Why use Linux as a Webserver?

da_mic_1530 · 9 Feb 2009 at 14:46

Hi there, I'm doing a quite small report on the reason linux is used in the web business to host etc

Now my google skills have failed me as I keep finding tutorials on HOW to setup a linux host, as opposed to WHY anyone would want to

Could anyone shed some light, or links as to why, or where I can find this information

Greatly appreciated

stoofa · 9 Feb 2009 at 14:58

There are numerous reasons.
However two straight off the bat:

1. Linux is free
2. Linux requires a much smaller footprint with regards PC hardware. Try running a Windows IIS server on a PIII 800 right now.
Linux will happily run on that.

daz · 9 Feb 2009 at 15:01

When the world wide web was just getting started, Linux and Apache were also just getting started. As open source products, they were free, stable, secure alternatives to their competitors... and as such gained a massive market share.

philjohn · 9 Feb 2009 at 15:26

Security also played a part, early versions of IIS were notorious for being pretty flaky in that regard.

da_mic_1530 · 9 Feb 2009 at 16:16

cheers guys, will expand on all points and reference

I had a few of them, but you fleshed them out a bit

JIM_BOB7813 · 9 Feb 2009 at 16:35

da_mic_1530 said:
Could anyone shed some light, or links as to why, or where I can find this information

Greatly appreciated

Google.
http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=e...o+-amazon.co.uk+-amazon.com&btnG=Search&meta=
http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&q=linux+vs+windows+server&btnG=Google+Search&meta=
There's even an article on wikipedia that seems to be similar to what you are trying to achieve.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_Windows_and_Linux