November 23, 2011
Breaking the Mold: When to Use Windows on Your Server
We know it’s an unpopular subject (In fact, we’ve railed against the platform plenty of times ourselves) but every now and again, you will encounter a legitimate need for Windows on your server space. Sure, it makes a lot of sense to use the free and open-source Linux that are floating around, but what about those times when Microsoft is the only solution? When are those times, and how will you even know when you’ve hit them? If you’re at all confused, worry note: You’re in good hands. We’ve thought a lot about the subject, and we’ve written up a short list below to help educate you on when a Windows-based server isn’t just necessary, but vital to the health of your website. So without further ado, we’ll start at the top:
1. Haul in the .NET: First out of the bag, this may seem like a no-brainer but Linux offers no support at all for the popular .NET framework. Because the coding set is a Microsoft proprietary system, nothing but Windows will run the beast. This isn’t usually a problem, but if you’ve encountered a scenario in which the .NET framework is the only way to go, you’ll then have to add Windows to your server space.
2. Speak the Language: On a similar note, only Windows supports Microsoft-only coding languages. Let’s say you’ve got a dedicated server that’s been paired with an MS SQL database. Without Windows operating on the front-end, your database will be speaking gibberish to your operating system. This is hardly a good thing, and you’ll encounter the same situation with MS VB, MS Access, and web development tools like FrontPage or Visual Interdev. If you’ve snagged any of these options in the wild, obviously Windows is your new best mate.
3. Work in the Office: Lastly, if you were hoping to use MS Office on your Linux-based server, you’ll be plumb out of luck. There’s simply no support for such an arrangement, and if you’ve already purchased a serial license for MS Office—or are just hell-bent on using the software suite—you’ll have to replace your currently operating system with Windows.
To sum it all up, if you’re using Windows applications or software, you’ll have to use Windows. That might seem obvious, but if you’re up against a wall trying to mesh Linux and Microsoft products, we’d suggest you hang up the hat: You’re UNIX ride is over, cowboy.
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