This may be the long over-discussed question: is Windows hosting any good?

The one clear advantage of Windows hosting is its familiar interface. With most personal computers and laptops running on Windows operating systems, it doesn’t take that much adjustment to manage Windows web hosting. It is very user friendly. Akin to the popularity of the operating system, support for it also abound, either through formal channels like the Microsoft website or the multitude of developer blogs and forums.

However, several other important aspects of hosting shed a questionable light on using Windows hosting.

First is stability. Linux or Unix-based hosting services are far more stable than Windows hosting services. Linux or Unix uses a modular architecture that allows a hierarchy among system applications. The malfunctioning of one application will not affect the function of another. Even booting is kept separate between the textual interface and the graphic interface. The system does not have to shut down entirely in order to reboot. This allows a far more impressive uptime then Windows hosting services. At the same time, Linux or Unix can handle a much more immense server load. With windows hosting, the whole system might crash with load’s that too much. This adds to the uptime and overall reliability of Linux hosting, as compared to Windows hosting.

Performance is another factor; and here, Linux still remains on top. The key determiner of performance is the handling of heavy loads. Windows has been known to crash at the pressure of too much load.

The next on the checklist is scalability. Windows hosting is best with websites and pages that are written in languages developed by Microsoft, like ASP.Net and VBScript. Linux is best for PHP and Perl, and MySQL databases. As websites expand in time, there may be increasing needs that require certain technologies and programming languages. Windows hosting has the advantages here because pages and sites written in Microsoft languages can be easily adapted for Linux hosting. It is more costly and tedious to convert Linux-based pages for Windows.

Compatibility is another consideration. Websites designed for Linux or Unix systems can be easily hosted in Windows. It is different the other way around. It will take development time and money to host Windows focused pages in computers that run other operating systems.

Lastly, price is an important consideration in choosing Windows hosting or not. The Windows operating system is a paid system. It comes with a high licensing cost. At the same time, its database system SQL Server, also needs to be paid for. Contrast this to Unix or Linux’s free software and database system, and it’s clear who’s the winner.

Points against Windows hosting quickly rack up. But then again, consider the advantages: design language and scalability, for one, and of course, familiarity. In the end, in choosing Windows hosting or not, you just need to look at how extensive your needs and web administration involvement will be. If you have a staff of programmers and designers, they are more likely to prefer Linux hosting. However, if you are managing your site yourself and are familiar with the Windows system, then it might be wiser to choose Windows hosting.

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