See if it's possible for you to resell hosting on both operating systems, even if you have to manage two reseller accounts to do so. There aren't many hosts that offer that setup - but it would let you have either option available for your clients.

Just be cautious: we offer both, and we have 2% client usage on Windows. Most people simply don't need features that are available only on Windows unless they're corporate. So don't go buy the biggest, baddest, buffest Windows reseller hosting account available anticipating a flood of clients for that platform. Get a Windows reseller account that won't cost you a whole lot, and grow when / as needed.

From my opinion both OS are good to work at.

In the web hosting industry, certainly more clients are hosted on Linux servers. It's a stable cost effective platform. Windows has its niche though, so if you can offer both, it'll broaden your market.

Windows servers have all the downsides of Windows anything, patches, patches, updates, all the time. But your provider should handle that (unless you are reselling on a VPS)

Where Windows has the edge is with large corporate features like Exchange (and as mentioned if your site builders use asp) The thing there is if you are a big enough company to need Exchange and those type expensive features they probably have their own servers and IT department.. not a market for resellers.

To me it would seem the biggest benefit is to get customers who use the Expressions packages to build sites and must have Windows to get the benefits of all their "goodies". However Expression hasn't taken off like Microsoft hoped that I have seen (haven't seen a lot of sites with it). It mat catch on but I think Microsoft waited too long with FrontPage before introducing Expressions and while it has some cool features that will work on Microsoft servers to build the high-end web sites like the corporate stuff as far as basic customers like a reseller would have Deamweaver and other platform independent programs grabbed the lion's share while Microsoft went years between FrontPage and introducing Expressions.
I tried the free 30 day trial of Expressions and for the "average" web site it sure looks a lot like Dreamweaver to me.

So as a reseller I don;t think it makes a difference if you want Windows you will pay more generally and most people who would buy from a reseller would tend to be the people who use the highly popular open source stuff out there these days like WordPress and Joomla etc. Usually all those come bundled with the auto-installer Fantastico on a Linux machine although they are often a version behind, so sometimes a client may get a site and immediately have to upgrade.

It's whatever you feel comfortable with , there are also the differences in control panels & other software for the two. So find some places you can test drive a demo of whatever control panel your prospective hosts are offering.

Just some clarification - Expression Web 2 software will not run on a Linux platform - it requires at least Windows XP with Service Pack 2. Websites created with Expression Web 2 can be hosted on both Linux and Windows platforms with NO problems whatsoever. When comparing Expression Web 2 to Dreamweaver, the biggest difference that jumps out at me is the price. You can be W3C compliant with Expression Web 2, and for most users, it's more than adequate and costs a whole lot less (with the Upgrade version). Each package has it's niche.

Linux is the most popular and inexpensive.

Windows comes with a bigger price tag than linux, both overhead and what you can charge. Linux is definitely the cheapest and depending upon your audience, the most popular. Right now, we are just doing linux and we are doing decent. Would Windows be worth the price tag it comes with? This is only something that you can answer, do the research, weight out windows and linux together, and choose your web hosting path from there.

Hmm....sounds like a nice article, Windows VS Linux for web hosting providers. I think I am going to have to write that up this weekend if I have the time.

I think both platform of hosting services will also bringing you with decent amount of profits. Market your web hosting business to the targeted users / webmasters who need the particular hosting services in either Windows or Linux.
Which part of knowledge you and your support team have the expertise to support your clients? Windows or Linux? You will have repeat sales if you have a awesome client support team.

I love lunix. Its a good system. You should try that out if you don't like it go with windows.

I would search more, there are resellers that offer both, search for something on a H-Sphere platform. Unless you want to fill only a niche market.

Linux with Direct admin / cPanel combo is the way to go if you want to make some profit.

I dont see much profit running a Windows hosting.

It is depends on your expertise on which platform either Windows or Linux.
You will require to provide first level of supports to your clients on hosting issues. It is better you stick on a area that you are knowledgeable and passion about and you profit will flowing in continuously.

You should figure out your needs first, what kind of applications you are going to use and will need in the future, the type of security needed. Depending on this you can go for either Linux or Windows

Hi !
There is just one thing that sets all the things straight.
Its if you are using Microsoft technologies.
Because if you are, go for Windows and if not any of the two would do for you.
Then its left to your preference.

Regards
Walter Burke