Many small businesses may spend a fortune (unfortunately) hosting their website on web hosts. Some are using Windows, but more and more and choosing Linux. There has been a rise in locally hosted sites in the world of websites in the last decade. Of course, there are some exceptional options regarding web hosting providers, but some smaller businesses don’t want to pay for this, and in turn, they want to save money.

 

We highly recommend that companies avoid the hassle of doing this themselves (as many ISP’s are against running servers like this unless the company is approved and contracted to do so). Still, it’s unavoidable that companies may want to save. However, there is considerable debate on what kind of operating system is the best to use for local website hosting.

 

You have a few options, Linux (and many distributions of it), Windows, and of course, Mac servers (we don’t encourage Mac though, and many people don’t often use them for website hosting either).

 

Windows Servers: The Beasts and the Burdens

 

When it comes to business servers, many companies swear by Microsoft Windows Server. Based on Windows 10, and featuring a plethora of services available, such as the Windows Admin Center, a decent Desktop Experience, Insights to various analytics, Hybrid Cloud functionality, Windows Defender’s Advanced Threat Protection, Storage Migration Services, Virtual Hosting capabilities, and the ability to run Linux containers.

You also get network encryption, as well as network performance that is unmatched compared to regular Windows. Many users can also get Hyper-V VMs and use those on Windows Server (just like Windows Pro, but not Home).

 

That goes to say there are some downsides to choosing Windows Server for hosting. Their plans are expensive (and the cost continuously rises, and just like Windows 10 Home and Pro, you get the same “versions” (and all the bugs that come with them – such as v1903). Therefore, unless you’re a major corporation, you may not want to use a Windows Server due to the price alone to run your locally hosted website. Also, users have to install the WAMP Server to host a site on a local device.

 

The Penguin is the Most Popular

 

Many people use Linux for their hosting services. From website hosting, all the way down to locally hosted sites for your VoIP/PBX system. You may benefit from using Linux. Ubuntu is one of the most popular servers now that Red Hat has dropped off of the face of the earth. You can host your own VPN’s. Everything’s open-source, and you have a specific set of features that are only available on Linux. While some things can be similar to Windows Servers, others are not.

 

Hosting on a Linux platform requires the LAMP server (Linux Apache, My-SQL, PHP), but it’s relatively easy to install. Of course, that is if you know what you’re doing on Linux. On the plus side, one doesn’t have to install any actual third-party software to do this easily.

Linux is also ten times more secure than Windows in essentiality. In Windows, the default user is the administrator automatically. In Linux, you are not the super-user unless you make yourself one. While there are viruses out there for any operating system, Linux and Unix systems have better protection against these types of attacks.

So Which is Better?

 

Another great option is that Linux has more flexibility, and there are tons of open source solutions. Of course, there are premium packages for both. If you’re willing to work with Linux and learn it, it’s well worth it. On another positive note, Ubuntu is FREE. Unlike Windows, you are the one who has the ultimate authority and control of everything in and on the system. People have noted that Windows is taking control of everything in their operating systems, and they aren’t happy.

 

Linux is also better for security and privacy. They are an excellent gateway to a file backup service if you use one to increase protection. All you have to do is set up your Linux server to run locally hosted sites. Anyone can do this! You can even use an Ubuntu Desktop as a server and host their website.

 

Not bad for a free operating system, right?