Mac OS X Server vs Ubuntu Server

[SecretLegend]

Hey guys so as of now I need to pick between either going with Mac OS X Server or Ubuntu Server. I need the server to perform as a web server and load the pages fast as I have 50/50 internet connection. I need the server OS to be able to do file sharing easily and I need the server OS to be really reliable. But for the most part the server OS needs to run my web server really good. So what Server OS do you guys think I should get?

BTW if I go with ubuntu server it will be on a server with a core 2 duo extreme and 6 gigs of ram and if I go with Mac OS X Server I will get a Mac Mini Server and later upgrade to an Xserve. Also on the web server I will be running apache, mysql, and php which both can do. So what server OS do you guys think I should go with?

 

[steviem]

Ubuntu server, no GUI, no overhead.

Or if you have windows running. Vmware esxi with ubuntu server and then you can have some other servers setup on there to fully utilise the resources on the hardware.

 

[SecretLegend]

Ubuntu server, no GUI, no overhead.

Or if you have windows running. Vmware esxi with ubuntu server and then you can have some other servers setup on there to fully utilise the resources on the hardware.

Hey man I am most definitely going with Ubuntu Server I know all the commands for the command line. Also I heard using a GUI is a threat. Any ways thanks for the info so I am gonna go with Ubuntu Server

 

[belvdr]

For a single web server, either can handle the performance. 50Mb is only 6.25 MB/sec excluding overhead.

I'd go with Ubuntu as you can dig in and custom configure it easier than OS X Server. Frankly, I'd go with CentOS with SELinux enabled.

 

[Consultant]

Hey man I am most definitely going with Ubuntu Server I know all the commands for the command line. Also I heard using a GUI is a threat. Any ways thanks for the info so I am gonna go with Ubuntu Server

LOL. Are you sure you "know" command line?

OS X server is good for enterprise settings, not for the individual who makes up random assumptions.

For just web hosting, plain OS X client works too.

 

[steviem]

The biggest security threat, as always, is the human.

It doesn't matter if you have a GUI or CLI, if you don't secure it, it will have security threats.

Of course, Linux with SSH as the only way to access it and preshared keys (with passphrases) as the only way to authenticate, also making sure the actual box is locked away as you don't want a physical breach.

OS X client does work for web hosting, yes. But for anything you want running 24/7, you'd want an LTS version of Ubuntu, or even better, a stable distro of Debian. That way you should minimize downtime. Oh, and a UPS, and a backup server, and something for redundancy...

 

[belvdr]

OS X server is good for enterprise settings

I wouldn't exactly say that. That goes directly against what Apple is targeting OS X Server toward.