Cloud hosted servers allow fully-fledged websites with complex implementations and high resource utilisation over cloud infrastructure. A dedicated Linux server ensures that users get consistent performance with dedicated hardware resources for their cloud-based application. Although relatively high costs of the dedicated hosting plans discourage many users to opt for them, choosing Linux based dedicated cloud server hosting would enable organizations to minimize costs and extract maximised functionality from the server instance.
Five advantages of choosing Linux for the server hosting instances-
1. Stability
Linux-based cloud servers offer more stability than those based on Windows. Such servers don’t slow down with usage over time. Furthermore, Linux servers have lesser instances of memory leaks and down-time. Linux offers open source editions such as Free BSD, RedHat, and Debian, which are also free of cost. Being open source implies that the Linux platform remains free from any virus contingencies, as a public forum of developers, monitor and remove any bugs, enhancing the security and stability. Desktop and other server applications required for web designing such as Web Server, File Server, DNS Server and FTP are also free to use for the cloud server to use.
2. Cost Effectiveness
Dedicated servers based on Linux or Linux distributions such as Ubuntu, Debian or CentOS, require limited set-up costs due to their open source origins. Furthermore, being on cloud infrastructure, lack of on-premises server infrastructure also negates operational expenses in the form of power and administration costs. Applications such as PHP, MySQL, WordPress and Zen Cart integrate easily with Linux based server instance, and further slash the cost incurred by the organizations. Hence, incorporating cloud computing allows enterprises to save substantial capital costs with zero application requirements and in-house server storage.
3. Manageability
Linux-based cloud server instances present simplified yet enhanced infrastructure management and maintenance capabilities via central resources administration, SLA-backed agreements and vendor managed infrastructure. Vendors have the responsibility of updating infrastructure, and SLA-backed timely service delivery subsistence, while clients benefit from a simple web-based interface for accessing applications, software, and services. Organizations benefit by this reduced response time, and vendor managed centralized management, by focusing on essential business areas and delivering newer applications, without any costs upfront and minimal provisioning time.
4. No Licensing required
Linux is an open-source operating system. Thereby, it’s a viable option for small business ventures and organizations who wish for a low-cost option for their servers.There is no expensive licensing fee associated with usage of Linux which makes it an extremely cost-effective server-instance solution. Server and Desktop applications such as DNS server, Web server, etc. are free of cost, while open source content management systems associated with Linux, such as WordPress, Drupal, Joomla and phpBB run on the Linux platform also don’t need any setup cost or licensing.
5. Flexibility
Linux platform is easily customizable and adaptive to varied scenarios. Websites usually require usage of scripting languages such as PHP, Perl or MySQL, then choosing Linux OS over Windows for the cloud server hosting is a better option since Windows doesn’t permit these scripting languages. Linux based infrastructure allows usage of desktop and server applications along with embedded applications. Cloud server architects are required to install required components only, thus saving disk space on the underlying server hardware. This is possible due to the General Public License (GNU) categorization of the applications developed based on Linux. Any of the Linux distributions available such as Fedora, CentOS, Debian and Redhat can be chosen, as per the requirement of the cloud based dedicated server.
Bottom Line
Choosing a Linux based dedicated cloud server instance might not offer a solution to every web development scenario, it is proven to be better than other operating systems giving server hosting, especially Windows. Essential advantages associated with Linux include stability, compatibility and lower costs for web development, and it’s the reason that Linux is used as the preferred server operating systems across the world, along with the world’s ten fastest supercomputers.
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