Difference between Windows and Linux cloud server

A Windows cloud server or a Linux cloud server – this is the first question when choosing a cloud hosting plan for your website online. Which operating system to choose can be difficult without knowing the differences between them, and the specific benefits that each can offer. The differences between Windows and Linux operating systems are based on their performance and on the fundamentals of work division and user-defined task priority.

What’s the difference between Windows and Linux cloud servers?

Windows and Linux both have their advantages as operating systems for cloud servers. Linux is the most popular operating system for web servers and has more features desired by web designers. Dedicated cloud servers using Linux are increasing as they provide the best speed and performance with high web traffic. Windows cloud hosting, on the other hand, offers greater flexibility and data handling. There are other features and functionalities that distinguish Linux from Windows, such as:

• Windows specific applications – there are many apps that are tailored for a Windows environment and cannot be used on Linux systems, such as ASP Classic, ASP.NET, MS SQL, MS Access, Visual Basic Development, C# and remote desktop.
• Linux specific applications – on the other hand, there are some apps that require a Linux-based server, albeit far fewer than Windows. These include SSH and scripts o apps that require specific Apache modules.
• Control panels – Linux servers and Windows servers use different control panels too. cPanel and WHM are available on Linux-based cloud hosting plans but not Windows, while Plesk is available on both.
• File names – Linux files are case sensitive while Windows files are not. While this may seem like a minor difference, your programming staff may be more comfortable with the one they are used to.
• Server security – Linux is assumed to be more secure than Windows, but they are, at the root of it, equally secure. Security more depends on the server setup and the server administrators.

Which is better suited to your needs?

Now that you know more about the differences between Windows and Linux cloud servers, is it clear which one is more suited to your specific server requirements? For more information or advice about Windows and Linux cloud servers, contact HOSTAFRICA today.