Choosing which OS for web hosting? Unix or NT

[gredodenda]

I'm new to this web hosting and I have to decide the operating system, but I don't know why choosing Unix or NT makes different. please someone explain to me.
Thank you

PS. My web hosting is for the church and it will be used to: forums, chat, database, FTP, pictures

 

[Michael]

You might get better answers on other forums, but it really doesn't matter what OS you use. If you find a web hosting company that provides the tools you want to use, then it doesn't matter what OS it is running on.

Michael

ps - I prefer Linux, but that's just a personal opinion

 

[Poof]

According to Netcraft, something like 62% of the internet runs on *nix, which includes Solaris, Linux, and the *BSDs, with Apache as the web server. NT/2K running IIS accounts for maybe 29%. The rest are running Apache on various OSs including NT and Netscape Enterprise Server.

For stability and security, I would go with either Linux or FreeBSD (the most popular of the "free" *nixes). IIS, although easy to configure, continues to be a security nightmare and the costs for the OS need to be factored in as well.

Since churches are non-profit, go for something without cost - the free *nixes (*BSDs or Linux) and Apache. The *nixes all come with Telnet and FTP services (and you can install SSH if need be). You can also install stuff like MySQL as a database and even UBB (free version) for the BBS.

You can put all that you need together for only the cost of the hardware and pipe.