Is There Anything Wrong with Using Linux as a Server?
I have used both Windows and Linux on servers. They both are capable operating systems. What you need to ask yourself is “What do I need and/or want?”
I cannot (nor can anyone else) tell you “you need to use Windows…or…you need to use Linux”. If you know what your goals are, then it will make it easier for you to decide which OS to use as a server.
Here are some tips on which OS to use, based upon some possible reasons you have for choosing one OS over the other. Please note these are based upon my own opinions from using both for several years.
| Supports the Most Popular Web Technologies | Windows/Linux (a tie)
(Windows does support ASP & ASP.Net, whereas Linux officially does not) |
|---|---|
| Makes Better Use of Your CPU | Windows |
| Makes Better Use of Your Memory | Linux |
| More Flexible (not counting file-system security permissions) | Linux |
| Out-of-the-Box Security | Windows |
| More Stable | Windows / Linux (a tie)* |
| Availability of Free Server Software | Linux |
| Available Online Support | Windows / Linux (a tie) |
| Flexibility of File-system Security | Windows** |
| More User-Friendly | Windows |
* In my opinion, 99% of crashes on Windows are due to faulty hardware and/or drivers. However, both Windows (NT family) and Linux are stable operating systems, when using good, stable hardware and good, stable drivers.
Posted in Internet and Servers, Operating Systems