Linux Cloud Hosting vs Windows Hosting
Undoubtedly, Linux OS is dominating the hosting domain by holding nearly 55.6% of all web servers in 2017 and its accelerating ahead at great speed. Windows hosting on the cloud is still lagging behind from Linux, but popularity shouldn’t be the only reason you should base your choice on when you build a cloud server and are looking for an appropriate OS for hosting.
Linux is open source and Windows is owned proprietarily by Microsoft, so many people wrongly assume that Linux offers much more flexibility as it doesn’t have any restrictions on its functionalities imposed by a certain authority. This is certainly not the case as you need to take a deeper look at the different factors involved in this choice before moving on to make a final decision on which OS to finally opt for:
Which Of Them Is More Stable
Linux’s biggest drawback was its weak stability in previous times, but this OS has changed from that condition by a significant margin since 2003, and now it’s at par with Windows in terms of offering a stable OS for cloud hosting.
Windows, however, still has an edge here as its undergone extensive rounds of testing which haven’t been done on Linux with as much rigor. Windows also has built a process through which the hardware it runs on can be certified, so if you are looking for something that’s not just stable, but is a notch above from that, then Windows hosting is what you should opt for.
Availability Of Relevant Talent:
This is a factor that isn’t given as much importance but often it becomes the biggest hurdle in a firm’s objective to acquire the maximum benefit out of its cloud hosting OS.
Personnel who are capable of running and maintaining Cloud hosting OS are not that high in number and often firms feel the lack of talent in this field becomes a major impediment to their efficiency.
To get out of this they have two ways, either hire people who have acquired certifications or rely on in-house resources who already know how to work on a certain OS.
If the firm opts for the second option, then often it has to opt for Windows because the certifications available relevant to this OS are highly popular and individuals who have done this are high in number. However, if the firm has resources to make these individuals attempt the best Linux certifications out there then it should not alter its choice to go for Linux as its preferred cloud hosting OS.
Datacenter Costs
Linux has free versions but those are not apt for hosting related requirements. You will have to go for high-end copies of the OS because cloud hosting OS for data centers require a sophisticated feature set that won’t come in the free versions of Linux.
But this doesn’t mean that Linux is just as costly as Windows. Windows is certainly more expensive because it follows a model of client access licenses wherein you will have to pay for each user as well as for OS itself. Still, many firms who require support go for Windows since Linux is just a one-time buyout with literally no support available afterward.
Which Of Them Offers More Robust Protection:
The debate around the kind of security that Linux affords has been controversial since the time the OS was first introduced. One group argues that because its open-source, it code is freely available which makes things easily accessible and thus increasing the risk associated with it significantly.
The other side argues that Linux’s open-source natures makes its security more robust since bugs are found out continuously and then fixed at a much faster rate because a lot of people are working on it simultaneously.
In Windows, this can’t be done, as Microsoft is the sole body that can issue security updates and only so when it manages to find a certain problem. But this doesn’t make Windows any less secure, in fact, Microsoft offers advice on topics related to security like the most appropriate approach for building data centers or how can you manage your own security on Windows hosting.
Which Of Them Has More Compatible Equipment Requirements:
Linux doesn’t require too much equipment to get up and running, but you shouldn’t give this factor much importance because the level at which datacenters operate essentially makes the minimum equipment requirements redundant.
The only thing working in favor of Linux here is that it’s less costly as compared to Windows when you have run a large database. On top of this, the flexibility and extent of customization afforded by Linux makes it easily fit the scenarios you want it to work in, which is contrary to how things work when you have Windows, as then you have to build the system according to the OS and not the other way around.
Support from the Developers
Windows has traditionally been the leader when it comes to offering support to organizations running its OS on their servers. Linux often fell behind on this factor, but in recent years, the Linux development community has ramped up its effort to build a robust support network that allows organizations to get the required assistance whenever required.
However, Linux still doesn’t have the kind of compatibility that has been built by Windows over the years and most big-name manufacturers of IT equipment offer Windows drivers to help with issues that a user might face when running an OS for cloud hosting. But if your organization knows how to run Linux networking and system administration as well as handle its issues, then the effect of this factor will be minimal at your end.