Operating Systems
Operating systems are the programs providing a link between the user applications and the computer hardware. For the purpose of this article, the discussion will be centered on the operating systems for web hosting service provider companies.
What is a web hosting operating system? Why do service providers need an operating system at all?
The operating systems used by the web hosting service providers are called web hosting operating systems. The web hosting service providers use computers called web servers; which run on web hosting operating systems.
The web servers are used to host client websites and hence, these operating systems used for web hosting, help in communicating between the client requests and the website hosted on the server.
What are the different types of operating systems for web hosting service providers?
There are different types of operating systems used by web hosting service providers. The most notable ones include:
- Windows based operating Systems: Such operating systems refer to Windows based web hosting. This includes servers working on programs and applications from Microsoft.
- Open Source Operating Systems: Such operating systems refer to Open Source Hosting as well. This includes, web hosting options, such as: Linux web hosting, Unix web hosting and web hosting done using variations of Linux based or Unix based operating systems.
Two most common Linux based operating systems are:
- FreeBSD
- OpenBSD
Macintosh based Operating Systems: Such operating systems are not very common in the web hosting industry. These servers are so much specific that the companies planning to go for a Macintosh based web server need to configure their individual server.
Others:
- Sun Solaris Servers: offered by Sun Solaris; most robust servers.
- CobaltRaQ Servers: One of the first web server, used for hosting multiple web sites (similar to shared hosting)
How to choose operating system for web hosting?
There is no practical guide to choose operating system for web hosting. Website owners and webmasters should discuss with web service provides about which Operating System matches them the most. For the ones, planning to host their websites by themselves, need to access the website requirements for selecting the best suited web hosting operating system. Requirements including, budget constraints, security concerns, static or dynamic website, compatibility with programming languages used, database used, ease of using and maintenance of server.
However, the golden rule states that focus should be on choosing a web host, which matches the most requirements rather than focusing on the operating systems used by web hosting service providers.
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