Analyze the pros and cons of running VMware Server on Win and Linux

First look at the negative aspects of running VMware Server on Windows. The first one is the cost issue. VMware Server does not support Windows XP; this means you need a VMware server running on Windows Server 2003. Windows Server 2003 currently retails at $1,200 on NewEgg.com, and the free virtualization platform from VMware is not necessarily free on Windows.

When it comes to security, Windows is also inconsistent. One report says this, another analyst said. The essence of the matter is that I manage both Windows and Linux servers, and I have to install many more patches for Windows servers than Linux servers. When it comes to pre-configured security, Linux easily beats Windows.

This is not to say that you cannot secure your Windows server. In fact, a configured Windows server is easier to manage than a Linux server, but the fact remains that if you use Windows to install a server, use Linux to install another, and put them all on the network, then Windows servers are prone to problems,

Let's take a look at the last negative aspect of hosting VMware Server on Windows is the overhead of the host operating system. Since all unnecessary services are turned on by default in Windows, Windows has a higher persistence overhead than Linux, not to mention the overhead of Windows' graphical user interface (GUL).

Of course, disabling unnecessary servers in Windows can minimize the overhead of the host operating system, but not GUL. If the server on which you plan to install VMware Server does not have enough resources for the host operating system and virtual machines, it is best to use Linux as the host operating system.

To be fair, running VMware Server on Linux also has a downside. The first drawback is that unlike Windows, VMware Server on Linux does not include an easy-to-use graphical virtual machine network configuration tool. If you have to manage the virtual machine network in Windows and Linux, when you are in Linux, you will immediately find that the tool is missing.

The second disadvantage of running VMware Server on Linux is the need to install a separate Apache for the Management User Interface (MUI). I spent a lot of time making sure that IIS and Apache web servers are secure, and Linux VMware Server is very annoying, it can't use existing Apache. I hope that the MUI installation can create a separate include file that can be connected to my normal Apache installation.

Finally, the most annoying thing about running VMware Server on Linux is the kernel update. Any major updates to the kernel on Linux will require reconfiguration of VMware Server. This is not difficult, but it is easy to forget that if you forget to reconfigure, it will cause huge downtime. If VMware Server detects a kernel update, it should reconfigure itself to load into the running kernel.

The biggest reason for hosting VMware Server on Windows is the manageability of the main operating system. When joined to Active Directory, Windows can take advantage of central administrative domain accounts, group policies, SMS, and many other essential features to control a large number of servers. The most prominent factor in running VMware Server on Linux is that the easy-to-use command line interface and the main operating system are free.

So, which operating system is better? The truth is that no operating system offers more advanced features than the other, so there is no obvious home. The choice depends on your comfort. If you feel more comfortable running on Windows, run VMware Server on Windows. Either way, you can use it to ensure a safer installation on the familiar operating system you are familiar with.