Linux or Windows for a web server

[marcos2006]

I?m not sure if I should continue to use windows after all the flaws in the past or should I use Linux

What is the best OS to use

please help?

[ichi]

Use both :)

I prefer GNU/Linux, but you might not like it, or might find Windows more useful for whatever you use your computer for, so just try both, get used to them and stick to the one you like better.

[Silverity]

OS X :ninja:

[marcos2006]

is the good games that support GNU/Linux and software that is copatibale tm want a

good secure os so i can run a web server would linux be a good idea

[Red-Martial]

I wish I could hand you out the research paper I wrote last fall semester (it's about the advantages and disadvantages of Linux as a Desktop/Mainstream OS). But anyway try downloading some of the well known, user friendly distros like Ubuntu, Fedora or Mandrake, so that you can see for yourself and decide if it is really meant/suitable for you. Another good suggestion is to prepare another partition for your Linux Distro and configure a dual-booting, that way you could always switch from one OS to another.

[STV]

there is no such thing as a perfect operating system. if you switch, you'll just be trading one set of problems for another.

STV

[marcos2006]

The biggest question for me is which one is better in security for a web server

[ichi]

Your server will be as secure as you make it, no matter what OS you choose. It's up to you to harden it.

That said, most GNU/Linux distros provide out of the box enough utils to set up a quite secure server. Also you'll find that CLI and shell scripts are really handy when it comes to administer your server.

Regarding games, here you have a quite complete list of games working natively on linux:

http://icculus.org/lgfaq/gamelist.php

And here you have a list of games working on top of WineX/Cedega:

http://transgaming.org/gamesdb/

[marcos2006]

how much does linux cost and where can i get a copy of the latest version

[The Grasshopper]

  marcos2006 said:

I?m not sure if I should continue to use windows after all the flaws in the past or should I use Linux

What is the best OS to use

please help?

585207500[/snapback]

I WISH i could put linux on my comp, I have 4 disto's of it. none can find my wireless card except Suse, but since i don't know how to adjust all the settings for the card to work with the network, I can't install it.

Windows is by far easier to use with Install and usability, but I think its a good thing to have more than one OS. some distro's have advanced to the point that install and the GUI are as easy as Windows. XP is as close to Linux in reliability,from crashes. I also suggest you have a good vid card for Linux as most of the games and programs ate my ram alive. I have 512meg and noticed a small lag with some programs in suse. Redhat is the same. Updating files or programs require you to assist in the installation. they don't have an .exe. but RPM files are close to them. Linux is very near being as easy as windows for "computer dummies" like me. Very near. IMH:):)

edit: linux is free, you can "buy" it from companies or download it free. and from what i am told, linux or unix systems are the best for servers. my website server is using linux.

[gazebee_]

  Serenis said:

OS X :ninja:

585207614[/snapback]

lol.. i thought the thread starter said: "Linux or Windows"

[Gowcra]

windows

[ichi]

GNU/Linux doesn't cost anything, it's free (well, it's always free as in "freedom", and also 99% of linux distributions are free as in "free beer").

There're lots of distributions you can choose from. Some of them are more noob friendly (eg. fedora, mandrake, ubuntu, knoppix, suse). You can download the CD images from here: http://www.linuxiso.org/ or you can also browse any of the distributions' web pages and look for the download section.

If you have never used GNU/Linux, I'd suggest downloading Knoppix. It's only 1 CD and you can boot from it (no need to install anything, it'll run off the CD). That way you wont screw anything while messing with it. Once you feel comfortable using it, you can either use the knoppix installer to install it to your harddrive, or download any other distro and install it.

[marcos2006]

ok thanks everyone for all the information

one more thing how can i find out if my system i compatible

Edited January 1, 2005 by marcos2006

[#47]

Compatible? Um, look at the minimum specs for Linux on their website probably?

[CAE11]

  marcos2006 said:

how much does linux cost and where can i get a copy of the latest version

585207929[/snapback]

  marcos2006 said:

ok thanks everyone for all the information

one more thing how can i find out if my system i compatible

585208010[/snapback]

To me, if you have to ask these sorts of questions now, maybe Linux isn't for you just yet. Do some more research, read as many articles as you can and understand exactly what you want.

[kyro]

use lindows....

( :p cudnt resists. )

[OxideNOS]

For me, the best os is windows xp. I don't mind using linux or any other os but i they are kind of alien to use. With xp you know lot of stuff and you could tweak around YOUR WAY. If u want to try out new OS then definitely go for linux.

[OxideNOS]

For me, the best os is windows xp. I don't mind using linux or any other os but they are kind of alien to use. With xp you know lot of stuff and you could tweak around YOUR WAY. If u want to try out new OS then definitely go for linux.

[Inertia]

persoanly i like both, so i dual boot.

[markwolfe Veteran]

  marcos2006 said:

ok thanks everyone for all the information

one more thing how can i find out if my system i compatible

585208010[/snapback]

Download a copy of Knoppix. It is a LiveCD and you can boot off of it and it will be a full Linux environment without touching your hard drive.

However, since you seem to be asking specifically about using an OS as a webserver, let me edit your title to be more clear (and also avoid some trolls that will just come in and name an OS without any explanation). Just keep your server up-to-date with patches and updates, and avoid installing anything that isn't necessary to the task of being a server. (Y)

My opinion is that any OS can be made into a secure webserver, but it seems that the general world-wide consensus (reference) would be that BSD (another Unix variant, like Linux is) is your best choice.

* title edited *

[marcos2006]

  ichi said:

Use both :)

I prefer GNU/Linux, but you might not like it, or might find Windows more useful for whatever you use your computer for, so just try both, get used to them and stick to the one you like better.

585207533[/snapback]

how did you install the gnu/linux and what partition did you do it under so i can dual boot with xp

[markwolfe Veteran]

  marcos2006 said:

how did you install the gnu/linux and what partition did you do it under so i can dual boot with xp

585222635[/snapback]

That is a good question to post in the Open Source forum.

https://www.neowin.net/forum/index.php?showforum=30

However, you might want to read up on the basics before asking. Most Linux distros will set themselves up nicely to dual-boot with Windows. A place to start getting information may be here: http://www.linux.org/dist/download_info.html

You can also review install instructions for any distro that you may be interested in, to get a feel for what is involved. (example)

You just need to have some empty (and un-partitioned) space to install to. Linux does not install as a Windows application. ;)

[exobot]

If you're wanting to use linux and asking these sorts of questions (I'm not being insulting, just saying :) ) then as it was said earlier, do some more research. Read the various descriptions on the various distro's websites. Warning, Linux is not that user friendly - Mandrake/Knoppix are a lot better than some - but you will still be working through the console for a large portion of it.