Aplus.net Blog

To conclude our six-part primer on the basics of dedicated server operating systems (OS), we want to take a moment to cover some of the more popular alternatives to Linux® and Windows®.

With everyday use of servers and microprocessors becoming more and more widespread, an increasing number of individuals and companies are creating their own OS combinations. So, the range of options to meet dedicated hosting needs has grown by leaps and bounds in recent years. Most, but not all, are based on the basic Linux open-source kernel, a licensing-free source code that can be modified and scaled.

Listed below are some of the more popular alternative dedicated server OS choices Aplus.net customers request.

Debian®: A free OS that uses the Linux kernel combined with basic OS tools from the GNU project (hence the common name of Debian GNU/Linux). Debian GNU/Linux provides more than a pure OS: it comes with more than 18,733 packages, precompiled software bundled up for easy installation.

Ubuntu®: Like Debian, Ubuntu is a free, community-developed, Linux-based operating system. It’s designed to offer all the applications you need, from web browser, document and spreadsheet software to instant messaging applications and more.

FreeBSD®: Another free OS, FreeBSD is based on Unix and the Berkeley Software Distribution (BSD) branch and can be automatically optimized and customized for a huge variety of applications. FreeBSD is known for its adaptability, configurability, performance, and the sophisticated community of users and developers that use it.

Rounding out the list of popular or well-configured alternatives are OpenSUSE; SUSE Linux Enterprise (requires license purchase); and Red Hat Enterprise Linux (requires license purchase). Click here for a comprehensive and evolving list on the topic from Wikipedia.