The Linux operating system is based upon Unix, one of the oldest open source operating codes, and is still as popular as ever in the web hosting community. Offering the benefits of free modifications, amendments and development, it became very popular with the likes of IBM, Sun Microsystems, Novell and Hewlett-Packard from the 1960s onwards. As you would expect, with these power houses of the computing world behind them, the use of Linux continues to grow each year.

Such has been the success of the operating system associated with the name, that Linux has become embroiled in a number of high profile court cases, with many different parties claiming ownership of the code, the name and the brand. As yet nobody has been able to prove total ownership, allowing the current users to continue as normal.

While the coding for the core operating code is in C, there are a vast array of other modules and activities which utilise some of the more modern programming languages of today. This is another major attraction to Linux, the ability to interact and accept other programming languages into the overall package. Consequently, the Linux operating system has spawned a massive market in customised coding and projects, with no royalties due to the original creators of the code.

Even though it tends to be the modern day Windows operating systems, etc which take the headlines in the consumer market, Linux is the most popular operating system in the server market. This is due in the main to its ability to communicate and run with other operating systems without any problems. It is this kind of compatibility which would go against the grain of many of today’s operating system distributors, where niche markets are vital, and there is a constant need to shut out your competitor.