HirenBhakta

Windows Server 2008 VS. Mac OS X Server 10.6 Snow leopard This is a comparison of both the Windows Server 2008 and Mac OS X Server. I'm going to do Pros and Cons of both Operating Systems and compare them in real world environment such as: Small Business of 50 Users. This Article will involve everything from user computer to server hardware. To understand the full information both Server OS's I will include prices for everything that this Small Business will need in their Office.

Cost of the Software & Hardware

When I went to research on the prices for Server hardware and the Server OS, I found that Dell had good options for the both. So, i build these packages from Dell for the server hardware with Windows Server 2008 EE. The thing was for Dell is that it start from small price, then i start adding up same spec as the competitor and price was more then the other. However, Apple hardware seems expensive at first, but in reality it same or in some case less then the windows servers. Apple has it's Xserve and it comes with Mac OS X Server and thats unlimited license.

Windows Server Infrastructure

• Windows Server With Hardware
  • (2) Dell PowerEdge R810 Servers (customized) - $14,400 ($7,200/e)
  • Windows Server 2008 EE (included in Hardware + 20 CAL's)
  • (30) User CAL's - $1,200
  • (50) Dell OptiPlex 380MT Desktops (customized) - $55,000 ($1,100/e)
• Total Cost of the Infrastructure is $70,600

Macintosh Server Infrastructure

• Apple Xserve With Mac OS X Server
  • (2) Xserve (customized) - $6,400 (3,200/e)
  • Mac OS X Server 10.6 Snow Leopard (included with Xserve)
  • Unlimited license
  • (50) iMac's (customized) - $60,000 ($1,200/e)
• Total Cost of the Infrastructure is $66,400

Windows Server 2008 Enterprise Overview

Windows Server 2008 is great overall product it self, but all the microsoft's bullshit ways of making money is making me sick and it's making some areas of windows server not good. Windows Server 2008 major jump from Windows Server 2003, and there are lot of areas where microsoft has improved their roles and services. Also, Windows Server 2008 has some under the hood changes that improves the Overall Operating System.

Features

These are just few new and enhanced features of Windows Server.

• Server Core- CLI Server
• Active Directory Roles
• Failover Clustering
• Windows PowerShell
• Self-healing NTFS
• Hyper-V
• Server Manager

Pros

These are good reasons to consider Windows Server 2008

• Major overhaul of OS
• New and Improved Roles
• Improved Featured & Services
• Enhances Core Technology
• Active Directory Enhancement
• Server Manager for easy management for server
• Network Access Protection

Cons

These are few reasons to consider and it might change somes to consider to different OS.

• Overall cost of Windows Server 2008 licensing fees
• Every user will need additional license fee CAL's
• Microsoft want every penny from businesses
• Many new features are not compatible with older Windows desktop and server systems
• Upgrades to existing servers will need careful planning
• More care is needed when purchasing Terminal Service Client Access Licences
• .NET framework and PowerShell are not available in Server Core configurations
• Training is required to make good use of the Server Core option
• Some Roles are too complicated to set up in Windows Server

Overall

Windows Server 2008 is great server operating system and has great feature that server should have, but it's not that great when you start using at in real world. It all looks good on paper, but once you know what you going to do with servers and managing servers in business network it will be a big hassel that no administrator want in business. Microsoft is 800 pound gorilla in client operating system market, and they know they will need windows server when those clients are getting bigger in numbers. Sometime some business don't choices and they go with Microsoft, because they provide support for there product. In reality this is all bullshit to me. I think Windows Server Sucks and Microsoft got their own head up their ASS.

Photo

• Photo of Server Manager

Mac OS X Server 10.6 Snow Leopard Overview

When I start working with Mac OS X, i felt that this is great user friendly and yet powerful Operating System. Then i got into OS X Server and i can do everything in that server with out scratching my head. Once people know that fundamental of server and what it provides, after that it's not that hard. Underneath in Mac OS X is power of UNIX. UNIX is the foundation of Mac OS X and it provides power and security of UNIX, and simplicity of Apple GUI.

Technology

These are the few Core Technologies of Mac OS X Server

• UNIX
• 64-bit
• Robust file systems
• Xgrid
• OpenCL
• Grand Central Dispatch
• Open Directory

Feature

Here are some new and enhanced features of Mac OS X Server

• Simple administration
• iCal Server 2
• Podcast Producer 2
• Wiki Server 2
• Address Book Server
• Mobile Access Server
• iChat Server
• Spotlight Server
• Networking and VPN

Pros

• New features like Address Book Server and Mobile Access Server help out both users and administrators
• Home directory syncing is much improved
• Price has been cut in half, and there’s only one version to buy
• Push services for email and iCal
• Improvements to OS plumbing help services scale much better
• Easy to set up
• Remarkably cost effective compared to other server options
• Fantastic set of Web services

Cons

• CardDAV standard in its early stages
• Podcast Producer 2 not as easy to setup as other services
• Best works with snow leopard os

Overall

Snow Leopard Server is strong evidence that Apple is working hard at attracting small businesses that would otherwise consider staying in the Windows ecosystem. When pitted against Microsoft SBS or even Server Essentials, Snow Leopard can hold its own. For $499, you get an unlimited client access, full-fledged server applications like Mail, and a friendlier interface.

Photo

• Photo of Server Admin

Conclusion

In the end i will say that in this Small Business Scenario Mac OS X Server will provide more to the table then Windows Server will. it's not about how much this Business will save, but in long term they will be satisfied with their infrastructure. In some case Windows Server might make more sense then OS X Server, or wise versa. However, In future i see more Small Businesses using Mac OS X Servers and using more apple ecosystem, then Microsoft. I believe that people will see more value in Apple Systems in long run, and Microsoft will have to keep up with Apple. Just like Apple did in smartphone market, and companies that were in this business for decades now are struggling to keep up with Apple.