Not any more often that other servers do. As with anything, if there are too many people on the server at any given time, it can potentially crash due to the server being unable to keep up with all the demands put up by other people.
Dedicated servers for Source games can often be installed and run on Windows computers through Valve's Steam service. They can also run on linux, though not through Steam. Instructions are available at http://developer.valvesoftware.com/wiki/Source_Dedicated_Server#Setting_up .
Quite often mall businesses use Virtual Dedicated Servers (VPS), these are used because they need a customized website that they can afford, rather than the dedicated server which may come to more expense.
Operating systems using Linux are often found on servers, many popular sites' servers run Linux because of its stability and performance. Linux is also used by people wanting to learn how to build a kernel thru example, because Linux is open source, they can. Linux is also used by people who want to build a custom operating system for their needs.
Dedicated servers are important to parties because it makes the connection more secure and it also keeps the connection from timing out as often as if the host wasn't dedicated.
The differences between Linux and Windows hosting boil down to four main things:Price (Linux hosting is almost always cheaper)User interface (Windows servers typically use a GUI, while Linux servers use a command user interface (CUI)Program compatibility (some programs, particularly game server software, will only work on one or the other)Performance (Windows or Linux may perform differently in different tasks)In general, Linux is more popular among experienced users because it is cheaper and often provides a performance advantage. Windows is more popular among people new to servers because it has a more familiar interface.
The Linux operating system was created by Linus Torvalds, who announced its development in August 1991. The first official version, Linux 0.01, was released in September 1991. While Linux is often associated with servers today, its initial purpose was to be a free alternative to the MINIX operating system for personal computers. Over the years, it evolved into a robust platform widely used for server environments.
-It's super secure -It's fast -It's stable -Significantly less risk of getting a virus/trojan -It's very customizable -Most Linux distributions don't take much of memory.
Specialized servers are dedicated systems designed to perform specific tasks or functions, tailored to meet particular requirements in computing environments. Unlike general-purpose servers, which can handle a variety of applications, specialized servers may focus on roles such as database management, web hosting, file storage, or application hosting. They often have optimized hardware and software configurations to enhance performance, security, and efficiency for their designated tasks. Examples include game servers, mail servers, and media servers.
WoW private servers crash often, do not generally have friendly GMs (usually server owners friends), really bad economy, and can be full of bugs and what not. it is better to just pay the fifteen dollars a month and play on the official servers.
file and print servers
It can be. The kernel has a real time process scheduler, and there's a popular real time patchset that is often used to modify the kernel to be a more dedicated real-time system.
Dedicated hosting companies often have very reliable hardware, internet connections, and other attributes to keep servers up and running at all times. When hosting your own server , maintenance, power outages, and bandwidth are all something that can be time consuming and difficult to worry about. Dedicated hosts, on the other hand, worry about all of that for you.