By Daniel D Dwase

UNIX is one of the oldest operating systems in history and it even precedes the days of Microsoft Windows, and before that Microsoft DOS.

Just like Windows has matured as both a client and server operating system, so has UNIX.

Today this operating system presents itself as one of the most attractive option for those looking to rent a dedicated hosting server UNIX.

Thanks to its open-source nature, UNIX tends to be both highly configurable and also highly secure.

The only drawbacks being that dedicated hosting Unix varieties generally come with nothing more than a command prompt for administration.

When it comes to choosing between UNIX and Windows for consumer workstations, it's a straightforward choice because Windows has for a long time been dominating the market thanks to its user-friendly approach, aggressive marketing and wide variety of applications.

However, when it comes to looking at server markets, it's an entirely different story and you'll probably be surprised to find out that for the majority, most data centers are actually UNIX based.

This is primarily because of two main reasons. The first is that UNIX is an open source operating system, and the second is that UNIX was designed from the ground up to be an entirely multi user O/S with advanced capabilities.

For years, the main focus of UNIX developers has been to develop one of the most robust operating systems around, and today it's clear to see they succeeded.

If it were not for UNIX, then the open source movement would never have existed.

This once small and humble operating system sparked a software revolution which means that today, there are many dedicated hosting server UNIX applications available such as web servers, mail servers and even more examples which are just as powerful as this highly versatile operating system.

UNIX is today the most affordable solution for you if you are on a budget thanks to the range of free software that's available.

A UNIX dedicated server has everything you'd need and even more. Whether your needs are to create an advanced streaming server or a fully-featured web server, UNIX has the power to give you everything you need, mostly for free.

Thanks to the fact that the majority of UNIX software is open source, you can get a great deal more for your money by utilizing the services of a dedicated hosting server UNIX and its many varieties.

However, there are a few drawbacks to consider before you jump into choosing a dedicated hosting server UNIX.

While it's an extremely powerful operating system that's being used worldwide, it does have some limitations because UNIX has never been entirely user friendly.

This means that while UNIX may be a great deal more secure than Windows, it is not an 'out of the box’ operating system.

Configuring a dedicated hosting server UNIX is a case of downloading, compiling and installing scripts, programs and security features in order to simply ensure that your server is secure.

One of the key arguments Windows proponents make over UNIX is that because dedicated hosting server UNIX operating systems are entirely open source, they're apparently easy to hack.

While generally speaking, this is only partially true it does mean that security exploits are discovered quicker.

The other major drawback between UNIX and Windows server operating systems is the fact that with UNIX there is no automatic updating.

Windows update will do it all for you, but when it comes to UNIX, keeping everything up to date is a case of once again downloading, compiling, installing countless scripts and programs.

In retrospect, the costs of UNIX hosting are negligible. When it comes to hiring a managed UNIX server where everything is managed remotely, then there is simply no cheaper way to host.

Dedicated server UNIX varieties give a great deal of power, scalability and reliability in a price that's simply unbeatable by their biggest and only competitor, Windows.

Coupled with the fact that licensing fees can be outrageously expensive, UNIX is often the only choice for small organizations on a budget.

The costs of paying for database server, email server, web server and server operating system can soon mount up, and while for the most part a UNIX powered server can offer all of these solutions entirely for free.

However, while it may be an excellent choice for budget hosting, you do get what you pay for as a UNIX server offers little more than a command prompt.

Unlike Windows where you simply download and install software, with UNIX you have to go one step further, and even compile it!

Keeping dedicated hosting server UNIX software up to date and secure is also another matter, and for many the only solution is to hire a consultant or to rent a managed server.

This gives you both the power of the Internet's best operating system, and also the peace of mind in knowing that it’s 100% safe, secure and reliable.

Generally speaking, the arguments between UNIX and Windows Server hosting will last for infinity. There are pros and cons for both, which have to be weighed up in respect to budget, role and many other requirements you or your organization may have.

This means making a careful need assessment and then working out which operating system is actually the best for the job.

Surprisingly, speaking in terms of affordability, Windows does have some advantages being that perhaps it offers a range of business productivity services, and it's also significantly easier to update.

However, when it comes to looking at total cost of ownership, dedicated hosting server UNIX varieties are significantly cheaper due to the fact that many applications on offer by third party vendors, are mostly open-source and for the most entirely free.

As a result, when it comes to choosing between the two operating systems, many people choose UNIX to start with because it's more affordable, lightweight and with a bit of study, anyone can administer a dedicated hosting server UNIX just as well as they could a Windows one.

That evil looking UNIX command line isn't nearly as scary as the infamous Windows blue screen, is it?

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