Like a computer must be installed operating system (such as Windows XP or Windows Vista) to normal operation. Also, all virtual host server also need the operating system can perform important host function, and different virtual host server using the different operating system (or the so-called platform). One of the most common UNIX platforms including FreeBSD, NetBSD OpenBSD and Linux. And because of high stability, so is Linux virtual console business the most popular support platform. The other in virtual hosting a high market share of the popular platform is Microsoft's Windows 2003 and Windows 2008.

That is in today's host market, basically, there are two major kinds of different platform of virtual host server to choose from: Linux system host or Windows system host. Choose which kind of host (Linux hosts, or Windows host) depends on your web hosting environment requirements, choose wrong consequences is website will not operate. The following is just general principles and advice:

Windows host

If sites need to ASP, asp.net 1.0/2.0, the ACCESS, MySQL, MS SQL database... And so on the host function, it can only choose Windows system host scheme. You can reference we recommend Windows host.

Linux hosts

If the website using PHP application, static HTML pages, SSI (Server Side Include) dynamic web pages, javascript, Java, Flash, MySQL database, or your website want to install need PHP + MySQL + apache hosting environment developed software such as WordPress, Discuz, ShopEx, Joomla, DedeCMS... And so on it, you may consider using Linux hosts.

The above is only general advice, individual web site if need some special hosting environment, or want to install software need special host function... Wait, you please detailed reference you will have to buy host specification details or to take business men at home and broad host the host for details whether the plan can support.

Because many free open source software (open source software programs) is only applicable to Linux system, so Linux hosts than Windows host general come cheap. Once you decide on a website design the use of virtual server platform, you can search for a meet your demand characteristics of the web site host.