Perhaps you've made the decision to set up a virtual or dedicated server; you might have thought that your decision-making process ended there. But you'll soon find that you have a number of other decisions to make, such as what operating system will you use for your server? If you ask this question in a room full of programmers, you're likely to hear a variety of responses. A good argument can be made to use a Linux server host instead of the popular choice of Microsoft Windows. There are a number of features of Linux that make it a preferable choice to Windows, if not at least an equivalent option.
One benefit to Linux is its virus management. Linux experiences less infiltrations than Microsoft, partially because it is targeted less but also because it requires more administrative authorization to make changes to your computer. Also, Linux doesn't require the use of separate drivers for different devices. All drivers are included with the initial Linux installation. An added bonus is that Linux is open source, so you don't have to pay the exorbitant amounts you might pay for Microsoft Windows.
There are several benefits to using Linux. Linux requires less processing power than Windows, so your computer will run faster and your website will run more smoothly. Additionally, the added protection of Linux from viruses may make you feel saver about your virtual server. Although crashing is always a possibility, Windows is considered less stable than Linux so using Linux might allow your website to stay up longer. Linux users are fond of boasting that Linux can be run for years without needing a restart, unlike Windows which needs frequent restarting after updates.
Some users shy away from Linux because they're afraid it won't offer the same customer service or technical support that Windows does. While this is true, many Linux users find their support process to work well. There are a number of communities with message boards and forums to address problems that arise with Linux operating systems, as well as thousands of documents online to walk users through common problems. That being said, there is still a less structured support program in place for Linux than what exists for Windows. The burden here might have to be placed on your web hosting company. They will probably be able to fill in the gaps for your Linux technical support.