Windows Nt Server Costs example essay topic

Windows NT and Linux: An inside look and comparison! One of the many challenges of a corporation, small business or educational institution is how to network the people within and outside the organization. Linux and Windows NT are two network operating systems that suit this purpose well, each having its respective advantages and disadvantages. One organization (Nichols College), began utilizing each operating system for two very different purposes. I will explain the function of the two operating systems and how well they each performed for Nichols. Windows NT Advantages and Disadvantages Business with Windows NT Linux Advantages and Disadvantages Linux in the Business World Conclusion: Windows NT or Linux?

Windows NT: Its Pluses and Minuses Windows NT (New Technology) is an operating system made and offered by Microsoft. Microsoft first released Windows NT in 1993. The basis of Windows NT is an operating system that controls basic computing functions, such as manipulating files. It is a 'multipurpose server operating system that delivers a fully integrated file / print and server environment. ' Windows NT offers one of the highest levels of compatibility with other operating systems and hardware. It was created to be the most integrated, extensive, and easy operating system and it comes in two ways: For desktop PC's For server computers (supporting computer networks).

Windows NT has both positives and negatives. Some of the advantages include: Integration Performance Reliability Security Manageability Internet Access. Windows NT Server allows all applications to be utilized from the Windows NT Directory Service or NTD S. This has a network logon to all servers and services that it provides and its advantage: Only one user database is needed for the whole system. Windows NT also allows integration with other hardware and operating systems; and files and applications from other servers such as Unix and Net Ware. This gives users the ability to install Windows NT knowing that it can fit with their current network. The performance for Windows NT: It runs applications faster, especially 32-bit applications.

It is also faster than Windows 95 on 32 MB machines or more. Window NT provides graphical user interfaces (GUI). Definition of GUI - designs used as symbols that make a function visible to the user quicker than having to look for it. As far as reliability, Microsoft has a clustering middle ware, named 'Wolfpack' that provides fault-tolerant clustering on mainstream PC server hardware. Windows NT also provides memory protection and preemptive multitasking, a journalize d recoverable file system, and RAID striping with parity. Security is an important part in any system in order to make sure that private files aren't accessed.

Windows NT ensures that users can not damage business applications or change system files unless permitted by their security. The administrator controls access to system files. Windows NT has a C 2-level certifiable security and it uses ID's and passwords. Windows NT has a single management model for all of the aspects of the system, but still allows the ability to have local and remote administration.

They also have the choice of a Windows-based, or command-line management tools. This ability to control the environment provides an operating system with the lowest total cost of ownership. Due to its obvious importance in today's business world, Windows offers Internet access with the latest Internet browsers. It also includes Windows Internet Explorer so users can access files on the World Wide Web as well as files on their own desktop or network. The user can also work with other applications while downloading from the Internet. Windows NT has all of the standard TCP / IP components such as FTP, Telnet, Ping, and IP Config.

Along with the positives there are negatives. Those that were found with Windows NT were, cost, low horsepower, technical glitches, and that it only runs on Intel and Alpha platforms. When considering what software, hardware, or operating system to buy, cost is a major factor. One of the bigger problems with Windows NT is the cost being high.

A study was conducted where a sampling of 15 Fortune 1,000 businesses, analysts and system integrators found that the cost of an enterprise wide upgrade to Windows NT Server was significantly more than that of rival platforms to install and maintain. Windows NT also has low horsepower and lacks an enterprise directory. Low horsepower is not good for a business because it can not handle many users on one file server. Since it lacks enterprise directory it causes large enterprises to have more administration to manage it. Some other disadvantages can be considered technical glitches. First, Windows NT has the OOB (Out of Band) bug, which allows users to attack a computer to get the IP address if one is connected to the Internet.

This bug can cause your system to be removed from the Internet. Another glitch is the Get Admin. The Get Admin allows any user with local access to an NT machine to gain administrative access. There are packages out to fix both the Get Amin and OOB, which can be downloaded. (web) Some other glitches and improvements that need to be made include a better filing system that can help people tap information anywhere it is stored on a network. Also, a better way to profile and allow people access to the network. Windows NT in the Business World Companies are using Windows NT Server to create an wide range of creative applications.

For example, some are extending their customer relationships by letting customers enter information over the Internet, store it in databases, and then use that information to generate secured transactions. In the long run this type of database will save any company money because they will use less paper and fewer employees to control this paper work. Cautious users with the sense to do cost studies are finding that moving to Windows NT Server will cost two to three times more than upgrading to the next level of their existing network operating systems a point supported by several analyst's studies. As a result, many of those users are holding off on a wholesale Windows NT migration. The cost of installing, including hardware, software and network management, would top out at around $900,000 because of the need to install more servers and add-on management packages. Users complain that assembling Windows NT Server costs more than expected for several reasons: Unlike Unix, Windows NT Server can handle only one task well, so more systems are needed to support users.

(Netware is another O.S. that can handle multiple tasks). Computerworld conducted a random sampling of 15 Fortune 1,000 businesses, analysts and systems integrators. It found that not only is the cost of an enterprise-wide upgrade to Microsoft's Windows NT significantly more than that of rival platforms to install and maintain; but, some users got so bogged down, they elected to reinstall their legacy network operating systems. Windows NT 4.0 has far less horsepower than rival systems and can't handle as many users on one file server.

And because NT lacks an enterprise directory on the scale of Novell Directory Service, it requires more administrators to manage it in large enterprises. Additionally, its clustering capabilities lag behind Novell, Inc.'s Intranet Ware and provide only baseline fault tolerance and redundancy. But NT is generally considered a more robust application server. Several businesses migrated or attempted to migrate to Windows NT after performing internal price / performance studies. These businesses found that the program had some significant price / performance flaws that delayed its successful placement as an enterprise operating system. In the end, migration to Windows NT became so expensive and so bogged down with complexity that at least two of these companies decided to re-install upgraded versions of their original network operating system.

Windows NT also documented a one-third decrease in performance coupled with a fifty- percent increase in management costs. Quoted from an Internet research group... For a simple LAN, if cost is not a prohibiting factor, NT is eas ier to setup and maintain basic file / print services. Basically, if the administrator understands the elementary networking functions, using a mouse and reading the monitor, they " ll probably be all right. Once you connect the LAN to the Internet, the administrator probably should go back to school and get a PHD from Microsoft University. Basically, a business needs the appropriate software to run a particular company and they must have the suitable tool for whatever task that they do.

Linux: The 'good' and 'bad " In 1991, Linus Torvalds, an 18 year-old Finnish college student, developed Linux which is a free Unix clone made available under the Free Software Foundation's GNU General Public License. As a side note: It's generally accepted that the licenses for most software are designed to take away your freedom to share and change it; also, that the GNU General Public License is intended to guarantee your freedom to share and change free software - to make sure the software is free for all its users. Another side note: I discovered on the Internet that the general pronunciation of Linux is 'Lih-necks'. However, the correct pronunciation is "Leen-uc ks". (From the Nichols College web site). Becoming a very powerful and more popular operating system, several vendors decided to package Linux as 'distributions.

' These distributions are CD-ROM compilations of Linux along with easy installation utilities added with bundled shareware from the Internet. Most distributions are under fifty dollars. Red Hat is one of the largest Linux distributors. The Linux 5.0 CD from Red Hat offers TCP / IP networking, a commercial X Window server, the Apache Web server, a POP 3 E-mail server, and an SQL database server. For a small additional cost, development utilities for C++ and Java are available along with thousands of other tools. A great feature of Linux is the ability to have a server on a low-end machine.

Linux can run on a 386 micro-processor with 8 MB of RAM and 40 MB of hard disk space. On the other hand, Windows NT requires at least a 486/33 MHz processor with 16 MB of RAM and at least 125 MB of disk space. Unix was developed from a networking standpoint and utilized for that purpose. The vast majority of the Internet was developed on Unix machines.

Thus, being a Unix spin-off, Linux is a natural choice as a web server. It is excellent with multi-users and runs X Windows web browsers, Netscape and Mosaic extremely fast. 'Besides, in running Linux you " re also supporting something for which the Internet was initially designed: the collaboration of intelligent people on freely distributable tools". As quoted by Neil Randall of PC Magazine Online who is an advocate of Linux) Linux is known for having very few technical glitches opposed to Windows NT, which is still new to the network operating systems.

As with every operating systems, Linux does have flaws. Until only recently, Linux was geared toward those who were very technically inclined and well-versed with operating systems. With the current distributions, Linux has become more user friendly and easier to use. As with any operating system there are glitches; however, many are minor in comparison with Windows NT's problems. Video cards should be selected carefully because not all of the latest and greatest accelerators are supported by Linux. Linux in the Business World Linux offers the power to accomplish whatever task you may have at hand with unparalleled stability and reasonable ease of operation.

The software is abundant, help is as close as the Internet, and the potential is limited only by your imagination and computing skill (which in my case would allow Microsoft's Stock to sky-rocket once more). Linux has the ability to meet the businesses needs and design a system tailored to meet those needs. The open source code allows this operating system to be customized for whatever specific uses a business might have. For a long time Linux has been a powerful operating system, but recently it is becoming more user friendly. Linux is also making a name for itself by being an incredibly stable system. There was not one business that has reported a crashed system due to an instability problem.

For businesses that believe that time is money, stability is a major advantage. When computers crash, they lose not only the unbacked up data on the system, but also time paid to the employee while they wait for the system to come back on-line. Many businesses have all of their computers connected to each other in order to keep all employees in touch so, when one computer crashes they all are affected. Also, customers of these businesses will tend to have little tolerance for businesses with faulty equipment and take their business elsewhere.

Businesses tend to become doubtful when hearing how Linux can offer so much for so little but it is true. The Linux operating system is free and freely developed by computer enthusiasts. It can be copied and redistributed without having to pay a fee or royalty to anyone. The only downside for the private consumer wanting a more powerful computer system, professional Linux software is often too expensive. Some forms of small businesses, like personal bookkeeping, writing or running their small business, prefer Linux due mainly to their strong reputation. The stability to ensure that they will not lose time or important documents is one of the most important aspects of the Linux system.

Often these small businesses are run with almost little help from other people. That stability helps ensure that they will be able to do their jobs in the least amount of time so they can move on to other projects. For the larger companies the most important aspect that they " re looking for in an operating system is the amount of power. These companies don't have to spend thousands of dollars by buying commercial operating systems such as Windows NT.

The next important aspect of an operating system would then be the stability of the system, because in the end, they do not want to spend any more money than they have to. As said earlier, Linux is very inexpensive if not free. The source code is and allows for 'permissions. ' Established by the administrator of the server (permissions control how much control a user has on the server -- whether a user can read a file, write to the file, and / or execute a file). This is a feature not offered by many powerhouse operating systems. In addition, Linux provides for multi-tasking.

For instance, one command line in Linux would take several 'clicks' in the Windows NT environment. In Linux, the command can also be looped so that it may perform a task several times Windows NT or Linux? Table court esty of Redhat Component Linux Windows NT Server 4.0 Operating System Free, or around $49.95 for a CD-ROM distribution Five-User version $80910-User version $1129 Enterprise Edition 25-User Version $3,999 Free online technical support Yes, Linux Online or Redhat No Kernel source code Yes No Web Server Apache Web Server II SFTP Server Yes Yes Telnet Server Yes No SMTP / POP 3 Server Yes No DNS Yes Yes Network File Systems NFS and SMB Only SMB X Window Server (For running remote GUI-based applications) Yes No Remote Management Tools Yes, all tools Only 'User Manager for Domains' and 'Server Manager " News Server Yes NoC and C++ compilers Yes No Perl 5.0 Yes No Revision Control Yes No Number of file systems supported 32 3 Disk quotas support Yes No Number of GUI's to choose from 4 1 In conclusion, which operating system a company chooses comes down to three aspects: money, user-friendliness, and reliability. As illustrated in the table, there are pluses and minuses to each system.

Linux is less expensive and cost effective for certain institutions and is highly reliable. Windows NT is expensive and is still very new to the market, thus having technical glitches. On the other hand, Microsoft backs Windows NT, which is undeniably the king of customer service. Whereas Linux has no 'central' help station. It basically comes down to the industry of the company and how effective and efficient their information technology department is.

Andy for the record: Linux was voted Info World's Best Network Operating System of 1997.