COLLEGE OF COMPUTER STUDIES

First Tri, SY 2023-2024

COMP732 – IT Infrastructure

Evaluating Server Operating Systems: A Comparison of

Linux and Microsoft Windows Server

Prepared by:

Ali Ebrahim BH22500309

Sara Jala BH17500536

Fatima Mubarak BH20500482

1. Introduction

• Server operating systems play a crucial role in managing and running various applications,
services, and data on computer servers.

• Linux and Windows are two popular choices for server operating systems, each offering distinct
features, capabilities, and costs.

• Purpose of the report trying to evaluate the capabilities and costs of Linux and Windows server
operating systems buy comparing the capabilities of them to aim into making a decision for what
best for your organization in which can be decided on many factors like performance, security,
and overall cost of your IT infrastructure as selecting the right server OS can make a significantly
on the organization overall.

Linux

The operating system was developed in 1991 by Linus Torvalds as he were student in computer science
at University of Helsinki, that time operating systems had high price tag, his objective was to develop an
operating system freely to use and available to all. Linux was first released under the GNU General Public
Licensed (GPL) and is currently distributed under GNU GPLv2. The reason for Linux’s rises due it was as
open-source OS, cost effective particularly in web hosting.

Now a days the operating system Linux is regarded as one of the most stable and secured operating
systems, powering everything from smartphones (as Android is a Linux based) computers and servers. In
web hosting Linux powers 82% of websites.
Ubuntu Server CLI a Linux distributions
 Ubuntu GUI a Linux distributions

Windows

It was developed by Bill Gates and Paul Allen back in 1975 when they were in high school, as they began
to develop the implementation of the Basic programming language for the Altair 8800 microcomputer,
then after few years they registered their company by name Micro-Soft in which the name is
combination of Microcomputer and Software before eventually settling on Microsoft.

The first version of Windows was initially called Interface Manager, but by 1985 the name had changed
to Windows 1.0. Windows Server (formerly known as Windows NT Server) was first released in 1993
with Windows NT Advanced Server 3.1. Many like other products of Microsoft the Windows Server
releases as they were sold commercially and do require a license to operate, but Linux dominates the
server market, where the Microsoft Windows dominates the desktop user space around 73.72% of all
desktop’s users.
 Windows Server 2019 Datacenter Core — “Transformed” into a GUI-Based Workstation, via 3rd Party
Apps

2. Linux for Servers

Linux is an open-source operating system that provides a wide range of distributions tailored for server
environments. Some popular distributions include Ubuntu Server, CentOS, and Debian. The key strengths
of Linux for servers include:

a. Stability and Reliability: Linux boasts excellent stability and reliability, often outperforming Windows in
long-running server environments.

b. Security: Linux is renowned for its robust security features and frequent updates, making it less
vulnerable to malware and cyberattacks.

c. Flexibility and Customization: Linux offers extensive customization options, allowing system
administrators to tailor the operating system to their specific server requirements.

d. Cost: Linux is typically free to use, reducing licensing costs and making it an attractive choice for
businesses with budget constraints.
3. Windows for Servers

Microsoft Windows Server is a widely adopted server operating system known for its user-friendly
interface and seamless integration with other Microsoft products. The key strengths of Windows for
servers include:

a. User-Friendly Interface: Windows provides a familiar graphical user interface (GUI) like its desktop
counterpart, making it easier for system administrators to manage servers.

b. Application Compatibility: Windows Server is well-suited for running applications built specifically for
the Windows ecosystem, offering seamless integration with other Microsoft products.

c. Active Directory: Windows Server offers a robust Active Directory service, facilitating centralized
management of user accounts, permissions, and network resources.

d. Support and Documentation: Microsoft provides comprehensive technical support and documentation
for Windows Server, assisting administrators in troubleshooting and maintaining the system.

4. Capabilities Comparison

To evaluate the capabilities of Linux and Windows Server, consider the following factors:

a. Performance: Both Linux and Windows Server deliver excellent performance; however, Linux often
demonstrates superior efficiency in resource utilization and scalability.

b. Compatibility: Linux supports a wide range of hardware architectures and offers extensive
compatibility with various software applications. Windows Server, on the other hand, is more focused on
supporting Microsoft-specific technologies.

c. Virtualization: Both Linux and Windows Server provide robust virtualization capabilities. Linux
leverages technologies like KVM and Xen, while Windows Server utilizes Hyper-V.
d. Containerization: Linux has a strong advantage in containerization with Docker and Kubernetes,
offering efficient and scalable deployment of applications. While Windows Server supports
containerization, it is more commonly used in Windows-based environments.

Linux vs Windows Serves as Web Hosting

• Both Linux and Windows servers have their own strengths and preferred software ecosystems
based on compatibility, performance, and user requirements. Here’s a breakdown:

Linux Servers:

• Installation & configuration: Linux used to be notorious for its complicated text-based
installation, which provided the upside of more granular control of the installation process.
however nowadays the Linux OS are equipped with a graphical user interface (GUI) in which that
it can make more easier the installation process and make it more user friendly but still
configuration and management of a Linux server still requires a fair amount of knowledge and is
usually done with the command line interface (CLI).

• Performance: Linux comes with less overhead than Windows, which means it requires fewer
resources to run. More control over the installation process means it’s easier to install only the
services and features needed for its their specific purpose, as it reduces the resource usage.

• Interface: Linux servers are equipped with a command-line interface, meaning that the entire
server can be configured and managed with the use of text-based commands. Linux desktop
operating systems come equipped with multiple options same how look little similar to a
Windows graphical user interface (GUI). As many web hosting providers offer control panels like
for example cPanel in which that it can provide a graphical interface (GUI) for server
management.

• Security: Generally speaking, Linux tends to be more secure than Windows. This is largely thanks
to its open-source nature and the support of a global community of developers; vulnerabilities
and bugs are quickly identified and fixed. Strict access control in Linux also plays a crucial part in
keeping servers secure.
 This an cPanel interface, as the hub provide you with access to important information and
updates.

The cPanel interface consists of the following sections:

1.Navigation bar

2.Sidebar

3.General Information

4.Features

5.Statistics

Windows Servers:

• Installation & configuration: Unlike Windows desktop operating systems, Windows Server is
available in either Server Core or Desktop Experience flavors. The former is installed without a
GUI, while the latter comes with the GUI. Server configuration without a GUI can be difficult for
people without the necessary experience.

• Performance: When Windows Server is installed with Desktop Experience enabled, it will
increase the performance overhead; there is a higher performance cost in terms of storage, CPU,
and memory usage. Server Core was designed to eliminate that overhead.

• Interface: As explained, Server Core = CLI and Desktop Experience = GUI.

 • Security: It requires more effort to keep a Windows server secure. Intricate operating system
knowledge and the enforcement of strict internal security policies are required to minimize the
potential of a breach or infection on a Windows server.

Overview of Plesk Interface:

1. displays the name of the user who is currently logged in, and the currently selected subscription.

2. contains the Help menu.

3. features the Search field.

4. Navigation pane with various items that help organize the Plesk interface.

5. houses all the controls relevant to the page that is currently open.

6. contains a mix of various miscellaneous controls and information displays featured for users’
convenience.
Linux server security at scale:
• The client manages a sizable fleet of Linux servers from public cloud providers and
geographically dispersed data centers. Their operation involved well over 100,000 servers thus
they were searching for a complete solution that would enable security visibility on a large scale.

• Following an initial six-month production trial, the Uptycs Security Analytics Platform's modules
and functionality significantly surpassed the pilot's success criteria, offering unparalleled
visibility into various CSIRT use cases such as intrusion detection, vulnerability detection, asset
inventory, and incident investigation.

Challenges:

• The client runs a reputable online financial transactions website that is frequently attacked by
hackers. Over the past ten years, their Linux infrastructure has grown and scaled at a rapid rate,
posing several security challenges. System audits, log-aggregation-based SIEMs, and a variety of
scripts for data scraping and forwarding were the mainstays of the Linux server security posture.
The visibility that the SOC and CSIRT team could access was limited by what the SIEM could
gather. The unstructured log collection process resulted in high computing and storage expenses.
Additionally, it was difficult to obtain a precise image of the asset inventory for fundamental
security hygiene. Lastly, the system needed to be hybrid—that is, able to operate in both public
and on-premises cloud environments—and have a negligible effect on the production servers.

Solution:
 • Initially, the endpoint performance and coverage requirements were established in collaboration
with Uptycs. Uptycs offered an enterprise-grade osquery agent with remarkable performance,
mobility across many Linux distributions, and minimal resource footprint on production servers
thanks to their extensive understanding of osquery engineering. Armed with the demand for
high visibility and low production impact telemetry, the customer collaborated with Uptycs to
implement the security analytics platform that is powered by Osquery and scales well. Ingesting,
managing, and connecting thousands of Linux server endpoints at scale was made possible by
the Uptycs Core module.

• The Uptycs FIM and identification modules were set up to offer the building blocks needed for
the identification of malicious activity and intrusions. In addition to instantaneous/ad hoc
visibility, the Uptycs Flight Recorder and Investigation modules allowed users to go back in time
and view the status of thousands of servers at any point in the past. Uptycs Flight Recorder's API-
first features made using SIEM easier and gave useful context to expedite investigations.

5. Cost Comparison

When comparing costs, Linux generally has an advantage due to its open-source nature. The operating
system itself is typically free, and many popular server applications and tools for Linux are also open
source. However, it's essential to consider other factors such as support, maintenance, and training
costs. Windows Server requires licensing fees, but it offers comprehensive technical support and a wide
range of enterprise-grade features.

6. Conclusion

In conclusion, both Linux and Windows Server are capable operating systems for servers, each with its
strengths and considerations. Linux excels in terms of stability, security, customization, and cost-
effectiveness, making it an appealing choice for organizations seeking flexibility and budget-friendly
options. Windows Server offers a user-friendly interface, native compatibility with Microsoft
technologies, extensive support, and documentation, making it a suitable choice for organizations
heavily reliant on the Windows ecosystem and seeking comprehensive enterprise features.

Ultimately, the choice between Linux and Windows Server depends on the specific needs, preferences,
and resources of an organization. It is advisable to evaluate the technical requirements, available skill
sets, application compatibility, and long-term cost implications before deciding on the server operating
system.
Impact and results:

• Nothing conveys the enormity of a large enterprise's choice to launch a wide-scale production
within six months after the pilot project. By offering security visibility at scale and freeing up the
customer SOC and CSIRT teams to concentrate on security instead of the related data
aggregation, storage, and analysis, Uptycs was able to create instant value.

Conclusion:

We compared two operating systems, such as Windows and Linux, in this study to see which was the
better, more practical option in terms of cost, security, choice, hardware, software, compatibility,
comprehension, and utilization of alternative programmers. If you're looking for a secure system, Linux
should be your pick in addition to comparing the fundamental features of Windows and Linux that are
normally necessary to run a respectable one.