When it comes to using dedicated servers as the basis of a website, the first crucial decision that you need to make will be what operating system you use. Although there are a couple of options available - with the latest version of Windows Server said to be a significant improvement on previous builds - it's still likely to be the case that for many firms and individual users, a Linux-based system will be the best solution.
Open source
The software is open source and users will have a choice of free and paid-for distributions available, including Debian, CentOS and Ubuntu. For those who don't want to spend a large amount on getting their site up and running, the ability to use a free operating system on their web server could be hugely attractive.
This does not even necessarily mean you'll have to compromise on features, depending on what you want to do with your server, as the open-source General Public Licence used by Linux means there are a wide range of free software solutions to add functionality.
Easy to manage
Security may also be an issue that concerns many users and again, this is an area where Linux can offer several advantages. Dedicated server education and resources site ServerSchool.com recently noted that many people argue Linux is both more secure and has better stability than Windows Server. However, in reality it was stated much of the security capabilities will depend on how you choose to configure your server and how well it's managed.
What Linux does offer is great ease of use that makes implementing tough security measures easy. This could be another positive, as you don't really want to spend all your time worrying about complex security configurations, do you?
This ease of use and wide range of free open-source options make Linux a highly attractive option for anybody looking to build a when server. Choose your distribution carefully and you could get just the tools you need to make the running of your website smooth and hassle-free.
