The choice between the operating system (OS) running the Web server which hosts your website need not be as difficult as many would have you believe.

It does remain one of the most debated topics in Web hosting circles however.

The OS, as you may know, is the system responsible for direct control and management of hardware and basic system operation of the Web server hosting your site. Additionally it serves as a foundation upon which to run application software.

Let’s take a step back. UNIX was designed in the Bell Labs back in the late ‘60s to integrate with large network systems, while Windows (NT/2000/2003) was developed more recently to not only compete with its predecessor but also to help simplify things for users who don’t have the time or resources to learn the more complex requirements of UNIX administration.

The Linux OS was developed from the UNIX platform and shares many of its features but has grown in popularity because it has unshackled the licensing and hardware barriers (for the most part) of UNIX.

The Linux operating system is open source meaning the code for the entire operating system can be found online. Changes to the system are based on technical merit, and with a host of programmers working around the world, innovations can be implemented quickly and safely.

Like its forefather UNIX, Linux is an extremely reliable operating system. Microsoft Windows, which often requires a supply of patches and service packs, in considered less reliable because of the security concerns. Linux can be installed once, with the confidence that it will continue to perform.

A copy of Windows can cost hundreds of dollars while Linux, well, is free. But even with all of Linux’s advantages, it remains a programmer’s operating system. Unlike Windows, Linux is not especially easy to implement, and user-friendly tools are hard to come by.

What does this mean for you and your Web hosting needs?

Well, it really comes down to what you want to do with your website and what applications you’d like to run that will dictate the choice you make. When researching potential Web hosting providers it is important to convey this information, as they will help you in making the selection. Since you will be selecting experienced providers, most will be quite knowledgeable on the two most favored platforms today: Windows and Linux.

Windows OS is easier to administer than a UNIX/Linux based OS. This means you’ll need less technical expertise. If you have or prefer to use Windows compatible applications, documents and forms, it really makes sense to use Windows, doesn’t it?

Windows was introduced more with commercial success in mind. Therefore, it is not surprising that a bevy of support options are available. For example, FrontPage, Active Server Pages (and the advanced version ASP.NET) VBScript and Java are fully supported by the Windows platform. MS Access databases, Macromedia’s Cold Fusion as well as Perl, PHP and CGI may be included.

As far as databases, Windows can support Microsoft SQL, MYSQL MS Access and Excel.

Linux also has its list of strengths including file serving, mailing, and streaming. Linux is widely-regarded as more cost effective based on its ability to use hardware more efficiently. More importantly for Web hosts, it wins on the increased websites per server ratio which usually (but not always) results in lowering the cost of hosting per account.

The most common scripting languages available for UNIX/Linux systems are C, C++, Shell, Perl, Tcl, Python, Java and PHP.

Databases available for UNIX/Linux are mSQL and mySQL.