The server operating system is also called the network operating system, which is the system software that the server can run. Almost all servers can support various operating systems.

Does a server need an operating system?

Most servers run a version of Linux or Windows and as a rule of thumb, Windows servers will need more resources than Linux servers. Linux’s configurability gives it an advantage over Windows for dedicated application hosting, as functions and applications that are not required can be removed by an administrator.

What OS do most servers use?

In 2019, the Windows operating system was used on 72.1 percent of servers worldwide, whilst the Linux operating system accounted for 13.6 percent of servers. Compared to 2018, both companies experienced an increase to their overall market share.