> ## Knowledge Base Index
> Fetch the complete knowledge base index at: https://help.ex2.com/sitemap.xml
> Use this file to discover available pages before exploring further.
> Pure-Markdown content can be obtained by appending a '.md' suffix to the content URLs listed in the sitemap (without the trailing slash).

# What is Linux Hosting?

## Linux web hosting 

The concept of [Linux](https://help.ex2.com/en/article/what-is-linux-1nyhm1b/?bust=1784567581543) hosting refers to web hosting using this operating system (OS) for client servers. The Linux version and product range you have access to varies from one hosting provider to another.

When you purchase a web hosting plan, you pay for the resources and disk space of a hosting provider. This one will generally use Linux or Windows as OS for its servers. 

The advantage of Linux over Windows servers is that it is generally easier to configure. In addition, Linux is a free open source software, which allows to offer hosting less expensive than Windows. 

Linux also offers a much more diverse server management experience. There are hundreds of distributions to choose from to adjust to different users.

The majority of Ex2 servers therefore use Linux as their operating system. However, you can get [VPS hosting](https://www.ex2.com/hosting/vps-hosting) operating on Windows if you wish. 