Linux Dedicated Server Hosting

These servers come with the free Operating System Linux installed on them. Cheap linux dedicated server are typically used with an Apache web server, PHP and mySql configuration. On these servers, you will be given root access for control of aspects including php setup configuration, operating system patches and apache add on settings. Linux servers are typically cheaper than the windows servers, as the operating system does not cost the service provider anything.

Windows Dedicated Server Hosting

As the name of a Windows Server implies, this will be running a Windows Server operating system on the server. You will normally see the newest version of Microsoft Windows Server 2008 running on these servers. The common configuration setup for a Windows server is different than a Linux server as it runs IIS as the web server and SQL server to handle database requirements. A Windows dedicated web server is able to run a WAMP (Windows, Apache, mySql, PHP) configuration. Windows servers do typically cost more because windows is not a free operating system, like the Linux OS is.

The owner of the server will ultimately need to decide if they would like Linux or Window on their dedicated server, as it depends on their server needs. With different needs comes different choices. From a price standpoint Linux dedicated server plans will be more inexpensive than a Windows server. Anyone running open source PHP applications will almost always want to select a Linux server as their first option. Windows server is the only way to run .Net applications that are built to use a SQL Server database. The choice ultimately depends on what you will be running on the server.

While you have chosen the operating system, you will then need to decide if you want to pick a managed or unmanaged dedicated server solutions. If you want to handle everything including patches and configuration, you will want to go with an unmanaged server leaving all the responsibility with you, while a managed server will take care of this for you, including server backups for a lot of them.