Available in a freeware form since 1992, the modularly structured operating system, Linux, is, in many ways, considered to be the best option for web servers. With Linux, costs only arise when distributions with pay-based support options are in use. Combined with its reliability, stability, and efficiency, Linux has proven to be one of the most sophisticated options for both web and mail server needs.
Linux is an especially favorable choice for those considering to use PHP, Perl, Python, Ruby, or MySQL. While Windows solutions are often subject to charges, Linux offers numerous open source applications for hosting, including: ready-to-use homepage solutions, applications (e.g. blogs), content management systems, and discussion forums.
With the launch of Windows Server in 1993, Microsoft has long since been a well-established player in the market for server operating systems. Although not free of charge, like Linux, Microsoft provides both support and updates for its services during the agreed-upon period of use. One particularly strong advantage Windows has over Linux is its high performance web application framework, ASP.NET, whose most current version is also compatible with Linux. The applications SharePoint and Exchange, which aid in communication and make working on a project much easier, are still exclusive to Microsoft. While open source versions for Linux are available, these tend to be less popular in most business environments. The following table lays out characteristics of both operating systems according to web-hosting features.