WOW server: Linux VS Windows

[kutie]

Can someone tell me what is the diference between running a linux and a windows server ?

as i figure it, a linux server will be much more stable, and will have a better resource-management than a windows srever.. or am i mistaking ?

i already set up a windows wow server, runs fine (well, as fine as can be...) and i'm thinking of migrating it to linux.
what are the diferences in running a linux server, in comparison to a windows one ?

[MentaL]

[MAXTRAXv3]

linux is better yes it is more stable (and for most games can handle lot more ppl)

[mgX^]

honestly it all comes down to what you like.... microsoft fanboys say that windows pwns, while linux-addicts think of windows as the devil... Saying that linux is way better than windows only serves to illustrate that you dont know what you are talking about.... A machine running windows server 2k3 can be incredibly stable...so can a properly configured linux machine... As i said...it all comes to down what you like.

[xenomorph150]

I think the same way as mgX.
But as I'm using windows and linux,
i would recommend in this case linux, if you're an advanced user.
why?
- linux is free and doesn't cost a penny. a win server 2k3 would come up to more then hunderd euros if i recall correctly.
- depending on which distribution you're using, you get security patches faster: while microsoft patches the "not so important" problems every month, a new security patch for debian can be up really fast. but also only if you choose to use an more experiemental or testing version of it. so, thats a con sometimes. i personally recommend debian testing. it gets more updates than stable, but is not as instable as the experimental version. best choice for what i think.
- you can use linux on command-line only base and leave out any gui or user interface. if you're experienced enough. if so, you can save up these ressources for the server. also - you don't need to have an graphics card in the system, which cuts down the powerusage. (i think you can run a winsystem with the "windows server os" also without an graphicscard, but i haven't researched on that topic yet, i only know system doesn't work without an graphicscard on windows 2000)
- more flexible because you can choose wheter you really need to load up soundenviroment and stuff, and get these ressources also into the server.

i'm a win and lin fan, but in terms of efficiency and flexibility, linux has some advantages.

i hope you could cope with my bad english.

greetings
xeno

[kutie]

ok.
so, first of all: i'm not trying to get into a debate about which is better (win vs linux). i'm not trying to chat with fans of those two OS's. my question was strictly related to running a wow server. in THIS particular case, which one has the upper hand ? so far i take it that linux would serve me best, since it can be more secure, more stable, and has a better resource management than windows. besides, it's free, let's not forget that :)

at this point, which linux distribution would be best ? as i've seen, i had a pionter towards debian. but how about mandriva, ubuntu, red hat, slackware, suse etc. ? how about UNIX like solaris, free(open,net)BSD etc ?
could you give me some heads up ?

i'm not a begginer, actually i'm a programmer, i've got an IT degree, but i have not experimented a lot with linux distributions. i can work my way arround, though...

[Kyle12345]

I have windows servers that are/have been up over 100 days, and the same goes for linux, like previously stated, all depends on how much you know/can use. If your not really an advanced linux user and are not willing to learn stick with windows. But if you CAN go to linux.

[DaninFuchs]

Personally, I find it MUCH easier to manage the Linux version of the server, especially for one major reason; you can background a Linux server console window. Windows servers, you..minimize. Which seems really lame. Not to mention that lag times with my Windows AMD Dual-Core box are higher than on my Linux AMD single-core box with a slower core, both are on gigabit links locally. Linux memory management is a bit better, and if you use 'screen' to run them both within two regions, you can see both server consoles in one window, and detach from them/reattach at will.

On top of that, I personally feel that my MySQL server runs better on Linux than Windows, though I can't provide any figures to back that.

THERE IS ONE MAJOR ISSUE, HOWEVER, WITH LINUX SERVERS. Win32 servers (from what I've seen) have an admin console built-in. Linux servers....don't. And I can't seem to find the remote admin client to connect to its builtin port.

Also, I can't seem to find a working source set to compile from, for the Linux servers, so I've been forced to rely on other peoples' binary builds..

[nulleffect]

[quote=kutie;2043279]Can someone tell me what is the diference between running a linux and a windows server ?

as i figure it, a linux server will be much more stable, and will have a better resource-management than a windows srever.. or am i mistaking ?


Not Mistaken at all. if you have a stable version of linux and do the updates for security and the such before your install. I ran a nix mangos server for close to 3 months with out having to restart the game or crash it out cause of a lock up. I didnt have the random well not random but I didnt have the server Disconnectes every few minutes. In fact the only ones I had I issued for code changing and adding things to the server.