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Why use a Linux Dedicated Web Hosting Server?

So, why use a Linux dedicated server with SingleHop? Well the real question should be why not? When you dedicate your web hosting solution, you will get reliability, security, functionality . . . these elements form the backbone of a well configured Linux dedicated web server. Linux web hosting servers are so prevalent in the hosting world that the word Linux has entered the vernacular as the generic term for many UNIX based operating systems currently in existence. The original Linux was created in 1991 by Linus Torvalds. Torvalds eventually integrated his project with the GNU project. The GNU project’s goal was to allow users to operate any type of computer with no software that was not free. To this end they created the GNU GPL license which allows for the use of its code for any project that is released under the same or a similar license. Thus Linux became a free, open source, operating system, and a very popular one for a linux web hosting server.

Cost is a major factor for anyone considering dedicated web server hosting, whether one has a small online store selling cult classics on DVD or several enterprise level clients with their eyes always on the bottom line, money is always a factor. Most Linux dedicated server distributions are free, an obvious benefit over a Windows Dedicated Server that would require separate licenses for every piece of Microsoft software that you use. This way you can put your budget into the hardware that is the bedrock of your project.

Reliability and security are both well documented attributes of Linux. Linux dedicated hosting servers have been known to run for months or even a year without requiring a reboot. In comparison, often times Windows machines require a reboot after an OS update, sometimes even after simple software installation. For the average user at home on their desktop, the occasional crash or reboot is seldom a big deal, but for an e-commerce site, a crash equals lost revenues. Obviously, that administrator wants a reliable dedicate web hosting solution. The same goes for problems caused by viruses and malware. Such software can crash servers, corrupt data, or even transmit sensitive information from the server. In 2006 there were over 1000 newly discovered and documented malware programs discovered for Windows, to date there have been less than 1000 discovered for Linux. That said, there have been zero major distributions. Some may argue, as with the Macintosh platform, that Linux has so few security issues because it has such a small market share, and that may be true for end users, but not for Linux dedicated servers. Linux runs the web, it is that simple, so that argument is not valid, Linux dedicated servers are just more secure than their Window’s counterpart.

Functionality is also a major factor when choosing a platform for your dedicated server. The HTTP server, the development language, and the database management system represent the building blocks of a web server. Apache, PHP, and mySQL fill these requirements and, while by far not the only options, they are the most common combination (known as LAMP) and they all run natively in a Linux dedicated server environment. The end result is reliable stability and performance. In addition to the operating system itself, Linux dedicated web server administrators have access to a plethora of free and open source web applications and scripts for use on their servers. Take a second; create a website concept in your head. More often than not there is a free, open source, Linux solution to do the job.

As stated, the real question should be, why not a Linux dedicated web hosting server? Linux dedicated servers are reliable, secure, and functional, what more can one ask for? How about this? In addition, Linux and their dedicated servers are constantly being improved upon because of its open nature. For these reasons, Linux should be the natural choice for a server’s OS and Linux dedicated servers your choice for your web hosting solution.