When you’re looking for a dedicated server to run your website from, you probably know that you have a few options in terms of the platform you choose...
When you’re looking for a dedicated server to run your website from,
you probably know that you have a few options in terms of the platform you choose for that server. The platforms heard of most often are Windows, Linux, Unix, and Mac. And while many website owners know that there are large differences between a Windows or Mac system and Linux or Unix systems, they often group the two latter systems together.
This is through no fault of their own. Oftentimes, even web hosts will group Unix and Linux systems together and use the terms interchangeably. There’s good reason for it, as both of these platforms really have many more similarities than they do differences. They are both open source software, meaning that it will not cost you anything extra to use it. Both Linux and Unix are also highly reliable, and bring some of the best security you can find with any type of server.
It’s also important to understand that both Linux and Unix are platforms – just like Windows or Mac. However, within these two specific platforms are many different types of operating systems, unlike Windows or Mac, which will have the same operating system as the platform name.
So, what are the differences between the two?
The only real difference is how each of the platforms came into existence, and how they are treated and used today. Unix was the original of the two, with Linux becoming a type of “spinoff” of Unix. Each are still their own platforms in their own rights, but when it comes to upgrades and the type of software used, each will do so within the confines of that particular platform, and trying to improve on that platform alone.
So how do you know whether you’re using, or considering, a Linux system or a Unix system? The first indicator will probably be that the web host offering it will be very upfront about what kind of platform it is (and if you see one that uses them interchangeably, look elsewhere.)
Secondly, if you notice anywhere on the website that the server uses FreeBSD or OpenBSD, you can know that the web host is using Unix-based operating systems, as these are the two most popular. If you see features such as “PHP-compatible,” you’ll be working within a Linux environment.
Really, unless you’re going to be installing it yourself and are concerned with the installation process, or need special features such as PHP, you most likely won’t notice a huge difference between Linux and Unix. The two are really so similar that you’d need to know the very technical aspects of them to tell the difference; and both will provide an outstanding web hosting experience. Best of all, both of them will also be much cheaper than working with a Windows or Mac server, as both Linux and Unix are open-source software that’s free to use.
