* [Topics](/en/topics "Topics") * [Linux](/en/topics/linux "Linux") * What is a Linux server? What is a Linux server? ======================= Published December 16, 2022•*2*-minute read Copy URL Jump to section --------------- What is a Linux server?What is a Linux operating system?Why use Linux servers?Why Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server? What is a Linux server? ----------------------- A Linux® server is a server running a variant of the Linux open source operating system (OS). It’s designed to handle the most demanding business applications, such as web services and databases. Linux servers provide a strong foundation for complex, enterprise-level datacenters and workload environments―ranging from bare metal to virtual machines―and containers, including private or public clouds. They can also guide your digital transformation journey and cloud application development, with the capability to increase productivity, deliver services faster, and incorporate software innovations like cloud, containers, and configuration automation. What is a Linux operating system? --------------------------------- Linux is a family of free, open source software operating systems built around the [Linux kernel](/en/topics/linux/what-is-the-linux-kernel). The [Linux OS](/en/topics/linux/what-is-linux) was created as an alternative, free, [open source](/en/topics/open-source/what-is-open-source) version of the MINIX OS, which was itself based on the principles and design of Unix. Linux servers have gained popularity due to their stability, security, and flexibility. These are also among the key features that differentiate Linux servers from their proprietary counterparts. The fully open-source nature of Linux helps keep setup and maintenance costs low, and it provides increased flexibility when it comes to setting up, operating, and maintaining a server. Users also get the benefit of working with the open source community and its resources. As a result, many enterprises have adopted Linux servers to tap into this functionality.  A Linux server OS provides the central interface for user management and implements various security and administrative services–all key to operating in a client-server architecture. Red Hat resources ----------------- [Keep reading](/en/resources "Keep reading") Why use Linux servers? ---------------------- Linux servers are particularly well suited for enterprises with applications serving thousands of users. As [IT infrastructure](/en/topics/cloud-computing/what-is-it-infrastructure) scales for the future, a Linux server provides platform manageability and flexible integration to help ensure a seamless transition, all while remaining compatible with legacy management and [automation](/en/topics/automation) infrastructure. Ever-changing scope, security, and management requirements also make avoiding downtime more important than ever. Linux servers can have virtually no downtime. This gives software developers a degree of control when creating [software-as-a-service (SaaS)](/en/topics/cloud-computing/what-is-saas) tools or [live applications](/en/hybrid-cloud-solutions/application-development), including the ability to handle multiple applications on a single server. Additionally, IT staff don’t have to rely as heavily on hands-on management, and can control and optimize permissions for enhanced security. Linux servers primarily run on the command-line, which makes them lighter and able to run on both physical and cloud servers. They can also help maximize overall system performance and simplify the management of repositories (i.e. Docker, MySQL, etc.), storage, containers, and more. [Maximize your Linux operating environments](/en/engage/maximize-your-linux-20220615 "SOLP | Maximize your Linux operating environment") Why Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server? ------------------------------------ To deploy in physical, [virtual](/en/topics/virtualization/what-is-a-virtual-machine), and cloud environments, you need a comprehensive and scalable operating system. [Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server](/en/technologies/linux-platforms/enterprise-linux/server) orchestrates hardware resources and runs on physical systems, in the cloud, or as a hypervisor guest. It serves as a foundation in IT infrastructure supporting all major hardware platforms ([x86, ARM](/en/topics/linux/ARM-vs-x86), IBM Power and Z), as well as many of the leading workloads and applications like Oracle Database, [SAP HANA](/en/topics/linux/sap-hana-and-linux), and [Microsoft SQL Server](/en/topics/linux/why-run-sql-server-on-linux). Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server provides the standardization needed to build the infrastructure of your choice and expand as you see fit. It standardizes development and deployment with repeatable, flexible, scalable, and automated images, patch management, and backup processes. It also has built-in manageability and integration with broader Red Hat management and [automation](/en/technologies/management/ansible) solutions that can help you optimize IT staff workloads, increasing efficiency and reducing unplanned downtime. The Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server subscription model lets you choose the basis on which you purchase, stack subscriptions to streamline purchasing, and move subscriptions from physical to virtual to cloud and back to adapt to changing requirements. With thousands of certified hardware, software, and cloud partners, Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server offers a consistent foundation across hybrid environments, supporting virtually any workload and providing the tools needed to deliver services and workloads faster with less effort. [Learn more about Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server](/en/technologies/linux-platforms/enterprise-linux/server "product | red hat enterprise linux server") The official Red Hat blog ------------------------- Get the latest information about our ecosystem of customers, partners, and communities. [Keep reading](/en/blog "The official Red Hat blog") All Red Hat product trials -------------------------- Our no-cost product trials help you gain hands-on experience, prepare for a certification, or assess if a product is right for your organization. [Keep reading](/en/products/trials "All Red Hat product trials") Keep reading ------------ ### What is an image builder? An image builder is a tool used to create a copy of a virtual system or configuration that can then be used as a base from which developers can build and deploy these systems on other machines or platforms. [Read the article](/en/topics/linux/what-is-an-image-builder "article | What is an image builder?") ### Why choose Red Hat for Linux? Workloads need to be portable and scalable across environments. Red Hat Enterprise Linux is your consistent, stable foundation across hybrid cloud deployments. [Read the article](/en/topics/linux/why-choose-red-hat-enterprise-linux "article | why choose red hat for linux?") ### What is Linux? Linux is an open source operating system made up of the kernel, the base component of the OS, and the tools, applications, and services bundled with it. [Read the article](/en/topics/linux/what-is-linux "article | what is linux?") Linux resources --------------- ### Related content * Blog post [Red Hat Enterprise Linux is ready for AWS M9g instances, powered by Graviton5](/en/blog/red-hat-enterprise-linux-ready-aws-m9g-instances-powered-graviton5) * Blog post [Get the most out of Red Hat Enterprise Linux for AWS](/en/blog/get-most-out-red-hat-enterprise-linux-aws) * Blog post [Get the most out of Red Hat Enterprise Linux for Microsoft Azure](/en/blog/get-most-out-red-hat-enterprise-linux-microsoft-azure) * Analyst material [Redefining OS Selection: Transforming Linux Strategy into Competitive Advantage](/en/engage/oreilly-refining-os-selection-analyst-material) ### Related articles * [What is an image builder?](/en/topics/linux/what-is-an-image-builder) * [Why choose Red Hat for Linux?](/en/topics/linux/why-choose-red-hat-enterprise-linux) * [Linux for cloud computing](/en/topics/linux/linux-for-cloud-computing) * [How to move to Red Hat Enterprise Linux from other Linux distros](/en/technologies/linux-platforms/enterprise-linux/migration-process/convert2rhel) * [Why run Microsoft SQL Server on Linux?](/en/topics/linux/why-run-sql-server-on-linux) * [What is Linux?](/en/topics/linux/what-is-linux) * [What is post-quantum cryptography?](/en/topics/security/post-quantum-cryptography) * [What is the SAP HANA migration?](/en/topics/linux/what-is-sap-hana-migration) * [What is lightweight directory access protocol (LDAP) authentication?](/en/topics/security/what-is-ldap-authentication) * [Red Hat Enterprise Linux security](/en/technologies/linux-platforms/enterprise-linux/security) * [Why run Linux on AWS?](/en/topics/linux/linux-on-aws) * [What is high availability?](/en/topics/linux/what-is-high-availability) * [What is ERP?](/en/topics/linux/what-is-erp) * [Functional safety and continuous certification on Linux](/en/topics/open-source/functional-safety-and-continuous-certification-on-linux) * [What is SAP HANA (and why does it run on Linux)?](/en/topics/linux/sap-hana-and-linux) * [Why run Linux on IBM Cloud](/en/topics/linux/linux-on-ibm-cloud) * [What is CentOS Stream?](/en/topics/linux/what-is-centos-stream) * [Why choose Red Hat Enterprise Linux on Azure?](/en/technologies/linux-platforms/enterprise-linux/why-choose-red-hat-enterprise-linux-on-azure) * [Why choose Red Hat Enterprise Linux on AWS?](/en/technologies/linux-platforms/enterprise-linux/why-choose-red-hat-enterprise-linux-on-aws) * [Linux on Azure](/en/topics/linux/linux-on-azure) * [What to know about CentOS Linux EOL](/en/topics/linux/centos-linux-eol) * [What to know for Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7 End of Maintenance](/en/technologies/linux-platforms/enterprise-linux/rhel-7-end-of-maintenance) * [What is CentOS?](/en/topics/linux/what-is-centos) * [Red Hat Enterprise Linux migration process](/en/technologies/linux-platforms/enterprise-linux/migration-process) * [Why run Linux on Google Cloud?](/en/topics/linux/linux-on-google-cloud) * [Red Hat Satellite on Red Hat Enterprise Linux](/en/technologies/management/satellite/satellite-for-rhel) * [Why choose Red Hat Enterprise Linux on Google Cloud?](/en/technologies/linux-platforms/enterprise-linux/why-choose-red-hat-enterprise-linux-google-cloud) * [What is Linux kernel live patching?](/en/topics/linux/what-is-linux-kernel-live-patching) * [What's the best Linux distro for you?](/en/topics/linux/whats-the-best-linux-distro-for-you) * [What's the difference between Fedora and Red Hat Enterprise Linux](/en/topics/linux/fedora-vs-red-hat-enterprise-linux) * [What is a configuration file?](/en/topics/linux/what-configuration-file) * [What is high performance computing (HPC)?](/en/topics/high-performance-computing/what-is-high-performance-computing) * [What is a golden image?](/en/topics/linux/what-is-a-golden-image) * [What is an ARM processor?](/en/topics/linux/what-is-arm-processor) * [ARM vs x86: What's the difference?](/en/topics/linux/ARM-vs-x86) * [What is MPLS?](/en/topics/edge-computing/what-is-mpls) * [What is a Linux certification?](/en/topics/linux/linux-certification) * [What was CoreOS and CoreOS container Linux](/en/technologies/cloud-computing/openshift/what-was-coreos) * [What is SELinux?](/en/topics/linux/what-is-selinux) * [What is the Linux kernel?](/en/topics/linux/what-is-the-linux-kernel) [More about this topic](/en/topics/linux "More about this topic")