Server Windows or Linux?

#1 This is a no brainer.
Linux wins hands down in the world of servers.

#2 Cool, what I was thinking. Just curious how much of a noticeable difference i was going to notice since i've never used linux and it's gonna be a bit different to set up, but I was leaning towards learning it anyways, since it's going to be an invaluable asset.

Also as a curiousity, anyone have a preference as to which linux distro to use, maybe someone who has had success setting up this kind of server for this use. I'm currently downloading ubuntu as it has a server verison and can automatically configure a LAMP server for me, and then i can fine tune, or atleast that's how i understood it.

#3 Ubuntu server edition will be just fine. What makes Linux the best operating system for the server market is how very stable and easy it is to maintain. Especially remote administration tasks are just unbelievably simple via SSH, sure it is command line, but that's how everything is generally done and you'll get use to it after a while of practice, I personally loved it after a month of use and have been using Linux on my servers since 1999.

Now you're not limited to just command line administration utilities, you can use some GUI tools such as webmin via web browser to configure and setup everything on the Linux system (minus game specific tasks of course) or even the GNOME based tools that come with Ubuntu.

Now when running a small personal server that has say ten or so average activity you might not notice a difference between Linux and Windows, but when you're running everything from email, apache + SSL + PHP, etc.., and what not with a good 200 average activity then you'll see a big difference. Linux runs nice and smooth while with Windows... well let's just say 8/10 times you're in a very bad position and that 2/10 of the time it isn't that great experience either, cause something always goes wrong!

#4 Thanks Nathan, was a little uneasy on my choice of distro, but I feel pretty confident in it now, and I'm going to be installing it later tonight and seeing what I can get rolling over the next few days.

I'm guessing you've set up a server similiar to what I am for the same needs? If so, since linux is new to me, might I drop you an e-mail if i get stuck?

#5 Here's a handy configuration I've been running the past year (having run my own dedicated web server under Linux on standalone machines and laptops for years up to my current setup). If you currently have a decent workstation setup (running Windows XP Pro here), download and install VMWare Server (free) from:
http://www.vmware.com/products/server/

and download iso image of Ubuntu Linux, Server version (current version 8.04) from:
http://www.ubuntu.com

Setup 4-5 gb image size in VMWare (perfect size for a DVD burn of your virtual machine image for backup purposes) and install Ubuntu using this guide:
http://www.howtoforge.com/perfect-server-ubuntu8.04-lts

(optionally get ISPConfig from http://www.ispconfig.org for managing websites, dbases, etc.)
with the ubuntu iso image mounted as a virtual CD/DVD under VMWare.

Pretty straight forward since the VMware virtual machine has standard hardware compatible with ubuntu and you can easily make backup images of your web server, take snapshots of the running state and whatnot and don't mess up your machine and have to dink around with all types of hardware driver incompatibilities, etc.). You can optionally get VMWare for Linux if that's what you are running for a workstation.

Good luck and hope this helps you and anyone else wanting to setup their own web server with the least
amount of problems.

- Stephen Wilson
(editted for clarity)

#6 Ye, Linux is great. I was undecided too when I set my first ones up in Jan 2006, but I'm very happy with the decision. They're cheaper, stabler, and less greedy on RAM than Windows.

I use Debian - this was the recommendation I was given at the time. The argument was that Ubuntu is more bleeding edge and therefore less stable..?

#7 Ubuntu is pretty solid and full support is offered (notably on LTS version = Long Term Support). Plus it's based off Debian anyways and uses a number of it's mechanics (ie apt packaging) :) Way back when I started with Slackware, then moved to RedHat, then Mandrake, then Gentoo (argh.. that was a messy bit of fun) and then settled on Ubuntu (server) & Kubuntu (desktop cuz I like KDE)

#8 Yeah I know Ubuntu is based on Debian, but apparently it's updated more often and therefore has more 'recent' developments in it (which makes it great as a client machine, but not as stable as a server). The focus in Ubuntu is being up-to-date whereas the focus in Debian is being stable. My disclaimer is that I've never used Ubuntu, I'm just passing on the wisdom I was given ;-)

#9 Slackware 12 is good as well, it will have everything setup for you.

I like slackware better because you are not married to your dependancies.

#10 Gonna Give Debian and Ubuntu a try, little concerned about debian though as the website only lets you download at about 45 Kb/s.

Edited for spelling.

#11 Wow if Linux is not the most un-user friendly, confusing OS I have ever used in my life. Still attempting to install everything I'll need, wonder what headaches i'm going to run into when I actually have to configure it.

#12 Hehe... expect to go through some dirty bits of hell before it's running smoothly. I've used Linux exclusively for some years and went through several distros, and yes, user-friendliness was hardly anywhere to be found.

With a server-only setup, you can at least avoid the bloodiest part of hell: X11.

//EDIT:
Should have added that going through the hassles was worth it in the end. It's a truly great system if you are willing to do the hacking.

#13 @Rich:

Why not run a windows server then? Just download WAMP, and you'll have everything set up in a few minutes. (Wamp = apache, mysql, php already configured). Most of the problems with slowdown on windows web servers are due to IIS anyway.

http://www.wampserver.com/en/

#14 Let me ask you this Jaimi, am I going to lose any functionality doing that? What i'm setting up is a server to host a site and to also allow a patcher i made to connect via ftp to the server, check for all my games installed on computer and then update accordingly, easier for me to do testing on multiple machines this way instead of reinstalling each time. If you believe this is possible with WAMP I might give that a shot tomorrow if i still can't get linux going.

#15 @Rich:

You're not losing any functionality - You can still run the windows FTP server, and have apache doing the web. The people on the other end won't notice any difference.

I've run both Linux and Windows servers for myself - The Windows servers were easier for me to administer, easier to use on my local windows networks, and autopatched themselves. They just took less of my time to make work and keep going. My Linux servers were always getting hacked, and took more effort to keep up to date. That was back in the Red Hat days, so they are most likely better now, but I just know windows better, so it's easier for me.

#16 I got everything up and running smoothly within 30 minutes using the windows approach. I have one last question though. How safe would it be to allow my router to DMZ one computer. I've read that it wasn't that safe, but i'm not sure how long ago what i read was written. With my router I have the ability to turn on DMZ for only one IP address, or i can use * for all of them, would never do the latter of course. Just curious as to how safe it is for my other computers plugged into the router to do this. Idealy i'd eventually get a seperate ISP line for my network.

Also what precautions should I be taking to avoid hacking on my WAMP server, just wondering what you do Jaimi since you actually have this setup. Thanks again.

#17 That's the way I do it, I DMZ the webserver - in my case, that puts my webserver on a seperate subnet for the external world, and leaves everything else on it's own internal subnet (I'm guessing with your router, that it routes everything that is not specifically assigned in the NAT, to go to your webserver. It's a similar setup, to the external world, that will be the only box on the internet.)
This is relatively safe, you'll of course need to keep your box up to date ( i keep automatic updates turned on, so I get security updates right as they are released), and shut off unneeded services to lessen your risk, but there is inherent risk in putting anything up on the internet - unfortunately no way around that.