Linux in a Windows World

Linux as a Server

Traditionally, Linux’s strength has been as a server OS. Many businesses rely upon Linux to handle email, share files and printers, assign IP addresses, and so on. Linux provides a plethora of open source programs to handle each of these server tasks, and many more. Before you attempt to deploy a Linux server, though, you should understand Linux’s strengths and weaknesses in this role, what type of hardware you’re likely to need, and what types of software you’ll need.

Linux Server Capabilities

As seen in Figure 1-1, Linux can be deployed in many different ways. Indeed, Figure 1-1 presents an incomplete picture because it focuses on only those roles described in this book. Linux firewalls, web servers, databases, and more are all available. Still, Linux has certain strengths and weaknesses as a server that you should understand as you plan where to use it. Linux’s greatest strengths as a server include the following:

Reliability

Linux has earned a reputation as a very reliable OS, which, of course, is a critically important characteristic for servers.

Cost

You can download Linux from the Internet at no cost (aside from connect charges), which can be important in keeping costs down. Of course, the up-front purchase price (or lack of it) is only part of the equation; support costs, hardware costs, and other factors can be much more important. Linux’s total cost of ownership (TCO) is a matter of some debate, but most studies give Linux high marks in this area.

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