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NT or Linux?

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arfjay

Technical User
Joined
Jan 14, 2002
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Location
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We are a small business [23 employees - 10 user licenses]running a Server NT 4.0 SP6 with SBS Backoffice to Win 98 PCs on the Lan. We have been very happy with the Server performance. We need to decide in the next 2 days whether or not to spend $2000 which is the most economical way to preserve our option to upgrade to 2000 [and possibly XP after that] for the Server within the next 2 years.

I have heard about Linux - have had no experience with it but have had it recommended. We have a callcentre and will probably be going that route for it ... but just do not know whether or not to go Linux for our office server totally separate from callcentre applications or not. We have no IT professional in house as I have been doing it all for over a year now but I am not a Pro and I am hearing that we would need one in-house if we had Linux.

I would appreciate any input over the next 2 days.
 
Can't comment on Linux vs NT/2K as server - but you would need a Linux pro readily available. Speaking as a reasonably experienced windows person (with lots of various IT experience), I find Linux very difficult to install, set up and use (ie, I've given up trying).
 
For your situation, I would recommend staying with what you have now. Spend the $2000 and be safe.

Since you are the designated IT person, I would try to schedule time to research/test Linux.

From my own personal experience, I decided to implement a RedHat server because we were needing another file server and we didn't have the budget to get another NT server with all of the licenses. But again, I made this decision for the company after I had thoroughly tested the server and made sure that it did what I was wanting it to do.

I haven't had any problems since I made it live on the network.

Also, if you do decide to go with RedHat down the road....they have a network support program that you could sign up for.
 
Aye linux is great if you know what your doing with it. We are in the same boat here and have decided to stick to what we know for now, but startup a few Linux machines in the office so we can get to know it properly. It will certainly give us more options at a later date.
 
Thank you for your suggestions and input. We decided not to spend the money on Licrosoft but to budget it for Linux research, training and programming instead with an eye toward being able to [if needed] switch to Linux within 2 years.

Again, Thank you.

Ron
 
Linux is not hard. What are you Windows users talking about.

Its quite simple. The only difference is you have to change your config in a config file instead of a hiding checkbox.

Enter port 81 in a textbox is not easier than change the line
port=80
to port=81

If you have a problem, its a lot HARDER to solve in a WinNT environment. "An error as occured, contact your network administrator". That's it. In Linux, syslogs says : "An error has occured in line 12 of machinchouete.conf"

The licencing of M$ IS so stupid. 1 computer / 1 licence. If you have a T/S, 1 user can be on two computer, you need 2 licences.

Well, we had several NT server and we'are planning to keep just 1 NT, the pdc. We are waiting to test samba 3.0 to replace our pdc.

Linux hard? pfff.. click click click. Ho my, I need my mouse to configure my server.


 
There are true believers on all sides.

I was a Windows pro and got a Linux, Red Hat, in 1999 so it was relatively primitive compared to now.

Nevertheless in three hours I had SAMBA running as a File Server for an NT network, running fine. Next morning I was using Netscape to browse.

Two comments that basically cancel each other out...
1. I have a LOT of systems experience, but no Unix or Linux experience before that afternoon.

2. Linux is far easier to install now than it was then, and then it was technical but not hard if you paid attention.

---------------------------------

The main thing is that you can take an old PC, Linuxize it, try it as a simple file server, and if that works, which it will, then start thnking about the next steps.

No loss path. You can always go back to sending gobs of money to MS. Anytime. Bill won't complain. grin.

 
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