May 16, 2018|and Lenny
The Linux vs. Windows debate usually revolves around cost and features. Although Linux is generally considered cheap and Windows is expensive. Many factors can change the equation, not the least of which is the advent of cloud computing.
Perhaps no organization promotes Linux adoption more than Amazon's AWS, whichrely onLinux to provide its cloud services. Linux continues to make steady progress in computing, as evidenced by the fact that some40%The VMs in Microsoft Azure are running Linux.
By any standard, Linux is a technological masterpiece. Plus cost is of course another driver. However, as businesses further embrace and rely on Linux, the "free" moniker is rapidly disappearing, replaced by paid subscriptions. Additionally, Microsoft's changes to core-based pricing for Windows Server have also changed the equation.
Let's take a closer look at the cost considerations for both platforms.
Infrastructure costs:
The main consideration is whether to be on-premises or in the cloud - what hardware resources are needed to provision the application? All things being equal, if we look strictly at the OS itself, Linux is lighter weight and more tunable, and can handle more of a given workload. How many? This will depend on the properties of the application, but typically you can expect around a 20% increase in throughput on Linux. Wintel-centric organizations will likely not find the efficiency gains as dramatic, but fresh deployments may feel differently.
License fee:
Linux
Linux is for all intents and purposes freely available (ie.Debian,Ubuntu,fedora).Businesses that need Linux support and vendor responsibility will choose a platform likered hatandSeuss. Red Hat and SUSE license fees are included in the subscription service.
Windows
Commercial organizations are well aware that the Windows operating system incurs licensing costs. Windows Server 2016 Datacenter starts with$6,155– Remember, this is list price and Microsoft partner pricing will vary. Also, if you do not have an Enterprise Agreement (EA) or Software Assurance and your Windows OS has reached end of life, you will be charged to upgrade to the next version
You may also need additional Client Access Licenses (CAL) to supplement the local Windows Server license. Windows Server 2019 may cost more becauseIncreaseIn CAL license cost.
Licensing Windows in a cloud configuration is different. First, as a subscription, you may pay for a Windows license year after year. However, there are no CAL costs associated with public cloud deployments. Microsoft's move to increase the cost of CALs for Windows Server 2019 can be interpreted as a way to further incentivize cloud adoption.
Keep in mind that EA pricing may vary depending on the size and negotiation skills of your organization.
Red Hat Linux vs. Windows: Download Cost Comparison
Software support costs:
Linux
Things get really interesting when looking at support costs, especially when it applies to "free" Linux. Of course one could argue that if your environment consists of 100's or 1000's of Linux virtual machines then free distributions like Ubuntu, CentOS or Debian are attractive. However, your organization better make sure it has the core competence to handle most Linux issues that are thrown at it. When the situation is dire, consulting message boards and newsgroups in order to resolve a problem may not be enough. Competent in-house Linux expertise can be expensive unless it's spread across a large number of servers.
If you're an organization that prefers to focus on applications and development and let others worry about the Linux operating system, subscriptions from companies like Red Hat and SUSE are a perfect fit.
Windows
windows serverSoftware Assurance(SA) pricing varies based on the deal with your Microsoft partner. For simplicity, we can assume that SA costs around 25% of list price per year. SA offers many benefits, including new releases as well as support and problem resolution.
| 5 Year Cost Comparison - On-Premises Linux vs. Windows Hosting |
Note: Unlike Microsoft's Window Server, Red Hat does not differentiate Linux pricing based on core count, so the difference between the two increases as the core count increases. Also note that buying CALs definitely changes the equation. How many? This will depend on how the server is used and the type and number of CALs. In the licensing example below: Windows = ($6,155 for datacenter license) + (50 user CALs at $38 each) = $8,055 |
| Year 1 | the second year | Third grade | fourth grade | Fifth grade | all | delta | ||
| license | support | |||||||
| red hat | $2,499 | $2,499 | $2,499 | $2,499 | $2,499 | $12,495 | ||
| Windows | $8,055 | $1,525 | $1,525 | $1,525 | $1,525 | $1,525 | $15,680 | 25% |
figure 1.Over 5 years of local licensing and support
| A 1-Year Comparison of Generic Linux vs. Windows VM 2 vCPUs |
Figure 2 calculates the annual subscription cost for a general public cloud Reserved Instance with 2 vCPUs and 8 Gigs of RAM. We can see that the premium is between 16% and 27%. Also, we don't have to worry about CAL licensing for Windows instances at all. The math can change when considering layered applications. For example, if we add a database and gradually add Microsoft SQL Server for Windows or MySQL for Linux into the equation, then things lean even further toward Linux. |
| supplier | reserved instance | 1 year | 1 year | Windows High quality |
| AWS | m5. large | $1,060 | $1,340 | 26% |
| n1-standard-2 | $1,108 | $1,283 | 16% | |
| Microsoft | D2 v3 | $1,034 | $1,313 | 27% |
figure 2.Annual cloud subscription with 2 vCPUs
| 1 Year Comparing General Linux vs Windows VM 4 vCPUs |
| Figure 3 calculates the annual subscription cost for a general public cloud Reserved Instance with 4 vCPUs and 16 Gigs of RAM. We can see that by doubling the vCPUs, Windows premium sky spikes to between 52% and 71%. |
| supplier | reserved instance | 1 year | 1 year | Windows High quality |
| AWS | m5.xlarge | $1,603 | $2,689 | 68% |
| n1-standard-4 | $1,691 | $2,567 | 52% | |
| Microsoft | D4 v3 | $1,529 | $2,615 | 71% |
image 3.annual cloud subscription with 4 vCPUs
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IT staffing costs:
The cost difference between Linux and Windows is not just licensing and support, we need to considerSystem Managementand migration costs. Choosing between one or both of these platforms depends largely on the makeup of your current IT organization, the state of the labor market, and the amount of disruption your organization can tolerate to affect change.
Linux
Increased demand on the public cloud and its surrounding ecosystemalready paid a premiumAbout Linux Professionals. At the time of writing, the average annual salary was about 33% higherLinux system administratorExceedWindows system administrator.
Linux requires a different set of skills to administer than Windows. Windows is known for the easy configuration of its user interface, while Linux is known for its flexibility and scripting capabilities.
Keep in mind that Linux deployments also tend to have a higher server administrator density than Windows deployments, which often balances out the staffing premium.
Windows
Microsoft has built a huge ecosystem around Windows. For most IT departments, the Windows platform is the de facto standard. The sunk costs of Windows training and the ease of administration often make the Wintel platform the path of least resistance.
Since most IT administrators have grown up with Windows and are already very proficient with the platform, it is important to carefully consider whether additional Linux training costs or the need to bring in expensive outside expertise will negate any Linux licensing and support save. Additionally, applications cannot simply be transferred from one platform to another. Ultimately, you have to ask... is introducing a second platform worth the migration costs and possible disruption to the organization?
If your organization is already Windows-centric, a more pragmatic approach might be to stick with it. However, greenfield deployments may employ different strategies. While some will argue that Linux has a steep learning curve, the new batch of sysadmins who have been indoctrinated in Linux from the start may be different.
in conclusion
There are many factors that come into play when comparing the cost of Windows vs. Linux. While it's easy to make broad generalizations that Linux is less expensive or even "free" than Windows, that's an overly simplistic view.
- Most business activities have costs. Linux, regardless of platform, comes with administrative costs, as quality expertise is either maintained in-house or paid for via subscription.
- A Linux subscription is more attractive (especially when on-premises) because there is no upfront cost compared to Windows. However, after active negotiationsenterprise agreementThe sunk cost of Windows training can narrow the cost differential.
- For larger CPU configurations, the cost differential for cloud deployments of Windows and Linux increases significantly, as Microsoft forces Windows Servers licenses to (partially) follow per-core pricing. Organizations need to pay special attention to the types of workloads their applications generate and the types of CPU resources they require when determining whether one platform is superior to another.
- Keep in mind that the supply and demand of IT staff with the required skill sets can change the calculation of which platform is best for an organization's needs. Ultimately it may come down to business preferences and the direction they want their IT staff to take.
Want to know more?
Download our Red Hat Linux and Windows price list. This matrix compares Reserved Instance pricingforStandard, Compute, and High Memory machine instance classes.
Another matrixCheck pricing for multiple vCPU configurationsin the instance class.
Red Hat Linux vs. Windows: Download Cost Comparison
FAQs
Is Linux more expensive than Windows? ›
The Linux vs Windows debate typically circles around cost and functionality. Although Linux is often considered inexpensive and Windows costly. A number of factors can alter the equation not the least of which is the advent of cloud computing.
Why Linux is cheaper than Windows? ›What are the differences in licensing costs? Because Linux is an open source platform, it does not have any license fees. License fees for specialized Linux distributions such as Red Hat and SUSE are embedded in the subscription costs with those vendors. Windows however incurs licensing costs from Microsoft.
What is the comparison between Microsoft Windows and Linux? ›Linux is an open-source operating system, whereas Microsoft is a commercial operating system. Linux facilitates the users to have access to the source code of the operating system and authorizes them to make amendments as per their choices. On the other hand, Windows users don't have such privileges.
Why Linux is preferred more than Windows in offices? ›Linux and its distributions are known for being very stable to run. Windows systems are regularly threatened by viruses and other malware.
Why Linux is free of cost? ›Linux is a free, open source operating system, released under the GNU General Public License (GPL). Anyone can run, study, modify, and redistribute the source code, or even sell copies of their modified code, as long as they do so under the same license.
Is Linux cost effective? ›Another significant advantage of Linux is its cost-effectiveness. Linux is available for free, and there are no licensing fees to use it. This is in contrast to Windows, which requires a license for each server installation, which can add up quickly for organizations with a large number of servers.
What are the disadvantages of Linux vs Windows? ›There are far fewer applications designed specifically for Linux, although some Windows programs can run on Linux. Programs are installed by downloading them from websites or from physical storage media. In Linux, the majority of programs, drivers and packages are supplied via fixed repositories.
Is Linux better than Windows for old computers? ›Linux is popular on older machines because minimalist distros like the Ubuntu variant Xubuntu run great on PCs with low memory and processor power when modern Windows versions struggle to do so on aging hardware.
Why is Linux hosting cheaper? ›The main difference between Linux and Windows hosting services is the cost of licensing the operating system for use on a web server. With the most popular Linux operating systems, there's no cost to use the server distribution.
What are 3 differences between Windows and Linux? ›For operations, Windows are comparatively way less efficient than Linux. It is more secure than Windows OS. It provides much less security to its users than Linux. People generally use Linux for the systems that are hacking-based.
What are the advantages between Windows and Linux? ›
Why Choose Linux Over Windows. The main difference between Windows and Linux is the ladder is open-source software, whereas the code for Windows is highly secure. Since Linux is an open-source operating system, anyone with a desktop and internet access can download it, change it, and contribute to the internal Kernel.
Who actually uses Linux? ›Linux is used by many professionals and companies. Linux developers, IT systems administrators, Linux support engineers, software engineers, technical support, and Kernel administrators use the open-source operating system.
Why do most companies use Linux? ›Linux is built to handle the most demanding corporate application needs, including network and system administration, database management, and web services. Because of its reliability, security, and versatility, Linux servers are frequently chosen over other server operating systems.
Why do people prefer Linux? ›This means that Linux applications often provide robust security and reliability, and still offer an application that runs quickly. Many professionals are attracted to Linux because they don't have time to keep fixing the operating system and want it to be as invisible as possible.
How do Linux make money? ›Linux distributors like Red Hat, Caldera and VA-Linux make their buck through “support and services.” They don't own the basic operating system, so they sell boxes with documentation, support contracts, installation tools, add-on software, easy-to-use desktop environments — and legal protection for customers in case ...
Why Linux is called virus free? ›Only local files and programs of users will be affected, as the normal user will not have access permission to all the files in the system. This leads to least effect of virus in systems with Linux. As Linux users don't have root access, it is difficult to cause damage on Linux.
When did Linux become free software? ›Then Linux, a Unix-like kernel, was developed by Linus Torvalds in 1991 and made free software in 1992.
What are the main disadvantages of Linux? ›The disadvantages of Linux include limited software availability, limited hardware support, a steep learning curve, lack of commercial support, and compatibility issues.
Why would you say Linux is not used more widely? ›Lack of Availability of Industry-Standard Software
Adobe Photoshop, CorelDRAW, Microsoft Excel, and many more apps are simply not developed for Linux. It comes down to the market share again. Linux has such a small market share that these big developers don't find it worth a while to produce software for it.
The 'more' program
But one limitation is you can scroll in forward direction only, not backwards. That means, you can scroll down, but can't go up.
Should I change Windows to Linux? ›
It's much easier to use than you think
Linux is easy to install (much easier than installing macOS or Windows in my opinion), Linux is easy to use, it's easy to find good applications, there are many simple user environments available and there is a lot of information and support available.
Linux uses less RAM compared to Windows due to the following reasons: Linux lacks bloatware applications that consume too much RAM when running, as the case on Windows. Linux does not have many background processes and services that are resource hogs.
What's the point of Linux? ›Linux is used in the following ways: Server OS for web servers, database servers, file servers, email servers and any other type of shared server. Designed to support high-volume and multithreading applications, Linux is well-suited for all types of server applications. Desktop OS for personal productivity computing.
Does Linux use less RAM than Windows? ›There are many Linux distros out that use less RAM than Windows 10, but there are others that aren't all that less needy. With so many to choose from, that decision really determines how much RAM you're using up. You can't make the assumption that just because you're running a Linux desktop, you're using less RAM.
What is the most efficient version of Linux? ›- Absolute Linux. Absolute Linux is a light and fast desktop distro that comes out of the box with LibreOffice suite and the Firefox browser. ...
- antiX Linux. ...
- Linux Lite. ...
- Lubuntu. ...
- Puppy Linux. ...
- SliTaz. ...
- LXLE. ...
- Porteus.
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It was developed by many people, keeping in mind the security factor. Linux is developed using a highly process-oriented and engineered process. The whole source code behind Linux is maintained by subsystem maintainers, in which each and every change is reviewed thoroughly. Thus, it is secured by design also.
Is it difficult to learn Linux? ›Linux is not hard to learn. The more experience you have using modern technology, the easier you'll find it to master the basics of Linux. You can learn the basic Linux commands in a few days but it will likely take a few weeks to become more familiar with these commands.
Can I change my operating system from Windows to Linux? ›If you are done with Windows 10 or don't want to upgrade to Windows 11, you can install Linux instead. Here's how to make the switch to an open-source operating system and install apps.
What is the biggest advantage of Linux? ›Linux facilitates with powerful support for networking. The client-server systems can be easily set to a Linux system. It provides various command-line tools such as ssh, ip, mail, telnet, and more for connectivity with the other systems and servers. Tasks such as network backup are much faster than others.
What are three reasons to use Linux? ›
- It's free. Linux is and always has been available to everyone for free. ...
- Open source software. Linux is open-source software. ...
- Security. ...
- Stability. ...
- Easy to maintain. ...
- Runs on any hardware. ...
- Easy to use. ...
- Customizable.
Because of its open-source status, adaptability, control, and reliability, Linux is a preferred operating system among ethical hackers. For hacking and penetration testing, Linux provides a wide range of tools and applications. Its command-line interface makes difficult and automated tasks simpler.
What does Bill Gates think of Linux? ›Microsoft CEO Bill Gates, on tour to promote his new book, "Business @ the Speed of Thought," said Wednesday that the popular open source operating system Linux is no threat to Windows. Gates says that Windows offers far more functionality and features than Linux ever will.
What Linux can do that Windows can t? ›- Test a Distro Through Live Boot. ...
- Choose From So Many Distros and Flavors. ...
- Use the OS for Free Forever. ...
- Create Your Own Operating System. ...
- Use the OS Without Needing an Antivirus. ...
- Don't Need to Restart the PC at Each Step. ...
- Use Lightweight Distros to Resurrect Old PCs and Laptops.
Linux, computer operating system created in the early 1990s by Finnish software engineer Linus Torvalds and the Free Software Foundation (FSF).
Which country uses Linux the most? ›Linux popularity globally
On a global level, the interest in Linux seems to be the strongest in India, Cuba and Russia, followed by the Czech Republic and Indonesia (and Bangladesh, which has the same regional interest level as Indonesia).
Web Servers
The biggest real-world use of Linux is on servers, especially web servers. There are several reasons for Linux dominating the web server market. One reason is that Linux is dirt-cheap to install.
An enterprise OS is used by large organizations with many users on the same network sharing access to network services.
How many people actually use Linux? ›Despite being a minority operating system, Linux still has millions of users. According to Linux user statistics, the platform is used by 2.68% of desktop PCs and laptops globally, which works out to roughly four million devices. The number of Linux users is 32.8 million, in addition to 1.6 billion Android users.
Can normal people use Linux? ›I am a regular person. I use Linux for several reasons, and none of them have anything to do with Windows. I am a teacher and my school-district supplied desktop computer runs Windows 10, and it is the best Microsoft OS in years. But on my own personal laptop, I use Linux.
Can you install Linux on a Chromebook? ›
Linux is a feature that lets you develop software using your Chromebook. You can install Linux command line tools, code editors, and IDEs (integrated development environments) on your Chromebook.
Why are Linux laptops expensive? ›Linux PC Makers Often Only Sell Computers
In contrast, System76 sells laptops, desktops, and servers. That's it. They have to price their products in such a way that they can stay in business, because there isn't another department's success, venture capital, or big bucks from data collection to fall back on.
The disadvantages of Linux include limited software availability, limited hardware support, a steep learning curve, lack of commercial support, and compatibility issues.
What are 3 advantages of using Linux? ›- Open Source. One of the main advantages of Linux is that it is an open-source operating system,m, i.e. its source code is easily available to everyone. ...
- Security. ...
- Revive Older Computer Systems. ...
- Software Updates. ...
- Customization. ...
- Various Distributions. ...
- Free to Use (Low Cost) ...
- Large Community Support.
- Dell XPS 13 Plus Developer Edition.
- System76 Adder WS.
- StarLabs StarBook MkVI.
- System76 Pangolin.
- Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 10.
- Purism Librem 14.
- KDE Slimbook.
- Bonus: Framework Laptop.
Lack of Availability of Industry-Standard Software
Adobe Photoshop, CorelDRAW, Microsoft Excel, and many more apps are simply not developed for Linux. It comes down to the market share again. Linux has such a small market share that these big developers don't find it worth a while to produce software for it.
Linux is built to handle the most demanding corporate application needs, including network and system administration, database management, and web services. Because of its reliability, security, and versatility, Linux servers are frequently chosen over other server operating systems.
What uses Linux the most? ›Linux is used in the following ways: Server OS for web servers, database servers, file servers, email servers and any other type of shared server. Designed to support high-volume and multithreading applications, Linux is well-suited for all types of server applications. Desktop OS for personal productivity computing.