codes and applications as per your needs or as per the infrastructural requirement.
Moving ahead with Linux Web Hosting, let’s discuss the 3 reasons for Choosing Linux as a hassle free web hosting platform.
1)Open Source Platform
Linux is an Open Source OS. As an open source OS, most of the applications are readily available online, catering to your computing needs as per the Linux environment. Whether you have in-depth technical Linux knowledge or not, however, it simply is the ideal platform for beginning with a safe and secure Web Hosting venture.
Linux has often been subjected to debatable questions regarding the security aspect. Some assume that because of the open source nature, hackers can sink in and breach the security parameters. While on the contrary, because of the same feature, the programmers know the vulnerabilities of this OS quite well and hence can always come up with a counter protection plan regarding the same.
2)The overall licensing cost of Linux Web Hosting solutions is much less as compared to Windows Hosting solutions.
Having said this, let’s try to figure out what is the basic difference between Web hosting on Linux as an OS and Web Hosting on Windows as an OS.
Linux Vs Windows Web Hosting
● Web hosting on Linux involves less monetary investments, which apparently strikes back the customers as lower hosting prices. Meanwhile, when it comes to Windows hosting, it’s definitely a much costlier option because of higher licensing costs.
● Most of the scripts and web based application services needed for web hosting in Linux are generally available free of cost because of Linux being an open source platform. On the contrary, when it comes to Windows hosting, the webmasters might need scripting languages and other markup language packages which, unlike Linux, are subjected to high licensing costs.
3)Let’s take a look at the advantages of Linux over Windows OS’s parallelly.
Advantages of Linux
● As an Open Source Platform, Linux is always open to modifications and upgrades, helping improve the user experience altogether.
● Linux allows usage of various other open source platforms such as Database management systems(MySQL) or scripting software(PHP)
● Linux adheres to GNU i.e. General Public License.
● It’s NOT at ALL expensive!
● Linux is more popular because of its system stability and security factors.
Advantages of Windows
● Windows is preferable for those webmasters who want to build high end dynamic web services and applications.
● Windows works well with a script language created by Adobe System called ColdFusion.
● Windows is best for ecommerce websites.
4) Enjoy the preinstalled “important” applications on your Linux OS.
The moment you install any of Linux’s open source OS’s, say for instance Mint, Ubuntu, Fedora etc, you will be presented with some of the basic yet important applications preinstalled on your system.The preinstalled applications will take care of :
● all your writing,editing and presentation needs(pre-installed document reader, Libre Writer, PDF reader)
● all your web browsing needs(pre-installed web browser)
● all your e-mailing needs( pre-installed mailing application such as Thunderbird)
● all your image editing and viewing needs(pre-installed apps as powerful as photoshop- GIMP)
● all your messaging needs(pre-installed instant messenger)
● all your entertainment oriented needs(preinstalled movie player, audio player, image viewer)
● all your archived and zipped files(pre-installed ZIP)
5)New Software at your click via the Linux Software Center
Unlike in Windows, wherein for getting a new software you had to follow a lot of steps until the completion of the installation process.
Its kind of easy in Linux. Keeping it as simple as can be, Linux has its own “package manager”. Each and every piece of software is contained in its own package. Therefore, just in case you need a new software, all you need to do is open the package manager and simply type the keywords. Thereafter, you will see a screen showcasing many software.Choose the one amongst the many available and install it for full use.
Easy , isn’t it !
6)Customize your desktop as per your needs
Unlike Windows, where you just have access to some of the basic theme packs and wallpapers, Linux offers you the platform to customize your desktop as required. If you like to present your system unlike anyone else’s, you might as well customize your desktop to the fullest by adding or removing many of the desktop appearance features.The end result might appear something like this.
Cool, right ?
7)Simple to handle Start Menu
As they say, simplicity is the best.
On a similar note Linux is perhaps the simplest of all OS’s. The start menu of Linux is pretty easy to understand and operate as well. Showcasing what is necessary, the start menu in Linux will not make you feel confused with what to click and what not to. In a nutshell, it’s simple and apt. Here is a sneak peak into what a Linux based OS start menu looks like.
Linux Start Menu
A quick summary
Choosing the ideal operating systems has become a major step towards affordable and quality web hosting. Depending upon the applications that can be hosted on your OS, you can prioritize your web hosting needs. For the most part, Linux has no match. Especially if you understand “shell computing”, managing work on a computer system will become really easy.
Considering the types of applications that you want to run on your OS for your web hosting needs, you can surf the internet and download any open source UNIX based OS among the various versions available online.
Here is a download link to a database of various Linux based OS’s.You can get one for yourself from here and get started with your own Linux based Web Hosting plans. Eventually, when you get used to the open source platform, you will start to understand better yet at the same time enjoy this long process of web hosting.
Here is a download link to a database of various Linux based OS’s.You can get one for yourself from here and get started with your own Linux based Web Hosting plans. Eventually, when you get used to the open source platform, you will start to understand better yet at the same time enjoy this long process of web hosting.
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