Web Hosting Linux Vs NT Part 2
Efficiency
According to several reports that I have come across lately IIS is more efficient than Apache. My own testing has led me to conclude the performance of the two is roughly the same for static pages. PHP (the server side scripting platform common on Apache) tends to be more efficient than ASP (the server side scripting system for IIS) according to many sources, although I have tested neither for speed.
Hardware Requirements
I have run both web server platforms on large and small boxes of many different configurations, and Ive found they require much the same hardware. This is not surprising, since the two platforms basically do the same thing. When you configure Windows and IIS, its a good idea to strip the operating system of unneeded functions. This reduces the size box you need (as well as increasing security). Ive run both platforms on 64mb of memory with a single 5400 RPM IDE drive and 200mhtrz processors with reasonable response time (all things considered). I have also run them on dual 2gigahertz systems with 15k RPM SCSI raid 10 drives with incredible performance. The two platforms are equivalent in hardware needs.
Large Server Farms
Microsoft has worked hard on load balancing, so there are more options available for IIS and Windows 2000 for this than other operating systems. In fact, Windows 2000 clustering (the ability to run several servers using the same disks) is very advanced and makes disaster recovery a breeze.
Disaster Recovery
IIS backup solutions (those which are provided with Windows 2000) are surprisingly weak. There is no way to back up the meta base (all of the IIS configuration parameters) from one machine and restore it to another (which makes disaster recovery difficult). On the other hand, with Apache its just a matter of saving all of the configuration text files. Language and other support
IIS and Apache both support CGI, SSI and PERL (ActivePerl on IIS is excellent). IIS natively supports ASP and Im sure you could find PHP if you looked (I have not). Apache tends towards PHP, although you can install something like Chilisoft ASP if you want. CGI, SSI and PERL are performance hogs and security nightmares in both web platforms.
Stability
Both web platforms are rock solid stable. I have run apache servers which have stayed up for longer than a year without a reboot, and my IIS servers have run for years with the only rebooting required is the occasional service pack and security patch. Neither web platform (or OS for that matter) has even once crashed due to a bug.
Look out for more on this Topic to be published soon!
