

CentOS and Windows Server compete in the server operating systems category. CentOS appears to have an edge thanks to its cost-effectiveness, as it is open-source and free to use, appealing to budget-conscious organizations.
Features: CentOS is known for its stability, compliance with industry standards, and ability to adapt to various hardware environments. It provides excellent security, flexibility, and robust performance. Windows Server offers comprehensive features like Active Directory and seamless integration with Microsoft services, making it user-friendly for both administrators and end-users. It includes powerful services like Hyper-V and Azure integration, creating a complete ecosystem.
Room for Improvement: CentOS is challenged by stability issues due to changes in its release process and concerns over the lack of official support. It can be less intuitive for beginners. Windows Server could improve in areas like security, pricing, and integration with non-Microsoft environments. Users seek enhancements in its administrative tools and a more competitive licensing model.
Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: CentOS and Windows Server are both flexible for deployment in on-premises and cloud settings. CentOS, being open-source, allows for customizable and cost-effective deployment mainly supported by community expertise. Windows Server aligns with enterprise environments, offering strong integration capabilities, often at a higher cost due to licensing. Red Hat offers excellent paid support for CentOS, while Windows Server users benefit from Microsoft's comprehensive technical support.
Pricing and ROI: CentOS is cost-effective since it’s open-source with no licensing fees, ideal for cost optimization. Optional Red Hat support incurs additional costs. Windows Server, although expensive due to licensing, provides substantial ROI through its extensive features, integration capabilities, and support, thereby enhancing operational efficiency for large enterprises.
We have saved approximately 50% of our revenue by using CentOS.
It saved a lot of time through troubleshooting, which gives us substantial room for improvement in terms of fixing things.
We're very competitive commercially and technically because of it.
We've seen value in Windows Server because the systems work smoothly without any problems.
Windows Server offers excellent value for money, particularly when compared to alternatives.
I would rate the customer support for CentOS a 10 on a scale of 1 to 10.
I've seen many people across the globe interacting, and when users encounter issues, the community provides solutions.
I would rate the documentation about eight in terms of usefulness.
Our in-house team can also solve most issues.
If you go through a partner who sells or supports Windows, the support could be around seven out of ten, because Windows relies on these partners for assistance.
Microsoft's technical support for Windows Server has been lacking, with rare responses even with premium support.
CentOS is scalable and user-friendly without requiring complex configurations.
It allows users to scale resources vertically for upgrading hardware and horizontally by adding more servers, making it suitable for modern web hosting and containerized applications.
CentOS's scalability for my organization has handled growth and changing needs smoothly.
I've worked in companies with 20,000 to 100,000 users, and it scales beautifully without issues.
It's definitely scalable.
The solution is used extensively in our organization, and we have plans to increase the usage.
CentOS is stable, reliable, flexible, and very useful.
CentOS's simplicity and stability make it easy to use.
I believe CentOS is stable, but we are gradually moving away from it.
We have experienced no blue screens or crashes and often achieved an uptime of 2,000 to 3,000 days without any issues whatsoever.
Stability-wise, I rate the solution a ten out of ten.
The tool is stable.
The documentation and support could be improved, along with compatibility with newer hardware as hardware continually evolves over time.
Kernel parameters, sysctl config details, tuned profiles, process prioritization, optimized disk, and input scheduler choice are all points for performance optimization.
CentOS removed long-term support, and version releases every two to three years are not ideal for production environments because they necessitate frequent updates.
From a security perspective, sometimes, malware attacks and hackers take advantage of the tool's vulnerabilities.
Deploying antivirus and firewall software on the server is advisable, but having an external firewall adds an extra layer of security.
Windows Server needs to improve its speed and stability.
There was no cost in terms of deploying it or getting the license for it.
CentOS is a free product with free updates.
The enterprise subscription cost is at a certain level, but CentOS saves customers from paying additional money, optimizing costs for enterprises and startups involved in application development.
It is quite expensive.
Previously, a Windows Server with two processors cost around two 154 euros annually, but now it is estimated to be around 3,000 to 4,000 euros for the same configuration.
On a scale of one to ten, with ten being the most expensive, I rate it ten out of ten.
The update cycle changed when CentOS was prioritized for updates, causing stability issues.
In my experience, the best feature that CentOS offers is the network configuration of a device from the command-line interface, which is exceptionally clean.
The best feature CentOS offers is that it's free.
Windows Server is a stable and scalable solution.
The most valuable features of the solution stem from the fact that every Microsoft product is scalable, flexible, secure, and available on a certain budget.
The IP directory is the most valuable feature.
| Product | Market Share (%) |
|---|---|
| Windows Server | 10.0% |
| CentOS | 4.5% |
| Other | 85.5% |

| Company Size | Count |
|---|---|
| Small Business | 30 |
| Midsize Enterprise | 20 |
| Large Enterprise | 26 |
| Company Size | Count |
|---|---|
| Small Business | 78 |
| Midsize Enterprise | 41 |
| Large Enterprise | 88 |
CentOS offers a stable, secure, and compatible environment with Red Hat packages, providing robust performance and cost efficiency. Its lightweight, scalable design and strong community support make it ideal for handling heavy workloads with limited resources.
CentOS is a popular choice for organizations seeking reliable server and virtualization solutions. Known for its robust stability and security, it offers seamless integration and maintenance. However, after a shift from Red Hat, some challenges emerged, including weak NFS client performance and a more complex interface, which beginners find challenging alongside insufficient documentation. Despite these, CentOS remains a favored option for deploying web applications, server installations, and supporting cloud solutions, thanks to its efficient use in monitoring, databases, and telecommunications.
What are CentOS's key features?CentOS is widely used in industries requiring robust infrastructure, such as web hosting, scientific computing, and telecommunications. In data centers, companies deploy it to support virtual environments, testing, and development. The OS powers business applications, email servers, and cloud solutions, offering a cost-effective alternative to Red Hat.
Windows Server is primarily used by organizations for hosting applications, deploying virtual machines, managing user accounts, and supporting enterprise infrastructures. It also assists in virtualization, remote access, web servers, and integrating with cloud environments.
As a key component in enterprise environments, Windows Server supports backend applications and operating systems. It's valued for its robust virtualization capabilities through Hyper-V, enabling organizations to efficiently manage resources and reduce costs. Active Directory facilitates management of user accounts and security policies. Additionally, it excels in hosting SQL databases, file-sharing, and executing communication tasks. The system's integration with Microsoft services enhances its adaptability in cloud deployments and network management. Performance and security features contribute to a reliable platform for managing diverse business operations.
What are the key features of Windows Server?Windows Server is widely adopted in industries requiring stable, secure infrastructure solutions. Enterprises leverage its capabilities for managing databases, hosting business applications, and optimizing virtualization strategies. In sectors like finance and healthcare, enhanced security features and integration with cloud environments prove essential for meeting regulatory requirements and supporting data-intensive processes.
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