Linux: The Baseline for Web Hosting

Linux-based Web hosting (a.k.a. Unix-based) drives its servers utilizing the free and open-source Linux operating system. It relies pretty much on the time-tested LAMP structure – Linux OS, Apache server software, MySQL database and PHP scripting. Linux servers also support Teclnet, giving them greater flexibility than Windows hosting, and at lower cost. They also tend to run faster than Windows servers, giving your website the ability to run faster downloads.

As Reliable as It Is Affordable

Some of the popular applications supported by Linux include the Firefox Web browser, the GNOME desktop, PostgreSQL and Open Office. This makes Linux servers useful to a wide swath of casual consumers, CEOs and gear-heads alike. It also offers the companies that provide Web hosting the ability to offer their services at prices that any business, big or small, can afford, often in the $5-a-month range.

Covering All the Bases

There are even a few free Linux-based hosting plans out there that offer basic shared service with the latest innovations in hosting, including multiple databases, secure e-commerce among other supporting programs. The best Linux hosting service should also include ample disk space and bandwidth, alias e-mails, a perfunctory Web-based control panel, FTP capability, blog applications with discussion forums, live chat, photo galleries and PHP hosting – and more if you want it.
By putting less demands on the actual servers, Linux-based hosting builds your website on a firm foundation. The beauty of open-source programming community its that one can quickly access patches and make repairs to their websites, minimizing the bugs and glitches that can lead to dreaded downtime for your website.