Both systems can be made equally secure, so security alone should not be the driver of your decision. Functionality is the next question. Unix systems like Sun or Linux boxes are more reliable according to nearly ever poll done on the subject. But you don't have the full range of toys to use for fancy web sites. Sun's Active One or Soft Chili (old name) allows you to use VBScript ASP pages but not all functions are supported and it runs only on Intel at the moment. SO if your site is ASP hungry then IIS is for you. Apache gives you the freedom of almost any hardware platform, but load balancing is far easier to setup on Windows then any Unix systems. Personal firewalls are freely available for both Unix and Windows systems which is a good idea for a web site. And at the end of the day if IIS is already up and running and you are having no problems why change. Just secure it if you are worried about the security. I am sure I have not made your decision any easier with the above but my feeling would be that Apache on Linux is fastest and most reliable for the more basic web site, with Java, Perl and/or similar. IIS gives you more functionality into COM objects and streaming media is easier to build with Windows systems as more software is available for it and a better price. But again if you are up and running why change.
Hope this helps if even a little Trevor Cushen Sysnet Ltd www.sysnet.ie Tel: +353 1 2983000 Fax: +353 1 2960499 -----Original Message----- From: Mario Behring [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] Sent: 08 July 2002 15:25 To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: NT/2000 vs Unix based Web Servers Hi list, I have some websites running on Microsoft IIS on NT/2000 servers and I have to justify a possible change to Unix servers running Apache or IPlanet using CORBA. The reason is only one, more secure web servers and more secure web sites. Can you guys give me your opinion and some arguments whether should I do this change or not ?? Costs are not an issue here, please give me technical and security arguments. Thanks in advance. Mario Behring __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Sign up for SBC Yahoo! Dial - First Month Free http://sbc.yahoo.com
