You can use Linux as a server operating system or as a stand alone operating system on your PC. As a server operating system it provides different services/network resources to a client. A server operating system must be:

* Stable
* Robust
* Secure
* High performance

Linux offers all of the above characteristics plus it is free and open source. It is an excellent operating system for:

* Desktop computer
* Web server
* Software development workstation
* Network monitoring workstation
* Workgroup server
* Killer network services such as DHCP, Firewall, Router, FTP, SSH, Mail, Proxy, Proxy Cache server etc.