What should I use Linux or Windows or Mac.?

Question

Now before you answer I am currently running a network file sharing server. The main server machine is running RedHat Enterprise Linux 6. It costs me about $400 a year just to run the operating system with support and updates. Now I have a few computers that are client machines. I need to know what operating system to put on the client machines.

If you answer Linux please tell me what distro. Also if the distro will run on 256MB RAM, with a 500MHZ Processor. At the minimum.

If you answer Windows it has to be Windows XP or earlier.

Now also do not say get a new computer bla, bla, bla. Actually answer the question.

PLEASE FIRST REAL ANSWER GETS 10 POINTS!!!

Answer 1

Familiarity: -If you are using Redhat, then CentOS is the closest you will get and all the support and updates you get for RedHat will work for CentOS. Any Linux distro will work well, but sticking to an RPM based distro is going to be most familiar territory for you, so another alternative may be Fedora.



Graphical Desktop: -These distros will run on 256MB if you choose a lightweight environment..i.e. don't run Compiz/KDE or Gnome...use Enlightenment or LXDE. So if you are happy to migrate from RPM, then Bodhi will work very well...



Performance: -The fastest graphical performance will be from ultra-lightweight distros...like TinyCore/Slitaz. PuppyLinux will also work well. Gentoo and Vector Linux will also optimise the performance.



Run Headless: -If you wish to run the client computers as a headless (i.e. control then over the network, no monitors/graphics cards or keyboards) then configure the distro to use your hardware most effectively, (so get rid of desktop environment, and modules that connect to things like printers, scanners if these are not going to be connected.



Run Clustered: - If you wish to maximise the productivity from your multiple client computers you may wish to conder running them clustered. I am not an expert, but the PelicanHPC distro will (theoretically) make your low powered machines act like one powerful one. Whether this can be used practically for your purposes is down to you.



All the above will cost Nothing



Heterogeneous environment: - If the OS on one or more of your clients is going to be Windows the I guess XP is your only answer that will work you. While it is not something I would generally recommend, it has the following advantages...ability to run software that you can not run on Linux, allows other computers on the network (even Linux ones) to access these Window only utilities over a remote desktop, and allows you your test your servers when accessed through a windows machine.



Mac OSX will not work with the specifications you have given



Good luck

Answer 2

Not enough information here really.What are you using the client machines for?

Redhat should be able to serve to anything so that's not an issue.



With those sort of stat's it may be time to upgrade anyways. The hardware components are going to start to fail, especially if they've seen heavy use.



If it's employees on these machines they well profusely thank you for a faster machine. (they'll also be much more production, being able to work rather than waiting on their computers)



Maybe something like



http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16883103410



Should last you another 7-10 years, and supports windows 7.



I wouldn't bother with a new install of XP right now, it's going to EOL right around the corner. Either update and 7 or



Look to a lightweight version of openSUSE or the LUbuntu or XUbunutu varient of Ubuntu 12.04 that's going to be released sometime this month.

Answer 3

Linux Fedora. http://fedoraproject.org/



Fedora is sponsored by Red Hat. Successful advances in Fedora eventually become incorporated into RHEL. Fedora has free updates via yum, of course.



Plus, Linux is much more compatible than Microsoft Winduhs, and easier to manage (but you already know that).



>"Also if the distro will run on 256MB RAM, with a 500MHZ Processor"



Ha. My old Fedora machine was slower than that!

Answer 4

Windows XP will be the most compatible and the easiest to manage. If you're okay with basic coding, Linux is a better bet as you will have access to software updates.