Windows server VS Linux

[peewhy]

I am torn between windows server and linux.

Is there any real benefits between one or the other, does one perform better or is it a matter of personal choice?

[clhereistian]

One is WAY cheaper , both n terms of software cost and in minimum hardware requirements! They both have their advantages and disadvatages. If you are running your own web server, and aren't familiar with Linux, it will take a while to learn. They both work serve web pages extremely well. But in my opiniion, for an application like Joomla, where you're running Apache and MySQL, you may as well use Linux.

[Tonie]

While Joomla does run on Windows and IIS, it is developed on Apache. You can run Apache on Windows, but the installed base for Apache is much bigger on Linux. If you are comfortable with both, I would personally go for the Linux platform.

[peewhy]

Thanks for that.

It doesn't cost me any more to put it on windows or linux...equally I have no technical knowledge of either.

I only thought about Linux because I read it was better for SEF

Is this true?

[steinefrenz]

Whether you run Linux or Windows has nothing to do with SEF. I assume you are referring to Apache's mod_rewrite vs IIS. If you are not familiar with Linux run Windows with Apache, if you are comfortable with both run Linux with Apache. Having loaded mod_rewrite you can switch on SEF in each case.

Michael
http://www.24ix.de

[Bifford]

My latest client decided to go with 1and1 for their hosting. I too didn't know any difference between Windows and Linux server so went with Windows.

And then I run into tons of troubles.

Joomla directory and file permissions all went "bye bye and trotted off to nevernever land" so I had to use their file manager to alter them all to what they should be - my ftp program (DOpus) wouldn't touch the permissions.

I also had to spend a further £7 to buy an add-on to DOpus that allowed me to use the FTP in "Secure SSL Implicit" mode (whatever the hell that is) just to be able to access the ftp properly.

And once I finally did get Joomla to install properly any changes to the configuration.php file had to be done manually as it kept reverting to "unwritable".

Turns out all of this is probably due to having a Windows Server and not a Linux one. So I've now rung them and am getting the package swapped to Linux which will take 3-5 days. (And I have until the end of the month to get a basic site up lol).

My advice - go Linux.

My secondary advice - don't touch 1and1 with a bargepole!

Sam.