Some of the changes in the upcoming release of Windows Server 2008 are a response to features and performance advantages that have made Linux an attractive option to Microsoft customers. One of these is the fact that Linux has less of a surface area, which led customers to believe that Linux is inherently more secure, Bill Laing, the general manager for Microsoft's Windows Server division, told eWEEK. "Having less surface area does reduce the servicing and the amount of code you have running and exposed, so we have done a lot of work in 2008 to make the system more modular. There are more than 30 components not installed by default, which is a huge change," Laing said. "We also have server core, which doesn't have the GUI, so I would say that is a response to the options people had with Linux that they didn't have with Windows."
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Member since:2007-03-30
Member since:2007-04-29
first of all, most video drivers are third party and running really deep in the kernel, therefore prone to problems. all extra running services and files provide an extra angle of attack. running no services at all will be extremely safe (and useless 
), running all services will be very unsafe. so it's up to the system maintainer to enable the minimal set of services required to do the job, that's just common sense.
in the real world i had little trouble with windows servers (stability wise), but i feel safer when a program is not installed. that way i'm 100% sure it can't crash and it can't be used to crack my server.
Member since:2005-07-08
Let's be honest here. To problem with Windows Server isn't really security or stability. The problem is that it's expensive and inflexible. If you want it to do something it doesn't normally do, it's going to cost you a lot of money to make it happen. If you build your business around the Microsoft ecosystem, you don't really have any smooth and cost-effective migration paths off of the platform should you become unsatisfied with the products or services sometime down the line.
IT is too important to trust to a single vendor. Yes, Linux is modular, and it's very easy for customers to customize to their needs or for vendors to provide targeted products. But the real innovation of Linux is that by creating an FOSS platform, it created a vibrant and competitive service-oriented ecosystem that is growing leaps and bounds. You're going to get a better experience for your IT dollar with Linux, not just because of the technology, but because it's an open ecosystem.
The question going through the minds of IT decision-makers regarding the new upcoming release of Windows Server is whether it's wise to continue to hitch the future of their businesses to Microsoft. I think that most CIOs are past the idea that FOSS is about the ability to see and modify the code. They now realize that FOSS is about getting the high-quality products and services they need at a fair price. The future of IT is about free markets via free software.
It's a shame that Microsoft is fixated on the wrong aspects of FOSS, but then again, they couldn't really compete with FOSS on openness.
Edited 2007-05-19 04:43
Member since:2005-07-06
Member since:2007-03-26
"
It was only reacently that MS had to release a critical update because the Windows cursor could be exploited ;-)
Member since:
2006-01-10
All I can say is "About freakin' time!"
A Server with a GUI just adds one more layer to worry about for security and stability. Without the need for video drivers and all that other crap that loads with a server, they can be a lot more stable.
For example, since X and the kernel aren't integrated tightly like Windows is, there aren't all that many servers out that even have X installed. The only exceptions are application servers. This is the way it should be.
Of course I think part of this scheme is perhaps not for the best interest of the enterprise market, but more for Microsoft themselves. After all, all those MCSE certified people are going to have to retrain and take those Microsoft classes again to learn how to work without having a GUI.