Ever wonder why some websites load quickly and run smoothly while others take what seems like an eternity to load and don't work properly once they do? The design and coding of the site itself plays a big part, but the server that stores the website can have a huge impact on overall website performance. Though most web surfers never stop to consider that each and every site they visit must be hosted on a server somewhere, web servers, along with the infrastructure that connects them, form the architecture of the Internet. The importance of high quality web hosting cannot be overstated, so when it comes time to choose a hosting provider, it's worth taking a little time to learn about the various options. This will prepare you to make an informed decision and avoid getting ripped off.
The exponential growth of the Internet has resulted in similar growth in web hosting, so there are a lot of options available. There are many different manufacturers using various hardware components to produce the physical servers. There are several operating systems that can be loaded onto a server. There are thousands of software applications, security and privacy options, processing speeds, and storage capacities. The combinations are endless. One way to be sure you're getting a great hosting solution is to look at what other webmasters are using. One of the most popular choices in hosting is Linux servers.
No operating system has proven to be so flexibile and reliable as Linux. It's amazing that a piece of software originally developed in AT&T's Bell Labs in the late 60s is so widely used 40 years later. Linux is commonly employed in everything from smart phones to super computers. What separates Linux from, say, Windows for example, is that it is open source. This means that the source code is available to anyone who wants it. The result is that developers all over the world are continuously tweaking, improving, and re-releasing new versions of part or all of the OS. The open source nature of Linux development has allowed it to evolve rapidly, a necessary quality for any web technology. Since any bugs in the software are quickly uncovered and eliminated by the active worldwide community of developers, the Linux-based web servers in use today are extremely reliable.
A common combination of server software, known as a 'stack,' is referred to as LAMP. LAMP is an acronym for Linux, Apache HTTP server, MySQL (database management software), and PHP/PERL/Python (used for advanced interactive functions.) Without getting too technical, this combination of software, built on the solid foundation of the Linux operating system, creates a web server that can do just about anything a webmaster can imagine. Hosting on Linux servers employing the LAMP stack enables the creation of everything from simple 2 or 3 page blogs to massive, complicated corporate database websites. When you learn just how powerful and flexible these servers are, it's easy to see why they are such a popular choice.
Hosting Linux servers are the most widely used web hosting servers in the world. They are economical, fast, powerful, and stable. No matter what type of website you want to build, it's important to build it on a strong foundation, and Linux servers are the strongest foundation available. So go ahead, peruse our Linux hosting plans, and find the one that works for you. All the particulars are completely customizable, so you'll get exactly what you need without paying for stuff you don't.