Centos vs Windows Server

Overview

CentOS

Stacks13.8K

Followers9.0K

Votes53

Windows Server

Stacks532

Followers208

Votes0

Centos vs Windows Server : What are the differences?

Introduction

Here, we will discuss and compare the key differences between CentOS and Windows Server. Each operating system has its own unique features and functionalities that make them suitable for different purposes. By understanding these differences, users can make an informed decision when choosing an operating system for their specific needs.

Licensing and Cost: CentOS is an open-source operating system and is available for free, which makes it a cost-effective option for users. On the other hand, Windows Server is a commercial product developed by Microsoft and requires the purchase of a license. This cost difference can be a significant factor for users with budget constraints.
User Interface: CentOS is designed to be a Linux-based system and is primarily operated using command-line interfaces. It provides a minimalistic and lightweight interface, keeping resource usage low. In contrast, Windows Server offers a graphical user interface (GUI) that makes it more user-friendly, especially for users who are accustomed to Windows-based operating systems.
Software Compatibility: Windows Server has a wider range of software compatibility due to its popularity in the market. Many software vendors develop their applications primarily for Windows Server, which provides a broader range of options for users. CentOS, being a Linux-based system, may require additional configurations or alternatives for specific software applications that are more commonly developed for Windows.
Community and Support: CentOS has a large and active community of users and developers who contribute to its development and provide support through online forums and communities. Windows Server, being a commercial product by Microsoft, offers dedicated technical support along with access to a vast knowledge base and online resources.
Security: CentOS, being a Linux-based system, is known for its robust security features. It benefits from the strong security reputation of the Linux operating system, with regular security updates and patches. Windows Server also provides robust security features, but its popularity and market share make it a more common target for malware and cyber-attacks.
Hardware Compatibility: CentOS is compatible with a wide range of hardware due to its Linux kernel, which supports a variety of hardware architectures. Windows Server, being developed by Microsoft, is optimized for systems running on Microsoft-certified hardware, which may offer better integration and compatibility in certain scenarios.

In summary, CentOS and Windows Server differ in terms of licensing and cost, user interface, software compatibility, community and support, security, and hardware compatibility. Deciding between the two depends on factors such as budget, user preference, specific software requirements, and the level of support needed.

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Advice on CentOS, Windows Server

Jerome/Zen

Software Engineer

Aug 2, 2020

Decided

Global familiarity, free, widely used, and as a debian distro feels more comfortable when rapidly switching between local macOS and remote command lines.

CentOS does boast quite a few security/stability improvements, however as a RHEL-based distro, differs quite significantly in the command line and suffers from slightly less frequent package updates. (Could be a good or bad thing depending on your use-case and if it is public facing)

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Detailed Comparison

CentOS	Windows Server
The CentOS Project is a community-driven free software effort focused on delivering a robust open source ecosystem. For users, we offer a consistent manageable platform that suits a wide variety of deployments. For open source communities, we offer a solid, predictable base to build upon, along with extensive resources to build, test, release, and maintain their code.	It is a brand name for a group of server operating systems released by Microsoft. It includes all Windows operating systems, Increase security, evolve your data center, and innovate faster with Microsoft Windows Server, the cloud-ready operating system.
Statistics
Stacks 13.8K	Stacks 532
Followers 9.0K	Followers 208
Votes 53	Votes 0
Pros & Cons
Pros 16 Stable 9 Reliable 9 Free to use 6 Has epel packages 6 Good support Cons 1 Yum is a horrible package manager	Cons 1 Not open source 1 License needed

What are some alternatives to CentOS, Windows Server ?

Ubuntu

Ubuntu is an ancient African word meaning ‘humanity to others’. It also means ‘I am what I am because of who we all are’. The Ubuntu operating system brings the spirit of Ubuntu to the world of computers.

Debian

Debian systems currently use the Linux kernel or the FreeBSD kernel. Linux is a piece of software started by Linus Torvalds and supported by thousands of programmers worldwide. FreeBSD is an operating system including a kernel and other software.

Arch Linux

A lightweight and flexible Linux distribution that tries to Keep It Simple.

Fedora

Fedora is a Linux-based operating system that provides users with access to the latest free and open source software, in a stable, secure and easy to manage form. Fedora is the largest of many free software creations of the Fedora Project. Because of its predominance, the word "Fedora" is often used interchangeably to mean both the Fedora Project and the Fedora operating system.

Linux Mint

The purpose of Linux Mint is to produce a modern, elegant and comfortable operating system which is both powerful and easy to use.

Linux

A clone of the operating system Unix, written from scratch by Linus Torvalds with assistance from a loosely-knit team of hackers across the Net. It aims towards POSIX and Single UNIX Specification compliance.

CoreOS

It is designed for security, consistency, and reliability. Instead of installing packages via yum or apt, it uses Linux containers to manage your services at a higher level of abstraction. A single service's code and all dependencies are packaged within a container that can be run on one or many machines.

Gentoo Linux

It is a free operating system based on either Linux or FreeBSD that can be automatically optimized and customized for just about any application or need.

Alpine Linux

Alpine Linux is a security-oriented, lightweight Linux distribution based on musl libc and busybox.

Manjaro

It is an accessible, friendly, open-source Linux distribution and community. Based on Arch Linux, it provides all the benefits of cutting-edge software combined with a focus on getting started quickly, automated tools to require less manual intervention, and help readily available when needed.

Related Comparisons

Centos vs Windows Server : What are the differences?

Introduction

Licensing and Cost: CentOS is an open-source operating system and is available for free, which makes it a cost-effective option for users. On the other hand, Windows Server is a commercial product developed by Microsoft and requires the purchase of a license. This cost difference can be a significant factor for users with budget constraints.
User Interface: CentOS is designed to be a Linux-based system and is primarily operated using command-line interfaces. It provides a minimalistic and lightweight interface, keeping resource usage low. In contrast, Windows Server offers a graphical user interface (GUI) that makes it more user-friendly, especially for users who are accustomed to Windows-based operating systems.
Software Compatibility: Windows Server has a wider range of software compatibility due to its popularity in the market. Many software vendors develop their applications primarily for Windows Server, which provides a broader range of options for users. CentOS, being a Linux-based system, may require additional configurations or alternatives for specific software applications that are more commonly developed for Windows.
Community and Support: CentOS has a large and active community of users and developers who contribute to its development and provide support through online forums and communities. Windows Server, being a commercial product by Microsoft, offers dedicated technical support along with access to a vast knowledge base and online resources.
Security: CentOS, being a Linux-based system, is known for its robust security features. It benefits from the strong security reputation of the Linux operating system, with regular security updates and patches. Windows Server also provides robust security features, but its popularity and market share make it a more common target for malware and cyber-attacks.
Hardware Compatibility: CentOS is compatible with a wide range of hardware due to its Linux kernel, which supports a variety of hardware architectures. Windows Server, being developed by Microsoft, is optimized for systems running on Microsoft-certified hardware, which may offer better integration and compatibility in certain scenarios.

Centos vs Windows Server

Overview

Centos vs Windows Server : What are the differences?