Server Selection?

Richard L. Goerwitz (goer@midway.uchicago.edu)
Wed, 2 Nov 94 08:28:59 CST


>I am interested in the question of selecting a server platform.
>
>For example, are these guesses correct:
>
> unix gets the earliest ports of new server software (are some
> unices more desirable than others)?
>
> unix server software is least prone to crashes
>
> unix server software has more features
>
> unix has the most development tools

I'm not going to tell you to run out and purchase a Unix work-
station, but it seems to me that the critical considerations in
a lot of cases are multi-user capability, and the ability to be
remotely maintained.

Often no one person is responsible for everything residing on
a given server. Some people will be responsible for some areas
and others for other areas. And not all of them will be able
to be physically present at the console. It's just much easier
to run the server under Unix so they can log in - any time (all
at once, perhaps) - to work.

Then, of course, there's the problem of a crash or something
else while you're at home. Under Unix, it's no problem to do
maintenance on the machine wherever you are, just so long as
you have Internet or dial-in access.

The main problem with Unix, of course, is that it is large and
diverse, and to use it effectively takes some specialized know-
ledge.

Richard Goerwitz