Any form of web presence starts with finding a hosting solution for it. Linux is the operating system that is for the most part used on servers and offered by hosting providers – https://www.hostzealot.com/ for example – while alternative operating systems are not even nearly presented to this extent. What is the reason behind it, what are the benefits of Linux OS and what can you actually do with it? Let’s have a look!
Why Linux OS?
Linux is an operating system that was released at the beginning of the 1990s. Unlike its counterpart that you definitely know, Windows OS by Microsoft, Linux is not a proprietary OS, it’s instead a free open-source operating system. What does that mean?
The open system is available for free, which is already a standalone advantage. Furthermore, the is nothing that prevents a user from modifying it. If used by an experienced developer, the system may be modified to meet the user’s needs. Development companies may release separate editions of the OS, known as distributions, that offer a variety of features that make them suitable for certain use cases. All this allows for the system’s stability, simplicity, transparency relatively small weight, and lower resource consumption, making it the operating system preferred by numerous developers.
In the area of web hosting where functionality is valued above graphic interface, the features of Linux are also highly praised, which makes it a common base for deploying a variety of projects.
Linux server use cases
Besides hosting a website, there are various uses of servers with Linux operating systems. In particular:
- Web servers: Linux is a dominant choice whenever one wants to install a web server. Such solutions as Apache, Nginx, and LiteSpeed are commonly installed on Linux servers. They are then used to run websites, applications, and other kinds of services.
- Database servers: Linux servers are often used for hosting databases such as MySQL, PostgreSQL, as well as MongoDB. These databases are used to power a wide range of applications and play an important role in organizing websites.
- File servers: Files servers powered by protocols like NFS and Samabeare used to operate with files and documents within a network. They are especially widely used for collaborative work in organizations.
- Mail servers: Mail servers are servers used to establish email communication. Linux servers are often used to host such email services as Postfix, Sendmail, and Dovecot.
- Application servers: Linux servers are often used for running a variety of applications. Those include content management systems (CMS), e-commerce platforms, and some custom business applications.
- Proxy server: Proxy servers are used for various operations that improve network performance and make it more secure – such as content filtering, load balancing, and caching. Proxy servers are often created on Linux servers with such solutions as Squid and Nginx.
- DNS servers: DNS servers are servers that resolve domain names to IP addresses. Linux servers are often chosen for DNS servers, for example, BIND and dnsmasq.
- Monitoring servers: Linux-based servers can be used to configure servers for monitoring with such solutions as Nagios, Zabbix, or Prometheus. This allows us to keep an eye on the conditions of networking devices and solve technical issues as soon as they appear.
- VPN server: Virtual Private Networks are a vital solution in the contemporary era, which allows to reach high levels of security and anonymity. You can use your own Linux server to set up your own VPN with your rules, with the help of such solutions as OpenVPN and IPsec.
- Container orchestration: Linux servers are very commonly used to host various container orchestration platforms, including Kubernetes and Docker Swarm, which are essential to deploying and managing containerized applications.
- Cloud computing: Linux servers are commonly used to deploy cloud infrastructure solutions and are widely used by major cloud providers like Google, Microsoft, and Amazon.
- IoT devices: Linux distros are widely used in the area of the IoT (Internet of Things). Internet of Things as a reliable platform for developing various applications.
- High-Performance Computing (HPS): Linux is a preferred OS when it comes to projects that require exceptionally powerful computing – scientific research, weather modeling, and many others.
- Game server: Linux is often used to host various multiplayer games, like CS and Minecraft.
Conclusion
Hosting is the basis of any web project. At the same time, a server with Linux OS is one of the most widely spread and used solutions available, which is in many ways provided by its versatility. This list hasn’t been exhaustive, but we hope it has provided you with the basic understanding of what Linux server is and what it can be used for. We hope that now you have a better idea of what OS you need for your web project and wish you good luck in further web