Why do (most) servers run Linux?

Most physical and virtual servers run the free, open-source operating system Linux. But why? Learn all about it in our accessible guide.

If you work for a company, chances are that at least some of your operations take place on the cloud. Those operations are running on servers. Some are physical and some are virtual – but a large majority of both kinds runs on the Linux operating system. Why?

The tech-savvy among you will be well aware of what Linux is – but for the casual reader, let's get a working definition before answering the question: what is it about Linux that makes it so good for servers?

Linux may sound like a knock-off deodorant, but in fact it's a free, open-source operating system that's a popular alternative to Microsoft and Apple.

Its "open-source" nature is the key to a lot of its uses. Users can modify it with ease and customise the OS to meet specific needs. That's partly why it's used in everything from smartphones to thermostats, from fridges to TVs – all the way to fiendishly complex systems like the Stock Exchange.

Linux, then, is the OS that underpins our new, cloud-based working lives. But why? Here are nine reasons.

1. It's flexible

Microsoft and Apple aren't easy to tweak, still less to customise in detail. But because Linux is open-source, developers can access and modify code to meet their specific requirements.

This isn't a byproduct of Linux's infrastructure – it's an integral part of the way it works. If you want to tweak settings, make changes to the kernel or create custom scripts, Linux is the way to go.

2. It's versatile

Linux users have a world of free apps, tools and features to choose from. That's partly why it gets used in so many diverse contexts.

In the case of servers, its versatility means you don't need to fork out for commercial, proprietary software. You're not locked into a vendor's in-house products and protocols.

3. It's built for networking

Back in the 60s and 70s, universities and other tech-savvy institutions ran multi-user operating systems on their mainframes. These allowed different users to log in and use a chunk of the mainframe's computing power for their own programs.

Linux is a direct descendent of these ancient operating systems – and this means networking is in its blood. Users, permissions and other networking mainstays are woven into the fabric of the OS.

4. It's secure

Linux distributions tend to offer good security, right out of the box.

This is, again, partly thanks to the operating system's multi-user heritage. Linux is governed by permissions. Every operation requires permission – and the OS automatically assigns low-level user permissions to keep meddling hands out of system tasks.

There's another reason for its strong security posture. Because it's open-source, any user can find, report or fix a vulnerability. You don't have to sit around waiting for the vendor to read your error report and sort it out.

Linux is to proprietary operating systems what Wikipedia is to Encyclopaedia Brittanica. If you want to make an edit, it's easy to do so – and there's a community of users to ensure that the change you make is vetted and valuable.

This leads us to Linux's next advantage – its abundance of community support and resources.

5. Users aren't alone

There's a plethora of resources online for Linux users, centring on a large and active community of engineers and developers.

Whether you're just getting started or have a super-specialist question, there's likely to be someone out there who can help. They might grumble, but you'll get an answer eventually.

6. It's reliable

If a server is running a mission-critical task, reliability is of the essence. Bugs need to be caught and sorted as quickly as possible.

No operating system markets itself as unreliable, of course – but a not insignificant number of users have found that a Windows server will run for a long period before crashing without warning.

This isn't the case with Linux – and at a time when high uptime is now expected rather than desired, this makes it ideal for servers.

Downtime is bad for a business of any size but SMEs can be especially badly affected. Having a highly stable OS – that's stable even when running multiple processes – is good news all around.

Related to this is the question of upgrades and housekeeping. Linux users never turn on a device one day to find that they have to sit through hours of updates. Linux stays up and running even when internal housekeeping is in progress.

7. It's cost-effective

There's no such thing as a free lunch – but weirdly, there is such thing as a free operating system. Whereas Windows users need to shell out for licenses, Linux users get it for free. Even an "enterprise version" has a lower TCO than its proprietary counterpart.

One of the cloud's biggest selling points is that it cuts costs in the long run – so it makes sense for servers to be cost-efficient too.

8. It's scalable

Linux is what you make it. If you want a simple shell interface for blazing-fast bare-metal performance, you can make it happen. If you want a graphical user interface with all the bells and whistles, there are hundreds of distributions available that will give you just that.

This is why Linux runs on everything from calculators, to cars, to souped-up laptops. It can scale to suit different needs and its leading-edge networking features make it robust and reliable, even in vast enterprise deployments.

However you use it, you can expect high availability and uptime – something of a must in today's always-on culture.

9. It's compatible

Linux can be deployed in pretty much any environment and it works in tandem with boatloads of hardware and software, as well as plenty of programming languages. This makes it an ideal solution for server use.

Conclusion

Servers are the engines that keep the cloud whirring away – and which make possible all its innovations, from video conferencing to extended reality.

Linux is an operating system which keeps many of these servers running in a flexible, customisable, cost-effective, secure and scalable way. From thermostats to supercomputers, it's the open-source secret sauce that keeps the lights on – 24/7/365.

Are you looking for a cloud consultant to assist with a cloud migration project? Ascend Cloud Solutions is made up of ex-VMware cloud experts who have handled more than 400 enterprise migrations. Whatever your requirements, don't hesitate to get in touch and run them past us – we'd love to help you realise your vision.