Currently the most popular server operating systems are Microsoft Windows, Linux (Ubuntu, Debian, CentOS), Enterprise Linux from Red Hat and Free BSD.
Microsoft Windows. Windows Server 2016, Windows Server 2019 and Windows Server 2022 versions meet all the needs of system users and have enhanced security. The OS is only available under license and is susceptible to viruses.
Ubuntu. With certain skills, the setup system will not cause difficulties. This OS requires much less resources, is easy to maintain and absolutely universal. Most often used for servers with a small load.
Debian. A Linux distribution preferred by many companies. With certain skills with unix-like systems does not cause any difficulties in administration. Among the unquestionable advantages of the operating system is the ability to reinstall individual components without losing any settings. Read more about it in What is Debian.
CentOS. Free Linux distribution widely used as a platform for web-servers.
Enterprise Linux. Another Linux-based system, which is used at its most in global projects, large companies and corporations. It is known for its high performance, but it comes at a price.
FreeBSD. A Unix-like operating system often used for web servers. One of the oldest network operating systems, there are a number of versions. It is attractive because of its high performance, security and the fact that you don’t have to pay for its use. For more details, see the article How FreeBSD is Different from Linux.
We can also add to our review the Solaris operating system, now owned by Oracle. It is a very high performance operating system and has low fees.
So now you know what an operating system is good for and you will choose according to the following criteria: purpose, safety, reliability, usability and cost.