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Generally speaking, any computer connected to the Internet, whether it is running client software or server software, is called a Host computer. This is because, technically,
any computer can be set up to run server programs such as mail, ftp and http. However, more commonly, only those computers running server software are referred to as hosts. Host computers can be of any platform
running any operating. Historically, computers running the Unix operating system (on Dec or Sun platforms) have provided most of the Internet services primarily because they were the only ones powerful enough for
the task. Most server programs tended to be developed for the Unix operating system. Intel-based and Macintosh computers were typically used at the client end. However, with the advent of the Intel
version of Unix, Linux has become a popular operating system. The development of the Windows-NT operating system, along with more powerful processors, has made NT-based systems the fastest growing platform for
providing Internet service. Windows95 and Macintosh systems are also used ocassionaly, but they are generally not conisered powerful or stable enough to provide high-end Internet services.
Thus, the systems commonly used to provide Internet services are:
- Unix on Sun and Dec computers
- Linux on Intel computers
- Windows NT on Intel computers
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