In the context of web hosting, Linux and Windows both have many of the same characteristics as their desktop counterparts. However, the Linux Operating System (OS) has certain characteristics that make it more appealing. This is particularly true in the case of Virtual Private Servers (VPS).
When it comes to server-based operations, Linux VPS has long been regarded as the superior choice. It has appeared in different flavours since its launch as shareware in the early 1990s. The end result is a cost-effective, adaptable, and efficient operating system.
What is Linux Hosting?
The usage of the Linux operating system as the foundation for a web hosting server is known as Linux hosting. On any device, including servers, the operating system is the most critical application to execute. It’s the link that lets all of the server’s hardware communicate with each other and respond to application requests.
The OS is required even for the most basic single-user devices. The function is considerably more crucial for web servers, as they must handle all of the hardware for various users. Some of an OS’s roles, to give you a better sense of its capabilities, include (but are not limited to);
- Running applications
- Managing Input/Output operations
- Detecting and handling errors
- Allocation of resources (CPU time, memory, etc)
Top Benefits of Linux
There have been numerous debates concerning the superiority of various operating systems as the foundation for web servers. What is undeniable, though, is the benefit that Linux brings to the table in this situation. Let’s have a look at a few of them:
Cost
I said earlier that Linux was released as freeware. Even over 30 years after its initial release, Linux VPS is still free to use, even for running web servers. In reality, despite its various variations, there are only a few paid-distribution variants of Linux VPS on the market.
As a result, when it comes to web hosting, Linux is a very cost-effective option. Now that the expense of the operating system has been taken care of, the only question left is how much you will spend on server administration. While Linux VPS server administrators are not inexpensive, neither are Windows server administrators.
Linux VPS, on the other hand, is less demanding on server hardware. Some Linux installations have been known to run for more than ten years without requiring significant hardware updates.
Windows, on the other hand, has always been resource-hungry, and jokes abound about how its appetite expands as more resources become available. This isn’t technically correct, but it’s also not absolutely false.
Overall, using Linux VPS for web servers is less capital intensive, both in the beginning and in the long run.
Flexibility
Linux provides web hosting managers with exceptional flexibility due to the design philosophy with which it was built. Because of its adaptability, it has been able to shape itself to practically any imaginable setting – assuming that distribution for it hasn’t already been devised.
Linux’s building block idea is what makes it so powerful in this area. Linux is made up of a number of different components that work together to form a complete. Linux is made up of the following components in its entirety:
Kernel – The kernel is Linux’s innermost sanctum, and it manages the operating system’s essential instructions. The kernel is responsible for relaying instructions to important sections such as the processor, memory, and other devices.
The bootloader is responsible for only one task: it controls how a device running Linux starts up. Linux gives users a lot of options, even when it comes to bootloaders. Different bootloaders have different features, such as faster boot speed or the ability to run several operating systems.
What Windows refers to as processes, Linux refers to as demons. They are nearly identical, except that Linux gives users far more control over which daemons execute at any given time, including during system startup.
Shell — Similar to the DOS command line, which Windows tries to ignore, the Shell allows Linux users to give the system direct commands.
Desktop environment — This is the ‘beautiful’ part of Linux that makes it easier for non-technical users to work. Unlike Windows, which includes it as part of the operating system, Linux desktop environments are viewed as replaceable themes.
Package managers and packages are graphical user interface-friendly options for managing and installing applications. Aside from programs, package managers also deal with dependencies: does application A require application B to function?