One of the longest standing debates among IT professionals is whether Linux servers are better than Windows servers are. Windows supporters firmly stand with its familiarity and safety. Moreover, the more open-minded system admins would rather stick with Linux for its open source goodies.
However, is one platform better than the competitor is, or is it just because some businesses have a preference of one over the other? Below is a look at what each of these platforms has to offer and whether the open source option is the best way to go for all types of businesses.
Better Control
The decision to switch over to a Linux server has in the past sparked lots of debate. The main reason is that Windows is thought of as a more secure, comfortable and “safer” option. Supporters of open source have lots of negativity towards Microsoft.
The main reason for the negativity is that Microsoft does not offer the same flexibility available on Linux. Perhaps it is because the latter has the habit of over-zealously policing their platform and directing system administrators over what they can and cannot do with the servers.
Linux offers a way out of such a closed ecosystem, allowing your business to employ multiple vendors – effectively avoiding what is called the vendor lock in. In addition, system admins have powerful tools at their disposal, such as how to use systemctl. On the other hand, businesses that decide to move to Linux will find services they had on Windows are no longer supported.
More Stability
Despite several improvements that have been made to the Windows Server in the past few years, many still prefer Linux as a more reliable, stable operating system. To many users, Linux has a lower risk of running into errors and crashes. Plus, Linux is capable of handling more concurrent processes and does not require frequent restarting, leading to less overall downtime.
One of the biggest reasons for this reduced downtime is that Linux is an incredibly stripped back and efficient operating system. Very little in any Linux distro does not need to be there. In fact, little can go wrong and throw your business’ data center into disarray.
Improved Security
One of the biggest selling points of a Linux server is that they are more secure compared to the competition. In theory, it is because anyone can examine the source code, bugs found faster and patches pushed to the community without waiting for the manufacturer to send out the fix.
Unfortunately, this argument does not hold true at all times – case in point is the Heartbleed bug. Nevertheless, Linux generally suffers fewer colossal security blunders compared to other operating systems. Plus, Linux is considered as more resilient by cyber professionals.
Affordable
One of the first things a Linux fan will tell you about the operating system is that it is free to install, unlike the Microsoft OS. This is true when you are considering desktops, but installing the server space is not as simple.
Technically, you can download and run Linux in your office data center without forking out a penny; however, businesses require support services, which are not free. That said Linux is still much cheaper compared to running a Windows Server since you do not have to worry about per-seat licensing costs.
Conclusion
Overall, Linux is the leading operating system on servers and mainframe computers – in fact, it’s the only OS used by TOP500 supercomputers. A high-powered variant of Linux is designed to handle demanding business requirements like system administration, networking and database management. Furthermore, Linux servers are powering innovation around the world!
