17.15. Unix Versus NT as the Web Server OS

All of this is not to say there is no competition for Unix as a web server platform. It is simple to set up a web server on any Windows or Macintosh machine and get reasonable performance, as long as the load is light. But for heavy loads, the only competitor to Unix for a web server platform is Windows NT. The creators of NT applied many of Unix's features, such as the concepts of a kernel, user processes, and preemptive multitasking, to the design of NT. Let's take a look at what each OS has to offer.

17.15.1. NT Pros and Cons

NT has the traditional Microsoft advantages of close integration with other Microsoft products, a consistent look and feel, and GUI rather than command-line administration for those who don't like to type commands and don't want or need a fine level of control. NT has the ability to run some legacy Windows applications. NT can run on cheap commodity PC hardware, but so can many versions of Unix.