Ubuntu is a preferred desktop OS, which uses the Linux kernel, and its server release is getting really popular too. The main reason is that the operating system is really light and it can function on almost any kind of hardware without issues, utilizing its resources to the fullest. Ubuntu is also pretty reliable and secure and all of the Long-Term Support (LTS) editions are supported for at least five years, which warrants that you should have a safe and stable software environment on your website hosting server at all times. Also, Ubuntu has one of the biggest user communities around the world, so if you experience any problem or have any kind of question, you will find a number of resources on the web. One of the basic benefits of this OS is that it has thousands of software packages that can be freely changed according to your needs and / or the needs of the apps which you'd like to run, not to mention that you won't have to pay any kind of license fees at any time. In comparison, other OS's are paid and their code is not accessible, which means that it cannot be changed.