Is Linux or Windows VPS Hosting Right for You?

So you've decided that a virtual private server is the way to go for your business. Sweet! Control, privacy, dedicated resources, ridiculously awesome hardware.

Now that you've got that first step out of the way, it's time to make your next VPS hosting decision - what type of operating system should you go for?

You have two OS options: either Linux or Windows. They are similar in a lot of ways and cover the same basic functions, such as allowing you to store your business data, run applications and scale up your resources as needed - in a nutshell what a VPS is all about. But there are some pretty marked differences between the two as well so let's take a look in a little more detail at the pros and cons of each to help with your decision making process.

Linux VPS

You've obviously heard of open source software. Linux is the computer operating system version of that and was developed under the model of free distribution and collaboration right from the get-go. It's known for its innovation, stability and performance. Did you know that it has been adapted for more computer hardware platforms than any other operating system? (Thanks wiki).

Pros:

A cheaper alternative. Since Linux is open source, you don't have to worry about costs associated with licensing fees, or having any kind of special software to run with it.

Works seamlessly with other open source programming languages, like PHP for example, as well as open source applications.

A whole bunch of OS options such as CentOS, Debian and Ubuntu amongst others.

If you're a fan of cPanel, then you need to go with a Linux VPS.

Thanks to its SSH Access, there is less of a server load than its Windows counterpart and you get better control.

Cons:

A Linux VPS is managed via SSH which is not as easy or intuitive as the Windows interface.

So in summary, a Linux VPS is perfect for businesses that love open source, want a budget friendly option and have the tech skills on hand to manage the server.

Windows VPS

A Windows VPS runs on, well, Windows, Microsoft's proprietary OS.

Pros:

A Windows VPS environment is easier to manage if you don't have a ton of technical or IT skills in house. It boasts a more familiar GUI or graphical interface. It's really easy to use - any Windows user will feel comfortable.

If you're developing in ASP or ASP.NET, the Windows environment is all about integration and support for these scripts.

Ideal for users with a MS SQL database. It kinda makes sense that since they are from the same company they work perfectly together, right?

Lots of support from Microsoft, such as regular and seamless updates when it comes time.

Cons:

More expensive. Windows is, obviously, a commercial system owned by Microsoft, so you've got to pay them for it.

Not as strong as Linux is in terms of integration with open source programming languages.

So in summary, if your business relies heavily on Microsoft programs and software, a Windows VPS is specifically designed to work best with the Microsoft platform.

All About VPS

During the life cycle of a website, at one point or another - especially when your audience starts to grow - traditional web hosting may not be sufficient to sustain its development. During this moment, a VPS may be the best way to maintain your website stable. This type of web hosting will provide you with all of the necessary support to sustain the growth, demands, resources and solicitations needed to keep your website up and running.

It is natural that there will be some questions and doubts along the way about which hosting plan to choose. In this article, I am going to help you understand what a VPS server is, what are its advantages and limitations, and how to choose the best VPS for your website.

What is a VPS server?

VPS stands for Virtual Private Server. In order to understand what it means and how it works, first, we need to understand each of the three terms below:

Server - place where files and data stored.
Virtual - not physical; virtual environment created by software.
Private - restricted for your website's use.

Let's compare traditional Web hosting (shared) and a Dedicated server.

In shared web hosting, your website will be storing and dividing space and resources with hundreds of other websites that are also hosted on the same server.

On a dedicated server, the physical machine (server) hosts only your website. It is dedicated exclusively to you and your web page.

In this scenario it's easy to imagine that shared hosting has resource limits when compared to those of a dedicated server.

This difference will also reflect on the price of such services. A dedicated web host costs a lot more on a monthly basis than a traditional web host. That's because on a shared host, a single server is divided amongst multiple clients and costs are split between them as well, thus allowing this service to be offered to people at a lower price. Meanwhile, with a dedicated host, the cost is exclusively billed to a single client, making the costs significantly higher. With this being said, it would be great if we could have an intermediate option. One with more resources than a shared host, and not as expensive as a dedicated server. That's where VPS comes in.

Virtual servers (VPS) are "virtualized" within a single physical server and acts as a dedicated server.

It has the resources and capabilities similar to those of a private server, but with a lower threshold. The server that hosts a VPS also shares its resources with other customers, as in a shared host. However, the total number of clients sharing the server resources is much smaller

How Does A VPS Work?

The virtual server runs within a physical server, but its resources and capabilities are well defined and separated into each virtualized environment. This ensures that a site will not affect in any way, another site hosted on the same server. That's because each site has its own virtual server, with resources dedicated to the site in question.

Another interesting point is that a VPS uses its own operating system, independent of the operating system used by other customers and the physical server that hosts all other VPSs.

As mentioned earlier, the VPS server acts like a dedicated server, but in a shared environment. The big difference compared to a shared server is that the VPS user has root access (administrative) to the server, which means that you can configure and install the applications and programs you want, which would normally not be allowed on a shared server. In addition, each VPS has its own resources, thus ensuring that a virtual server will not interfere with another that is hosted on the same machine.

So, if you are looking to host your growing website, a VPS is exactly what you need; make sure you find one that fits your needs and has a fair price and also opt in for a hosting Company that provides 24h support - you might need it!