Review on Operating System such as

Windows Server and Linux Servers

What Is Windows Server and How Is It
Different From Windows?
BY BEN STEGNER
UPDATED MAY 12, 2021
 If you're a regular computer user, you may have only come across the
consumer-facing editions of Windows. But did you know that Microsoft also
publishes an entire Windows Server line of its operating system?

 There are differences between Windows Server and regular Windows. We'll
see what Windows Server includes, what it leaves out, and why it's so
different.
What Is Windows Server?

 Essentially, Windows
Server is a line of
operating systems
that Microsoft
specifically creates
for use on a server.
Servers are extremely
powerful machines
that are designed to
run constantly and
provide resources for
other computers. This
means in almost all
cases, Windows
Server is only used in
business settings.
 Microsoft has published Windows Server under this name since Windows
Server 2003 launched in April 2003. However, even before this, server versions
of Windows were available. For instance, Windows NT 4.0 was available in
both workstation (for general use) and server flavors.

 In almost all cases, normal users don't need to worry about Windows Server.
You won't find it on the shelf in stores or accidentally download it from
Microsoft when you mean to get the standard version of Windows.
Windows Server vs. Regular Windows:
The Basics
https://youtu.be/L8hfFUGUBfo

With just a quick glance, you might have trouble telling the difference between
Windows Server and normal versions of Windows. The desktop looks the same,
including the taskbar, desktop icons, and Start button.

As it turns out, every Windows Server release corresponds to a consumer version

of Windows. Windows Server 2003, for instance, is the server version of Windows
XP. Current versions include Windows Server 2016, which is based on the Windows
10 Anniversary Update, and Windows Server 2019, based on version 1809 of
Windows 10.
 Because Windows Server and Windows share a code base, you can perform
many of the same functions on both. You can download and install programs
like browsers and photo editors on Windows Server, and many Windows basics
like Notepad are included in Windows Server.

 However, Windows Server and Windows Pro/Home have more differences than
similarities. Let's review some of them.
Windows Server Includes Enterprise
Management Software
Because Windows Server is intended for businesses, it
includes plenty of enterprise software. Below are a few roles
that a server can perform thanks to these tools:

 Active Directory: Active Directory is a user management service that allows a server to act as a
domain controller. Instead of each user logging into a local computer, the domain controller handles
all user account authentication. See our explanation of Windows domains for more on this.
 DHCP: Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol is a protocol that lets a server automatically assign IP
addresses to all devices on the network. At home, your router probably handles this. But in a
business setting, IT staff can take advantage of the greater DHCP functionality in Windows Server.
 File and Storage: Having a file server for your company is another common use. This allows you to
keep important data in a central location and set permissions to control who can access which files.
 Print Services: If a business has dozens of printers across the building, it's a waste of time for IT staff
to configure them individually for each new workstation. Setting up a print server allows you to
easily map printers to computers and reduce redundant work.
 Windows Update Services: Often, businesses don't want all Windows updates to come through right
away. By setting up a server as a Windows Update controller, you can route all workstation updates
through that server and configure specific rules for how they should work.
 These are only a few of the server roles Windows Server can handle. Often, a
company will have more than one server and split the above roles across
multiple devices.

 Standard copies of Windows don't include these capabilities out of the box.
You can install some third-party tools to replicate some of this functionality,
but it won't be as robust.
Windows Server Has Fewer Hardware
Limitations
 Most people don't worry about the maximum amount of RAM they can put in
their computer. A 64-bit installation of Windows 10 Pro allows you to install up
to a huge 2TB of RAM. However, the majority of users don't have more than
32GB of RAM in their systems, so even installing 1TB of RAM is far out of the
question.

 Knowing this, can you believe that Windows Server supports up to 24TB of
RAM? It also allows you to use up to 64 CPU sockets, which is much greater
than the two sockets that Windows 10 Pro supports.

 This might sound ridiculous, but there are good reasons for these high
hardware caps. A server can power important functionality for hundreds of
people in a business, so it often needs to be extremely powerful.
 For instance, a server running dozens of virtual machines needs loads of RAM
in order to keep them all running smoothly at the same time. This points out
another important factor of Windows Server: it doesn't always run on physical
hardware. Some businesses purchase a few physical servers, then run many
virtual machines (with Windows Server) on them to handle different
functions, like those discussed above.
Windows Server Doesn't Include
Extraneous Features
 As you'd expect, Windows Server retains power user features like the
Command Prompt and other administrative tools. However, Server editions of
Windows strip out a lot of the quality-of-life features that Windows 10
includes.

 For example, in Windows Server 2016 and 2019, you won't see the Microsoft
Store, Cortana, and other new Windows 10 features. It doesn't bundle in apps
like Your Phone, and even on Windows Server 2019, you have to download
Microsoft Edge separately.

 Windows Server OSes also don't let you log in with a Microsoft account.
Because they're designed for enterprise use, you don't need these consumer-
facing tools on a server OS.
 Additionally, some apps check to see if you're using Windows Server before
you install them. In some cases, the app won't work on a server version of
Windows.

 Windows Server is also much more locked down by default. It still uses
Internet Explorer as the default browser, but the security settings are much
more restrictive than usual. This makes sense, as having a server
compromised would be catastrophic, compared to just one workstation.
Windows Server's Pricing Differs
 As you may expect from a business-oriented product, Windows Server doesn't come cheap. It's
much more expensive than a consumer version of Windows, and comes in various flavors
depending on your needs.

 Microsoft's Windows Server 2019 pricing page gives an idea of what you might pay for the
server OS. Depending on how many people will access the server, you also need to pay for
CALs (Client Access Licenses) to use the services legally.

 Businesses historically installed Windows Server on a physical onsite server, which has much
greater hardware capabilities than a workstation as mentioned above. However, you also
have the option of running Windows Server in a cloud service like Microsoft Azure.

 This allows you to offload the burden of maintaining a physical server to a cloud provider like
Microsoft. In addition, this enables companies to spread the cost of upgrading out over a
subscription instead of paying all at once for a new physical server. What works best depends
on the specific organization's needs.
Now You Understand Windows Server

 In the end, though Windows Server and regular Windows share common code
and look similar, they're for totally different uses.

 Consumer editions of Windows 10 are designed for maximum usability and

don't include software intended for enterprise use. Meanwhile, Windows
Server isn't concerned with looking pretty. Its purpose is to run many services
reliably that enterprise users need.

 These are far from the only Windows versions, either. For example, Microsoft
offers Windows 10 Enterprise that includes more functionality than Windows
10 Pro.
What is a Linux Server?

 A Linux server is a variant of the Linux operating system that is designed to

handle more intense storage and operational needs of larger organizations
and their software. Linux servers are widely used today and considered
amongst the most popular due to their stability, security, and flexibility,
which outstrip standard Windows servers.
 Another major benefit of using Linux over closed-source software like Windows is
that the former is fully open-source. This helps keeps setup and maintenance costs
low, as even many of the proprietary variants of the standard Linux OS (such as
Debian, CentOS, Ubuntu, and Red Hat) give users significant flexibility in terms of
set up, operation, and maintenance their servers.
 Additionally, Linux Servers are generally lighter to run on both physical and cloud
servers because they don’t require a graphics interface.
 Unlike Windows, most Linux variants are fully command-line based, making it a
lightweight solution that prioritizes functionality and optimized performance over
ease of use.

 Other benefits of Linux server include the ability to maintain almost 100% uptime,
since most servers don’t need to be taken offline to apply updates or correct
errors. Linux is also excellent at managing multitasking, allowing it to handle
multiple applications simultaneously.
What Can I Use Linux Databases For?

 Linux servers are some of the most widely used around the world for a variety
of reasons. Unlike Windows and other proprietary software, Linux is
significantly more affordable, and gives you more control over how to
configure your servers to get started. This includes the ability to handle
multiple applications on the same server.

 Because of the reduced resource requirements for Linux servers, you can
theoretically manage a variety of tools from a single location including BI
tools, analytics, and operations applications.
 Additionally, it’s an excellent tool for software developers and even IT teams
as Linux is famously known for the degree of control it delivers to users.

 Linux gives IT staff full root access on their servers, allowing teams to set
everything from the most basic parameters to more complex permission
systems that limit overlap and reduce the need for hands-on management.

 Especially for organizations that develop SaaS tools or live applications,

Linux’s virtually 0% downtime, stability and efficiency mean that if it is
properly configured, it can generally continue operating uninterrupted until it
is manually shut down or experiences a hardware failure.
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zA3vmx0GaO8
 https://youtu.be/mAFMJ1LnQu8
 https://www.makeuseof.com/tag/windows-server-different-windows
 https://www.sisense.com/glossary/linux-server/