Linux and Windows Server Critique
Team C
POS 420
June 25, 2012
Yevgeniy Tovshteyn
Linux vs. Windows
Both Linux and Windows are operating systems with advantages and differences in functionality and user friendliness. With networking becoming an important part of company operation in this day and age. Kudler will come to depend on networking for availability to the marketplace via the Internet, while requiring their internal systems for email, Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) phone systems, and using business data. Linux and Windows are the only 2 operating systems that have grown to the top level in the field of networking. Learning Team C examines these types of strengths and weaknesses regarding security, administration, performance, and programming.
Kudler Fine Foods Current Systems:
3 locations: La Jolla, Del Mar, and Encinitas
La Jolla
Novell 4.11 Server for POS
4 POS Workstations with Pentium II, Windows 9X
1 Standalone UPS (Uninterruptable Power Supply)
1 Server with Inventory Spreadsheet with Pentium II, 64mg Ram, Windows 9X, external CD burner and
bubble jet printer.
1 Server with NT Server
1 56K modem
Del Mar
Novell 4.11 Server for POS
4 POS Workstations with Pentium II, Windows 9X
1 Standalone UPS (Uninterruptable Power Supply)
1 Server with Inventory Spreadsheet with Pentium II, 64mg Ram, Windows 9X, external CD burner and
bubble jet printer.
1 Server with NT Server
1 56K modem
Encinitas
Novell 4.11 Server for POS
4 POS Workstations with Pentium II, Windows 9X
1 Standalone UPS (Uninterruptable Power Supply)
1 56K modem
9 Access Databases: Customer, Inventory, Item, Order, Order Line, Store, Supplier, Tax Table, Tender.
It looks like they will need some type of Enterprise Server software and upgrades to their hardware for compatibility purposes.
Security
Overview of Windows Security
Windows security is used in many natural business settings. Windows Server incorporates features such as Encrypting File System (EFS), a feature allowing for encryption/decryption of files and algorithms as well as Access Management and Identity Protection, a feature that protects the policies and processes to control personal and private data. Windows Server uses networking security to combat viruses and provide network stability. Windows Server also uses secure messaging and collaborative solutions, such as SharePoint, for use when dealing with business partners (Adams, 2012).
Overview of Linux Security
Linux is an open platform allowing for users to add to the structure of the system. Strength in numbers helps Linux security in that security threats are often fixed right away and for all to see.
Why we choose Linux over Windows for Kudler Fine Foods, no system can ever be completely secure.
Network Administration
The total network size for the company is not that large, so administration of the network and the associated systems; including all the Point Of Sale (POS) terminals currently associated with the Novell 4.11 servers, Inventory Spreadshee ...
Linux and Windows Server CritiqueTeam CPOS 420June 25, 2012.docx
1. Linux and Windows Server Critique
Team C
POS 420
June 25, 2012
Yevgeniy Tovshteyn
Linux vs. Windows
Both Linux and Windows are operating systems with advantages
and differences in functionality and user friendliness. With
networking becoming an important part of company operation in
this day and age. Kudler will come to depend on networking for
availability to the marketplace via the Internet, while requiring
their internal systems for email, Voice over Internet Protocol
(VoIP) phone systems, and using business data. Linux and
Windows are the only 2 operating systems that have grown to
the top level in the field of networking. Learning Team C
examines these types of strengths and weaknesses regarding
security, administration, performance, and programming.
Kudler Fine Foods Current Systems:
3 locations: La Jolla, Del Mar, and Encinitas
La Jolla
Novell 4.11 Server for POS
4 POS Workstations with Pentium II, Windows 9X
1 Standalone UPS (Uninterruptable Power Supply)
1 Server with Inventory Spreadsheet with Pentium II, 64mg
Ram, Windows 9X, external CD burner and
bubble jet printer.
1 Server with NT Server
1 56K modem
Del Mar
Novell 4.11 Server for POS
4 POS Workstations with Pentium II, Windows 9X
1 Standalone UPS (Uninterruptable Power Supply)
1 Server with Inventory Spreadsheet with Pentium II, 64mg
Ram, Windows 9X, external CD burner and
2. bubble jet printer.
1 Server with NT Server
1 56K modem
Encinitas
Novell 4.11 Server for POS
4 POS Workstations with Pentium II, Windows 9X
1 Standalone UPS (Uninterruptable Power Supply)
1 56K modem
9 Access Databases: Customer, Inventory, Item, Order, Order
Line, Store, Supplier, Tax Table, Tender.
It looks like they will need some type of Enterprise Server
software and upgrades to their hardware for compatibility
purposes.
Security
Overview of Windows Security
Windows security is used in many natural business settings.
Windows Server incorporates features such as Encrypting File
System (EFS), a feature allowing for encryption/decryption of
files and algorithms as well as Access Management and Identity
Protection, a feature that protects the policies and processes to
control personal and private data. Windows Server uses
networking security to combat viruses and provide network
stability. Windows Server also uses secure messaging and
collaborative solutions, such as SharePoint, for use when
dealing with business partners (Adams, 2012).
Overview of Linux Security
Linux is an open platform allowing for users to add to the
structure of the system. Strength in numbers helps Linux
security in that security threats are often fixed right away and
for all to see.
Why we choose Linux over Windows for Kudler Fine Foods, no
system can ever be completely secure.
Network Administration
The total network size for the company is not that large, so
administration of the network and the associated systems;
including all the Point Of Sale (POS) terminals currently
3. associated with the Novell 4.11 servers, Inventory Spreadsheet
systems, and Winfax Pro systems; should not be a daunting task
even remotely. But we also have to take into consideration that
all the offices are severely restricted in their Internet
connection speed by their 56k connections. This situation would
demand a lightweight administration solution so as not to
swamp their Internet connection with administration traffic.
On the Windows front a well-positioned possible contender for
this would include Microsoft’s System Center Configuration
Manager (SCCM) to monitor the health of the servers and the
workstations, both POS and desktops (Microsoft, 2012). SCCM
monitors the system specifics such as antivirus findings and
software update status over the network remotely, and gives
alerts if problems are found (Microsoft, 2012). SCCM can even
monitor UNIX, Linux, and Apple systems integrated into a
Windows network as well (Bake, 2008). If a total UNIX or
Linux network is desired then a similar administration suite to
consider has to be ServiceDesk Plus by ManageEngine
(ManageEngine, 2012). This software tracks assets on the
network and reports issues detected with system health to the
administrators (ManageEngine, 2012). This software comes
highly recommended by such successful companies in the
computing technology field as Honda and Intel (ManageEngine,
2012). But it is a commercial Linux software package that I
consider highly worth the cost for what it brings to the
attainability of a healthy computer networking environment.
Performance
Kudler’s existing network is within the boundaries of each
store. There are no connections to the other store locations at
this time; however, that could be a future upgrade for the
business. The network capabilities between Windows and Linux
could be beneficial to Kudler. The Linux system has a simpler
means of access between workstations than Windows. Using
command lines in the terminal to allow real time editing is a
useful source and there would be no need for expensive
software or licenses. With Windows the methods of setting up
4. other network devices is easier because you have the option of
setting up a network via the installed network wizard. This is a
tool that is very useful when you have inexperienced users. This
process can be done manually as well; however, it is more time
consuming and tedious. Linux has to be set up individually on
each machine and does not have a wizard
Windows weakness is the expensive licenses, software, and
timely updates. When updating Windows, each software
application installed has to be updated individually. Linux can
update all software at once automatically with no need for
rebooting. Linux has a range of free software which lowers cost
because you don’t need expensive licenses. Linux’s weakness is
that most users are trained on the Windows system and many
users may have to be trained on how to use the system.
Security
The Windows system requires antivirus software, spyware,
firewalls, and constant updating to keep the system safe;
however, this may cause the system to slow down and
performance may not be sufficient. Windows also requires a
separate firewall besides the one that is built-in because it does
not check the outgoing traffic. Linux is vulnerable to viruses as
well; however, these viruses are specifically built to attack a
Linux system. The number of viruses Linux has is very low in
comparison to the amount Windows has. This makes it easier
and faster to fix. Hackers will try and attack the most popular of
systems and that would be Windows. Windows viruses cause no
harm to Linux systems; however, they can still be sent out via a
Linux system and do harm to other Windows systems. Linux has
antivirus software available to help when this occurs.
Performance
Kudler Fine Foods must take into account the compatibility of
their current systems to include hardware and software when
selecting either a Linux Red Hat server or Windows based
server. The majority of their current systems are Windows based
therefore an upgrade to new hardware and possibly software
would need to be completed. The Linux server offers better
5. performance because of the ability to process higher loads
which include mirrored mirror logs, four volume mirror,
merging snapshots and rollback, and thin provisioning with
discard support (Red Hat, 2012). All of these allow the Linux
Red Hat server to process quicker and more efficient. The
Microsoft server is not as efficient when it comes to processing
higher loads however it is still effective based on the
environment. Microsoft Server 2012 includes a large variety of
storage features which help the processing of data. Microsoft
utilizes the storage stack method to increase efficiency. With
the release of Server 2012 a company can utilize the multiple
levels of storage to combine features to build a system based on
the company needs. Microsoft is introducing a new file system
called Resilient File System (ReFS) which maximizes the
availability of data in an online operation (Microsoft, 2012).
This is very helpful with the web based systems that are being
used by Kudler Fine Foods.
Scalability is very important when it comes to the performance
of a server. Kudler Fine Foods has three current locations
however they may want to expand in the future. Red Hat Linux
6 supports up to 4,096 processors (Red Hat, 2012). Allowing
this many processors gives the user the ability to expand the
current system. Microsoft offers large scalability with the new
ReFS file system. Kudler Fine Foods would not use the full
functionality of either Microsoft or Red Hat so either one will
work for their needs.
Programming Capabilities
Linux and Windows both support several ways of computer
programming. The 1st way is that there is a scripting language
that utilizes shell scripts. The 2nd way is having a high-level
programming language to develop applications. Whichever way
is selected, the capability to program translates into a better
experience by letting the user use the system as they
necessitate.
Similarities
While the ‘underside’ of both OS’s have a share of noteworthy
6. variations, their ability to support various programming
languages, scripting, as well as programs share a number of
commonalities. Shell scripts support in both OS’s is one main
field of similarity. Both OS’s support many types of shells, and
many types of shell scripts. The shell script programmer just
requires picking a scripting language supported on both systems
to easily develop portable code, even though a few alterations
might be needed for things like file support (Microsoft
Corporation, 2012).
Differences
The variations between Linux and Windows are several as well
as programming abilities is not any exclusion. The 1st main
variation still exists in the file processing field; Linux wrestles
files from the root, where Windows produces hierarchies
depending on drives as well as other key elements. The
management of the programmed files varies also with Linux
continuing to look at application files just as if they were anther
file in the tree - like text. Windows needs specific programs to
read a lot of file types including the structure of this Microsoft
Word report.
UNIX supports 3 key scripting languages related to the 3 key
shells: the Bourne (sh), C (csh), and Korn (ksh) shells. In
addition, UNIX also supports a command-line development
atmosphere. Windows on the other hand supports the Windows
Script Host (WSH) in the cmd.exe shell, and Windows
development atmosphere as well as a UNIX-like development
atmosphere having an add-on service.
References
Adams, F. (2012). Windows Server Security Features. Retrieved
from http://www.ehow.com/list_7462530_windows-server-
security-features.html
Bake, J. (2008). System Center Configuration Manager 2007:
Managing Unix, Linux and Mac OS X. Retrieved from
http://blogs.technet.com/b/johnbaker/archive/2008/08/18/system
-center-configuration-manager-2007-managing-unix-linux-and-
mac-os-x.aspx
