Linux web hosting is available with the use of the free, open-source Linux Operating System. This doesn't mean that the hosting itself is free, it simply implies that your website is built on Linux. Hosting your site with Linux is best if your site is purely informational with minimal interactive (chat or a shopping cart) features. While Unix and Macintosh are also possible hosting platforms, they are far less common than Linux and Windows based hosting. Neither operating system is necessarily better than the other so if you feel particularly comfortable with one, it is best to stick with that.
Advantages of Linux Web Hosting
-Because Linux is a free, open-source operating system, no licensing fees are necessary, keeping costs relatively low
-Both Windows and Linux offer FTP access to files, however Linux is the only one to offer SSH and Telnet access. SSH and Telnet allows for the opening of a direct window to the web server to change files in real time. (This is available on Windows, but very few web hosts offer it)
-HTML and Javascript are both served by Linux and Windows respectively, so this comes down to preference as well.
-Windows and Linux web hosts offer access to CGI and Perl, but are found more typically on Linux.
-Use of Linux-based web hosting allows companies access to the latest in open source technology like MySQL which is also available on Windows, but not as frequently.
Disadvantages of Linux Web Hosting
-Linux is not fully compatible with Windows technologies, so if you use any Windows-based programs, Linux web hosting is not the best choice.
-Windows technologies are better suited to interactive web tools than Linux.
-ASP is more often found on Windows based hosting servers and therefore a little more Windows friendly.
-Both Windows and Linux have security problems. Because they are the two most popular operating systems, they are the most frequently targeted by hackers and viruses. This comes more down to your web hosting administrator. If they have good security, so should you.
Initially you have a choice to make when choosing a web hosting provider. Who do you want for an operating system? Do you want one that is Windows-based? Of one that is Linux-based? Linux does not require licensing fees, it has FTP access, can handle both HTML and Javascript and also gives companies access to the latest in open source technology. However, Linux is not fully compatible with Windows-based technologies, ASP is more Windows friendly and most Windows-based technologies work better with interactive web tools. Weight the pros and the cons before deciding which operating system you want to use.