[shea]

difference? I'd like to if linux or pc is better. Is there really a difference? I hear linux is more popular?

[Leon]

Linux is an Operating System, it works on any pc.I think you mean if linux server is better then windows server. If that is the case then it depends if money is an issue. If money is no issue I'd say go the windows route, the new Windows servers are plenty good but really expensive. Linux is excellent if you are tech-savy because you can customize it to your EXACT needs which makes it much more efficient.

[Neeku]

Linux servers are usually cheaper, because Linux is an Open Source OS. If you don't need MySQL for your data base, then go for Linux; I'm using a Linux server and I got it because it was really inexpensive compared with Windows servers. But do search more, I'm not a hosting professional.

[selenaverdi]

Before making your choice, I would like to propose you to take alook at "OpenBSD".In my opinion (although, I am not an IT expert), OpenBSD is THEBEST operating system available. Period.The so-called "code quality", of this OS, is outstanding. It is developed,mainly, by "perfectionist academics". Absolutely no compromiseis allowed. The result?Only two (!!) remote holes, in the default install, in more than 10years!It is impossible, even for an army of hackers, to penetrate a serverwhich is running OpenBSD.And OpenBSD is endeed free. And it is quite small. And it comes pre-configured. And it doesn' t need periodic "updates".Just install-it and forget-it...More informations here: http://www.openbsd.com/

[Colinc]

I am a network administrator, I have found that Linux is by far the better server, apart from being the far cheaper option. If you are not an absolute genius on admin (I am not and have been doing it for years) SUSE is the version to go for. It uses YAST (yet another setup tool) as it's administrative tool set, which is very simple to use. If you buy a commercially available package ( GBFP 35.00 - 70.00 depending where you buy) it comes with very good admin and user manuals. When you gain experience it has many other ways of configuring it to enhance it's capabilities. I am using SUSE 9.3 for many Web, database and mail servers, most of them carrying out all of these functions at once plus acting as domain servers for Windows workstations (2000, XP).