A website or web application (with database backend) can run on Windows hosting or Linux hosting. When many websites and web applications run on the same web server, it is called shared hosting.
Shared hosting can be single server-based or server cluster-based. When it is single server-based, all services necessary for running web applications are installed on the same server i.e. DNS applications (for resolving domains running on the server), web server applications (Windows – IIS, Linux – Apache), database applications (MySQL, PgSQL, MSSQL, etc), mail applications, etc. The web host installs a control panel on the web server so that the customer can easily manage their websites. Plesk and cPanel are some of those control panels. When Plesk is installed on the Windows web server, it is called Plesk Windows hosting. When Plesk is installed on a Linux web server, it is called Plesk Linux hosting.
When shared hosting applications run on a number of web servers, it is called cluster-based web hosting. A cluster may have both kinds of web servers, i.e. Windows and Linux. A single control panel such as H-Sphere manages the whole cluster, thus providing H-Sphere-based Windows hosting, Linux hosting or reseller hosting.
In a single web server, if the server hardware fails it will bring down all websites running on that web server. In cluster-based web hosting, if server hardware fails only the service running on that server will fail. Suppose the mail server fails then the mail will not run, but the website and database will continue to work. Similarly, if the database server fails, the website and mail service will continue to run.
The advantages of shared hosting are that it does not require a business to have server-level access as by just using the control panel a business can configure web applications and manage emails. Generally the cost of shared hosting is very reasonable. Since the web hosting company manages the shared server, they are responsible for installing applications and supporting already installed applications and are responsible for server security. One drawback of shared hosting is that the web host restricts which applications can run on a shared server. When a web application requires special permissions, a web host suggests the use of a virtual private server or dedicated server. Another disadvantage is that the web application of one customer can affect the web application of another customer. The web host tries to minimize this by isolating web applications and by optimizing how many web applications a server can host while still maintaining satisfactory uptime.
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