Server platform comparison

[Nelson Garcia]

You don't mention what web and database servers you are planning on running
on the other two choices.
Linux + Apache + PostgreSQL (or MySQL) would be my choice.  The resource
requirements of SQL Server and/or Oracle are other factors to consider.

I run several sites using Linux, Apache, PHP and MySQL on one Pentium 200Mhz
PC with 128MB of RAM (not to mention email, ssh, etc.). Providing the same
services using Windows would most likely require a significant hardware
upgrade. But that's just to illustrate how undemanding Linux can be, in your
case it sounds like you will have many more concurrent users than I have, so
you might want to invest on a decent server and plenty of memory regardless
of what route you go.

Just so I don't totally dump on the Microsoft option, PHP, MySQL and Apache
all have Windows versions free for download.
MySQL also has a ODBC driver called MyODBC which lets users interface with
MySQL databases using MS Office (Access, Excel, Graph, etc.).

The argument for OS X doesn't sound very strong unless you are planning on
the database server also being used as a workstation. Either that or I
totally didn't understand your reference to graphic tools.

There was a good set of articles in a past issue of Linux Journal comparing
all DBMSs available for Linux. PostgreSQL faired very well, with MySQL
ranking lower because of its lack of transaction support.

My two cents. Aloha and good luck,
Nelson


> -----Original Message-----
> From: Roderick A Gammon [mailto:AEG-Inc at hawaii.rr.com]
> Sent: Tuesday, October 09, 2001 8:17 PM
> To: Linux & Unix Advocates & Users
> Subject: [luau] Server platform comparison
>
>
> Aloha-
>
> The Center for Chinese Studies (CCS) at UH wants to enhance its current
> website.  As one might guess, I wish to promote linux- something
> like a box
> in a closet with HTTP accessed data i/o.  But I wish to promote it fairly,
> since what matters is getting it done right and with the staff's free
> consent.
>
> Choices at this point are among:
> * Linux- Probably RedHat distro w/Apache, Postgresql, and PHP
> * Mac OS X Server
> * Windows Server
>
> Needs are:
> * Database driven (e.g. member resumes)
> * Multi-lingual
> * Inexpensive to acquire
> * Reliable
> * Easy to enhance
>
> IMO- the first four are fish in a barrel.  Inexpensive acquisition and
> reliability for linux is legendary.  Database packages are stable, and
> postgresql supports Unicode from the start.
>
> The problem is "easy to enhance".  Labor at UH rotates constantly- folks
> graduate, get internships elsewhere...  So if CCS' "linux guy" leaves, how
> hard will it be to find one? A successful CCS site will also breed new
> projects. Virtual musuems for the Asian art collective, sites for
> international conferences that come to town, and so on. Some things, like
> updating resumes, will likely be delegated to admin staff that are not
> comfortable with command line SQL.
>
> Windows on the other hand, is at least reputed to have a bunch of people
> knowledgeable in it.  Although I think this may be red herring- I picture
> lots of student hires fooling well-meaning academics into
> thinking that they
> are experts, because they used windows 98 at home.
>
> Finally, this OS X Server is a bit of a wildcard.  CCS is very comfortable
> using Macs and so by brand name OS X Server is a logical choice,
> particularly in terms of graphic tools.  But I am not really up
> on this.  Is
> it any good?
>
> Long and short of it, if anyone can help, are the following questions:
> * Where online are good tables comparing the three platforms for
> this stuff?
> * Same, for documents outlining total cost of ownership, including
> maintenance costs?
> * How to estimate the availability, within the UH community, for "linux
> guys" so that CCS can be convinced that they won't be stuck in 2 years?
> *This* one is the biggest problem.
> * What hardware requirements would one expect?  Single processor?
> Double-processor?  How much RAM?  Assume linux here.  Remember,
> this is for
> a large national university dept. with a lot of international contacts.
>
> If CCS does go linux, I'll be sure to share the story here.
>
> Thanks in advance,
> Rod G
> ____________________________________________
>
> President, AEG, Inc.     | PhD. Candidate
> Tools for multi-lingual  | Chinese Computational Linguistics
> information processing.  | University of HI @ Manoa
> http://www.aeg-inc.net   | http://www.aeg-inc.net/cuttingEdge
>
>
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