What is a Server O/S?

The O/S is a common abrviation for "Operating System". Most desktop pc's use microsoft windows as an operating system. However, web servers are much differnet and need capabilities that your desktop operating system does not offer.

Most web servers use Unix based systems. The main reason being that they are open source and free.

Microsoft does make software for servers, but the cost is high. A standard 4 processor server could require a license from microsoft for $20,000.00 or more just for the operating system. The server could cost between $10,000 and $50,000. So the owner is not anxious to spend an additional $20,000 on the operating system.

Linux systems are also more developed and have fewer security flaws.

Unix is also an older system and more manageable since it has had over 30 years of development and advances.

There are also many versions of unix. Linux is its own off shoot with hundreds of varriations each with a loyal following of developers.

It is unlikely that web servers will be used to download pics from your camera likewise your desktop pc will not have 500 people running programs on it at the same time.

There are very different needs for servers and advanced hardware such as raid cards and scsi controlers that require advanced operating system to function.

Although you can use a server as your personal pc and you can run a website from your desktop it will limit what you can do and not be the best recipe for sucess.