With over 7 billion websites online today, it's obvious why web hosting has grown into a billion dollar a year business. As an industry, hosting has evolved and developed along with the Internet itself. In the early days of the World Wide Web, hosting providers were few and far between, their services were rudimentary, and many webmasters simply reconfigured their home PCs into basic web servers. Fast-forward to today, when the majority of human beings will use the Internet at some point and many use it every day. There are now almost as many web hosting options on the market as there are websites.
Like websites, the range of available hosting providers and plans runs the gamut from bare bones "free" hosting, to high end dedicated server plans reserved for the who's who of the Internet. The overabundance of choice can be overwhelming, especially to those who are new to web hosting. After all, the world of hosting comes with an entire language of acronyms, abbreviations and jargon that constantly evolving. Though it's not necessary to get a computer science degree to select a hosting plan, learning the fundamental principles can help you save money and get a plan that suits your needs. One of the most widely used options is virtual Linux server hosting, and it owes its massive popularity to a long track record of stability and affordability.
Linux, an open source operating system, grew out of the pioneering work of AT&T engineers who developed the UNIX software framework in the late 60s. The idea of open source software was revolutionary at the time, and many thought it was crazy to make the source code available to the public for free. But it is exactly this open development that has made Linux so flexible and reliable. In addition to its popularity in web servers, Linux is used in all manner of computing systems, from tiny embedded computer chips to some of the most powerful super computers in the world. In web servers, however, Linux really shines. Because the source code can be modified and improved upon by any developer with the know-how, any bugs or glitches are quickly addressed. That is why Linux runs so smoothly when compared to closed source operating systems. Open source development also helps Linux to adapt to the constantly changing landscape of the Internet, which it has done remarkably well over the years.
When Linux is used with virtual hosting servers, even cash poor webmasters can have access to this powerful technology. Virtual private servers, or VPSs, are a software based approximation of an independent web server. To create a VPS, a physical server is split up into many of these virtual machines through a procedure called virtualization. Each virtual server delivers a user experience that is akin to having your very own dedicated web server. In this way, virtual Linux server hosting bridges the gap between inexpensive, entry-level shared hosting plans, and expensive, powerful dedicated plans. Since the expense of building and maintaining the actual server is spread between all the virtual server users, costs are low. At the same time, each user enjoys the privacy, security, flexibility and control that come with a dedicated server. It's the best of both worlds!
If you're looking for a hosting plan that delivers cutting edge technology and performance without breaking the bank, you would be hard pressed to do better than virtual Linux server hosting. No matter what kind of website you want to create, these hosting plans will provide the foundation. They deliver all this in an intuitive and user-friendly package that's easy enough for a newbie, but feature-rich enough to satisfy even the geekiest webmaster. Browse our Linux-based VPS plans, we're sure you'll find one that is perfect for you.