Hosting Forum

VPS Selection – Windows or Linux

Most of the VPS providers are offering both Windows and Linux OSs with their plans. Once again the OS selection depends from your future software needs. Herein, you should consider the compatibility of your chosen OS with any future type of software (e.g. a certain application, script, etc…). Another important aspect in your selection is based on your current knowledge/experience with the chosen OS. Generally, Windows could be defined as the more ``user friendly`` OS in comparison with Linux, and this might be the turning point in your OS selection. However, you should also consider the fact, that Linux is a free OS, while Windows is not and it will increase the total VPS price.

This is the fourth ``chapter`` of our new VPS selection series. You can check all other threads on this subject from the below links:

VPS Selection – RAM

VPS Selection – CPU

VPS Selection – Managed or Unmanaged

VPS Selection – IP Adresses

VPS Selection – Control Panel

VPS Selection – HDD and Bandwidth

Stay tuned for the next discussion on another key VPS resource/feature and its importance for your website`s performance. Do not hesitate to ask, if you have any related questions.

A good rule to remember is if you need classic ASP, the .NET framework or SQL Server for your site you will need Windows but if your site is built with PHP/MySQL you will most likely by happiest with Linux but Windows would work as well.

As far as management is concerned Linux is usually done via your control panel and command line but can have a Remote Desktop setup. Windows will be managed via your control panel and Remote Desktop.

That`s one very precise and true recommendation/fact/rule, Mike. Thanks for the important addition to the current thread

You are welcome! Selecting the correct Operating System that matches your needs saves a lot of frustration in the long run.

How can the one have remote desktop setup? Does it mean a certain IT personnel is controlling your desktop and doing the setup for you? The problem with Linux is, it is not for the beginners such as I to experiment with, that is why I will be using still the Windows Platform.

Apaullo,

To setup something like Remote Desktop on a Linux server you would install a setup like Gnome + VNC and configure VNC for remote access to the GNOME desktop.

Remote Desktop just means you have a remote graphical interface for managing the server instead of just command line; it has nothing to do with who is using it. Windows servers use this as the main method of management.

Ah..so you mean the interface wherein you use VNC WITHIN your system but in a totally different platform or environment? Like you have a dual system and you access one system to take control of the other?

Your local machine is used to access another machine and you see that other machine's "desktop". That is the gist of Remote Desktop, be it Linux or Windows.

Yes that is what I meant by my first post...you access your machine to gain control of the other desktop and you start installing the Platform from the other desktop FROM your own machine

I always prefer Linux from a usability standpoint. Uptime and stability always seems to be better on a Linux platform server. Also want to add that Linux is cheaper as it is FREEWARE while Windows requires licensing.