[UCLA-LUG] Linux vs Windows 2K

[Matt Helsley]

On Sun, 30 Apr 2000, David Braginsky wrote:

> It is my understanding that Apache runs on Win2k, at least it did on NT. IIS
> certainly does not run under Linux, and it is not a bad webserver by any
> means. So if you have time/money invested in asp you cannot easily switch to
> Linux. However, as Apache runs under all common OSes, servlets or jsp can
> still be used under Win2k. If money is an issue, Win2k is more expensive by
> far, however its much easier to configure than a Linux based solution. I do
> not know anything about performance.
> 

There are at least two different solutions to running ASP on linux.
1) Convert to PHP - scripts exist that will do this automatically, making
me wonder why ASPis ever used...

2) Buy a commercial ASP solution (yes, it runs under Linux as I said). I
bet this would STILL be cheaper than IIS or many other commercial-only
solutions.

I object to the idea that IIS is easier to configure than apache. Take the
most common distribution of Linux - RedHat. Using the Linuxconf GUI tool I
can get apache installed and running in 5 minutes. 
	And it doesn't involve any more Voodoo than simply installing an
RPM and then clicking "enable" in Linuxconf. (Of course, just like Win 2K,
there is a requisite investment in learning the operating system you are
installing under - but this is a common factor to all operating systems
and is thus irrelevant.)

One other point: the fact that IIS runs under only one operating system is
a disadvantage. Customers are then tied to one hardware platform, and even
more they are tied to one operating system. As you might imagine, added
degrees of freedom are a big bonus to businesses which need to be able to
change rapidly - especially in the web industries. This is why I must
admit that I find it difficult to understand how anyone could depend on a
closed solution like IIS.

Anyhow, I should avoid platform advocacy since it tends to make me
obsesive- the last time I engaged in such arguments I did not stop
arguing for 4 years... no wait... I don't think I've stopped yet. :)

L8r.