How to Choose Right OS for Your Server?

Windows Servers

A Windows Server is one of the most popular types. The primary reason for that is because Windows, in its many incarnations, is the most popular personal computer operating system. Since Windows is a proprietary operating system, the source code is closed, and that could cause problems for many of the system administrators who like to tweak the settings of their server to make it run at optimum speed. Also, due to the inability to strip away unnecessary parts of the operating system, a Windows Server is inherently more liable to memory leaks, waste of resources, and crashing. On the positive side, the use of Windows Servers is wide, and there are certified technicians to assist you with difficulties on several levels including: independent technicians, your hosting company, and even Microsoft itself. Also, the compatibility of hardware is a little higher because Microsoft will sign agreements with hardware companies so that the engineers of both can work together, so if you're updating hardware frequently, that can be an added bonus. One important factor to keep in mind is Microsoft's Service Provider's License Agreement (SPLA) which can cause complications depending upon what you need to do with the server.

Linux Servers

Linux is gaining in popularity—especially as a server operating system. The flexibility of the system allows it to be tailored for the needs of any hosting situation, and the compatibility with hardware is sufficient to make sure that you're not stuck on old hardware. Since it's open source, a system administrator can remove parts of the operating system to free up memory and processing power, so you can maximize the effectiveness of your hardware while lowering costs. Also, Linux is all-around free. You can install Linux on a server without paying any licensing fees or purchasing software as there are no costs. It's built by the community of Linux users, and programmers in the community build updates and components which they make available for everyone to use at no cost. That eliminates most of the compatibility issues. The technical support system for Linux isn't quite as robust as Microsoft's products, but it is certainly there. The Linux community offers its own support and is usually enough to solve even the most hairy of problems you will encounter. If you run a business, you may consider using certain distributions of Linux, such as Novell's SUSE, and you can pay a monthly fee to receive technical support at any time like you would with a Windows Server. Also, if you're using a dedicated server hosting provider, their staff will be trained to offer support for their version of Linux.

• Linux Server Distributions
• How to Choose a Dedicated Hosting Provider
• Should You Chose Managed or Unmanaged Hosting Plan?
• How Much RAM (DDR Memory) Does Your Dedicated Server Need?