Choosing a server operating system

Server and network operating systems have been around for a long time. Many years ago, Novell Netware, Banyan Vines, and numerous variants of UNIX (most notably, Solaris from Sun Microsystems) were the major players in this marketplace, but today, the largest players in network/server operating systems for small to medium-sized businesses are Microsoft Windows and Linux.

Choosing which is best for your needs can be a confusing and sometimes a daunting process. Microsoft Windows, for example, is offered in a variety of flavors, including Web Edition, Standard Edition, Datacenter Edition, and others. In addition to pricing, the various editions also vary in their ability to scale, that is, handle more demanding computing needs.