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Ubuntu Linux vs Windows Server comparison

 

Comparison Buyer's Guide

Executive SummaryUpdated on Aug 7, 2024

Review summaries and opinions

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:
 

Customer Service

No sentiment score available
No sentiment score available
Microsoft's Windows Server support receives mixed reviews, with some praising its responsiveness and others highlighting slow service and improvement needs.
I had the need to contact Microsoft customer support on a matter, and their engineer was able to remotely assume control of the screen (with my permission and after following instructions) and in a few minutes had resolved the problem.
When we get the support from Microsoft's Shanghai division, the support is very good.
There have been cases where the problem is too complicated to easily correct over the phone, so they sent a local technical from their support team to assist us in troubleshooting.
 

Room For Improvement

No sentiment score available
Sentiment score
5.2
Windows Server needs improvements in security, integration, interface, optimization, support, and cost management for better user experience.
This tool simplifies the control and monitoring of all servers.
Microsoft should expand to integrate the Windows Server with Azure and Linux distribution to provide a simple container environment for running dockerized applications.
If the service could be better integrated with the Azure Cloud, I think it would be a plus for Windows.
 

Scalability Issues

No sentiment score available
Sentiment score
8.2
Windows Server offers scalable solutions for various organizations, though larger deployments and advanced cloud scaling may pose challenges.
In general, it is scalable and manageable.
It works for any size of organization from small to large.
I'm on a 16GB system with a 500GB SSD and I can run multiple VM's on VirtualBox, client sessions, multiple displays and so forth without any issues at all.
 

Setup Cost

No sentiment score available
No sentiment score available
Windows Server pricing is complex and costly compared to Linux, with various licensing options and additional support fees.
Some of our customers have spent approximately $12,000 a year on the operating system license.
Some competitors are offering their operating systems for free.
It's a bit expensive if you were to compare it to Linux.
 

Stability Issues

No sentiment score available
Sentiment score
8.2
Windows Server is praised for its reliability and stability, with recent improvements, especially in handling updates and usage increases.
The solution is quite stable.
There aren't really bugs or glitches.
It's very reliable and the performance is good.
 

Valuable Features

No sentiment score available
Sentiment score
8.1
Windows Server offers ease of use, stability, scalability, robust management, virtualization, and Microsoft integration, enhancing enterprise application performance.
I love using it for the DHCP server, DNS services, and using a computer to map sites on our domain.
The most valuable feature of this solution is the ESRP that is used with the Windows Platform.
Integration with other Microsoft solutions like Exchange and System Center Configuration Manager has the great ability to manage all of the different features on system support, like upgrading, securing, and troubleshooting different Windows systems for clients.
 

Categories and Ranking

Ubuntu Linux
Ranking in Operating Systems (OS) for Business
2nd
Average Rating
8.6
Reviews Sentiment
8.0
Number of Reviews
138
Ranking in other categories
OpenStack (1st)
Windows Server
Ranking in Operating Systems (OS) for Business
4th
Average Rating
8.0
Reviews Sentiment
7.5
Number of Reviews
182
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
 

Mindshare comparison

As of November 2024, in the Operating Systems (OS) for Business category, the mindshare of Ubuntu Linux is 18.3%, down from 23.6% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Windows Server is 9.4%, down from 9.5% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Operating Systems (OS) for Business
 

Featured Reviews

AtulChaurasia - PeerSpot reviewer
A stable and free solution that is easy to deploy and has a user-friendly GUI
Ubuntu improves its products every year. Earlier, the GUI was not good, so Ubuntu improved it. They have removed the complexity of the software. My recommendation depends on people’s use cases. If someone wants to test something that is more stable on Ubuntu, they can use the solution. They can use other Linux flavors like Red Hat, too. Overall, I rate the solution an eight or nine out of ten.
Dan Campeanu - PeerSpot reviewer
Supports various hardware interfaces and offers excellent value for money
Windows Server was crucial for our business as it offered scalability, allowing us to seamlessly upgrade servers as our company expanded rapidly. It served as the backbone for all our tools and applications, providing a unified platform for our operations. Windows Server's security features have significantly improved our IT security posture. While occasional vulnerabilities arose, Microsoft promptly addressed them, providing clear instructions on mitigation. Consequently, we have had no security incidents in over 20 years, thanks to proactive measures and effective security management. Managing Windows Server in a multi-server environment used to be relatively easy, but in recent years, it has become increasingly challenging due to the removal of useful tools and Microsoft's focus on cloud services. Integrating Windows Server with Azure was initially challenging due to limited documentation and some synchronization issues, but it became smoother over time with the help of user experiences and shared knowledge. Integration with AWS for specific tasks was less problematic. I would recommend Windows Server to others. Overall, I would rate it as a nine out of ten.
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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Computer Software Company
14%
University
10%
Manufacturing Company
9%
Educational Organization
9%
Computer Software Company
12%
Government
10%
Educational Organization
10%
Financial Services Firm
8%
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
 

Questions from the Community

Which would you choose - Ubuntu Linux or Oracle Linux?
Ubunto Linux is a complete Linux operating system that is freely available with both community and professional support. This solution is suitable for both desktop and server use. It has a very app...
What do you like most about Ubuntu Linux?
It has a good support system for loading databases.
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Ubuntu Linux?
Ubuntu Linux is open-source and free to use, which makes it cost-effective.
What needs improvement with Windows Server?
Active Directory should have groups and policies. It could probably provide a better overview of how Active Directory is built.
What is your primary use case for Windows Server?
We use the solution for deployments, troubleshooting, Active Directory policies, and Windows patching.
 

Also Known As

Ubuntu
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Learn More

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Overview

 

Sample Customers

Samsung, eBay, AT&T, Walmart, Cisco, Time Warner Cable, Bloomberg, Best Buy, Dell, Intel, Microsoft, Ericsson, Orange, Wells Fargo
Rakuten, Rackspace, Tyco
Find out what your peers are saying about Ubuntu Linux vs. Windows Server and other solutions. Updated: October 2024.
816,406 professionals have used our research since 2012.