If your web hosting requirements have moved beyond what shared hosting or a VPS can provide, the next logical upgrade is to move to a dedicated server. This article will help you decide. http://puffingdev.com/choosing-the-right-os-for-your-dedicated-server-windows-vs-linux/

1. Choosing the Right OS for Your Dedicated Server – Windows
vs. Linux
puffingdev.com /choosing-the-right-os-f or-your-dedicated-server-windows-vs-linux/
If your web hosting requirements have moved beyond what shared hosting or a VPS can provide, the next logical
upgrade is to move to a dedicated server. Having made that decision, it is important to make several other crucial
decisions like server hardware, network configuration and the operating system. Linux and Windows are the two
popular operating systems in use today and both have their advantages and disadvantages. Making the Windows
vs. Linux decision for a dedicated server may not be as simple as it seems.
Selecting an operating system can be a tough decision:
The hardware and network requirements are usually dictated by the amount of traffic expected, storage and
processing requirements rather than the operating system. Choosing the right operating system can be a little more
tricky.
Windows and Linux are both robust and proven operating systems for dedicated servers. Most commonly used
software like web servers, databases and scripting technologies will run on either operating system or have their
corresponding equivalents. However, if we take a closer look, there are some important differences between them.
It is better to give careful consideration before deciding on any particular operating system because changing it at a
later stage may not be very easy as it could result in significant downtime and additional costs.
Some factors to consider before you choose Windows or Linux:
1. Your platform requirements: This is the most important factor as it could really dictate your choice. The choice
of the scripting language (ASP, ASP.NET or PHP) and the database (MySQL, Access or SQL Server) can be
important considerations. Put simply, if your requirements can only be met by a Windows or a Linux server the
choice is already made for you. Even though some technologies run on both the operating systems, they
usually perform better on one of them.
2. Your budget: Windows and a significant part of the software that runs on Windows servers is not free. There
are software costs and licensing issues. Linux is free. This will make a difference to the total cost of
ownership.
3. Your technical knowledge: Windows systems have familiar and intuitive GUI interface while Linux has a
learning curve if you are not familiar with the operating system. However, Linux is easier to manage if you
have the required knowledge.
4. Stability and security: Security and stability of the server depends on the software that runs on it, the server
configuration and most importantly the skill of the administrator. All other things being equal, Linux is

2. considered to be more stable and secure than Windows.
5. Your personal preferences: If you are familiar with both operating systems, then your personal preference is
probably an important consideration.
Let us now take a look at the advantages and disadvantages of each of these operating systems.
Advantages of Linux:
1. It is free and open source. Similarly, almost all software that runs on it is also free. Therefore, choosing Linux
will be the cheaper option.
2. Linux is very efficient and stable. It gives better performance on the same hardware than Windows and is less
prone to crashes.
3. Linux has fewer security holes, requires less frequent patching and has more security features built- in when
compared to Windows. One reason for this is that Linux is an open source system and security flaws are likely
to be discovered and fixed even before an enhancement is released to the wider user community.
4. Linux is the native platform for PHP and MySQL and they run better on it.
5. Linux can be managed using SSH, a command line interface, which is faster and more powerful than a GUI
interface.
Disadvantages of Linux:
1. To administer Linux, you need more technical knowledge. Though it is possible to do most of the
administration through GUI interfaces, there is a steep learning curve if you are not familiar with it.
2. Documentation is available for Linux, but it may not be as comprehensive as other operating systems.
3. Support is through non- formal channels such as forums, which makes it a little more difficult and timeconsuming to find solutions if you run into any problems.
Advantages of Windows:
1. Windows is more user- friendly and requires technical knowledge to a much lesser degree than Linux when it
comes to setting up and server administration. The remote desktop feature can be used to administer the
server from your PC using familiar GUI interfaces.
2. Scripting technologies like ASP, ASP.NET, databases like SQL server, MS Access and FrontPage extensions
work better on Windows as they are Microsoft products.
3. There is extensive documentation available for all products and other resources are also available to help
you solve problems without contacting support.
4. There is an official round the clock support in case you have any issues for which you need help.
Disadvantages of Windows:
1. Windows is not free. You may have to pay for other software running on the server as well. This increases the
cost of ownership.
2. Though Windows is quite stable once setup properly, it falls short of Linux when it comes to stability. Windows
is also more heavy when it comes to resource usage. You may need more server resources to achieve the
same performance levels if your server load is high.
3. Microsoft regularly releases patches for Windows because the operating system and its architecture are
prone to security loopholes. Security also depends to a great extent on the knowledge and skill of the
administrator. However, there is more work involved in keeping a Windows server secure when compared to
Linux.
4. Although using remote desktop and GUI needs less technical knowledge and is more intuitive, getting the
same thing done using the GUI takes more time than using the command line. So if you are an expert at both
operating systems, you may find the GUI route cumbersome.

3. As you can see, to choose the right operating system for your dedicated server, you have to carefully evaluate your
requirements, preferences and your ability to manage the server. Both the operating systems are proven and robust
and for simple websites you may not find a big difference between the two. Many hosting providers also give you
the option of buying a managed server in which case the technical knowledge may not be a big issue. Make sure
that you select the correct operating system as changing it later on could be a difficult task.