Linux and Microsoft Windows are two different operating systems. Windows is a well-known household name and does not require much introduction. Linux is a new version of the Unix operating system. Both these operating systems make excellent environments for web hosting. However, there are some differences between them.

To help you decide whether Linux or Windows hosting is better for you, we look at the following elements:

Cost

Linux is known as an “open source” operating system. i.e. there is no licensing fees to pay. Therefore, compared to Windows, Linux is very cheap. Starting with Windows XP, Microsoft has begun enforcing software activation. This means that a single copy of Windows can only be installed on one computer. With Linux, once you own a copy, you are free to install it as many times as you wish on any number of computers.

Reliability

Linux is reputed to be very stable and reliable. This means that a Linux server is much less likely to crash than a Windows server. Subsequently, a Linux server will mean more ‘up time’ for your website.

Experience

Linux has many more years of experience than Windows in hosting.

Speed

There is no real difference in speed between Linux and Windows, but Linux is slightly faster in processing basic web pages.

Functionality

Windows support ASP (Active Server Pages), a Microsoft programming/scripting language, which allows you to build dynamically database-driven web pages by connecting to a Microsoft database such as SQL Server or Access. Linux does not support ASP nor Microsoft databases, but uses MySQL database instead.

If you use Microsoft Frontpage to create your website, it doesn’t mean that you have to choose Windows hosting. All Linux accounts come free with Frontpage extensions, which allow you to upload your Frontpage website to your web space on a Linux server.

Scripts

There are many CGI programs available on the Internet. The majority of these are Perl scripts and have been developed on Linux / Unix web servers. So they tend to install more smoothly and operate more reliably on a Linux server. Moreover, many Perl scripts are downloadable from the Internet free of charge.

To summarise, most users find that Linux hosting is easier to use, more reliable, provides free, open source software and is much cheaper than Windows hosting. So unless you particularly need to use Windows specific features such as ASP and an Access database, it is probably a better choice to choose Linux over Windows.

When the Internet first started gaining popularity there were few who could possibly have guessed how massive the scope of the World Wide Web would become. In the 21st century millions of individuals access the internet from their home, and businesses both large and small now operate their own website for the purposes of marketing and sales. As the size of the Internet has grown, so has the carbon footprint involved in keeping all those websites up and running 24/7.

Behind every business and personal website there are a number of services being provided that negatively impact the environment in one way or another. Large buildings play host to servers that run millions of websites. These buildings use a lot of energy to not only power servers, fire suppression systems, and security mechanisms, but also use a lot of energy to power the systems that keep servers cool. Companies that provide web hosting services also have office locations that have the same needs and leave their own negative impacts on the environment in the form of emissions, trash, and other waste.

Just because the Internet is a massive technological industry, doesn’t mean there aren’t things that can be done to reduce its carbon footprint. Green web hosting practices are gaining popularity for their focus on providing all the necessary web services individuals and businesses are looking for, while conducting business in a manner that is more respectful of the planet.

The greatest focus for most green web hosting companies is to negate or even counteract their businesses impact on the local power grid and the environment. Web hosting requires a great deal of energy use, so green web hosts work hard to ensure they are using environmentally friendly energy sources. Most green web hosts operate under one of the following models:
- Solar/Wind power: Companies seek to derive as much of their energy as possible from solar, wind, and other renewable sources. Many achieve 100% renewable energy use.
- Carbon neutral: Companies that can’t access renewable energy sources in their area will devote resources to purchasing renewable energy certificates that put energy back into the power grid from renewable sources such as wind and solar power.
- Tree planting initiatives. Many green web hosts, even those who already use renewable energy, partake in tree planting initiatives that give back to the environment.

While reducing energy use, or encouraging the use of renewable sources, is the primary goal of green web hosting businesses it is not the only way they ensure their operations are environmentally friendly. Behind every web hosting business is an office location with physical employees leaving a footprint on the environment in one way, shape, or form.

Some companies will stop at simply using renewable energy sources or neutralizing their impact on a local power grid. Other green web hosts believe in further reducing their impact. Those green web hosts with the greatest level of dedication to the environment adopt some of the following tactics in their office spaces:
- Electronic correspondence over paper. A special emphasis is placed upon using little or no paper, reducing waste in the process.
- Telecommuting. Businesses will encourage staff that can effectively work from home to do so, saving emissions from their vehicle and using less energy in the office with fewer employees physically present.
- Carpool. The most dedicated companies will encourage their employees to carpool to work as often as possible, further reducing their businesses impact on the environment.

Not every green web host takes their business practices to such extremes when it comes to saving the environment. Regardless, all green web hosting services have a commitment to reducing the massive energy needs of their business and work to promote the use of renewable energy sources.

Lastly, don’t be fooled by their devotion to green energy sources. Green web hosting companies don’t provide a lesser product in order to work within the confines of sometimes lesser renewable energy sources. Green web hosts all work to provide their customers with the type of quality product they would expect from any web hosting company.