Windows servers - when are they necessary?

[JerryMungo]

So I've been wondering about Windows servers and how they've been slowly losing the battle... Now that .Net apps and MS SQL can be deployed to Linux, can you think of any other major reasons to deploy a Windows server other than being stuck on legacy software? So far the 'legit' ones I've come up with (or rather those that I think are reasonably legit) are all related to specific MS products:

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Active Directory
Sharepoint
Exchange

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Any others? I mean, for software devs, I can't see a reason to develop anything that requires IIS or Windows anymore...
Of course there are alternatives to the products above that don't require Windows, but given the investment people make in these products, they're not going away any time soon. I am a little amazed that any of those products have lived as long as they have...

 

[Batista]

IIS for hosting aspx sites and asmx web services.

 

[JerryMungo]

IIS for hosting aspx sites and asmx web services.

Yes, but those are legacy solutions that .net core can handle. I'm referring to the future.

 

[Batista]

Yes, but those are legacy solutions that .net core can handle. I'm referring to the future.

Very true, I guess it comes to size of business and the need for a good management company that has experts in linux.You will find lots of companies that will offer support for Windows but very few that do the same for Linux.And this is the main issue, having adequate support for systems.

 

[JerryMungo]

Very true, I guess it comes to size of business and the need for a good management company that has experts in linux.You will find lots of companies that will offer support for Windows but very few that do the same for Linux.And this is the main issue, having adequate support for systems.

True - this is something that Windows desktop has effectively done, though now that we have Server core, I wonder how long until people realise the desktop on a server is just inefficient...

 

[me_]

It depends largely on the size of your environment. If you have a few servers or are only running a single app, Linux is fine. When you have a larger environment with quite a few servers, you can really get the benefits of a Windows domain environment
We have actually been moving in the opposite direction - consolidating all our applications on Windows.

 

[Spacerat]

Rdp access is on win. Not sure if on linux

 

[JerryMungo]

Rdp access is on win. Not sure if on linux

Yes there's RDP equivallent with Linux? There's VNC if you want desktop or SSH if you want shell (among others). Unless you meant Windows terminal services? Not sure if Citrix or others run on Linux. Haven't been following TS for some time.
There's also windows server without desktop...

 

[Thor]

Never.

 

[Johnatan56]

Probably:
Users already know how to use it
Probably faster configuration (more guides, can use previous configuration)
Guaranteed support (inc. of patches. Linux is Open Source, so usually should have quick patches, but what if factor)
GPO

Interesting though how Microsoft is now moving to providing services instead of software, just look at Azure.

Azure revenue near doubling Q on Q.

 

[JerryMungo]

^^partly my point. MS selling fewer server OS. Concentrating more on service based sales.

 

[irBosOtter]

Nisan, or any car manufacturer, when/why are they necessary seeing company X already makes a vehicle that can take you from point A to B....

Doubt MS will ever die, the bigger the company IT footprint the easier it is to manage with a Win domain environment and MS Desktop clients.

 

[JerryMungo]

Nisan, or any car manufacturer, when/why are they necessary seeing company X already makes a vehicle that can take you from point A to B....

Doubt MS will ever die, the bigger the company IT footprint the easier it is to manage with a Win domain environment and MS Desktop clients.

MS dying? Who suggested that? I was talking about a single product of theirs - Windows Server.