Would you pay for Windows to save time?
 

I'm very blessed with a large forum, and expanding business. But I've found that I just can't afford to spare the time anymore to break open a linux book every time I need to modify the config of my server, software firewalls, kernel updates, email config changes, etc etc. (I'm fed up with Cpanel glitches so it's not an option.) I've got two monster servers on order and will be colocating them in Dallas in June.

It's not my intention to start yet another win vs linux debate. I've searched and found countless threads on this. But no real information to help me...

My plea is this: Do any of you fellow big-boarders have any experience moving your forum from linux to windows (iis or apache), while keeping the *same hardware*, and therefore can provide a real answer to the question of whether or not there is a performance hit running vbulletin in windows? If so to what degree?

$1500 is a lot to spend on Windows - if you were in my shoes with no time to deal with linux, would you simply go with windows, or pay someone at the DC $75 an hour to do all setup, config changes, and maintenance of your linux servers? Or do you think it'd be better to contract out the job to a 3rd party IT guy?

Thanks for any input :)

First of, I'm a BIG fan of Linux servers!

But despite that, I'd really take a Windows box in your case.
Updating the webserver, PHP, MySQL server and what not indeed is way more easy on Windows IMO.
In case of PHP you just replace the PHP.EXE and that's it.
For the other, run the installers and you're done.

I hate the need to compile everything myself on a linux box.
Maybe I just looked at the wrong places so far, but IMHO Windows is way more easy to mantain....

And if you spend some of your safed time it can be as performing and secure as a Linux box....

[EDIT]
What's the $1500 about?

Probally the cost of W2k3 Server.

Anyway, I'd stick with linux overall its easier to manage, esp with a control panel like cpanel. And even then.

Hellcat, in windows you cannot just replace the php.exe file, inafct most of the time you shouldn't be using php as a cgi or fcgi but rather asn an ISAPI filter. Windows as a webserver IMO is more work than needed, hire someone to manage you server if you don't have the time or want to free it up, a good sysadmin helps you sleep at night.

2 copies of Win2003 server standard (64bit) :)

I personally agree with Zachery here, If you get a server that has WHM/Cpanel it's basically normally a few clicks in your web browser to change most settings and once you have everything configed right you normally don't have to change it again for awhile unless you have issues.

Personally it might be the CentOS, I've never had success with it on a desktop format and even tried building a server with it recently with a friend. I moved to Gentoo shortly after...

You would hire someone to manage your server, kontrabass.

While a very basic windows config can be manages fairly easily, For any real load at all the config you would want to run would not be simple to update.

Myself, I would go with freeBSD for its port system. Or any unix with a decent package system. (I am using Solaris10 not myself). Then you can simply point the config at the default package (Port) systems location for php. when time comes to update, just install the new package and be done with it. Simple as one command.

Gentoo is a nice idea too, I like RHE for its long standing reliablity now. Since CentOS is not RHE exactly you don't get the same service.

If you want ease of use, it's cheaper and better to go Linux + cPanel for servers.