Compare the current Windows VPS and Linux VPS service pages against the application checklist, then confirm the supported OS version, licensing, administration, and backup scope.
Start with the application, not the plan name
| Decision factor | Windows VPS | Linux VPS |
|---|---|---|
| Application dependency | Use when supported software, components, or administration require Windows Server. | Use when the application is supported on a Linux distribution and fits its runtime stack. |
| Remote administration | Commonly managed through Remote Desktop and Windows administration tools. | Commonly managed through SSH and Linux command-line or control-panel tools. |
| Access model | Define Administrator accounts, remote-access policy, and update ownership. | Define root or sudo access, SSH policy, and update ownership. |
| Selection test | Confirm the exact Windows Server version and application support matrix. | Confirm the distribution, release, packages, and application support matrix. |
Microsoft documents Remote Desktop clients as a way to connect to remote desktops and applications in Windows Server environments. Ubuntu documents OpenSSH as a service for encrypted remote control and file transfer. These access methods do not decide the operating system by themselves. Compatibility and the team's ability to operate the environment come first.
If the workload does not need a virtual server, compare it with shared hosting before choosing a VPS. If the main use case is an interactive desktop, the remote workstation overview covers that workflow separately.
Check the software support matrix
Do not use the vendor name as a shortcut for operating-system compatibility. Microsoft documents ASP.NET Core behind IIS on Windows and behind Nginx on Linux. Microsoft also supports SQL Server on Linux for documented versions, so neither ASP.NET Core nor SQL Server automatically requires Windows. Classic .NET Framework, IIS roles, Windows-only components, or a publisher's Windows Server requirement can make Windows necessary.
Panel support also differs. cPanel lists supported Linux distributions and is not a Windows option. Plesk publishes separate Linux and Windows compatibility lists. Confirm the runtime, database, panel, OS edition, and version together; one compatible component does not prove that the whole application stack is supported.
Write an application-first checklist
Record the following before requesting a plan:
- supported Windows Server editions and versions;
- database, runtime, framework, and third-party component requirements;
- number and type of simultaneous sessions;
- storage used today, growth rate, and temporary working space;
- network ports, fixed IP, outbound connections, and DNS needs;
- maintenance windows and restart constraints;
- backup scope and acceptable recovery time.
Do not assume that software that runs on a Windows desktop is licensed or supported for Windows Server. Check the software publisher's documentation and licence terms. For existing applications, capture current CPU, memory, disk latency, storage growth, and peak-session data before migration.
Separate server access from managed administration
Administrator access lets a customer change the server. It does not, by itself, mean that the provider maintains the operating system or application. Assign ownership for operating-system patches, firewall rules, malware response, application updates, monitoring, backups, and restore tests.
Keep named administrator accounts where possible and document emergency access. Restrict remote access to the required users and networks. Record every service that must start after a reboot and test it during the acceptance window.
A provider backup and an application-aware backup can protect different things. Confirm whether the backup includes the whole virtual machine, individual files, databases, or all of them. A successful backup job is not a restore test.
Size with a baseline and explicit triggers
Use current measurements for an existing system. For a new system, begin with a reversible configuration and define thresholds for sustained CPU use, memory pressure, storage capacity, disk latency, and session response. Review the baseline after real users and scheduled tasks have run.
Avoid fixed resource prescriptions without workload data. Two applications with the same user count can have different database, caching, reporting, and storage patterns. Document why the initial size was chosen and what evidence will justify a change.
Plan the migration and acceptance test
Build a staging copy where licensing and data rules allow it. Test application installation, authentication, printing or device redirection if used, database connectivity, scheduled tasks, integrations, certificate bindings, backups, monitoring, and restart behaviour. During cutover, preserve the previous environment until the owner accepts the tested result and the rollback window closes.
Windows VPS questions
Is Remote Desktop alone a reason to choose Windows?
It is a reason only when the required workflow or application depends on it. If the workload is a web service administered through Linux tools, Remote Desktop is not a substitute for application compatibility.
Is server administration included with every Windows VPS?
No universal scope exists. Confirm whether the service is unmanaged, partially managed, or managed, and list the exact tasks included.
Does a VM backup replace a database or application backup?
Not automatically. Ask what the backup captures and whether the application can be restored consistently. Test recovery at both server and application level.
Check the current GARMTECH scope
The current Windows VPS page lists Windows Server 2022, RDP with Administrator access, allocated CPU, RAM and NVMe storage, a dedicated IP, monitoring, backups, and optional administration. Verify the current plan and the exact support boundary before ordering. If the application supports Linux, compare the Linux VPS service. For a compatibility review, send the checklist through contacts.
Sources
- Microsoft Learn: ASP.NET Core with Linux and Nginx
- Microsoft Learn: ASP.NET Core with Windows and IIS
- Microsoft Learn: SQL Server on Linux
- cPanel: system requirements
- Plesk: system requirements
- Microsoft Learn: Connect to Remote Desktop Services in Windows Server
- Ubuntu Server documentation: OpenSSH server
- GARMTECH: Windows VPS
- GARMTECH: Linux VPS