Amazon Linux vs. Windows Server

Overview
ProductRatingMost Used ByProduct SummaryStarting Price
Amazon Linux
Score 7.3 out of 10
N/A
Amazon Linux 2 is a Linux operating system from Amazon Web Services (AWS). It provides a security-focused, stable, and high-performance execution environment to develop and run cloud applications. Amazon Linux 2 is provided at no additional charge. AWS provides ongoing security and maintenance updates for Amazon Linux 2.N/A
Windows Server
Score 8.2 out of 10
N/A
N/AN/A
Pricing
Amazon LinuxWindows Server
Editions & Modules
No answers on this topic
No answers on this topic
Offerings
Pricing Offerings
Amazon LinuxWindows Server
Free Trial
NoNo
Free/Freemium Version
NoNo
Premium Consulting/Integration Services
NoNo
Entry-level Setup FeeNo setup feeNo setup fee
Additional Details
More Pricing Information
Community Pulse
Amazon LinuxWindows Server
Best Alternatives
Amazon LinuxWindows Server
Small Businesses
Ubuntu
Ubuntu
Score 8.7 out of 10
Ubuntu
Ubuntu
Score 8.7 out of 10
Medium-sized Companies
Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL)
Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL)
Score 9.3 out of 10
Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL)
Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL)
Score 9.3 out of 10
Enterprises
Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL)
Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL)
Score 9.3 out of 10
Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL)
Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL)
Score 9.3 out of 10
All AlternativesView all alternativesView all alternatives
User Ratings
Amazon LinuxWindows Server
Likelihood to Recommend
-
(0 ratings)
8.2
(0 ratings)
Likelihood to Renew
-
(0 ratings)
9.1
(0 ratings)
Usability
-
(0 ratings)
8.2
(0 ratings)
Availability
-
(0 ratings)
7.3
(0 ratings)
Performance
-
(0 ratings)
5.5
(0 ratings)
Support Rating
-
(0 ratings)
6.4
(0 ratings)
Implementation Rating
-
(0 ratings)
9.1
(0 ratings)
Configurability
-
(0 ratings)
9.1
(0 ratings)
Ease of integration
-
(0 ratings)
9.1
(0 ratings)
Product Scalability
-
(0 ratings)
9.1
(0 ratings)
Vendor post-sale
-
(0 ratings)
7.3
(0 ratings)
Vendor pre-sale
-
(0 ratings)
8.2
(0 ratings)
User Testimonials
Amazon LinuxWindows Server
Likelihood to Recommend
we were having one scenario in which we have to install one application bundle to 7000 machines with Amazon Linux and it’s coming pre-installed with Amazon agent where we have installed and deployed the software very easily with system manager to the Amazon Linux. sometimes what it happens with SSM manager do not response and it goes off-line on Amazon Linux os frequently
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If you have one user or 1000's of users (especially using Windows), Windows Server is a no-brainer! The only reason I would suggest going with a Linux server is if you have old hardware (Windows Server is more process intensive than Linux). But, Linux is open-source, so anyone can publish updates/security updates, but on the flip side, malicious people also have full access to Linux's codebase allowing for much easier writing of exploitations/viruses/malware/ransomware.
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Pros
  • Security and kernel update
  • Repository management with Amazon Linux repo
  • Easy and convenient usage for beginners as well as professional guys.
  • Pre-installed with Amazon command line interface to interact with multiple services of AWS
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  • User and device management out of the box. Active directory is a proven system for doing this and works just as well as it always has.
  • ADFS providing integration into many third-party applications using SAML authentication. We use this heavily to make user experience as simple and straightforward as we can.
  • Local DHCP. It's another one of these systems that is very easy to setup and use out of the box and requires very little maintenance, if any. The system is almost unchanged throughout the years and so anyone with server experience can manage it.
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Cons
  • There should be a graphical user interface because there is only command line interface available for this os
  • File transfer problem with other operating systems
  • Needs tools which should be pre-installed for network connectivity, checking like telnet etc.
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  • Windows Server is extremely complex, and while newer versions have eased the initial setup process, setting up a server is still a very time consuming and difficult task.
  • The complexity of Windows Server also makes troubleshooting any problems that arise extremely difficult, both in tracking down the actual issue and then resolving the issue. Often times a problem can manifest itself in more than one way, making searching for the specific problem also difficult.
  • Windows Server is also very expensive, with complex and confusing licensing terms. In fact, Microsoft provides a 32-page PDF guide on Windows Server licensing, which is in and of itself dense and confusing to follow. To make matters more complicated, there multiple different version of Windows Server itself - Nano, Essentials, Standard and Datacenter edition, and each edition has different licensing terms. Licensing terms include items such as the physical processor's cores of the server, how many users will be accessing the server (called a CAL - client access license), and a plethora of other items.
  • Microsoft's support for Windows Server can be extremely frustrating at times. While Microsoft hosts a very active user forum, Microsoft employees who frequent those forums often provide only stock answers to questions (without actually reading the details) or no answers at all. For more in-depth - phone support can be quite expensive.
  • Upgrading a Windows Server from one major version to another (i.e. 2012 to 2016) is a frustratingly complex and dangerous procedure, as many things can go wrong during the upgrading, essentially breaking the entire setup. In fact, Microsoft doesn't even suggest doing an in-place upgrade, but to perform a backup of the existing server, doing a clean install of the new version, and migrating the information from the older version to the new version. In general, it is not even recommended to upgrade from one version to another as the risk significantly outweigh the benefits.
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Likelihood to Renew
No answers on this topic
I've carefully reviewed the servers and services currently running on Windows Server 2012, and given the opportunity would renew them as is going forward. There are two systems I currently have in place, one is a very large Linux implementation for a large ecommerce site, and one is a very large backup solution front ended by FTP servers running Linux. Neither are well suited for Windows, but the overall network infrastructure is and will be Windows Server for the foreseeable future.
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Usability
I have not found much issues with Amazon Linux when it comes to Compare operating systems as we can use basically everything on this Amazon machines and comes with rubber support AWS documentation on how to work with the Amazon Linux machine very minimal downtime or impact to operating system when it comes to crashing or rebooting due to some issues.
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Everything can (and should) be done through the easy to use/navigate GUI. There is no need for archaic command prompt use to administer the server. But, it is there if you have very specific needs for batch files, etc. that are not covered in the all extensive GUI.
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Reliability and Availability
No answers on this topic
some times server hungs and user sessions were busy to connect
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Performance
No answers on this topic
need to improve the performance more
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Support Rating
No answers on this topic
It has been my experience that unless there is a flaw or bug with Microsoft Windows Server, you will have to pay extra for support beyond the support web site. That said, unofficial support on the thousands of technical websites makes self-help support readily available to any technician with an internet connection. Microsoft's support website is also fairly robust, but I find using a popular search engine often returns knowledgebase articles more quickly that Microsoft's search.
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In-Person Training
No answers on this topic
it was my senior who trained Windows Server features and i was satisfied
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Online Training
No answers on this topic
it was recorded session and useful
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Implementation Rating
No answers on this topic
Make sure that you have detailed processes in place for every server instance you plan to install/upgrade, if possible get the base OS loaded and Windows Updates applied ahead of time, and if using a VM take a snapshot prior to installing each role, as well as along the way.
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Alternatives Considered
Amazon Linux is very well suited when it comes to a very light operating system with all the features, high-performance in hardware congestion and good support from the Amazon. Others do have a support and good working features, but at lakhs a little bit when it compared with Amazon Linux in terms of performance and usage of the os.
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Windows Server is more cost-effective and skills are easier to find to support the products. The deployment and management of the product can be automated with Microsoft SCCM. In my opinion, Linux seems to be more secured but takes more time and effort to learn than Windows Server. However, there are more Windows Server skills available in the job market.
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Scalability
No answers on this topic
yes i completely agree multi deployment
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Return on Investment
  • Return of investment is much better than other operating system as we get robust Support along with OS license
  • When we compare cost of Amazon Linux with other Linux operating system, then we founded, it was much cheaper and efficient in performance as well as costing for Amazon machines
  • Software updates, deployment and tasks are very well handled with any hardware specifications, whether it is on very high higher specification or when it comes to low with huge workload
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  • Ability to keep all files in one place and give access to users makes file management easy to control.
  • VPN Access to off-site users is a plus.
  • Secure access to on-site SQL data from our accounting and estimating data is a plus.
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ScreenShots